Both Uses of
provocation
in
Bleak House
- The learned gentleman who weeps by the pint on the smallest provocation has not shed a tear these six weeks.†
Chpt 19-21 *
- Under this provocation, Mr. Smallweed's favourite adjective of disparagement is so close to his tongue that he begins the words "my dear friend" with the monosyllable "brim," thus converting the possessive pronoun into brimmy and appearing to have an impediment in his speech.†
Chpt 25-27
Definition:
-
(provocation) actions that cause a reaction--especially anger or violence
or:
the act of causing an angry or violent reaction