Poetry Glossary

A comprehensive glossary of 31,158 literary terms, poetic forms, devices, characters, places, ideas, concepts, and more.

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'ee Details

Dialect
AKA:
YouTheeThou
A Dorset dialect form of the pronoun "you" used in direct address; in poetry, it creates regional colour, colloquial intimacy, and a rustic or folkloric voice that grounds speech in a specific locale.
In Thomas Hardy’s “The Ruined Maid,” “‘ee” represents a reduced regional pronunciation of “you,” as in “fits ’ee for high compa-ny.” The dialect marks the speaker’s rural Dorset background and contrasts with ’Melia’s newly refined speech, fashionable appearance, and urban social status. Hardy uses this local form to emphasize the class difference between the two women and the social transformation implied by being “ruined.”
Example: “Your talking quite fits ’ee for high compa-ny!” uses rural ’ee for “you”; Thomas Hardy’s Wessex speakers often use ’ee to mark regional voice; “What be ’ee doing out so late?” models the dialect pronoun in verse; A modern dialect poem might say, “I told ’ee, the tide knows our names” to establish place and speaker
Notes: In Dorset dialect, “‘ee” means “you,” as in Thomas Hardy’s “The Ruined Maid.” Its apostrophe signals a spoken contraction or dropped sound rather than a possessive pronoun. Read it aloud in context before translating mentally: dialect can establish region, class, intimacy, and character voice. Compare other eye-dialect or regional spellings, but avoid treating dialect as merely comic; notice how it shapes tone and social relations.

'ighland Details

Dialect
AKA:
HighlandScottish UplandMisty BraeCaledonian Heights
A dialectal form of 'Highland', referring to the mountainous regions of Scotland.
The term 'Ighland' is a Scottish dialect variation of 'Highland', which denotes the rugged, elevated areas of Scotland known for their natural beauty and cultural significance. In the context of the poem, it evokes a sense of Scottish pride and tradition, particularly in relation to music and military heritage.
Example: "there ain't no 'Ighland pipers To keep our warlike ardure warm" (Scots dialect contraction of 'Highland'); "The 'Ighland hills are covered wi' snow" (dialect poetry); "Frae 'Ighland glens tae lowland plains" (Scots ballad); "The 'Ighland clans hae marched away" (traditional verse)
Notes: The word 'Ighland' appears in the line referencing Scottish pipers, highlighting the cultural context of the poem.; Found in the poem, The Mouth-Organ by Cicely Fox Smith

'potamus Details

Archaic Terms
AKA:
HippopotamusRiver HorseBehemothAquatic Giant
A colloquial abbreviation for 'hippopotamus', used in a playful or informal context.
The term 'ʼpotamus' is an informal, abbreviated form of 'hippopotamus', reflecting a playful tone in the poem. This usage adds a whimsical quality to the depiction of the hippopotamus, contrasting its large and cumbersome nature with the lightness of the term. It exemplifies Eliot's blend of humor and seriousness in addressing themes of spirituality and materialism.
Example: I saw the ʼpotamus take wing hippopotamus; enhanced: "ʼpotamus take wing absurd flight"; Carroll nonsense: "Potamus"; contemporary: "ʼpotamus surreal"; educational: "ʼpotamus abbreviated in humorous verse"; "Winged ʼpotamus defies."
Notes: The term 'ʼpotamus' appears in the line, "The 'potamus can never reach," showcasing Eliot's playful use of language.; Found in the poem, The Hippopotamus by T. S. Eliot

'T Details

Archaic Terms
AKA:
It Contraction'tis PoeticThat 'TArchaic It
A contraction of 'it is', often used in poetry for rhythm and brevity.
'T is a contraction of 'it is', frequently found in older poetry to maintain meter and rhyme. This form adds a lyrical quality to the text, allowing poets to express ideas succinctly while adhering to the constraints of poetic structure. In this poem, it introduces the idea that a poet's thought is a blend of natural elements, enhancing the thematic depth.
Example: "'T is a thing of sky and earth, Gathering all its golden worth From the Poet's heart" (contraction of 'it'); "'T was the night before Christmas" (familiar poetic opening); "'T is the last rose of summer" (Thomas Moore); "'T is better to have loved and lost" (Tennyson adaptation); "'T is magic, magic that hath ravished me" (Spenserian echo)
Notes: The contraction 'T' is used to introduce the notion that a poet's thought encompasses both the sky and earth, contributing to the poem's exploration of inspiration.; Found in the poem, A Poet's Thought by Barry Cornwall

'tis Details

Archaic Terms
AKA:
TisIt Is
A contraction of "it is" commonly found in Early Modern English poetry and drama, particularly Shakespeare's works, representing natural speech patterns of the era.
“’Tis” is a poetic contraction that streamlines language while preserving meter and rhythm in verse. It appears ubiquitously in Shakespearean drama and 17th-century poetry, where economy of syllables was essential for iambic pentameter and lyrical flow. Beyond practicality, “’tis” conveys a tone of immediacy and intimacy, often used in emotional declarations or philosophical reflections. Its archaic charm helps situate a poem in a historical or elevated register, distinguishing poetic diction from everyday speech. Even after falling out of common use, poets retained “’tis” for its musicality and nostalgic resonance.
Example: 'Tis the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness (Keats-style usage showing contraction of "it is"); 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all (Tennyson's famous line); 'Tis now the very witching time of night (Shakespeare, showing temporal usage); 'Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark (Byron, in domestic scene); 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view (Campbell, philosophical reflection); 'Tis midnight's holy hour (poetic opening establishing time)
Notes: 'Tis appears frequently in poetry from Chaucer through the Romantic period, serving both metrical and stylistic purposes. In Early Modern English (roughly 1500-1700), contractions like 'tis were standard in both speech and formal writing, not casual shortcuts. Shakespeare uses it over 400 times across his works. When teaching meter, note that 'tis functions as a single syllable, making it invaluable for iambic pentameter. The apostrophe indicates elision of the "i" in "it." Related contractions include 'twas (it was), 'twill (it will), and 'twere (it were). Students should recognize that using 'tis in modern poetry creates an immediately archaic tone and should be deployed deliberately, not merely for syllable reduction.

'twas Details

Archaic Terms
AKA:
It WasThere WasOnce 'twasBehold It Was
'Twas is a contraction of 'it was,' commonly used in older English poetry.
'Twas is an archaic contraction of 'it was,' often found in poetry to maintain rhythm and rhyme. Its usage evokes a sense of nostalgia and formality, characteristic of earlier literary styles. In this poem, it sets a tone of longing and reflection, as seen in the line, 'I did but look and love awhile,'Twas but for one half-hour.'
Example: "'Twas but for one half-hour; Then to resist I had no will" (archaic contraction of 'it was'); "'Twas the time when lilies blow" (Elizabethan lyric); "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves" (Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky"); "'Twas on a lofty vase's side" (Swift); "'Twas in the moon of wintertime" (Canadian carol)
Notes: The word 'Twas appears in the line, emphasizing the poem's archaic style and contributing to its emotional tone.; Found in the poem, The Enchantment by Thomas Otway
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