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Cicero

Historical Figure
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

Roman orator, statesman, and philosopher who championed republican values and eloquence

Detailed Definition
Marcus Tullius Cicero’s speeches and letters defined Latin prose and defended liberty against tyranny. His execution symbolized the Republic’s end. Poets reference him as the voice of reason, civic duty, and the tragic fate of intellectuals in times of political collapse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Cicero appears in Renaissance and Enlightenment poetry as the model orator and republican; Poets cite his speeches against Catiline as exemplars of civic courage; His philosophical works inspire verse on duty, friendship, and mortality; In neoclassical poetry, Cicero symbolizes eloquence in defense of liberty; Modern poets reference Cicero’s execution to lament the death of reasoned discourse; His letters become a model for intimate, reflective poetry.
Additional Notes
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE), Roman orator, statesman, and philosopher, championed republican values and left vast rhetorical and philosophical writings; in poetry, Cicero symbolizes eloquence, civic duty, or doomed republicanism—his letters and speeches influenced Renaissance humanism; his execution (proscribed by Antony) makes him a martyr figure in political verse (e.g., in Jonson or Milton).
Also Known As
Marcus Tullius Cicero
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