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Under-extended five-foot

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 metrically incomplete or shortened pentameter line with reduced rhythmic length

Detailed Definition
Under-extended five-foot describes a pentameter line (typically iambic or dactylic) that contains fewer than the standard number of syllables or feet, yet functions as a complete metrical unit; this intentional shortening creates rhythmic emphasis, emotional compression, or syntactic urgency within the poem’s prosodic framework.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Upon the mountaintop I stood and—” (under-extended pentameter); “She walked the garden path with grace and—” (incomplete five-foot line); “The storm approached with thunderous might and—” (truncated epic line); “In halls of marble, silence reigned and—” (unfinished grandeur)
Additional Notes
Under-extended five-foot = fewer than five feet in a line labeled pentameter; often catalectic. Verify scansion—may signal emotional rupture or stylistic minimalism.
Also Known As
Under-extended pentameter Truncated five-foot line Shortened heroic measure Deficient pentameter Hypodactylic pentameter
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