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beau

Archaic 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

A fashionable and attentive admirer, especially a man devoted to courtship and style.

Detailed Definition
Originally meaning a gallant or admirer, the beau appears frequently in eighteenth-century poetry and verse satire. He represents polite society, courtship rituals, and social display. Poets often used the beau to dramatise flirtation, romantic performance, or the artificial codes governing love. The term carries both charm and irony, allowing poets to praise elegance while subtly mocking affectation.
Example
Example in poetry:
The beau bows low beneath the lamp-lit trees, his ribboned smile rehearsed for hearts at ease; She mocks the beau who counts his curls not hours, and spends his vows like coins on fleeting flowers; Once every beau in silk and scented air paraded love as fashion, not as care; The poet paints the beau as ornament, a moving mirror of polite intent
Additional Notes
In poetry, beau often signals the social rituals of courtship rather than genuine love. The term is closely linked to eighteenth-century urban and aristocratic settings, where appearance, manners, and reputation mattered as much as emotion. Poets use beau to critique superficial romance, social performance, or the commodification of affection. It frequently appears alongside terms like fop or gallant, allowing subtle distinctions between empty elegance and sincere devotion.
Also Known As
Admirer Suitor Swain gallant macaroni bo
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