de la mare
LowFormal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A surname, most famously belonging to Walter de la Mare (1873–1956), an English poet, short story writer, and novelist known for his supernatural and fantasy themes, as well as poetry for children.
Primarily refers to the literary works, style, or legacy of Walter de la Mare. In extremely rare usage, might be used metonymically to describe a style evocative of his work (e.g., dreamlike, mysterious, lyrical, focusing on childhood or the supernatural).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used as a proper noun. Its use as a common noun (e.g., "it has a de la Mare quality") is highly specialised and confined to literary criticism. The surname is of French/Norman origin ('of the sea').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Walter de la Mare is a canonical figure in English literature and is more widely known in British cultural and educational contexts. Recognition in the US is largely confined to academics and enthusiasts of English poetry and supernatural fiction.
Connotations
In the UK, the name connotes a specific strand of early 20th-century English romanticism, the supernatural, and childhood. In the US, the connotations are similar but less culturally embedded.
Frequency
The name appears with significantly higher frequency in UK publishing, literary discussion, and educational syllabi.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Proper Noun] (Walter) de la Marethe [Noun] of de la MareUsage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in literary studies, history of English literature, children's literature studies, and analyses of supernatural fiction.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside of specific literary reference.
Technical
Not applicable in a technical sense.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The story had a distinctly de la Mare eeriness about it.
American English
- Her poems are often described as de la Mare-esque in their lyrical mystery.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We read a poem by Walter de la Mare at school.
- Walter de la Mare wrote a famous poem called 'The Listeners'.
- The anthology, compiled by de la Mare, includes many classic ghost stories.
- Critics have noted how de la Mare's prose stylistically evokes the liminal space between wakefulness and dreaming.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the famous poet by the SEA (mare ~ sea in Latin/French origin). Walter de la Mare wrote of mysterious shores.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for a proper name.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate the surname ('de la Mare' does not mean 'from the sea' in context).
- Do not confuse with the similar-sounding Russian word 'марево' (mirage, haze).
- Treat 'de la Mare' as a single, unbroken unit in transliteration: 'де ла Мэр'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect capitalisation (e.g., 'De La Mare', 'De la mare'). Standard form is 'de la Mare'.
- Mispronouncing 'Mare' to rhyme with 'mare' (horse) in a fully anglicised way; the original pronunciation is closer to 'mair'.
- Using it as a common adjective without clear literary allusion.
Practice
Quiz
Walter de la Mare is primarily known as a writer of:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, it is typically /də lə ˈmɛː/ (duh luh MAIR). The 'a' in 'Mare' is a long vowel, not like the word for a female horse.
Almost never. It is a proper surname. Any adjectival use (e.g., 'de la Mare-esque') is highly specialised literary jargon.
He is best known for the poem 'The Listeners' and the novel 'Memoirs of a Midget'. His collection 'Come Hither' is also a famous anthology.
It follows the convention for many surnames of French origin containing particles like 'de', 'la', 'du'. The capital letter is usually on the final element (Mare).