Home › Glossary › Letter S

sacred measure

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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 metrical form suited to religious verse, characterized by regular beats for group singing

Detailed Definition
A unit or pattern of verse imbued with sacred associations, often due to its use in liturgical contexts or devotional works; sacred measures may follow metrical forms established in hymnody or scripture readings, carrying cultural resonance.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Gregorian chant-based poetry, sacred measure uses long-short syllabic patterns echoing liturgical rhythm; In George Herbert’s “Easter Wings,” line length mirrors spiritual ascent/descent as sacred measure; Contemporary poet Mary Karr uses iambic hymn meter in “Sinners Welcome” as sacred measure; In Sufi ghazals, rhythmic repetition of radif enacts sacred measure; Student example: alternating 8-6 syllable lines invoking prayer cadence.
Additional Notes
Sacred measure refers to metrical patterns used in religious or liturgical poetry across traditions. Related to orthodox hymn stanza and Eastern liturgical unit. Often tied to ritual function—note how rhythm supports memorization, chant, or communal participation.
Also Known As
Sacred rhythm Holy measure Divine meter Liturgical cadence Hymn meter Hymnal stanza
Skip to main content