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mealy

Diction
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

Mealy refers to something that is powdery or flour-like, often used to describe the texture of ground grains.

Detailed Definition
In the context of the poem, 'mealy' describes the cap worn by the miller, suggesting it is made from flour or has a powdery texture, which is fitting for someone who works in a mill. This term is less commonly used in modern language, making it potentially unfamiliar to readers who may not associate it with the milling process or its byproducts.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Mealy” can describe floury whiteness, as in a mealy apple or moth; Shakespeare’s Macbeth calls the murderer’s hands “multitudinous seas incarnadine,” contrasting vivid blood with pale imagery; “A mealy dawn powdered the roofs” uses the adjective metaphorically for dull, flour-colored light; Do not confuse mealy with “meek”: it refers to texture, color, or a weakly bland quality
Additional Notes
The word 'mealy' is specialized in its application to textures related to flour and may not be widely recognized outside of specific contexts.; Found in the poem, The Miller of the Dee by Charles Mackay
Also Known As
Powdery Grainy Floury
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