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glimm'ring

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

An old poetic spelling of "glimmering," meaning faintly shining or twinkling; in poetry, it evokes soft light, a flickering hope, or the delicate illumination of twilight.

Detailed Definition
This contracted spelling is common in older verse and helps preserve the poem's meter. It refers to a weak, flickering light rather than a strong shine.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Hope, like the glimm’ring taper’s light” uses elision to fit glimmering into fewer syllables; A taper is a slender candle, so its weak light suits fragile hope; Romantic and devotional poetry often use candlelight as a spiritual image; A modern line: “One glimm’ring phone lit the blackout.”
Additional Notes
The apostrophe spelling in the quoted line is an archaic poetic contraction of glimmering.; Found in the poem, The wretch condemn'd with life to part by Oliver Goldsmith
Also Known As
shimmering glistening sparkling twinkling
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