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full dimeter

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 containing exactly two complete feet, without omission of expected syllables (i.e., not catalectic or truncated).

Detailed Definition
Full dimeter indicates a complete two-foot metrical line containing all expected syllables without truncation. This intact dimeter maintains regular binary rhythm, providing stable structural foundation for poems employing shorter lines.
Example
Example in poetry:
Complete two-foot line with all syllables present; Dimeter with both feet metrically intact; Full binary measure without catalexis; "Make valleys slightly higher" demonstrates full dimeter pattern
Additional Notes
A complete two-foot metrical line with all syllables present, the baseline dimeter without catalexis or extra syllables. Provides a brief, contained rhythmic unit. Contrasts with catalectic dimeter, which is missing a syllable. Common in short lyric forms and song. Learners should use full dimeter as a reference point when analyzing truncated or extended variants in the same poem.
Also Known As
Complete two-foot line Whole dimeter Full binary meter Dimeter acatalectic
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