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wimpling

Adjective
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

Rippling or fluttering in a light, wavering way. It suggests motion like a small wave or a soft fold.

Detailed Definition
This is a rare poetic word, related to the idea of something moving in little waves or folds. Hopkins uses it to make the falcon's wing seem alive with delicate motion. The unusual form and meaning make it likely to send readers to a glossary.
Example
Example in poetry:
“he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing” uses wimpling for rippling, fluttering, or winding in small waves; “A wimpling stream ran over pebbles” preserves its older sense of rippling water; “The wimpling banner answered to the gust” applies it to a trembling surface; “Wimpling light moved through the leaves” makes light seem fluid and wavering
Additional Notes
"Wimpling" in the quoted line is a rare poetic adjective, and its meaning is not obvious to most readers.; Found in the poem, The Windhover by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Also Known As
rippling undulating flowing waving
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