octosyllabic
- adjective
- /ˌɑktoʊsɪˈlæbɪk/
- Literature
- The poem is written in octosyllabic lines.
Examples
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She challenged her students to write an octosyllabic poem for homework.
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An octosyllabic verse often has a rhythmic quality.
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In French medieval poetry, octosyllabic structure was particularly common.
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The poet favored the octosyllabic line in his verse composition.
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Many classic poems are composed using octosyllabic lines, giving them a distinct rhythm.
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She decided to create an octosyllabic poem to explore the beauty of form in her writing.
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In traditional literature, octosyllabic meter is often used to convey lyrical elegance.
Surface Forms
Morphology
octosyllabic = octosyllable (semi-transparent) = octo + syllable + ic
Forming an adjective with -ic from the noun 'octosyllable' is a regular derivation and the relation is direct for learners who recognize the base.
Etymology
Octosyllabic comes from two parts: octo- meaning 'eight' and syllable meaning 'a unit of sound' in a word. So, octosyllabic describes a line or verse that has 'eight' syllables, like a short poem line made of eight spoken beats.