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Pyrrhic dimeter

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 two-foot line consisting entirely of pyrrhic feet (∪ ∪), often used as substitution in iambic or trochaic verse

Detailed Definition
Pyrrhic dimeter is a two-foot line composed entirely of pyrrhic feet (four unstressed syllables), creating a light, rapid, or breathless effect; it is uncommon as a standalone form but appears within longer lines to accelerate pace or convey agitation.
Example
Example in poetry:
A Pyrrhic dimeter example: “In the” (unstressed-unstressed + unstressed-unstressed); In Shakespeare’s “Troilus and Cressida,” “To be or” contains pyrrhic dimeter within line; Contemporary experimental: “a of the” as pyrrhic dimeter highlighting metrical void; In Greek tragedy, pyrrhic dimeter often preceded spondaic resolution; Student exercise: “upon a” as pyrrhic foot repeated for dimeter effect.
Additional Notes
Two-foot line using pyrrhic feet (two unstressed syllables each). Creates extremely light, falling rhythm. Rare as sustained pattern. Usually functions as variation.
Also Known As
Double-pyrrhic Four-unstressed line All-light dimeter Weak-weak double
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