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Abased

Heraldic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

In heraldry, a charge positioned lower on the shield than its conventional or default placement, altering symbolic emphasis or visual balance.

Detailed Definition
Abased suggests humility or submission. Poets may use it metaphorically to depict lowered status, restraint, or modesty within a theme.
Example
Example in poetry:
The lion, abased in sorrow, bowed its noble head beneath the weight of defeat; In the poet’s lament, the once-proud eagle flew abased, wings trailing in the dust of fallen honor; "Abased upon the field of woe," the knight’s shield lay overturned, symbolizing his disgrace; Her crest, once held high, now abased by time and treachery, whispered forgotten oaths.
Additional Notes
Abased refers to a charge (typically an animal or object) positioned lower than its usual placement on the shield, often near the base; in poetry, this term can evoke humility, degradation, or descent, and is useful when contrasting with terms like "in chief" (top of shield); note that abasement in heraldry is distinct from the general English meaning of humiliation—it is a precise positional descriptor.
Also Known As
Lowered Debased
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