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Paeonic trimeter

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 three-foot line of paeons (four-syllable feet with variable stress patterns)

Detailed Definition
Paeonic trimeter is a metrical line composed of three paeonic feet, each typically consisting of one stressed and three unstressed syllables (or the inverse in quantitative meter); though rare in English poetry, it appears in avant-garde works seeking to disrupt conventional iambic patterns.
Example
Example in poetry:
Paeonic trimeter (u – – – | u – – – | u – – –) appears in Greek lyric for processional rhythm; rare in English, but A.M. Juster adapts it in neo-Latin hymns; paeonic foot (one short, three long) creates lilting, irregular cadence; modern formalist Timothy Steele experiments with paeonic measures; this meter suits ceremonial or meditative themes; it’s distinct from iambic regularity.
Additional Notes
Three paeonic feet per line balances unusual rhythm with manageability. The paeon's 1:3 stress ratio creates distinctive flow. Practice identifying paeonic patterns in classical verse before attempting composition.
Also Known As
Four-syllable trimeter Paeonic three-foot Greek middle variable Mixed-stress trimeter
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