Metre

(Greek, "measure")

The rhythm of verse, reduceable to one of four kinds, accentual, syllabic, accentual-syllabic, and quantitative. Also sometimes called ‘number(s).’

 

  • Falling metre: trochees and dactyls, i.e., a stressed syllable followed by one or two unstressed syllables.
  • Rising metre: iambs and anapests, i.e., one or two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one.