amphimacer
- noun
- /ˌæm.fɪˈmeɪ.sɚ/
- Literature
- The first line begins with an iambic foot ("But lo!") followed by a caesura, a dactylic foot ("Arion"), and an amphimacer ("leaped on high").
Examples
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In his analysis, the critic pointed out the elegant use of amphimacer in the final stanza to highlight the poem's climax.
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The poem features several instances of amphimacer, creating a rhythmic emphasis that enhances its emotional impact.
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Many classic poems utilize the amphimacer to give a dynamic flow to their verses, balancing stress and rhythm.
Surface Forms
Morphology
amphimacer = amphi + macer
Although the form can be segmented into classical combining elements, these are learned/classical morphemes not productive in everyday English, so the meaning is not obvious to an average B1 learner.
Etymology
Amphimacer comes from Greek parts amphi- meaning 'both' and makros meaning 'long', so it literally means 'long at both ends'. In poetry, an amphimacer is a three-syllable foot with a strong, weak, strong pattern, so the origin helps you remember the long-short-long rhythm.
