syllăba (sul-), ae, f., = συλλαβή, a syllable.
I Lit., Plaut. Bacch. 3, 3, 29: syllaba brevior aut longior, Cic. Par. 3, 2, 26: syllabarum numerus, id. de Or. 3, 47, 183: syllaba longa brevi subjecta, Hor. A. P. 251: syllaba prima brevis, Ov. P. 4, 12, 12; Quint. 1, 5, 62; 7, 9, 13; Sen. Ep. 117, 5; 88, 42 et saep.: jurisconsultus, auceps syllabarum, a word-catcher , captious critic , caviller , Cic. de Or. 1, 55, 236.—*
II Transf., in plur., verses , poems : Verona docti syllabas amat vatis (i. e. Catulli), Mart. 1, 62, 1.