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Veiled comparison

Device
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

An implicit or indirect metaphor or simile that suggests likeness without explicit statement

Detailed Definition
Veiled comparison is a subtle, indirect metaphor or simile that implies likeness without explicit markers like “like” or “as,” relying on juxtaposition or contextual suggestion; this technique creates mystery and invites reader participation, as in Imagist poetry where images resonate through unspoken association rather than declared analogy.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Her smile was a lighthouse in the storm” implies guidance without stating it; “Time is a thief” suggests loss without naming it; modern example: “He was a closed book with dog-eared pages”; another: “Her silence spoke louder than sirens.”
Additional Notes
A veiled comparison implies likeness without using “like” or “as”; it’s a subtle form of metaphor that invites reader interpretation and deepens poetic ambiguity.
Also Known As
Implicit metaphor Hidden simile Subtle analogy Concealed metaphor Hidden analogy Implied metaphor
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