Anapaest (Noun)
Meaning
A metrical unit with unstressed-unstressed-stressed syllables.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The line of poetry was written primarily in anapaest, creating a sense of rapid movement that mirrored the activity described.
- His professor pointed out that a common use of the anapaest was in many lighthearted, child-oriented nursery rhymes and children's songs.
- In poetry the anapaest can also simply be used in contrast with more serious metres to create an element of surprise or relief.
- Poets will often use an anapaest to signal an increase in action or in the emotional content of a scene.
- As part of his syllabus he was assigned to analyze a well-known poem and identify any instances of the anapaest.