A verse is generally (but not always) written as one line. Hence, the words “verse” and “line” are often used as synonyms.
[2534.] In the present work, the final syllable of each verse is marked long or short as the rhythm may require, without reference to its quantity in a given example; and in the general schemes it is to be understood that the final syllable is syllaba anceps ([2533]) unless the contrary is expressly stated.
[2535.] Dicolic and Asynartetic Verses. A verse which consists of two rhythmical series (or cola) is called dicolic. If the series of which the verse is made up are quasi-independent of each other, so that hiatus or syllaba anceps occurs in the caesura, the verse is styled asynartetic (Gr. ἀσυνάρτητος, not joined together).
[2536.] Names of Verses. Verses are called trochaic, iambic, dactylic, &c., according to their fundamental (or characteristic) feet. A verse which contains one foot (or one dipody if iambic, trochaic, or anapaestic; see [2531]) is called a monometer, one of two a dimeter, one of three a trimeter, one of four a tetrameter, one of five a pentameter, and one of six a hexameter.
Trochaic, iambic, and anapaestic verses are often named by Latin adjectives in -ārius (used as nouns) denoting the number of feet. Thus, such a verse of eight feet is called an octōnārius, one of seven a septēnārius, one of six a sēnārius, &c. A short verse which is employed to close a system ([2547]), or to mark a metrical or musical transition between longer verses, is called a clausula.
[2537.] Catalexis. A verse, the last foot of which is incomplete, is said to suffer Catalexis (Gr. κατάληξις, a stopping short) or to be catalectic; one of which the last foot is complete is called acatalectic.
It is usually the last part of the foot that is omitted; but (according to the theory now generally accepted) in catalectic iambic verses it is the last arsis that is omitted, the preceding thesis being protracted ([2516]) to compensate for the loss, thus: ⏑ ⏗́ –́
[2538.] A verse in which both the last arsis and the next to the last are suppressed, so that a whole foot appears to be wanting, is called brachycatalectic.