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obeisance

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

A physical gesture of deep respect, such as a bow or curtsy; symbolizes deference, honor, or submission in traditional verse.

Detailed Definition
Obeisance is an old-fashioned word for a gesture of respect, especially bowing or kneeling. Here it helps make the Raven seem oddly dignified and ceremonial as it enters the room.
Example
Example in poetry:
Lewis Carroll’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter”: “Not the least obeisance made he; / Not a minute stopped or stayed he”; Obeisance means a bow or gesture of respect and submission; In courtly verse, “She made obeisance to the throne” marks formal hierarchy; A contemporary poem may use it ironically: “No obeisance to the algorithm”
Additional Notes
"Obeisance" is an archaic, formal word in the quoted line, and many readers would not know it immediately.; Found in the poem, The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
Also Known As
bow homage reverence submission
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