Trochee

In English poetic metre and modern linguistics, a trochee (ˈtroʊkiː) is a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one. But in Latin and Ancient Greek poetic metre, a trochee is a heavy syllable followed by a light one (also described as a long syllable followed by a short one). In this respect, a trochee is the reverse of an iamb. Thus the Latin word íbī "there", because of its short-long rhythm, in Latin metrical studies is considered to be an iamb, but since it is stressed on the first syllable, in modern linguistics it is considered to be a trochee. The adjective form is trochaic. The English word trochee is itself trochaic since it is composed of the stressed syllable 'troʊ followed by the unstressed syllable kiː. Another name formerly used for a trochee was a choree (ˈkɔːriː), or choreus. Trochee comes from French trochée, adapted from Latin trochaeus, originally from the Greek τροχός (trokhós), 'wheel', from the phrase τροχαῖος πούς (trokhaîos poús), literally 'running foot'; it is connected with the word τρέχω trékhō, 'I run'. The less-often used word choree comes from χορός, khorós, 'dance'; both convey the "rolling" rhythm of this metrical foot. The phrase was adapted into English in the late 16th century. There was a well-established ancient tradition that trochaic rhythm is faster than iambic. When used in drama it is often associated with lively situations. One ancient commentator notes that it was named from the metaphor of people running (ἐκ μεταφορᾶς τῶν τρεχόντων) and the Roman metrician Marius Victorinus notes that it was named from its running and speed (dictus a cursu et celeritate). Trochaic meter is sometimes seen among the works of William Shakespeare: Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Perhaps owing to its simplicity, though, trochaic meter is fairly common in nursery rhymes: Peter, Peter pumpkin-eater Had a wife and couldn't keep her. Trochaic verse is also well known in Latin poetry, especially of the medieval period.