Metre is a general term for the recurrence, within certain intervals, of syllables similarly affected.
Syllables may be similarly affected: 1. in respect to their quantities; 2. in respect to their accents; 3. in respect to their articulations.
1.
Pălāi kўnægĕtoūntă kāi mĕtroūmĕnōn.
Πᾰλᾱι κῠνη̄γε̆τοῡντᾰ κᾱι με̆τροῡμε̆νο̄ν.—Soph. Ajax, 3.
Here there is the recurrence of similar quantities.
2.
The wáy was lóng, the wínd was cóld.
Lay of the Last Minstrel.
Here there is the recurrence of similar accents.