hypermeter

1 of 2

noun

hy·​per·​me·​ter hī-ˈpər-mə-tər 

1

: a verse marked by hypercatalexis

2

: a period comprising more than two or three cola

hypermetric

ˌhī-pər-ˈme-trik 

adjective

or hypermetrical

ˌhī-pər-ˈme-tri-kəl 

hypermetric

2 of 2

adjective

hy·​per·​metric

variants or hypermetrical

¦hīpə(r)+ 

: exceeding the normal measure

specifically : having a redundant syllable

a poem with numerous hypermetric lines

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Late Latin hypermetrus hypercatalectic, from Greek hypermetros beyond measure, beyond the meter, from hyper- + metron measure, meter

Adjective

Greek hypermetros beyond measure, beyond the meter + English -ic or -ical

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1