compound measure

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 metrical unit formed by conjoining two or more standard poetic feet into a composite rhythm, often used for variation or emphasis.

Detailed Definition
A compound measure is a metrical unit formed by joining two or more standard feet into a larger rhythmic segment; it allows for greater flexibility in poetic rhythm and is often used in experimental or hybrid metrical systems beyond traditional prosody.
Example
Example in poetry:
Compound measure: A metrical line combining two different feet, e.g. iambic + dactyl; Hexameter lines mixing dactyls and spondees; English accentual-syllabic verse blending anapests with iambs; Complex stanza combining several metrical patterns
Additional Notes
compound measure: A metrical foot that is composed of two or more simpler feet (e.g., the greater Asclepiadean combines four different feet); often used in classical quantitative verse.
Also Known As
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