1. a rhythmic or metrical stress in verse
Usage: literary
2. a sudden attack or seizure, especially a stroke or epileptic fit
Usage: medical

Examples

• The poet carefully placed the ictus on the second syllable of each line.
• Students learned to identify the ictus in iambic pentameter.
• The patient suffered an ictus that left him temporarily paralyzed.
• Doctors monitored her closely after the ictus.
• The ictus fell naturally on the stressed beats of the verse.
• Emergency responders were called when he experienced an ictus at work.