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Acatalectic iamb

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 complete iambic line with all syllables intact, for smooth, unbroken rhythm.

Detailed Definition
Acatalectic iamb features full iambic feet without truncation, used in Milton's blank verse for seamless epic flow. It sustains grandeur; in Paradise Lost, it mirrors divine order, providing rhythmic purity that elevates theological themes.
Example
Example in poetry:
The iambic pentameter line "To be, or not to be, that is the question" from Shakespeare’s Hamlet is acatalectic, ending with a complete final iamb; "Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?" from Sonnet 18 also ends with a full iamb; "When I do count the clock that tells the time" from Sonnet 12 maintains full iambic structure; "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see" from Sonnet 18 concludes with an uncut iamb; "If music be the food of love, play on" from Twelfth Night retains the final stressed syllable; "But soft! what light through yonder window breaks?" from Romeo and Juliet ends with a complete iambic foot.
Additional Notes
Acatalectic iamb refers to a complete iambic foot (unstressed-stressed) in every position of the line, with no truncation, resulting in a smooth, flowing rhythm typical of much English poetry; this form is foundational in iambic pentameter and provides a natural speech-like cadence, often used in dramatic and narrative verse—contrast with catalectic iamb for emphasis on rhythmic completeness.
Also Known As
Acatalectic iambic line complete iambic foot
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