Hypercatalectic (Adjective)
Meaning
(verse) having an extra syllable or syllables at the end of a metrically complete verse or in a metrical foot.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The poet's use of hypercatalectic verse added a musical quality to the narrative, as each stanza overflowed with an extra syllable or two.
- In ancient Greek poetry, hypercatalectic rhythms were used to convey strong emotions and to express lamentations and complaints.
- The poem's final line, with its hypercatalectic ending, left the reader with a sense of uncertainty and unresolved tension.
- By adding a hypercatalectic foot, the poet changed the meter of the verse and disrupted the expected rhythm, creating a sense of surprise.
- The poet's extensive use of hypercatalectic verse throughout the epic created a sense of organic and natural speech patterns.