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Wholegrain Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
What "does makes up to one" mean?
In due time, book under arm, in trips the ruddy man with the traveling-cap, who, lightly moving to and fro, looks animatedly about him, with a yearning sort of gratulatory affinity and longing, expressive of the very soul of sociality; as much as to say, "Oh, boys, would that I were personally acquainted with each mother's son of you, since what a sweet world, to make sweet acquaintance in, is ours, my brothers; yea, and what dear, happy dogs are we all!"
And just as if he had really warbled it forth, he makes fraternally up to one lounging stranger or another, exchanging with him some pleasant remark.
Herman Melville - The Confidence Man
http://www.online-literature.com/melville/confidence-man/10
And just as if he had really warbled it forth, he makes fraternally up to one lounging stranger or another, exchanging with him some pleasant remark.
Herman Melville - The Confidence Man
http://www.online-literature.com/melville/confidence-man/10
Top answer
I would judge the expression to be literary. I don't believe it's used in modern English. It means to approach and greet someone in a friendly way, perhaps introducing oneself and beginning to engage in conversation.
- I would judge the expression to be literary.
- I don't believe it's used in modern English.
- It means to approach and greet someone in a friendly way, perhaps introducing oneself and beginning to engage in conversation.
- See ingratiate .
- CJ
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5 Answers
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I would judge the expression to be literary. I don't believe it's used in modern English.
It means to approach and greet someone in a friendly way, perhaps introducing oneself and beginning to engage in conversation.
See ingratiate.
CJ
It means to approach and greet someone in a friendly way, perhaps introducing oneself and beginning to engage in conversation.
See ingratiate.
CJ
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Still in dictionaries:
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make up
intransitive verb
3 a : to act ingratiatingly or flatteringly : curry favor <made up to his aunt for a new bicycle> b : to make love : make advances : COURT<suspected of
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make up
intransitive verb
3 a : to act ingratiatingly or flatteringly : curry favor <made up to his aunt for a new bicycle> b : to make love : make advances : COURT<suspected of
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Why can't we use it in Modern English?
Because it's inappropriate?
Thank you.
Because it's inappropriate?
Thank you.
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wholegrainWhy can't we use it in Modern English?You canuse it if you want, but I, for one, would have to think twice before I understood what you were saying.
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