All 3 Uses of
subside
in
Wuthering Heights
- Happily, an inhabitant of the kitchen made more despatch: a lusty dame, with tucked-up gown, bare arms, and fire-flushed cheeks, rushed into the midst of us flourishing a frying-pan: and used that weapon, and her tongue, to such purpose, that the storm subsided magically, and she only remained, heaving like a sea after a high wind, when her master entered on the scene.†
p. 4.6subsided = became less intense, less severe, or less active -- perhaps went away entirely
- The anguish he had exhibited on the moor subsided as soon as ever he entered Wuthering Heights; so I guessed he had been menaced with an awful visitation of wrath if he failed in decoying us there; and, that accomplished, he had no further immediate fears.†
p. 197.8
- I suppose this resemblance disarmed Mr. Heathcliff: he walked to the hearth in evident agitation; but it quickly subsided as he looked at the young man: or, I should say, altered its character; for it was there yet.†
p. 234.6 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(subside as in: her anger subsided) become less intense, less severe, or less active -- perhaps going away entirely
-
(2)
(subside as in: the ground subsided) sink or settle to a lower level
-
(3)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
In classic literature, subside may be used as a synonym for sit as in "She subsided into the chair."