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Acatalectic hexameter

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A six-foot metrical line that is complete and not lacking syllables

Detailed Definition
Acatalectic hexameter is a six-foot metrical line—common in classical Latin and Greek epic poetry—that concludes with a complete final foot, typically a spondee or dactyl, preserving the rhythmic integrity of the verse without truncation; it contrasts with catalectic hexameter, which omits the final syllable.
Example
Example in poetry:
Virgil’s “Aeneid” opens with acatalectic hexameter: “Arma virumque cano”; acatalectic hexameter completes all six feet without truncation; Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” consistently uses full dactylic hexameter; acatalectic lines in Homeric Greek epics maintain rhythmic integrity
Additional Notes
Six-foot line with complete final foot (no truncation). Homer's dactylic hexameter is typically acatalectic. Contrast with catalectic hexameter (truncated). Standard form for classical epic.
Also Known As
Complete hexameter Full six-foot line Untruncated hexameter
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