iambus
9.9
Two syllables with the second one spoken more strongly
- noun
- /ˈaɪæmbəs/
- Literature
:
yambo
- Many classic poems employ the iambus to create a pleasing rhythm.
Examples
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In analyzing the sonnet, we noticed the frequent use of iambus throughout the verses.
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The poem's structure was enhanced by the elegant iambus used in its lines.
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I like this a lot, especially since this little Latin sentence has a nice iambus rhythm, fitting for a poet.
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Synonyms
1
9.3
A rhythm in poetry of two syllables with the second syllable stronger than the first
is the same concept but uses a different more classical form
Surface Forms
Etymology
Iambus comes from the old Greek word iambos, which named a short, often teasing poem. Its rhythm is a 'weak' syllable followed by a 'strong' one, so think of the phrase 'to be' where 'to' is weak and 'BE' is strong; that's why iambus means the metrical foot of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.