Definition of pentameter
: a line of verse consisting of five metrical feet
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Examples of pentameter in a Sentence
a poem written in iambic pentameter
Recent Examples of pentameter from the Web
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Caius Martius Coriolanus—a scary-ass soldier hell-bent on destroying Rome—is unburdened of iambic pentameter, girded with guns, and anointed with rich, moody lighting courtesy of the cinematographer from The Hurt Locker.
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Did You Know?
In a line of poetry written in perfect iambic pentameter, there are five unstressed syllables, each of which is followed by a stressed syllable. Each pair of syllables is a metrical foot called an iamb. Much of the greatest poetry in English has been written in iambic pentameter; Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton used it more than any other meter. Robert Frost's line "I'm going out to clean the pasture spring" is an example of it; his "And miles to go before I sleep" is instead an example of iambic tetrameter, with only four accented syllables.
Origin and Etymology of pentameter
Latin, from Greek pentametros having five metrical feet, from penta- + metron measure — more at measure
Other Literature Terms
PENTAMETER Defined for English Language Learners
pentameter
playDefinition of pentameter for English Language Learners
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: a rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line
Learn More about pentameter
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See words that rhyme with pentameter Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pentameter
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