sprung rhythm

noun

1. a poetic rhythm characterized by the use of strongly accented syllables, often in juxtaposition, accompanied by an indefinite number of unaccented syllables in each foot, of which the accented syllable is the essential component.

sprung rhythm

noun

1. prosody a type of poetic rhythm characterized by metrical feet of irregular composition, each having one strongly stressed syllable, often the first, and an indefinite number of unstressed syllables

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprung rhythm¹

Term introduced by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1877)

Example Sentences

“It is a sprung rhythm,” he said, his voice stiff and offended.

Read more on Literature

A contemporary copy in A has this note: 'Written in sprung rhythm, the third line has 3 beats, the rest 4.

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