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burthen

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 archaic spelling of "burden," meaning a heavy load, responsibility, or hardship; also the refrain or chorus of a song in older usage.

Detailed Definition
“Burthen” appears in Early Modern texts to denote physical, emotional, or moral weight. In poetry, it symbolizes sin, grief, or duty—often borne silently. Its spelling preserves period authenticity in historical or biblical verse. The term’s gravity suits meditative or penitential tones, where the soul’s load contrasts with divine grace or human frailty in redemptive narratives.
Example
Example in poetry:
"The burthen of his song was sorrow," in a ballad tradition; In Shakespeare’s Much Ado: "He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion"—but elsewhere, "burthen" means refrain; "Lay down thy burthen, weary soul," urges a hymn; Milton uses "burthen" for "burden" in early works; "The burthen of years bent his back"; Sing we now the burthen: "Love is fleeting."
Additional Notes
“Burthen” is the Early Modern spelling of “burden,” used for metrical or orthographic consistency; in poetry, it also refers to the refrain of a song (from French “bourdon”), linking physical weight with repetitive emotional or musical strain.
Also Known As
burden load cargo
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