Home › Glossary › Letter D

decrees

Noun
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

Decrees are official orders or decisions, often with authoritative power.

Detailed Definition
In the context of the poem, decrees refer to the authoritative judgments of Fortune, suggesting that fate is not easily swayed by personal desires. This highlights the tension between human emotions and the uncontrollable forces of luck and destiny, emphasizing the speaker's struggle against external circumstances.
Example
Example in poetry:
"Or placed thy friends above her stern decrees?" (official orders or laws); "The decrees of fate" (destiny); "Divine decrees from above" (religious); "The king's stern decrees" (political); "Love's own decrees" (romantic)
Additional Notes
The term 'decrees' emphasizes the authoritative nature of Fortune's judgments, reflecting the speaker's concerns about fate.; Found in the poem, The Complaint by Mark Akenside
Also Known As
formal orders royal edicts binding decrees mandates
Skip to main content