hypermetric, a.
(haɪpəˈmɛtrɪk)
[f. Gr. ὑπέρµετρ-ος (see prec.) + -ic; cf. µετρικός metric.]
1. Pros. Of a ‘verse’ or line: Having one or more syllables beyond those normal to the metre; having a redundant syllable or syllables. Also said of the redundant syllable. Used esp. of Old English verse.
| 1865 Athenæum No. 1975. 302/3 Hypermetric lines. 1887 Pall Mall G. 29 Aug. 3/2 ‘While heav'n is silver o'er him, and underfoot’, for example, is hypermetric. 1892 F. J. Mather in Mod. Lang. Notes VII. 200 It will be well to note the occurrences of hypermetric lines in the different poems. 1906 G. P. Krapp Andreas p. xlvii, Beowulf (which contains twelve hypermetric lines). 1958 A. J. Bliss Metre of Beowulf 96 The distribution of hypermetric verses varies from poem to poem. 1970 M. Swanton Dream of Rood 61 Blocks of hypermetric verse used contrapuntally to accommodate significantly more complex thematic material. |
2. gen. Beyond measure, excessive, immoderate.
| 1854 Lady Lytton Behind the Scenes ii. viii. II. 34 His sublimated hypermetric impudence. |