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Full four-foot line

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 tetrameter line composed of four complete metrical feet, maintaining standard length and rhythmic regularity without shortening.

Detailed Definition
A full four-foot line is a verse line containing four metrical feet, such as iambic tetrameter, which offers a brisk, songlike rhythm often used in ballads, hymns, and light verse; its moderate length balances musicality with narrative efficiency.
Example
Example in poetry:
John Dryden’s “Absalom and Achitophel” uses full four-foot line (iambic tetrameter): “In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin”; Emily Dickinson’s hymn meter often employs full four-foot lines; modern example: W.H. Auden’s “As I Walked Out One Evening” uses it for ballad-like rhythm; full four-foot line maintains regular metrical completion without truncation; it’s common in hymns, ballads, and satires; this line balances brevity and musicality.
Additional Notes
Full four-foot line: A metrical line that adheres strictly to four complete metrical feet, such as a pure iambic tetrameter; a staple of many ballad and folk forms.
Also Known As
Tetrameter verse four-foot meter full tetrameter Acatalectic tetrameter Complete tetrameter Untruncated tetrameter
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