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plained

Verb
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

An archaic verb meaning lamented, grieved, or expressed sorrow; used in classic narrative verse to show tragic mourning.

Detailed Definition
Here the verb describes the calls of the seabirds below the speaker and his companion. It gives their cries a sorrowful, almost human quality.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The pale mews plained below us” uses plained as a verb meaning cried, lamented, or uttered a mournful sound; The gulls’ call becomes an auditory image of sorrow; In older poetry, “plaint” and “plain” can share associations with lament; “Mews plained over the wreck at dawn” gives a seascape an elegiac, grieving voice
Additional Notes
“Plained” is an archaic or rare verb meaning lamented or mourned, evident in the quoted description of the mews.; Found in the poem, Beeny Cliff by Thomas Hardy
Also Known As
plain flatland expanse
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