iambus

American  

[ahy-am-buhs] / aɪˈæm bəs /

noun

iambi, plural iambuses plural

1. iamb.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• iambi
  plural
• iambuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of iambus

1580–90; < Latin < Greek íambos

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

iambus iambi iambuses

This may occur when the accent is upon the last syllable of the foot; that is, when the foot is an iambus or an anapest.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)

The daintiest alternation of iambus and trochee is joined to the serpent's cunning in swiftly tripping dactyls.

From Shandygaff by Morley, Christopher

Archilochus made use of the iambus and the trochee, and organized them into the two forms of metre known as the iambic trimeter and the trochaic tetrameter.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 "Aram, Eugene" to "Arcueil" by Various

Pherecratian, consisting of three feet, a trochee, spondee, or iambus in the first place, followed by a dactyl and spondee.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by Dunlop, John

There can be no very general agreement among readers as to the degree of accent necessary to change a pair of syllables from an "iambus" to a "pyrrhic" or a "spondee."

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald

Bibaculus wrote poems against the monarchical party; these are referred to as iambi by Quintilian, x.

From The Student's Companion to Latin Authors by Middleton, George

Here the tendency is to use iambi and anapests in alternate feet; see especially lines 2, 3, and 5.

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald

Here frequent iambi are substituted for anapests; as in line 1, second and fourth feet; lines 2 and 3, fifth foot; line 5, third foot.

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald

These specimens, as is usual in anapestic verse, show considerable freedom in the treatment of the part of the foot containing the light syllables, substituted iambi being very common.

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald

Robert darted to the door, and rushed to the inn, leaving Caumill describing iambi on the road behind him.

From Robert Falconer by MacDonald, George

Trimeter iambus, consisting of six feet, which are generally all iambuses.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by Dunlop, John

It does not have to consist of five iambuses only, but other feet may be substituted almost at the caprice of the poet.

From The Literature of Ecstasy by Mordell, Albert

It was not by chance that the line of five iambuses became the dominant metre of our language.

From Writings in the United Amateur, 1915-1922 by Lovecraft, H. P. (Howard Phillips)

Thus we have learned to scan lines by iambuses, or rather by their accentual imitations, and a perfect line would consist of ten syllables, of which the alternate ones bore a rhythmical stress.

From The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] Introduction and Publisher's Advertising by Clark, William George

But the tendency of the Alexandrine consisting merely of the usual iambuses, is to convey slowness—although it conveys this idea feebly, on account of conveying it indirectly.

From Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 1 January 1848 by Conrad, Robert Taylor