a term in ancient poetry for such verses as have all their feet or syllables, in contradistinction to those that have a syllable too few. The first verse of the two following from Horace is acatalectic or complete, the last catalectic or deficient.

Solvitur acris hiems grata vice veris et Favon, Trahuntque sicas machinae carinas.

ACATALEPSY signifies the impossibility of comprehending something. The distinguishing tenet of the Pyrrhonists was their asserting an absolute acatalepsy in regard to every thing.