CHOLIAMB Meaning and
Definition
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The term "choliamb" refers to a specific metrical foot used in ancient Greek poetry. It is a compound word derived from "cholios," meaning limping, and "iamb," a metrical foot consisting of two syllables with the first one unstressed and the second one stressed.
In essence, a choliamb is a foot consisting of a trochee (a metrical foot with the first syllable stressed and the second one unstressed) followed by an iamb. It can be illustrated as / - ˘, symbolizing that the first syllable is stressed, the second one is unstressed, and the third one is stressed. It creates a limping rhythm, resembling the uneven gait of a person with a limp, hence the name.
The choliamb is often associated with humorous or sarcastic poetry, as its irregular and jarring rhythm can evoke a sense of disruption or surprise. It introduces a sense of instability or discord in the normal flow of the poem, providing a distinctive effect.
While the choliamb is not as commonly employed as other metrical feet, such as the iambic pentameter or trochaic tetrameter, it has found usage in ancient Greek poetic works, including those by notable authors like Archilochus and Hipponax. Its distinctive pattern and associative connotations make it a valuable tool for poets seeking to evoke a specific rhythmic effect or satirical tone in their work.
Common Misspellings for CHOLIAMB
- xholiamb
- vholiamb
- fholiamb
- dholiamb
- cgoliamb
- cboliamb
- cnoliamb
- cjoliamb
- cuoliamb
- cyoliamb
- chiliamb
- chkliamb
- chlliamb
- chpliamb
- ch0liamb
- ch9liamb
- chokiamb
- chopiamb
- chooiamb
Etymology of CHOLIAMB
The word "choliamb" is derived from the Greek phrase "khól(i)os íambos", which means "limping iambus". "Khól(i)os" refers to a lame or crippled person, while "íambos" is a metrical foot consisting of one short syllable followed by one long syllable. The term "choliamb" was coined by the ancient Greek poet Hipponax to describe a specific metrical pattern that deviated from the traditional iambic meter by reversing the order of stresses.
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