enjambment
UK[ɪnˈdʒæmmənt]US[ɪnˈdʒæmmənt]
n
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.
Morpheme Breakdown
en
jamb
ment
en
in, into, on.
jamb
ment
Etymology
The word "enjambment" is a borrowing from French, where enjambement literally means "a striding over." It is built upon the French verb enjamber, meaning "to stride over" or "to encroach," which itself combines the prefix en- ("in, on") with jambe ("leg"). The term entered English literary criticism in the 19th century, carrying the metaphorical sense of a poetic line "striding over" the boundary of a verse without a pause. This elegant metaphor perfectly captures the technique's essence: the grammatical and semantic thought does not stop at the line's end but continues its stride into the next line.
Analysis
Structure: en + jamb + ment
- en: A prefix of French and Latin origin, meaning "in, into, on." In this context, it functions to create a verb from a noun.
- jamb: From French jambe (leg), used metaphorically in poetry to mean "leg" or "stride."
- ment: A noun-forming suffix of French and Latin origin, indicating the action or result of a verb.
Examples
The poet's use of enjambment creates a flowing, conversational rhythm.
A classic example of enjambment can be found in Shakespeare's sonnets.
The abrupt enjambment in the final stanza heightens the dramatic effect.