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decameter

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 line consisting of ten syllables or ten metrical feet

Detailed Definition
Decameter is a metrical line containing either ten syllables or ten metrical feet; though rare in English (where “decasyllabic” usually refers to ten syllables), true decameter with ten feet is extremely long and mostly theoretical or used for comic effect.
Example
Example in poetry:
Decameter: Lines of ten metrical feet; John Milton’s epic blank verse approaching decameter lines; Rare usage in English poetry; Classical hexameter as a close analogue in length
Additional Notes
decameter: A line of verse consisting of ten metrical feet; extremely long and uncommon in English, often broken into two shorter lines; do not confuse with decasyllabic (10 syllables).
Also Known As
Ten-measure verse Ten-foot line Decapodic verse Ten-stress line Decasyllable
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