All 9 Uses of
grave
in
Dubliners
- The duties of the priest towards the Eucharist and towards the secrecy of the confessional seemed so grave to me that I wondered how anybody had ever found in himself the courage to undertake them; and I was not surprised when he told me that the fathers of the Church had written books as thick as the Post Office Directory and as closely printed as the law notices in the newspaper, elucidating all these intricate questions.
Chpt 1grave = serious and solemn
- But Lenehan could well believe it; he nodded gravely.†
Chpt 6
- Then with a grave gesture he extended a hand towards the light and, smiling, opened it slowly to the gaze of his disciple.
Chpt 6grave = serious and solemn
- "It happened that you were peloothered, Tom," said Mr. Cunningham gravely.†
Chpt 14
- "True bill," said Mr. Kernan, equally gravely.†
Chpt 14
- He enunciated the word and then drank gravely.†
Chpt 14
- He shook his head with farcical gravity.†
Chpt 14
- She nodded her head gravely.
Chpt 15 *gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
- Freddy Malins, who had listened with his head perched sideways to hear her better, was still applauding when everyone else had ceased and talking animatedly to his mother who nodded her head gravely and slowly in acquiescence.†
Chpt 15
Definition:
-
(grave as in: Her manner was grave.) serious and/or solemnThe exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." -- important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." -- sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." -- in a sincere and serious manner