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Dimeter hypermetric

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 two-foot line extended by extra syllables, creating an overflowing, emphatic short verse.

Detailed Definition
Dimeter hypermetric adds surplus syllables to a dimeter, disrupting brevity for intensity, seen in Old English riddles for surprise. It appears in modernist fragments to convey excess emotion; poets employ it for contrast, where the extension amplifies brevity's power, ideal for epigrammatic or lyrical bursts that punch above their weight in anthologies or songs.
Example
Example in poetry:
Dimeter hypermetric adds an extra syllable to a dimeter line, as in "The wind blows soft, the night is cold" (hypermetric dimeter); "The stars shine bright, the air is still" (hypermetric); "The fire burns with steady flame" (hypermetric dimeter); "The bells ring out, the night is deep" (hypermetric); "The heart beats strong, the soul is free" (hypermetric dimeter); "The moon rises, the world is calm" (hypermetric dimeter).
Additional Notes
Dimeter hypermetric extends a two-foot line with extra syllables beyond the norm, creating overflow; this excess generates emphasis or surprise, useful in epigrammatic or satirical verse where brevity meets impact.
Also Known As
Overflowing dimeter expanded dimeter
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