All 12 Uses of
abstract
in
Jane Eyre
- Jumping over forms, and creeping under tables, I made my way to one of the fire-places; there, kneeling by the high wire fender, I found Burns, absorbed, silent, abstracted from all round her by the companionship of a book, which she read by the dim glare of the embers.
Chpt 6 (definition 1)abstracted = lost in thought
- One afternoon (I had then been three weeks at Lowood), as I was sitting with a slate in my hand, puzzling over a sum in long division, my eyes, raised in abstraction to the window, caught sight of a figure just passing: I recognised almost instinctively that gaunt outline; and when, two minutes after, all the school, teachers included, rose en masse, it was not necessary for me to look up in order to ascertain whose entrance they thus greeted.
Chpt 7 (definition 1)abstraction = distraction
- I almost expected a rebuff for this hardly well-timed question, but, on the contrary, waking out of his scowling abstraction, he turned his eyes towards me, and the shade seemed to clear off his brow.
Chpt 15 (definition 1)abstraction = state of being lost in thought
- "I suppose, now," said Miss Ingram, curling her lip sarcastically, "we shall have an abstract of the memoirs of all the governesses extant: in order to avert such a visitation, I again move the introduction of a new topic."
Chpt 17 (definition 2) *abstract = summary
- This done, he moved with slow step and abstracted air towards a door in the wall bordering the orchard.
Chpt 20 (definition 1) *abstracted = lost in thought
- There was much sense in your smile: it was very shrewd, and seemed to make light of your own abstraction.†
Chpt 27 (definition 3)
- But besides his frequent absences, there was another barrier to friendship with him: he seemed of a reserved, an abstracted, and even of a brooding nature.
Chpt 30 (definition 1)abstracted = absorbed in his own thoughts
- I waited a few moments, expecting he would go on with the subject first broached: but he seemed to have entered another train of reflection: his look denoted abstraction from me and my business.†
Chpt 30 (definition 3)
- This was said with a careless, abstracted indifference, which showed that my solicitude was, at least in his opinion, wholly superfluous.
Chpt 33 (definition 1)abstracted = distracted
- He got up, held it close to my eyes: and I read, traced in Indian ink, in my own handwriting, the words "JANE EYRE" — the work doubtless of some moment of abstraction.†
Chpt 33 (definition 3)
- In the resolute readiness with which you cut your wealth into four shares, keeping but one to yourself, and relinquishing the three others to the claim of abstract justice, I recognised a soul that revelled in the flame and excitement of sacrifice.
Chpt 34 (definition 3) *abstract = ignoring subjective considerations of this implementation
- He replied not: he seemed serious — abstracted; he sighed; he half-opened his lips as if to speak: he closed them again.
Chpt 37 (definition 1)abstracted = lost in thought
Definitions:
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(1) (abstracted as in: abstracted, so didn't notice) lost in thought; or distracted by thoughts
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(2) (abstract as in: read the abstract) a summary; or to summarize -- especially academic writing
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(3) (abstract as in: abstract thought) of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance