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Davenport

Furnishings
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 compact writing desk with drawers and a sloping top. In some usage, it can also mean a sofa.

Detailed Definition
A davenport is chiefly a small writing desk with a sloping lid and side drawers, though in some regional usage the word also refers to a sofa. Its ambiguity can enrich poetic language, joining writing and rest in a single object. In a poem, a davenport may conceal letters beneath its angled top while its dark wood reflects lamplight, making it a fitting emblem of private work, secrecy, and restrained feeling.
Example
Example in poetry:
The davenport sagged beneath the weight of three generations watching snow; In a poem using the older furniture sense, a davenport is a large upholstered sofa that can anchor a family scene; “We slept on the davenport while the apartment learned our names”; A poet may use a davenport's cracked upholstery to show domestic endurance and poverty
Additional Notes
An older furniture word with two meanings: a compact desk or, especially in American usage, a sofa. Use surrounding details to avoid ambiguity.
Also Known As
Davenport Desk Writing Desk
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