Spondee \Spon"dee\ (sp[o^]n"d[=e]), n. [L. spondeus, Gr. ? (sc.
?), fr. ? a drink offering, libation, fr. ? to pour out, make
a libation: cf. F. spond['e]e. So called because at libations
slow, solemn melodies were used, chiefly in this meter.]
(Pros.)
A poetic foot of two long syllables, as in the Latin word
l[=e]g[=e]s.
[1913 Webster]