Definition: Anapestic refers to a syllable that appears as an opening or parting syllable in a song, poem, or other piece, typically at the beginning or end. This word has its origins from ancient Greek, specifically the Greek αΌΞ½ΞΏΞΈΞ΅ΟΞΉΞΊΟΟ (anothetikos), which means "to cut off" or "cutting off." So anapestic is like a parting, cutting-off sound in music, often used for closing notes.