Poetic Terms Dictionary
Meter & Rhythm

Spondee

From Greek spondeios: a foot used in solemn libation songs. Rare as a sustained metre in English; appears as a variant foot within iambic lines for emphasis.

Definition

A metrical foot of two equally stressed syllables (— —), used to slow the line and add weight or gravity.

Example

'Heartbreak,' 'moonrise,' 'cold steel' — two heavy syllables; also 'dead stop,' 'bright stars.'

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