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Ebb meter

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 rhythm that mimics the receding motion of ocean waves, often using falling feet (e.g., trochees or dactyls) and diminishing stress.

Detailed Definition
Ebb meter describes a rhythmic pattern that mimics the receding motion of ocean tides—typically through decreasing line length, softening consonants, or fading stresses—creating a sense of withdrawal, loss, or quietude; it is used in elegiac or meditative verse to evoke natural cycles and emotional retreat.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ebb meter: Ebb meter mimics the receding tide through decreasing line lengths, as in some experimental poems where stanzas visually and rhythmically taper toward silence.
Additional Notes
Ebb meter: Not a standard term; possibly refers to metrical patterns mimicking tidal ebb (recession), suggesting decrescendo or waning rhythm—may be confused with “ebb and flow” of iambic/trochaic alternation.
Also Known As
Receding rhythm Declining meter Retreating cadence Waning measure
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