sb. (a.) [f. TETRA- + SYLLABLE; cf. Gr. τατρασύλλαβος of four syllables.] a. sb. A word of four syllables. b. adj. Tetrasyllabic.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. iii. (Arb.), 82. Euery sillable being allowed one time, either short or long, it fell out that euery tetrasillable had foure times, euery trissillable three, and the bissillable two.
1749. J. Mason, Numbers in Poet. Comp., 17. Any two … joined together in a different Position make a different tetrasyllable Foot.
So Tetrasyllabic, Tetrasyllabical adjs., consisting of four syllables.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Tetrasyllabical, that hath or contains four syllables.
1775. Ash, Tetrasyllabic, containing four syllables.
1804. Mitford, Inquiry, 343, note. Describing the antient feet, classing them as dissyllabical, trissyllabical, and tetrasyllabical.
