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stole

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 narrow strip of cloth worn over the shoulders and hanging down the front, primarily a liturgical garment that denotes priestly or ministerial office in religious poetry.

Detailed Definition
The stole is one of the most specifically charged garments in religious and devotional poetry, its long, straight lines evoking the yoke of service and the authority of ordination. When a poet describes a priest or bishop donning the stole, it signals the beginning of a sacred rite—mass, confession, or benediction—and carries with it the weight of liturgical time. The stole's colors shift with the church calendar, allowing poets to weave seasonal symbolism: purple for penitence, white for joy, red for martyrdom. In elegiac or meditative verse, the stole can also appear as a relic, a piece of fabric that has witnessed countless prayers and confessions, thereby linking the present moment to an unbroken chain of faith. Its narrowness contrasts with the ample cope or chasuble, focusing attention on the individual servant.
Example
Example in poetry:
"The priest's stole of purple was a yoke of service and a banner of faith"; "She embroidered the stole with gold thread, a labor of love"; "The stole's long ends were a river of penitence"; "He wore his stole to the altar, a garment of authority"; "The stole, white for Easter, was a flag of resurrection"; "She touched the stole's fringe and felt the weight of centuries"
Additional Notes
The stole is one of the most specifically charged garments in religious and devotional poetry, its long, straight lines evoking the yoke of service and the authority of ordination. When a poet describes a priest or bishop donning the stole, it signals the beginning of a sacred rite—mass, confession, or benediction—and carries with it the weight of liturgical time. The stole's colors shift with the church calendar, allowing poets to weave seasonal symbolism: purple for penitence, white for joy, red for martyrdom. In elegiac or meditative verse, the stole can also appear as a relic, a piece of fabric that has witnessed countless prayers and confessions. Related terms include stole, scarf, and pallium. Students should note the stole's liturgical function and its role in signaling sacred time and authority.
Also Known As
priestly scarf ecclesiastical band vestment strip Tippet
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