Home › Glossary › Letter E

Enigmatic refrain

Device
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

A repeated phrase designed to puzzle or withhold full meaning, inviting repeated interpretation.

Detailed Definition
Enigmatic refrain recurs ambiguously, modernist in Eliot's cryptic choruses. It refrains in Hejinian's language puzzles. Poets use it to tease revelation, engaging intellect. This device appears to embody mystery, avoiding closure. Refrains enigmatically provoke inquiry, enriching rereading.
Example
Example in poetry:
Eliot's enigmatic "shantih" refrain puzzles meaning; Hypothetical: Refraining cryptic symbols for interpretation; Language poets enigmatic repeats; John Ashbery enigmatic urban refrains; Modernist puzzles in refrains.
Additional Notes
Enigmatic refrain puzzles, modernist ambiguity; withhold clarity; Eliot refrains shantih; usage: for interpretation; academics connect to hermeneutics.
Also Known As
Cryptic repeat Puzzling refrain
Skip to main content