){kind=link}
Definition:
A text that uses only one vowel.
See also:
Examples and Observations:
- "STRENGTHLESSNESS. The longest common univocalic word--one that contains just one vowel repeated (sixteen letters, three e's). Next is defenselessness (fifteen letters, five e's)."
(Richard Lederer, The Word Circus: A Letter-Perfect Book. Merriam-Webster, 1998)
- "Dull humdrum murmurs lull, but hubbub stuns.
Lucullus snuffs no musk mundungus shuns.
Puss purrs, buds burst, bucks butt, luck turns up trumps;
But full cups, hurtful, spur up unjust thumps."
("The Same Subject Continued." Notes and Queries. Rpt. in Littell's Living Age, June 1857) - "Some writers have attempted to compose prose or verse texts using just one particular vowel. Such writings are called univocalics. [Georges] Perec followed his lipogrammatic novel with a short univocalic work, Les Revenentes 'The ghosts,' in which e was the only vowel used. (The normal spelling of revenent is revenant.)"
(Barry J. Blake, Secret Language. Oxford Univ. Press, 2010) - "'I've got a curious specimen of alliteration, that I found in an old newspaper,' said Kate; and from a small roll of paper clippings which she had in her pocket she drew forth the curiosity. It contained five little poems, or 'univocalic verses,' as they were called, each of which contained only one of the vowels. The following is a specimen. It is on the fall of Eve, and contains no vowel but e, as will be observed.
Eve, Eden's Empress, needs defended be:
"'That is not alliteration, exactly,' observed Marcus, 'as the words do not begin with the same letter. I should call it a sort of 'task poetry.'"
The Serpent greets her when she seeks the tree;
Serene, she sees the speckled tempter creep;
Gentle he seems--perversest schemer deep--
Yet endless pretexts, ever fresh prefers,
Perverts her senses, revels when she errs,
Sneers when she weeps, regrets, repents she fell;
When deep revenged, reseeks the nether hell!
(Walter Aimwell, Jessie. Gould and Lincoln, 1867)