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Jeremiad

Form
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 prophetic lament or tirade condemning societal corruption, moral decay, or divine punishment, often invoking biblical or historical precedent.

Detailed Definition
Jeremiad: A poetic lament or prophecy of doom, modeled after the biblical prophet Jeremiah, that mourns societal decline, moral corruption, or divine judgment while often calling for repentance or reform.
Example
Example in poetry:
Jeremiad: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” as poetic sermon; Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” laments modern decadence; Contemporary climate jeremiads: “We ignored the warnings”; Eco-poetry as jeremiad for lost species; Urban jeremiads on inequality and decay; Poems blending prophecy, lament, and call to repent
Additional Notes
A prolonged lamentation or complaint, often political or moral. Biblical origin (Jeremiah's prophecies). Combines grief with condemnation. Related to complaint and prophetic verse. Common in political poetry.
Also Known As
Lament prophetic complaint denunciation biblical complaint
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