Home › Glossary › Letter S

shrew

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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 term for a sharp-tongued, ill-tempered, or nagging woman; also refers to a small, insect-eating mammal.

Detailed Definition
In poetry, the shrew represents domestic conflict and social unease around female assertiveness. Poets employed the term to dramatise tension, control, and resistance within relationships. Its frequent use reflects cultural anxieties rather than objective traits, making it a revealing marker of historical gender norms.
Example
Example in poetry:
The shrew’s sharp words cut deeper than her foes expect; Poets use shrew to stage domestic war; Her voice disrupts the peace men prize; The term reveals more fear than fact
Additional Notes
Shrew reflects historical tensions around female speech and authority. In poetry, it often exaggerates sharpness to stage domestic conflict. Modern readers should read critically, noting how the term encodes social control rather than neutral description. Studying shrew usage reveals gendered power dynamics in poetic language.
Also Known As
Termagant Virago Scold harridan vixen
Skip to main content