Marius Hancu
2017-04-18 20:58:28 UTC
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Hello,Raw Message
~~~
[Lenehan throws in short comments on Corley's stories about women]
When he was quite sure that the narrative had ended he laughed
noiselessly for fully half a minute. Then he said:
'Well!... That takes the biscuit!'
His voice seemed winnowed of vigour; and to enforce his words he added
with humour:
'That takes the solitary, unique, and, if I may so call it, recherche
biscuit!'
James Joyce, Dubliners (Two Gallants)
~~~
Re:
"winnowed of vigour"
The meaning I've found for "winnowed"
~~~
winnowed
free of useless, unwanted, or baser components
~~~
tells me that in this definition the element winnowed away is undesirable,
while Joyce's "vigour" is definitely desirable.
Does the OED offer a more inclusive definition?
Thanks.
--
Marius Hancu
Marius Hancu