Home › Glossary › Letter A

Amorous lament

Genre
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

A lyrical poem expressing sorrow, yearning, or heartbreak rooted in unfulfilled or lost romantic love, often elegiac in tone.

Detailed Definition
An elegiac poem mourning the loss of romantic love, whether through death, separation, or rejection. Distinguished from general elegies by its focus on erotic or romantic rather than familial or platonic relationships, the amorous lament often incorporates conventions of courtly love poetry alongside traditional elegiac elements. It may celebrate the beloved while mourning the loss, creating tension between desire and grief.
Example
Example in poetry:
Tennyson's "In Memoriam" mourns his beloved friend Arthur Hallam; Edna St. Vincent Millay's sonnets often lament lost love; Christina Rossetti's "Remember" elegizes a romantic relationship
Additional Notes
Distinguished from general elegies by its focus on romantic rather than familial or platonic loss. Often employs conventions of courtly love poetry. May include elements of both celebration and mourning of the beloved.
Also Known As
Romantic elegy Love mourning Erotic lament Passionate dirge Erotic elegy
Skip to main content