All 5 Uses of
contract
in
Mansfield Park
- …made him not only totally unconscious of the uneasy movements of many of his friends as they sat, the change of countenance, the fidget, the hem! of unquietness, but prevented him even from seeing the expression of the face on which his own eyes were fixed—from seeing Sir Thomas's dark brow contract as he looked with inquiring earnestness at his daughters and Edmund, dwelling particularly on the latter, and speaking a language, a remonstrance, a reproof, which he felt at his heart.
Chpt 19 (definition 1)contract = pull tighter
- The family circle became greatly contracted; and though the Miss Bertrams had latterly added little to its gaiety, they could not but be missed.
Chpt 21 (definition 1)contracted = reduced
- His going, though only eight miles, will be an unwelcome contraction of our family circle; but I should have been deeply mortified if any son of mine could reconcile himself to doing less.
Chpt 25 (definition 1) *contraction = shrinking
- My dearest Henry, the advantage to you of getting away from the Admiral before your manners are hurt by the contagion of his, before you have contracted any of his foolish opinions, or learned to sit over your dinner as if it were the best blessing of life!
Chpt 30 (definition 2) *contracted = caught (like a disease)
- Mr. Rushworth had no difficulty in procuring a divorce; and so ended a marriage contracted under such circumstances as to make any better end the effect of good luck not to be reckoned on.
Chpt 48 (definition 3) *contracted = legally agreed to
Definitions:
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(1) (contract as in: the metal contracted) when something gets shorter or smaller
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(2) (contract as in: contract the disease) to get -- especially in reference to a disease
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(3) (contract as in: legal contract) an agreement - typically written and enforceable by law