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Cretic

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 foot consisting of a long syllable, followed by a short, then another long (– ᴗ –), common in classical Greek and Latin verse.

Detailed Definition
A Cretic is a metrical foot consisting of a long (or stressed) syllable, followed by a short (or unstressed), then another long/stressed syllable (– ˘ –); though rare in English, it appears in classical Greek and Latin poetry and occasionally in English verse for dramatic or incantatory effect, as in certain hymns or ritual chants.
Example
Example in poetry:
Cretic: Rare foot: long-short-long (DA-dum-DA); Used in Greek drama for solemnity; Original attempt: “MIdnight DArkness FAlls” (stressed syllables in caps); English approximations are uncommon
Additional Notes
Cretic (amphimacer) is three-syllable foot: stressed-unstressed-stressed (– ᴗ –). Opposite of amphibrach. Rare as sustained meter. Creates balanced, emphatic rhythm. Name from Crete, where it originated.
Also Known As
amphimacer long-short-long
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