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maidenhead

Noun
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 term referring to a woman's virginity or the state of being a maiden.

Detailed Definition
The word 'maidenhead' is an archaic term that specifically denotes a woman's virginity, often used in literature to discuss themes of purity and sexual innocence. In the context of Donne's poem, it highlights the tension between desire and societal expectations regarding chastity. The speaker argues that the act of mingling blood through the flea is not a loss of maidenhead, suggesting a more complex view of intimacy and connection.
Example
Example in poetry:
John Donne’s “The Flea” uses maidenhead as an archaic term for virginity in a witty seduction argument; “Her maidenhead is not a prize for conquest” revises the old term critically, stressing agency and consent; In a historical ballad, “she guarded her maidenhead beneath the tower’s cold moon” reflects period attitudes toward chastity; A modern poem can expose the word’s burden: “They named her body maidenhead, as if it were land to own”
Additional Notes
'Maidenhead' is an archaic term that may not be familiar to modern readers, as it specifically refers to virginity, as seen in the line discussing the absence of shame or loss.; Found in the poem, The Flea by John Donne
Also Known As
Virginity Maidenhood Purity
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