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masculine-ending line

Structure
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 line ending in a stressed syllable, also called a masculine ending

Detailed Definition
Masculine-ending line is a metrical line that concludes on a stressed syllable, creating a strong, decisive cadence; common in iambic pentameter couplets or heroic verse, it provides rhythmic closure and contrasts with feminine endings that trail off on an unstressed syllable.
Example
Example in poetry:
masculine-ending line (A line of poetry that ends on a stressed syllable); "Whose woods these are I think I know"; "The rain in Spain falls main-ly on the plain"
Additional Notes
A line of verse that ends on a stressed syllable, often creating a strong, firm conclusion; the most common line ending in English verse, contrasting with a feminine-ending line (ending on an unstressed syllable).
Also Known As
Masculine cadence Strong ending Stressed close
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