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Sanctuary

World Religion
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 sacred or holy place, such as a temple or church; also, a place of refuge or protection, often offering immunity from arrest.

Detailed Definition
A sanctuary is literally the holiest part of a religious building, but it also carries the meaning of a safe haven, historically offering asylum to those fleeing persecution. This dual meaning—as both a sacred precinct and a refuge—makes it a potent symbol in poetry. It represents a space set apart from the profane world, a goal for pilgrimage, a shelter for the vulnerable, and an interior state of spiritual safety. Poets evoke sanctuaries to explore themes of peace, safety, divine presence, and the search for a holy center in a tumultuous world.
Example
Example in poetry:
In biblical poetry, Sanctuary is God’s dwelling: “Tabernacle—Sanctuary where cloud rests”; In contemporary verse, Sanctuary is refuge: “Church basement—Sanctuary for immigrants”; In nature poetry, Sanctuary is grove: “Ancient oaks—Sanctuary where wind preaches”; Poets defend Sanctuary: “They bombed the mosque—Sanctuary violated, but not defeated.”
Additional Notes
Sanctuary offers both sacred space (temple) and asylum (fugitive protection); it is where the vulnerable find safety under divine gaze; in poetry, sanctuary appears as forest, church nave, or open hand—emphasizing hospitality, boundary, and the ethical demand to protect the stranger as sacred duty.
Also Known As
Tabernacle Holy Place Temple Precinct Shrine Temple Tearmann haven altar asile Chancel
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