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brittle

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

An adjective for materials that break or shatter easily; in poetry, it describes emotional frailty, the fragility of relationships, or the precariousness of life itself.

Detailed Definition
In the poem, 'brittle' is used to describe the delicate beauty of the rose, suggesting that its charm is inherently fragile and susceptible to harm. This term evokes a sense of vulnerability, reinforcing the poem's meditation on the ephemeral nature of life and beauty, as the rose's 'brittle beauty' is at risk of fading or being destroyed.
Example
Example in poetry:
"If thee thy brittle beauty so deceives" (fragile, breakable); "Brittle as glass, her hope" (metaphorical); "The brittle leaves of autumn" (nature); "A brittle peace between them" (political); "Brittle laughter in the hall" (emotional)
Additional Notes
The word 'brittle' highlights the fragility of the rose's beauty, aligning with the poem's themes of transience and vulnerability.; Found in the poem, A Rose by Sir Richard Fanshawe
Also Known As
fragile delicate breakable friable
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