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nonce

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

The present occasion, moment, or particular purpose; "for the nonce" means for the time being, temporarily, or for this specific occasion only.

Explore this topic in depth (1)

How to Read a Poem in Context — Context can make a poem’s references, pressures and choices clearer, but it is not a substitute for reading closely. Learn how to begin with the words on the page, find relevant background, and return to the poem with stronger evidence.

Detailed Definition
“For the nonce” frames provisional action or state. In poetry, it introduces temporary roles or solutions. The term’s archaic flavor suits dramatic or meditative contexts. Poets use it to explore impermanence—love for the nonce, disguise for the nonce—reinforcing themes of flux, performance, and situational truth in narrative and reflective verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
“For the nonce, peace reigns,” in a temporary truce; In Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “For the nonce, to hold you in the rear”; “She wore the crown for the nonce, not by right”; “For the nonce, let joy rule”; “The spell held for the nonce, then broke”; For the nonce, the stars aligned in mercy.
Additional Notes
“Nonce” in “for the nonce” means temporary expedience; in dramatic or political poetry, actions taken “for the nonce” imply moral compromise, revealing pragmatism versus principle in crisis.
Also Known As
occasion moment instant
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