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Dactylic-epitrite pentameter

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 pentameter line combining dactylic (DUM-da-da) and epitritic (DUM-DUM-da-DUM) feet, used in classical Greek and Latin lyric poetry.

Detailed Definition
Dactylo-epitritic pentameter combines dactylic (– ˘ ˘) and epitritic (˘ ˘ – –) feet within a five-foot line, blending flowing and abrupt rhythms to create dynamic tension; this complex hybrid meter appears in Greek choral odes and rare English experiments, allowing poets to modulate pace and emotional intensity within a single line.
Example
Example in poetry:
Dactylic-epitrite pentameter: A classical meter combining dactyls and epitrites in five-foot lines; Pindar’s odes use this meter; Complex Greek lyrical meter combining different rhythmic feet; Lines with alternating dactyls and epitrites in pentameter length

Dactylo-epitritic pentameter: "Swift the chariot flies on high / Gods above watch mortals die" (mixes dactyls and epitrites across five metrical units).
Additional Notes
Dactylic-epitrite pentameter: A five-foot line combining dactylic feet (–∪∪) with epitrite feet (a four-syllable foot with one short and three long syllables in various arrangements).

Dactylo-epitritic pentameter combines dactyls and epitrites in five-foot line. Classical complex meter. Related to dactylo-epitrite stanza. Used in Greek choral odes—Pindar's signature meter. Extremely difficult in English.
Also Known As
Mixed dactylic-epitrite pentameter Hybrid five-foot classical verse Composite Greek pentameter Combined falling-epitritic measure Dactylo-epitritic pentameter Mixed five-foot classical Combined ancient measure Dual-pattern five-foot verse
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