Anapest

An anapest, also anapaest, is a term used in prosody to describe a word or series of words which features two short, unstressed syllables followed by one long, stressed syllable. These three syllables make up one of the feet that comprise the rhythm of any poem.

For example, "underneath," which contains two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable.

The poetic technique known as anapestic tetrameter strings together four consecutive anapests in a single line.

Many poets are extremely concerned with how the words they write on the page will convey their intended meanings to readers and listeners. For that reason, they use techniques like similes and metaphors to give their words more meaning than they would have if just taken literally. Poets can also use the sound of the words to create their desired effects. Rhythm is an important component of most poems, and poets often choose words just as much for their rhythmical qualities as for their meanings. An anapest is one such rhythmic construction that can be found in poems.