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far-fetched figure

Device
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 metaphor or simile that links seemingly unrelated concepts in a surprising or unconventional way

Detailed Definition
A far-fetched figure is an elaborate, unconventional, or seemingly improbable metaphor or simile—often a metaphysical conceit—that yokes disparate realms of experience to reveal unexpected truths; though initially jarring, it rewards close reading with intellectual and emotional insight.
Example
Example in poetry:
Donne’s “The Flea,” where a flea bite becomes a marriage bed; Herbert’s “The Pulley,” where God bestows gifts like a mechanic; Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress,” where “vegetable love” grows vast over time; Crashaw’s “The Weeper,” where Mary Magdalene’s tears become a “globy sphere” of pearls.
Additional Notes
Far-fetched figure: An unusual or strained metaphor or simile (conceit); risks obscurity but can yield originality.
Also Known As
Ingenious conceit Far-fetched wit Elaborate figure Conceit
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