heptameter

[ hep-tam-i-ter ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Prosody.

heptameter

/ ˌhɛptəˈmɛtrɪkəl; hɛpˈtæmɪtə /

1895–1900; < Medieval Latin heptametrum < Greek heptámetron a verse of seven feet. See hepta-, meter ²

Verses of seven and eight feet are rare; they are called heptameter and octameter, respectively.

The heptameter is usually divided into a tetrameter and a trimeter; the octameter, into two tetrameters.

Lumsden does not vary his measure, but preserves the iambic heptameter throughout.

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