scansion

[ skan-shuhn ]

noun

, Prosody.

1. the metrical analysis of verse. The usual marks for scansion are ˘ for a short or unaccented syllable, ¯ or ′ for a long or accented syllable, ^ for a rest, | for a foot division, and ‖ for a caesura or pause.

scansion

/ ˈskænʃən /

noun

1. the analysis of the metrical structure of verse See quantity stress

Word History and Origins

Origin of scansion¹

1645–55; < Late Latin scānsiōn- (stem of scānsiō ), Latin: a climbing, equivalent to scāns ( us ) (past participle of scandere to climb) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of scansion¹

C17: from Latin: climbing up, from scandere to climb, scan

Example Sentences

Nash’s are hard to decipher anyway; because rhyme and scansion aren’t her thing, the ear gets no help.

From New York Times

Clarity for lyricists has to refer not just to scansion and word choice, but also how their songs are communicated.

From Washington Post

There’s something about Shakespeare and the language that, as a Black performer, I naturally get: the rhythms, the scansion, the iambic pentameter.

From Los Angeles Times

While other poets might spend years studying the scansion of poetry, she said she’s not as interested in form.

From Los Angeles Times

Donaldson is obsessed with scansion – where the stresses fall in a line.

From The Guardian