Home › Glossary › Letter S

Spear

Military
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

A spear is a long-shafted weapon with a pointed tip, one of the oldest weapons used in warfare and hunting.

Detailed Definition
The spear carries ancient, primal associations with warfare's earliest forms, appearing throughout epic poetry from Homer's Iliad onward as a symbol of heroic, individual combat. Its simplicity and directness lend it a timeless quality, often used in poetry to evoke elemental human aggression and the archetypal warrior figure. The spear also holds ceremonial and mythological significance across many cultures, extending beyond purely practical martial use.
Example
Example in poetry:
Homer's Iliad depicts the spear as central to ancient heroic combat, wielded by legendary warriors; A poem might describe a spear's simple, direct thrust, evoking elemental human aggression; Poets use "spear" to connect modern verse to warfare's most primal, ancient origins; A verse could contrast the spear's archaic simplicity with the complexity of later weaponry; The term appears in mythological poetry where spears carry ceremonial and symbolic significance; Historical epic poetry sometimes uses the spear to evoke the archetypal warrior figure across cultures.
Additional Notes
A spear is a long-shafted weapon with a pointed tip, one of the oldest weapons used in warfare and hunting. The spear's simplicity and effectiveness made it the weapon of the common soldier for millennia. It offers reach, thrusting power, and can be thrown. In poetry, the spear represents the primal weapon, the extension of the human arm, and the oldest form of armed combat. Related terms include javelin, pike, and lance. The spear's use in phalanxes and as a missile weapon makes it a versatile tool. Its symbolism extends to agriculture and hunting, linking war to sustenance.
Also Known As
Lance Javelin Pike Shaft Throwing Spear glaive
Skip to main content