单词 | letter in the candle |
释义 | > as lemmasletter in the candle 8. A spark in the wick of candle popularly supposed to presage the arrival of a letter or visitor. Chiefly in letter in the candle. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > an omen, sign, portent > [noun] > portending a visitor or letter letter1708 stranger1798 1708 Brit. Apollo 7–9 Apr. The reason..is as Wise an one as that of Letters, Winding Sheets, &c. in a Candle. 1755 Connoisseur No. 59. 352 My aunt one night observed with great pleasure a letter in the candle; and she hoped it would be from her son in London. 1821 W. T. Moncrieff Spectre Bridegroom i. ii. 8 He sent me word he was coming express, though there was no occasion for that; I knew it; for independently of an amazingly bright letter in the candle last night. 1854 B. F. Taylor January & June 220 Two ‘letters’ are snuffed from the candles. 1880 T. Hardy Trumpet-major I. xii. 236 That was Weymouth postmaster, and he says there's a letter for me. Ah, I now call to mind that there was a letter in the candle three days ago this very night—a large red one; but foolish-like I thought nothing o't. 1912 McClure's Mag. Jan. 348/1 The most pathetic phase of the mysticism of the chimney corner, ‘the letter in the candle’. < as lemmas |
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