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Charged

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 shield described as "charged" bears one or more symbolic figures (charges) upon its field, central to its identity.

Detailed Definition
Charged denotes the presence of a symbol on a shield. In poetry, it can metaphorically mean being burdened or endowed with qualities, enriching thematic expression.
Example
Example in poetry:
The shield, charged with three roses, bloomed with ancestral love; “Charged with memory,” the verse described the empty throne; His heart, charged with a crescent, waxed and waned with longing; The banner, charged with a star, guided the lost through night’s confusion.
Additional Notes
Charged means a charge itself bears another smaller charge (e.g., "a lion charged with a fleur-de-lis"); this layering adds complexity and meaning; poets can use "charged" metaphorically to imply burden, inspiration, or hidden significance; note that over-charging can violate the rule of tincture if contrast is lost.
Also Known As
Charged with Adorned with
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