among physicians, signifies the dilatation of the heart, auricles, and arteries; and stands opposed to the SYSTOLE, or contraction of the same parts. See Anatomy, n° 388.

in grammar, a figure in prosody whereby a syllable naturally short is made long. Such is the first syllable of Priamides in the following verse of Virgil: "Asque hic Priamides mihi sibi, amice, redibit."