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Double-short five-foot

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 featuring double-short (pyrrhic) metrical components

Detailed Definition
Double-short five-foot is a metrical line composed of five metrical feet, each consisting of two short (unstressed) syllables, creating a rapid, light rhythm uncommon in English but occasionally adapted for experimental or mimetic effects.
Example
Example in poetry:
A line like “˘ ˘ – – | ˘ ˘ – – | ˘ ˘ – – | ˘ ˘ – – | ˘ ˘ – – | ˘ ˘ – –” (six Ionic feet) adapted into English pentameter with double-short substitutions; In classical metrics, a pentameter variant using pyrrhic (double-short) feet within dactylic framework; A reconstructed Greek line: “πολλάκις ἐν μελέεσσιν” with internal pyrrhic elements; Latin elegiac couplets sometimes feature pentameter lines with double-short feet for rhythmic variation.
Additional Notes
Double-short five-foot refers to a pentameter line incorporating pyrrhic (˘ ˘) feet, often within Ionic or dactylic frameworks; rare in English but appears in classical adaptations.
Also Known As
Pyrrhic pentameter Ionic pentameter variant Five-foot pyrrhic line Ionic pentameter
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