Equivalence
Equivalence in quantitative verse is the counting rule that treats one long syllable as equal to two short syllables. This lets a poet or reader measure lines by syllable weight rather than by stress, so a pattern can be balanced even when the sounds are different.
Example
- u u | - u u
One long beat balances two light ones
so the line keeps its measure.
Related Definitions
[n] qualities that are comparable; "no comparison between the two books"; "beyond compare"
[n] essential equality and interchangeability
[n] a state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced; "on a par with the best"
Related Terms
accord, accordance, affinity, agreement, analogousness, assent, balance, chorus, coequality, coextension, coherence, coincidence, commensurability, communion, community, comparability, comparableness, comparativeness, compatibility, concert, concord, conc