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Greater Ionic

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 classical metrical foot composed of two long syllables followed by two short ones (— — ∪ ∪)

Detailed Definition
Greater Ionic is a classical metrical foot consisting of four syllables in the pattern long-long-short-short (— — ∪ ∪), used in Greek and Latin lyric poetry; it creates a stately, rolling rhythm often associated with choral odes or elevated thematic content in ancient verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
The metrical pattern “— — ∪ ∪” as used in Greek drama choruses; Latin hymns employing Greater Ionic for solemn effect; reconstructed lines from Alcman’s choral lyrics; the opening of Horace’s Odes occasionally adapting Ionic rhythms
Additional Notes
Greater Ionic: A classical metrical foot consisting of two long syllables followed by two short (— — ∪ ∪); used in Greek and Latin lyric poetry and related to Ionic a maiore (10163).
Also Known As
Ionic major Long-long-short-short foot — — ∪ ∪ meter Major Ionic
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