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Azygous line

Structure
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

An isolated or unpaired line that stands apart from a regular stanzaic or metrical pattern, often used for emphasis or disruption.

Detailed Definition
An azygous line is an unpaired or solitary line within a poem that stands apart from couplets or stanzas, often functioning as a pivot, interruption, or emphasis; its isolation draws attention to its content or sonic quality, creating structural asymmetry for rhetorical effect.
Example
Example in poetry:
An azygous line is a solitary, unmatched line in a poem that stands without a parallel or rhyme; example: in a rhymed couplet sequence, a single unrhymed line like “But silence answered nothing” interrupts the pattern.
Additional Notes
Line without paired or matching counterpart in poem. Unpaired, singular line. Creates emphasis through isolation. Related to orphan line and singleton. Use strategically for emphasis or disruption of pattern.
Also Known As
Unpaired line Single-occurrence verse Unmatched measure Solitary hemistich
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