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Full compound measure

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 complete metrical unit without missing syllables or truncation

Detailed Definition
A metrical unit with all syllable positions filled and no truncation or catalexis, representing complete realization of the metrical pattern. Contrasting with "headless" lines missing initial syllables or cataleptic lines missing final syllables, the full compound measure indicates metrical completeness. This technical term helps in precise metrical analysis, distinguishing between fully realized and deliberately shortened or varied metrical structures.
Example
Example in poetry:
Full compound measure appears in Anglo-Saxon verse: “whale-road” (kenning for sea); In Beowulf: “battle-sweat” for blood; In Old Norse poetry: “sky-candle” for sun; In modern poetry, Seamus Heaney uses “bog-land” as compound measure; Contemporary poet Eavan Boland revives compound diction in “The War Horse”.
Additional Notes
Technical term indicating metrical completeness without truncation or catalexis. Contrasts with "headless" lines or those missing final syllables. Important for precise metrical analysis.
Also Known As
Complete measure Full foot Unreduced unit Acatalectic measure Epitritic pentameter acatalectic
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