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Doc888 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
More florid charms ?
How can it be more florid in the "empty" Sunday? "Empty" cannot be more in my view. How to understand the word "more" here?
Context:
It chanced on one of these rambles that their way led them down a by-street in a busy quarter of London. The street was small and what is called quiet, but it drove a thriving trade on the weekdays. The inhabitants were all doing well, it seemed and all emulously hoping to do better still, and laying out the surplus of their grains in coquetry; so that the shop fronts stood along that thoroughfare with an air of invitation, like rows of smiling saleswomen. Even on Sunday, when it veiled its more florid charms and lay comparatively empty of passage, the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest; and with its freshly painted shutters, well-polished brasses, and general cleanliness and gaiety of note, instantly caught and pleased the eye of the passenger.
More:
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Context:
It chanced on one of these rambles that their way led them down a by-street in a busy quarter of London. The street was small and what is called quiet, but it drove a thriving trade on the weekdays. The inhabitants were all doing well, it seemed and all emulously hoping to do better still, and laying out the surplus of their grains in coquetry; so that the shop fronts stood along that thoroughfare with an air of invitation, like rows of smiling saleswomen. Even on Sunday, when it veiled its more florid charms and lay comparatively empty of passage, the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest; and with its freshly painted shutters, well-polished brasses, and general cleanliness and gaiety of note, instantly caught and pleased the eye of the passenger.
More:
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Top answer
Stevenson is describing the ambiance of a particular street in London on a Sunday. On Sunday, the street masks its more ruddy (salacious) nature and (in contrast to its dingy neighborhood) appears cleaner and more pleasing to the eye. There is no connection between more and empty in this sentence.
- Stevenson is describing the ambiance of a particular street in London on a Sunday.
- On Sunday, the street masks its more ruddy (salacious) nature and (in contrast to its dingy neighborhood) appears cleaner and more pleasing to the eye.
- There is no connection between more and empty in this sentence.
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4 Answers
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Stevenson is describing the ambiance of a particular street in London on a Sunday.
On Sunday, the street masks its more ruddy (salacious) nature and (in contrast to its dingy neighborhood) appears cleaner and more pleasing to the eye. There is no connection between more and empty in this sentence.
On Sunday, the street masks its more ruddy (salacious) nature and (in contrast to its dingy neighborhood) appears cleaner and more pleasing to the eye. There is no connection between more and empty in this sentence.
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Did Stevenson mean "from Monday to Saturday, the street is florid, but Sunday is more florid?"
If so, what makes Sunday more florid?
If so, what makes Sunday more florid?
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No - Stevenson meant exactly the opposite!
The street is florid (salacious, ruddy, rowdy, animated) during the week but NOT on Sunday.
Sunday is the day when the street takes on another aspect.
In the west, Sunday is a day of rest. The Lord's day. A day when usual activities are suspended.
The street is florid (salacious, ruddy, rowdy, animated) during the week but NOT on Sunday.
Sunday is the day when the street takes on another aspect.
In the west, Sunday is a day of rest. The Lord's day. A day when usual activities are suspended.
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