Iamb

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈaɪəm/

Definitions

1. A rhythmic component in verse that includes a pair of syllables, marked by an unstressed syllable preceding a stressed one
2. A poetic measure characterized by a two-syllable sequence with the first syllable being unstressed and the second syllable being stressed
3. A metrical unit in poetry consisting of two syllables where the first is unstressed and the second is stressed

Etymology: The Greek word "iambos" was tied to ritual mockery. Ancient Greek poets used this metre for sharp, biting verse, and the name appears to connect it to the festival of Demeter, where women traded jokes and insults. The metre carried that lively, combative tone with it, which is why the poetry it shaped was known for satire rather than solemnity. The Latin form "iambus" came from that Greek source and was the name English writers used for the metre in earlier centuries. The word "iamb" reached English through French "iambe" in the mid-1800s, and it displaced the older "iambus" as the usual term. Both forms share the same classical origin, so the change was one of spelling and form rather than meaning.

Synonyms: iambus