1. plural of catalexis; instances of the omission of one or more syllables from the end of a metrical line in poetry.
Usage: technical term in prosody and poetry analysis; from Greek katalexis, meaning 'a leaving off'

Examples

• The poet employed several catalexes in the final lines to create a rhythmic effect.
• Understanding catalexes is essential for analyzing classical Greek and Latin verse.
• The catalexes in this stanza give the poem an abrupt, deliberate ending.
• Scholars debate whether these catalexes were intentional or the result of textual corruption.