Tetrasyllable

A tetrasyllable is a word (or a metrical foot of verse) composed of 4 syllables.

Tetrasyllables in Classical meter

("¯" = long syllable; "v" = short syllable)

˘	˘	˘	˘	tetrabrach, proceleusmatic
¯	˘	˘	˘	primus paeon
˘	¯	˘	˘	secundus paeon
˘	˘	¯	˘	tertius paeon
˘	˘	˘	¯	quartus paeon
¯	¯	˘	˘	major ionic, double trochee
˘	˘	¯	¯	minor ionic, double iamb
¯	˘	¯	˘	ditrochee
˘	¯	˘	¯	diiamb
¯	˘	˘	¯	choriamb
˘	¯	¯	˘	antispast
˘	¯	¯	¯	first epitrite
¯	˘	¯	¯	second epitrite
¯	¯	˘	¯	third epitrite
¯	¯	¯	˘	fourth epitrite
¯	¯	¯	¯	dispondee

Tetrasyllables used in English

Choriamb

Main article: Choriamb

Formed of 2 unstressed syllables both preceded and followed by a stressed syllalble (equivalent to a trochee followed by an iamb), the choriamb is often used in iambic pentameter following a caesura, a technique known as choriambic substitution or trochaic inversion. Examples:

BEARing the WANton BURthen OF the PRIME,

(William Shakespeare, Sonnet XCVII)

SEAson of MISTS and MELLow FRUITfulNESS

[...]

DROWS'D with the FUME of POPpies, WHILE thy HOOK

SPARES the next SWATH and ALL its TWINed FLOWers:

[...}

STEADy thy LADen HEAD aCROSS a BROOK

(John Keats, "To Autumn")

JEWels of GLITTering GREEN, long MISTS of Gold

[...]

RUFfle the DARK. The LITtle LIVES that LIE

(AE, "A Summer Night")

Double iamb

Formed of 2 unstressed syllalbles followed by 2 stressed syllables (equivalent to a pyrrhic foot followed by a spondee, the double iamb is sometimes used in iambic verse. Example:

The SONGS i PLAY on the WHITE KEYS,

(George J. Dance, "Song on the Black Keys")

See also

• Glossary of poetry terms