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Trimeter acatalectic

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 with no syllables missing, preserving full metrical integrity

Detailed Definition
Trimeter acatalectic is a complete three-foot line with no omitted syllables, maintaining the full metrical integrity of its pattern (e.g., three iambs: da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM); this regularity supports clarity and musicality, frequently employed in children’s verse, hymns, and epigrams where rhythmic predictability enhances accessibility.
Example
Example in poetry:
Trimeter acatalectic (complete three feet) appears in Greek lyric; modern example: A.E. Stallings uses it in “Sestina: Like” for classical precision; trimeter acatalectic avoids truncation for rhythmic stability; it’s suited to epigram and song; this form values metrical integrity; it contrasts with catalectic (incomplete) trimeter.
Additional Notes
Trimeter line with complete final foot (no syllables missing). See also catalectic trimeter which drops final syllable(s). Common in hymns and ballads for rhythmic completeness.
Also Known As
Complete trimeter Full three-foot Unshortened trimeter Catalexis-free trimeter
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