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surplice

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 loose, white, oversleeved garment worn by clergy over the cassock, especially in the Anglican and Catholic traditions, associated with choral services and liturgical ceremony.

Detailed Definition
The surplice is a vestment of flowing, often gathered or pleated white fabric, worn over the cassock by ministers, choir members, and acolytes. Its oversized sleeves and gathered body give it a soft, graceful appearance, and its white color signifies purity and festal joy. In poetry, the surplice appears in scenes of cathedral evensong, weddings, and Christmas services, its fabric shimmering in candlelight. Its amplitude allows for motion—bowing, raising arms, processing—and poets describe the sweep of its folds. The surplice contrasts with the more austere cassock, suggesting celebration and the hope of resurrection. In elegies for clerical figures, the surplice is often mentioned as a garment worn faithfully, its whiteness suggesting a life lived in holiness.
Example
Example in poetry:
"The surplice's white linen was a wave of purity over the cassock"; "She wore her surplice to the choir, a robe of song"; "The surplice's gathered sleeves were wings of the angelic host"; "He donned his surplice for the wedding, a garment of joy"; "The surplice, crisp and clean, was a flag of celebration"; "She folded the surplice after the service, a ritual of completion"
Additional Notes
The surplice is a vestment of flowing, often gathered or pleated white fabric, worn over the cassock by ministers, choir members, and acolytes. Its oversized sleeves and gathered body give it a soft, graceful appearance, and its white color signifies purity and festal joy. In poetry, the surplice appears in scenes of cathedral evensong, weddings, and Christmas services, its fabric shimmering in candlelight. Its amplitude allows for motion—bowing, raising arms, processing—and poets describe the sweep of its folds. The surplice contrasts with the more austere cassock, suggesting celebration and the hope of resurrection. In elegies for clerical figures, the surplice is often mentioned as a garment worn faithfully. Related terms include alb, rochet, and cassock. Students should note the surplice's associations with joy, celebration, and Anglican or Catholic ceremony.
Also Known As
clerical gown white vestment loose alb-like garment
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