The meaning of ‘smoked’ in ‘smoked basins’
The meaning of ‘smoked’ in ‘smoked basins’
The passage below is from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
The refectory was a great, low-ceiled, gloomy room; on two long tables smoked basins of something hot, which, however, to my dismay, sent forth an odour far from inviting.
Here I can not understand the meaning of the hard-faced ‘smoked’ of ‘smoked basins.’ I know that ‘basin’ is a vessel to contain any liquid, but ‘smoked basin’ makes no meaning for me.
Thank you.
Top answer
It's an unusual word order. A more usual order is this. The refectory was a great, low-ceiled, gloomy room; on two long tables basins smoked basins of something hot, which, however, to my dismay, sent forth an odour far from inviting.
- It's an unusual word order.
- A more usual order is this.
- The refectory was a great, low-ceiled, gloomy room; on two long tables basins smoked basins of something hot, which, however, to my dismay, sent forth an odour far from inviting.
- In terms of grammar, smoked is actually the main verb here.
- In terms of meaning, the idea is that the food in the basins was so hot that it was emitting smoke.
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It's an unusual word order. A more usual order is this.
The refectory was a great, low-ceiled, gloomy room; on two long tables basins smoked basins of something hot, which, however, to my dismay, sent forth an odour far from inviting.
In terms of grammar, smoked is actually the main verb here.
In terms of meaning, the idea is that the food in t
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