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Rigour

Medical 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 violent shivering fit often accompanying fever. In poetry it may symbolise physical distress or the trembling onset of illness.

Detailed Definition
Rigour refers to a sudden episode of intense shivering caused by fever, typically occurring when body temperature rises rapidly. The experience can be dramatic and exhausting, making it a striking symptom of illness. In literary descriptions rigour often conveys the moment when sickness overtakes the body. Poets may use the trembling associated with rigour to evoke fear, weakness, or the uncontrollable reaction of the body to internal disorder.
Example
Example in poetry:
The patient shook with the rigour of the fever; Poets use rigour to describe strictness or cold shaking; The cold rigour of death settled on his face; He faced the rigours of the winter campaign; The fever began with a sudden violent rigour; Rigour mortis sets in after death occurs.
Additional Notes
Rigour describes intense shivering associated with fever. In poetry it often symbolises the violent onset of illness or fear. The trembling body becomes an image of vulnerability and impending crisis.
Also Known As
Shivering Fit Severe Chill Chill
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