What does amphimacer mean?
An amphimacer is a metrical foot made up of three syllables in a long–short–long pattern. In dactylic hexameter, it may occur in the fifth foot, where its two long syllables enclose a single short syllable. The term is principally used in the study of verse and is encountered in literary criticism, classical scholarship, and detailed analyses of rhythm. It should not be confused with a dactyl, whose pattern is long–short–short, or an amphibrach, whose pattern is short–long–short. The word is also encountered in the variant form amphimacrus. Although obscure outside technical discussion, an amphimacer is useful to anyone learning the vocabulary of English and classical prosody because it identifies a distinctive three-syllable rhythm and helps explain how poets vary the conventional structure of dactylic hexameter.
nounA metrical foot consisting of a long syllable, a short syllable, and a long syllable (long–short–long), especially one occurring in the fifth foot of a dactylic hexameter.
- A metrical foot of three syllables, long–short–long, especially one appearing in the fifth foot of a dactylic hexameter.
"The scansion identifies an amphimacer in the fifth foot of the line."
"In this passage, the fifth foot forms an amphimacer and gives the line an emphatic central syllable."
"Her essay on dactylic hexameter notes an amphimacer in the fifth foot of the quotation."
The ordinary plural is used when referring to several instances of the metrical foot.
"The analysis identifies two amphimacers in the poem."
A dactylic hexameter can place an amphimacer in its fifth foot, bookending one short syllable with two long ones.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does amphimacer come from?
The term comes from Ancient Greek ἀμφίμακρος (amphímakros), literally “long on both sides,” formed from ἀμφί (amphí), “on both sides,” and μακρός (makrós), “long.” It was adopted as a technical term in metrical studies, with amphimacrus serving as an alternative English spelling.
Related word forms
How amphimacer is actually used
This is specialized terminology used chiefly in prosody, literary criticism, and discussions of classical or English verse. It is not part of ordinary everyday vocabulary and has no significant regional restriction.
Easily confused with amphimacer
A dactyl follows a long–short–short pattern, whereas an amphimacer follows a long–short–long pattern.
An amphibrach follows a short–long–short pattern, while an amphimacer has long syllables at both ends.