"When interest is predominant, it is sure to choak up all the avenues to the heart, which, would, otherwise be open to the cries of distress."
— Trusler, John (1735-1820)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Dodsley
Date
1766
Metaphor
"When interest is predominant, it is sure to choak up all the avenues to the heart, which, would, otherwise be open to the cries of distress."
Metaphor in Context
331. Suffocated, Smothered, Choaked.
Death, brought on, by a stoppage of breath, is the general idea of these three words; but, that of suffocated, implies, an extinction of life occasioned by being in a place where we cannot breathe; that of smothered, by being in a place, where we are not suffered to breathe; that of choaked, by having the wind-pipe closed.
Thus, men are, frequently, suffocated by smoke. Persons, raving mad, when in curable, are, sometimes, smothered, between two feather beds. Malefactors, when hanged, are choaked.
It has happened, that travellers, by falling into bogs, have been, sometimes, suffocated, before assistance could be had. Children, are, frequently, smothered, in bed, thro' the carelesness of nurses. Persons are often, choaked, by eating too greedily.
The words, smother, and, choak, are, often, used in a figurative sense; the word, suffocate, never.
We smother a flame. We choak a passage.
It is an act of charity, to smother the failings of another. When interest is predominant, it is sure to choak up all the avenues to the heart, which, would, otherwise be open to the cries of distress.
(II, pp. 156-7)
Death, brought on, by a stoppage of breath, is the general idea of these three words; but, that of suffocated, implies, an extinction of life occasioned by being in a place where we cannot breathe; that of smothered, by being in a place, where we are not suffered to breathe; that of choaked, by having the wind-pipe closed.
Thus, men are, frequently, suffocated by smoke. Persons, raving mad, when in curable, are, sometimes, smothered, between two feather beds. Malefactors, when hanged, are choaked.
It has happened, that travellers, by falling into bogs, have been, sometimes, suffocated, before assistance could be had. Children, are, frequently, smothered, in bed, thro' the carelesness of nurses. Persons are often, choaked, by eating too greedily.
The words, smother, and, choak, are, often, used in a figurative sense; the word, suffocate, never.
We smother a flame. We choak a passage.
It is an act of charity, to smother the failings of another. When interest is predominant, it is sure to choak up all the avenues to the heart, which, would, otherwise be open to the cries of distress.
(II, pp. 156-7)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Credited as being the first thesaurus in English. 4 entries in the ESTC (1766, 1776, 1783, 1795).
See John Trusler, The Difference, Between Words, Esteemed Synonymous: in the English Language; and, the Proper Choice of them Determined: Together with, so much of Abbé Girard's Treatise, on this Subject, as Would Agree, with our Mode of Expression, 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1766). <Vol. I, Link to ECCO-TCP><Vol. II, Link to ECCO-TCP>
See John Trusler, The Difference, Between Words, Esteemed Synonymous: in the English Language; and, the Proper Choice of them Determined: Together with, so much of Abbé Girard's Treatise, on this Subject, as Would Agree, with our Mode of Expression, 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1766). <Vol. I, Link to ECCO-TCP><Vol. II, Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
08/15/2013
