unmetrical
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking metrical structure: "unmetrical" describes something that does not follow the regular rhythmic pattern or meter typical of poetry or verse.
- Violating poetic meter: It refers to language or verse that does not conform to the established rules of metrical composition, such as stressed and unstressed syllables in a line.
Usage Examples
- (The lines did not follow a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.)
- (The verse deliberately avoids meter for stylistic effect.)
- (The translated version violated the meter of the original poem.)
Advanced Usage
"unmetrical verse": a type of poetry that does not adhere to a fixed meter, often used in free verse or experimental forms.
- The anthology features unmetrical verse that prioritizes imagery over rhythmic regularity. (Poetry without a standard meter.)
"to be unmetrical": to lack a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
- The passage is unmetrical, making it difficult to scan for traditional poetic analysis. (The text cannot be analyzed for meter.)
Variants and Related Words
Unmetrically (adverb): in a manner that lacks meter.
- The lines were written unmetrically, with no regard for rhythm. (Written without metrical structure.)
Metrical (adj): relating to or composed in meter.
- The sonnet is strictly metrical, following iambic pentameter. (Adhering to a regular poetic rhythm.)
Meter (n): the rhythmical pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in verse.
- The poem's meter is iambic. (The rhythmic structure of the poem.)
Synonyms
Nonmetrical: not conforming to a regular meter.
- Nonmetrical poetry is common in modern free verse.
Irregular: not following a regular pattern.
- The irregular rhythm of the text makes it feel unmetrical.
Related Idioms
- Unmetrical verse: a term used to describe poetry that lacks a fixed meter, often synonymous with free verse.
- Many contemporary poets prefer unmetrical verse to express natural speech patterns. (Poetry without a set rhythmic pattern.)