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eschew

Archaic Terms
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

To deliberately avoid or abstain from something—often implying moral or spiritual discipline in poetic discourse.

Detailed Definition
“Eschew” implies moral or practical rejection—of vice, company, or custom. In didactic poetry, it frames virtuous choice (“eschew folly”). Its formal tone suits religious or philosophical verse, where avoidance is active discipline. The word’s sharp consonants reinforce resolve, making it effective in exhortations to purity, focus, or resistance against temptation.
Example
Example in poetry:
"He eschewed the court for the quiet grove," a pastoral choice; In Milton’s Lycidas: "Fame is the spur... but the clear spirit... eschews"; "Eschew false glory, seek true worth," advises a moral epistle; Shakespeare’s Coriolanus eschews the mob’s praise; "She eschewed gold for wisdom’s sake"; Eschew the path of ease, take the steep way.
Additional Notes
“Eschew” implies deliberate, often moral avoidance; in didactic or religious poetry, it frames virtuous rejection of vice (e.g., “eschew the path of folly”), aligning choice with ethical discipline.
Also Known As
avoid shun abstain from
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