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Choriambic catalectic

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

Choriambic catalectic: A metrical line of verse using the choriambe (a foot of two long syllables surrounding two short) that is truncated, cutting a syllable from its end to produce a rhythmic pause or halt.

Detailed Definition
Choriambic catalectic omits final unstressed in choriambs, used in anacreontics for punchy joy. It snaps; in light verse, it adds snap to celebrations, enhancing festive brevity.
Example
Example in poetry:
The choriambic catalectic ( / u u / - ) truncated appears in "The wind blows soft" (truncated); "The moon shines bright" (catalectic choriamb); "The stars gleam clear" (final syllable cut); "The river flows" (catalectic); "The heart beats strong" (truncated choriambic); "The bells ring out" (catalectic choriamb).
Additional Notes
Choriambic catalectic truncates the choriambic foot or line, disrupting its flowing symmetry; the resulting imbalance can evoke emotional strain or urgency, particularly effective in lamentations or agitated monologues.
Also Known As
Catalectic choriambic shortened choriamb
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