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 Index.

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:

Atque hic Priamides! nihil e tibi, amice, reliquum.