Plural of catalexis, the omission of one or more syllables from the end of a metrical line in poetry.
From Greek katalaxis, from katalegein meaning 'to leave off' or 'to cease.' In poetry, it refers to an incomplete final foot. The plural adds the regular Greek plural ending -es.
Poets deliberately use catalexis to create rhythm changes and emotional punch—the incomplete line mirrors incompleteness in meaning, which is why many of Shakespeare's most powerful lines end with catalexes.
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