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truncated 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 dimeter line in which one or more syllables are missing, typically at the beginning or end.

Detailed Definition
Truncated dimeter is a two-beat line missing one or more expected syllables, often creating a stark, epigrammatic effect; its brevity intensifies each word, as in the terse lines of haiku or modern minimalist verse where omission becomes expressive, conveying restraint, shock, or existential weight through rhythmic austerity.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Short and sweet” — two metrical feet instead of expected four; “Come now” — dimeter truncated to monometer; “Go home” — single foot as truncated dimeter; Used for abruptness or emphasis
Additional Notes
truncated dimeter|A line of poetry consisting of only two metrical feet (di is two) that is further shortened (truncated) by the omission of one or more unstressed syllables, often used for emphasis or a stark, clipped effect.
Also Known As
Truncated two-foot Curt dimeter Shortened two-beat line Abbreviated binary meter Anapestic dimeter catalectic Dimeter brachycatalectic Shortened two-foot iambic Shortened two-foot line Truncated iambic dimeter clipped dimeter Dimeter truncated
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