Meter \Me"ter\, Metre \Me"tre\, n. [OE. metre, F. m[`e]tre, L.
metrum, fr. Gr. ?; akin to Skr. m[=a] to measure. See Mete
to measure.]
1. Rhythmical arrangement of syllables or words into verses,
stanzas, strophes, etc.; poetical measure, depending on
number, quantity, and accent of syllables; rhythm;
measure; verse; also, any specific rhythmical
arrangements; as, the Horatian meters; a dactylic meter.
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The only strict antithesis to prose is meter.
--Wordsworth.
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2. A poem. [Obs.] --Robynson (More's Utopia).
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3. A measure of length, equal to 39.37 English inches, the
standard of linear measure in the metric system of weights
and measures. It was intended to be, and is very nearly,
the ten millionth part of the distance from the equator to
the north pole, as ascertained by actual measurement of an
arc of a meridian. See Metric system, under Metric.
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Common meter (Hymnol.), four iambic verses, or lines,
making a stanza, the first and third having each four
feet, and the second and fourth each three feet; --
usually indicated by the initials C. M.
Long meter (Hymnol.), iambic verses or lines of four feet
each, four verses usually making a stanza; -- commonly
indicated by the initials L. M.
Short meter (Hymnol.), iambic verses or lines, the first,
second, and fourth having each three feet, and the third
four feet. The stanza usually consists of four lines, but
is sometimes doubled. Short meter is indicated by the
initials S. M.
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