anacreontic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowFormal / Literary / Historical
Quick answer
What does “anacreontic” mean?
Relating to or characteristic of the poetry of Anacreon, an ancient Greek poet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or characteristic of the poetry of Anacreon, an ancient Greek poet; celebrating love, wine, and revelry.
Describes a literary work, mood, or style that is light-hearted, lyrical, and devoted to pleasure, especially love and drinking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; term is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Both carry connotations of classical scholarship, poetic form, and antique hedonism.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British academic texts on classical poetry due to historical educational emphasis.
Grammar
How to Use “anacreontic” in a Sentence
[be] anacreontic[write/compose] in an anacreontic [style/vein]an anacreontic [ode/poem]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anacreontic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The poet sought to anacreonticise the modern drinking song.
- (Note: 'to anacreontic' is not a standard verb)
American English
- (No standard verb form exists)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form; 'anacreontically' is non-standard and virtually unused.)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- The composer adapted an anacreontic ode for the chamber ensemble.
- His later verses had a distinctly anacreontic flavour.
American English
- The anthology included several anacreontic poems from the 18th century.
- She admired the anacreontic lightness of his early work.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature, classics, and music history departments to describe a specific poetic genre or style.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be used.
Technical
May appear as a technical term in analyses of lyric poetry or certain 18th-century musical compositions (e.g., "Anacreontic Ode").
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anacreontic”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'drunken' or 'erotic' (it is more specific to a refined literary style).
- Misspelling as 'anacronistic' (which means out of time).
- Pronouncing the 'c' as /k/ instead of /k/ followed by /r/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, specialised term used almost exclusively in literary, classical, or musicological contexts.
It would be highly unusual and pretentious. The term refers specifically to a refined literary or artistic style modeled on Anacreon, not to general merrymaking.
The primary themes are the celebration of love, wine, beauty, and the enjoyment of the present moment, often with a tone of elegant hedonism.
Yes. While both relate to revelry, 'bacchanalian' suggests unrestrained, orgiastic frenzy, often associated with the god Bacchus. 'Anacreontic' suggests a more measured, lyrical, and literary celebration, associated with the poet Anacreon.
Relating to or characteristic of the poetry of Anacreon, an ancient Greek poet.
Anacreontic is usually formal / literary / historical in register.
Anacreontic: in British English it is pronounced /əˌnakrɪˈɒntɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌnækriˈɑːntɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this highly specific literary term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine AN Ancient CRÈME-filled Éclair ON TICkling your fancy—a light, sweet, and pleasurable experience, just like Anacreon's poetry.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEASURE IS A CLASSICAL ART FORM; JOY IS A MEASURED VERSE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'anacreontic' be MOST appropriately used?