[2507.] Systolé (Greek συστολή, a drawing together). Conversely a syllable which in verse is regularly long is sometimes shortened for metrical convenience: as, dedĕrunt (Hor.), nūllĭus (Hor.), imperat. commodă (Cat.).
In most cases this shortening is not arbitrary, but represents a pronunciation which was in actual use, especially among the common people.
[2508.] Syncopé (Greek συγκοπή, a cutting short). A short vowel is often dropped between two consonants: as, surpite for surripite (Hor.), repostum for repositum (Verg.).
This usage doubtless reflects the common pronunciation; see [110], [111].
[2509.] Tmesis (Greek τμῆσις, a cutting) is the separation of the parts of a word: as, septem subiecta triōnī = septemtriōnī subiecta (Verg.).
This usually occurs only in compounds; but early poets sometimes divided other words: as, saxō cere comminuit brum for saxō cerebrum comminuit (Ennius).
[2510.] Synapheia (Greek συνάφεια, a joining together) is the linking together of two verses belonging to the same system. Here elision or word division may occur at the end of the first verse: as,
Iōve nōn probante u-
xōrius amnis, H. 1, 2, 19.
Iam licet veniās marīt(e),