hex|am|e|ter

hex|am|e|ter «hehk SAM uh tuhr», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a line of poetry consisting of six feet or measures. Example: “This' is the/ for'est pri/ me'val. The/ mur'muring/ pines' and the/ hem'locks.”

2. (in Greek and Latin epic poetry) a line of six feet, of which the first four may be dactyls or spondees, the fifth is a dactyl, and the sixth is a spondee or trochee. A line in this form is dactylic hexameter.

–adj.

consisting of six feet or measures to a line of poetry.

╂[< Latin hexameter < Greek hexámetros < hexa- (< héx six) + métron measure]