1. a line of verse that exceeds the normal metrical pattern by one or more syllables, especially in classical or formal poetry
Usage: technical term in prosody and poetry analysis; also called hypermetric or catalectic line

Examples

• The poet used a hypermeter in the final line to create an unexpected rhythmic effect.
• In classical Greek drama, a hypermeter sometimes appears at the end of a scene for emphasis.
• The analysis of the sonnet revealed several instances of hypermeter that disrupted the expected iambic pentameter.
• Scholars debate whether the hypermeter in this passage was intentional or a scribal error.
• The hypermeter adds an extra beat that gives the line a distinctive cadence.