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.
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.