amphibrach

noun

Meaning

A metrical foot consisting of one short or unstressed syllable followed by one long or stressed syllable, followed by another short or unstressed syllable.

Examples

  • The poet utilized the amphibrach to give the verse a galloping, energetic rhythm.
  • Students often struggle to identify the amphibrach because it is less common in English poetry than the iamb.

Synonyms: metrical foot, rhythmic unit