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Jackson6612 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
With all their blaze of basilisk horror
basilisk (noun)
1 : a legendary reptile with fatal breath and glance
basilisk (adjective)
: suggesting a basilisk : baleful, spellbinding<the eyes … with all their blaze of basilisk horror — Bram Stoker>
[M-W's Col. Dic]
"baleful" and "spellbinding" aren't nearly synonymous in meaning - "baleful" suggests harmfulness but, I suppose, "spellbinding" is free from any such suggestions.
Then, how come the dictionary has listed them side by side? Please guide me.
1 : a legendary reptile with fatal breath and glance
basilisk (adjective)
: suggesting a basilisk : baleful, spellbinding<the eyes … with all their blaze of basilisk horror — Bram Stoker>
[M-W's Col. Dic]
"baleful" and "spellbinding" aren't nearly synonymous in meaning - "baleful" suggests harmfulness but, I suppose, "spellbinding" is free from any such suggestions.
Then, how come the dictionary has listed them side by side? Please guide me.
Top answer
A basilisk possesses either and both qualities.
- A basilisk possesses either and both qualities.
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3 Answers
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Thank you, Mr Micawber.
A basilisk possesses either and both qualities.
I'm confused by your use of "either and both". Should I interpret it as a basilisk could either be baleful or spellbinding, or both? Please guide me.
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The adjective applied could refer to either or both qualities.
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