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hypermetrical

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

Extending beyond the normal metrical length of a line or verse unit

Detailed Definition
Hypermetrical describes any line or foot that exceeds the standard metrical pattern through added syllables or beats, often for expressive emphasis or rhythmic variation; while sometimes considered a flaw in strict prosody, hypermetrical lines are strategically used by poets like Whitman or Hopkins to enact breath, overflow, or disruption, turning metrical “excess” into a vehicle for emotional or thematic intensity.
Example
Example in poetry:
Poetic line containing more syllables than meter allows; Overfull line creating metrical tension; Extra beats added intentionally; Hypermetrical rhythm breaking norm.
Additional Notes
Hypermetrical describes syllables beyond the expected metrical count that don’t disrupt perceived rhythm. Related to syllabic surplus and non-counted syllable. Common in song or speech-based verse—prioritize auditory flow over strict scansion.
Also Known As
Overfull meter Overextended line Hypermetrical verse Long-measured poetry Hypercatalectic
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