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Superscript

Notation
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 character set above the baseline (e.g., 1st), used for ordinals or footnotes in poetry.

Detailed Definition
Superscripts indicate footnotes, exponents, or ordinal numbers; in poetry, they can create visual texture, reference external texts, or suggest elevation—literal or metaphorical—within the poem’s spatial field.
Example
Example in poetry:
Superscripts appear in ordinal poetry: “1ˢᵗ kiss”; In mathematical verse, “x² of longing”; Some poets use superscripts for annotations; In chemical metaphors, “O² of breath”; Experimental works use superscripts visually; In minimalist poetry, “time³” employs superscript.
Additional Notes
Superscript: Superscript (e.g., 1st, ™) appears above the baseline; in poetry, it may indicate ordinal numbers, footnotes, or archaic abbreviations—historically used in Early Modern texts, it can evoke period authenticity in neo-classical verse.
Also Known As
superior
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