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robe

Apparel
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 long, flowing outer garment that drapes loosely over the body, frequently associated with authority, ceremony, or domestic leisure in poetic imagery.

Detailed Definition
The robe carries a dual poetic life: it is at once the garment of judges, monarchs, and priests, signifying dignity and office, and the intimate dressing gown of the solitary speaker, suggesting privacy and reflection. In Romantic and Victorian verse, the robe often appears in scenes of twilight reverie, where the poet withdraws from the world into a quiet chamber. Its flowing lines lend themselves to metaphors of water, clouds, or trailing vines, making it a favorite for pastoral and elegiac poetry. When stained or torn, the robe becomes an emblem of fallen greatness or grief. Additionally, the "purple robe" is a classical trope for imperial power, while the "white robe" appears in apocalyptic and visionary poetry as a symbol of purity and transcendence.
Example
Example in poetry:
"His robe of purple silk was the color of emperors and bruises"; "She wrapped her robe around her and felt the morning's chill retreat"; "The robe, lined with fur, was a cocoon she wore in winter"; "He cast off his robe and stood naked in the light"; "The robe's folds held the shape of his body, a ghost of his presence"; "She wore her robe to the window and watched the dawn arrive"
Additional Notes
The robe carries a dual poetic life: it is at once the garment of judges, monarchs, and priests, signifying dignity and office, and the intimate dressing gown of the solitary speaker, suggesting privacy and reflection. In Romantic and Victorian verse, the robe often appears in scenes of twilight reverie, where the poet withdraws from the world into a quiet chamber. Its flowing lines lend themselves to metaphors of water, clouds, or trailing vines, making it a favorite for pastoral and elegiac poetry. When stained or torn, the robe becomes an emblem of fallen greatness or grief. Additionally, the "purple robe" is a classical trope for imperial power, while the "white robe" appears in apocalyptic and visionary poetry as a symbol of purity and transcendence. Related terms include cloak, mantle, and gown. Students should note the robe's ability to signal both public authority and private vulnerability.
Also Known As
gown long garment flowing attire
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