All 13 Uses of
deference
in
Bleak House
- There are deferential people in a dozen callings whom my Lady Dedlock suspects of nothing but prostration before her, who can tell you how to manage her as if she were a baby, who do nothing but nurse her all their lives, who, humbly affecting to follow with profound subservience, lead her and her whole troop after them; who, in hooking one, hook all and bear them off as Lemuel Gulliver bore away the stately fleet of the majestic Lilliput.†
Chpt 1-3
- "It must be English for some one, sir, I think," Mr. Snagsby submits with his deferential cough.†
Chpt 10-12
- "You will find that the place is rough, sir," says Mr. Snagsby, walking deferentially in the road and leaving the narrow pavement to the lawyer; "and the party is very rough.†
Chpt 10-12
- "No one better, sir, I am sure," says Mr. Snagsby, with his deferential cough.†
Chpt 10-12
- Mr. Tulkinghorn does so with deference and holds it open while she passes out.†
Chpt 10-12 *
- For the mainspring of the story was that in spite of the man's absorbing selfishness, his wife (overpowered by his deportment) had, to the last, believed in him and had, on her death-bed, in the most moving terms, confided him to their son as one who had an inextinguishable claim upon him and whom he could never regard with too much pride and deference.†
Chpt 13-15
- Mr. Snagsby in his best coat, looking at all the preparations when they are completed and coughing his cough of deference behind his hand, says to Mrs. Snagsby, "At what time did you expect Mr. and Mrs. Chadband, my love?"†
Chpt 19-21
- "Thank you, sir, I am sure," returns the stationer with his cough of deference.†
Chpt 22-24
- Governor and commander are interchangeable terms with Phil, expressive of the same respect and deference and applicable to nobody but Mr. George.†
Chpt 25-27
- These remarks he offers with his unvarying politeness and deference when he addresses himself to his wife.†
Chpt 40-42
- The same formal politeness, the same composed deference that might as well be defiance; the whole man the same dark, cold object, at the same distance, which nothing has ever diminished.†
Chpt 40-42
- "Well, sir," says Mr. Snagsby, holding his hat at the side of his head in his deference towards his best customer, "I was wishful to say a word to you, sir."†
Chpt 40-42
- At this juncture we perceived Mr. Kenge coming out of court with an affable dignity upon him, listening to Mr. Vholes, who was deferential and carried his own bag.†
Chpt 64-65
Definition:
-
(deference) polite respect -- often when submitting to another's wishes