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Iambic trimeter catalectic

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

An iambic trimeter line lacking its final unstressed syllable, resulting in a three-beat line that ends emphatically on a stressed syllable.

Detailed Definition
Iambic trimeter catalectic is a three-foot iambic line missing its final unstressed syllable, resulting in a five-syllable line ending on a stress; this truncation creates a clipped, emphatic rhythm, often employed in classical meters adapted into English or in modern verse seeking metrical tension and abrupt closure.
Example
Example in poetry:
Iambic trimeter catalectic: Iambic trimeter missing the final unstressed syllable: “The wind / blows cold / and sharp” — ending on stress for intensity.
Additional Notes
Iambic trimeter with shortened final foot. Related: catalectic, trimeter. Study: how truncation affects trimeter's already short line.
Also Known As
Truncated iambic trimeter Shortened three-foot iambic Reduced trimeter Headless rising line
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