antimeter

English

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek.

Noun

antimeter (plural antimeters)

1. (obsolete) A modification of the quadrant, for measuring small angles.
   • 1809, Andrew Mackay, The Theory and Practice of Finding the Longitude at Sea Or Land, page 78:

     A description of Mr. Garrard's Antimeter, or Reflecting Circle, may be seen in his pamphlet, published in 1785; and in the article Antimeter, by the Author of this work

2. A contrasting rhythm or meter that deliberately interrupts or clashes with the naturally expected metrical pattern.
   • 2000, Annie Finch, The Ghost of Meter: Culture and Prosody in American Free Verse, page 18:

     Blake and Dickinson looked in the same place for an anti-meter (Hollander's term) ; Blake's rough fourteeners employ a one-line adaptation of the meter Dickinson favored, the ballad or hymn stanza.

   • 2013, Kevin Holm-Hudson, Progressive Rock Reconsidered, page 78:

     The conflict between meter and antimeter is a critical aspect of the textural rhythm, and takes on significance as a rhetorical code that lends affective immediacy to the psychological drama of the recording.

   • 2022, Reuven Tsur, ‎Chen Gafni, Sound–Emotion Interaction in Poetry, page 356:

     Later, Shemtov speaks of "antimeter”. Here she could speak of “antistanza”, with one difference. Emily Dickinson does not indicate what metre she avoids, whereas Apollinaire clearly indicates what stanza form he does not choose. But, unlike the “antimeter", this has no relevance to a feminist agenda.

Etymology 2

From anti- +‎ meter.

Adjective

antimeter (comparative more antimeter, superlative most antimeter)

1. Opposed to the use of meters (such as parking meters, water meters, etc.).
   • 1916 March, John C. Trautwine, Jr., “The Anarchism of Councils is Very Largely Responsible for Effects in Present Methods”, in Water and Gas Review, volume 26, number 9, page 10:

     Hence, as might have been forseen, the few meters installed have not materially reduced the total wastage, and the antimeter people have been enabled to cry, I told you so!"

   • 1962 June, William E. Miles, “Meters by the Mile”, in The Rotarian, volume 100, number 6, page 31:

     After being fined one dollar for overtime parking, Howard Henry launched an antimeter campaign which resulted in two referendunms in which voters outlawed them throughout the State.

   • 2019, Michael Brennan, In Deep Water:

     By now the government realised that the anti-meter protesters were more than just the usual suspects like Bríd Smith and Paul Murphy.

Anagrams

• Marinette, intermate, interteam, terminate, tetramine, tretamine