Octosyllable (Noun)
Meaning
A verse line having eight syllables or a poem of octosyllabic lines.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The poet used an octosyllable line structure throughout the entire ballad to create a flowing rhythm.
- The ballad form traditionally consists of quatrains with an octosyllable and a six-syllable line alternation.
- A classic example of an octosyllable is the first line of the famous limerick by Edward Lear, "There was an Old Man with a beard".
- This specific meter gives an octosyllable its distinctive lilt, making it well-suited for many poetic forms.
- In the style of the original, he tried to write a poem consisting entirely of octosyllable lines.