Home › Glossary › Letter D

depose

Verb
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

To remove a sovereign, ruler, or authority figure from power, often by force or legal decree; a potent poetic verb for political upheaval, the transience of kingship, and the precariousness of dominion.

Detailed Definition
Here, “depose” means to overthrow or strip Fate of her ruling power. The verb strengthens Marvell’s personification of Fate as a tyrant whose authority might be challenged.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Their union would her ruin be, / And her tyrannic pow’r depose” uses depose to remove a ruler from power; The verb is political and forceful, unlike simply criticizing authority; “The people deposed the king” states a completed overthrow; In a courtroom context, “to depose” can also mean to give sworn testimony, a useful secondary meaning
Additional Notes
The quoted verb has a specialized political meaning—removing someone from office or rule—that ordinary readers may not immediately recognize.; Found in the poem, The Definition of Love by Andrew Marvell
Also Known As
dethrone remove displace
Skip to main content