Skip to main content
octameter

octameter

9.9
A line of poetry with eight beats
  • noun
  • /ɒkˈtæmətər/
  • Literature
translation icon : octámetro
  • An octameter consists of eight metrical feet.

Examples

  • The poet experimented with octameter to create an unusually long and rhythmic line.

  • It is rare to find English verses written entirely in octameter.

  • The rhythmic structure of octameter can be challenging to sustain throughout a poem.

  • Many poets use octameters to create rhythm.

  • The rhythmic structure of octameter is often used in classical poetry to enhance the flow of the lines.

  • An octameter is a line of poetry that contains eight metrical feet, making it one of the longer forms of verse.

  • In her latest collection, the poet included several poems written in octameter to experiment with varying line lengths.

How Many Feet

octameter
  • Literature
9.9
hexameter
  • Literature
1 9.6
pentameter
  • Literature
7 8.2
tetrameter
  • Literature
1 9.3
trimeter
  • Literature
8.5

Surface Forms

octameter singular
octameters plural

Morphology

octameter = meter (semi-transparent) = octa + meter

The word is built compositionally from 'octa-' meaning eight and 'meter', but the prosodic sense is specialized rather than immediately obvious to most learners.

Etymology

The word octameter comes from octa- meaning 'eight' and -meter meaning 'measure', as you see in octagon and the common word meter. So an octameter line is a line of poetry made of eight 'beats' or eight metrical feet.