alexandrine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Academic, Technical (Poetry)
Quick answer
What does “alexandrine” mean?
A line of verse containing twelve syllables, or six iambic feet, with a caesura (pause) after the sixth syllable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A line of verse containing twelve syllables, or six iambic feet, with a caesura (pause) after the sixth syllable.
A specific metrical form prominent in French classical poetry and used in English, often to create a stately, grand, or archaic effect. It can also refer to something from Alexandria or in the Alexandrian style (literary or scholarly).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally rare in both varieties but is used in the study of English and French poetry.
Connotations
Connotes classical tradition, formal poetic structure, and sometimes (in English usage) a slightly old-fashioned or deliberately grandiloquent poetic style.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Used primarily in literary criticism, poetry workshops, and academic studies of prosody.
Grammar
How to Use “alexandrine” in a Sentence
The poem [verb: is written in/employs/features] alexandrines.The [adjective: concluding/heroic] alexandrine [verb: emphasizes/closes/falls].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alexandrine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The poem's alexandrine structure felt both grand and restrictive.
- He favoured an alexandrine cadence for his translations.
American English
- The alexandrine meter gave the verse a formal, classical feel.
- Her work was influenced by Alexandrian scholarship.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary studies, particularly French literature and poetry seminars. 'Alexandrian' may appear in historical/classical studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by those discussing poetry.
Technical
Term of art in prosody and metrics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alexandrine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alexandrine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alexandrine”
- Pronouncing it as /ˌælɛksˈændraɪn/ (like the name). Correct stress is on '-zan-'.
- Using it as a general adjective for anything related to Alexander. Its primary use is poetic.
- Forgetting the 'e' at the end when spelling.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it is the dominant meter in French classical poetry, the term is used in English prosody to describe any line of iambic hexameter, though it is less common than in French.
It is a rhythmic pause or break in the middle of the line, typically after the sixth syllable, which divides the twelve-syllable line into two balanced hemistiches of six syllables each.
Often it is not, but it may be capitalized when referring specifically to the French classical meter or in formal literary contexts (e.g., 'the Alexandrine').
In English, they are essentially synonymous. However, 'alexandrine' often carries the specific connotation of the French form with its strict caesura, whereas 'iambic hexameter' is a more generic metrical description.
A line of verse containing twelve syllables, or six iambic feet, with a caesura (pause) after the sixth syllable.
Alexandrine is usually literary, academic, technical (poetry) in register.
Alexandrine: in British English it is pronounced /ˌalɪɡˈzandriːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌælɪɡˈzændrɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None commonly associated]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ALEXANDER the Great; his name is long and grand, just like an ALEXANDRINE line of twelve syllables.
Conceptual Metaphor
POETIC FORM IS ARCHITECTURE (a line is a measured structure). GRANDEUR IS LENGTH (a long, stately line conveys importance).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these best describes an alexandrine?