enjambement

9.9

The continuation of a sentence from one line of poetry to the next without a pause

noun
/ɛnˈdʒæmbəmənt/

Literature

: enjambement

Many modern poems feature enjambement to connect images and ideas across lines.

Examples

The poet used enjambement to create a sense of movement and urgency in her verses.
The lack of punctuation at the end of the line is a clear example of enjambement in this stanza.
An enjambement enhances the poem.
Did you see the enjambement?
Many modern poems feature enjambement to connect images and ideas across lines.
The lack of punctuation at the end of the line is a clear example of enjambement in this stanza.
The poet used enjambement to create a sense of movement and urgency in her verses.

Synonyms

run-on

vsenjambement

Literature

3 7.3

Continuing the sentence past a line break without a pause

focuses on structural continuation rather than the flowing effect

enjambment

vsenjambement

Literature

1 9.9

A sentence in a poem that continues into the next line without a pause

is identical in sense but differs by spelling form

Antonyms

disjunction

2 8.2

A gap or lack of connection between things

Surface Forms

enjambement singular

enjambements plural

Etymology

Enjambement comes from French parts en- ('in') and jambe ('leg'), so it gives the image of 'stepping over'. Think of a sentence in a poem that 'steps over' the end of a line with no pause; that's why enjambement makes the meaning move on into the next line.