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Unicorn

Folklore
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

Mythical horse with a single horn, symbol of purity and grace in European lore

Detailed Definition
Unicorns can only be tamed by virgins. In poetry, they represent innocence, the elusive ideal, and the fusion of the wild and the sacred, frequently appearing in medieval, romantic, or allegorical contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
Unicorn, symbol of purity, appears in medieval poetry: "Only maidens calm the unicorn—his horn heals poison, pride, and pain"; Poets use it to explore innocence: "In tapestries, he rests his head—unicorn trusts the gentle hand"; In modern verse, it symbolizes rarity: "Seek the unicorn in concrete—hope that gleams in broken streets"; Its horn inspires alchemical imagery: "Ground to dust, it cures all ill—unicorn’s gift is life renewed"
Additional Notes
Unicorn: A horse-like creature with a single spiraling horn, originating in ancient natural histories (e.g., Ctesias), later Christianized as a symbol of purity, Christ, and virginity. In medieval lore, only a virgin could tame it. In poetry, it represents elusive grace, idealized innocence, or queerness (modern reclamation). Contrast with qilin or re’em for non-Western one-horned beasts; useful in allegorical or subversive purity narratives.
Also Known As
One-horned horse Alicorn
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