Home › Glossary › Letter A

Anacreontic tetrameter

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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 metrical line of four anacreontic feet (typically u u – –), imitating the light, lyrical verse of the ancient Greek poet Anacreon.

Detailed Definition
Anacreontic tetrameter is a four-foot line in the Anacreontic tradition, blending iambic and anapestic rhythms to create a buoyant, musical cadence suitable for themes of love, wine, and mirth; it appears in classical imitations and later European lyric poetry seeking a graceful, informal tone.
Example
Example in poetry:
Anacreontic tetrameter typically follows a pattern like ˘ – ˘ – ˘ – – (e.g., “Drink to me only with thine eyes” by Ben Jonson); Moore’s “Fly Not Yet” uses Anacreontic tetrameter to urge carpe diem; the meter’s irregularity mimics spontaneous song; modern parodies use Anacreontic tetrameter for comic revelry; the form’s flexibility allows lyrical grace without strict metrical tyranny
Additional Notes
Four-foot Anacreontic line. More substantial than typical brief Anacreontic verse. Related to tetrameter variations and drinking songs. Creates extended light rhythm. Study how English poets adapt Greek meters.
Also Known As
Anacreontic four-foot Wine-song tetrameter Drinking meter middle
Skip to main content