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Hexameter - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Hexameter is a metrical line in poetry consisting of six feet, commonly used in classical epic verse like Homer’s Iliad. It often follows a rhythmic pattern of long and short syllables.

hexameter

/hɛkˈsæmɪtər/ /hɛkˈsæmɪtə/

Definition:

A metrical line of verse consisting of six feet, commonly used in epic poetry.

Synonyms:

hexametric verse, heroic verse, epic meter

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

pentameter, tetrameter

Common Collocations:

dactylic hexameter, epic hexameter, Homeric hexameter

Derivatives:

hexametric, hexametrist

Usage Tips:

Use 'hexameter' to describe a six-foot poetic line, often found in classical epics like Homer's *Iliad*.

Common Phrases:

dactylic hexameter, Homeric hexameter, elegiac hexameter

Etymology:

From Greek *hex* (six) + *metron* (measure), referring to the six metrical feet in the line.

Examples:

  • 1. The poem was written in dactylic hexameter for a grand effect.
  • 2. Virgil's *Aeneid* uses hexameter to create rhythmic storytelling.
  • 3. She struggled to compose a perfect hexameter line in Latin class.
  • 4. Hexameter gives epic poetry its distinctive cadence and flow.

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