All 6 Uses of
glimpse
in
1984, by Orwell
- There was no evidence, only fleeting glimpses that might mean anything or nothing: snatches of overheard conversation, faint scribbles on lavatory walls — once, even, when two strangers met, a small movement of the hand which had looked as though it might be a signal of recognition.†
p. 17.9glimpses = briefly sees; or instances of briefly seeing
- Just once he caught a glimpse of the girl, at a table with two other girls at the far end of the room.†
p. 108.8 *glimpse = a quick look or partial understanding
- One literally never saw them except in the guise of prisoners, and even as prisoners one never got more than a momentary glimpse of them.†
p. 116.4
- In the dream he had remembered his last glimpse of his mother, and within a few moments of waking the cluster of small events surrounding it had all come back.†
p. 160.6
- Winston had a glimpse of her face, upside down, yellow and contorted, with the eyes shut, and still with a smear of rouge on either cheek; and that was the last he saw of her.†
p. 223.8
- A sort of premonitory tremor, a fear of he was not certain what, had passed through Winston as soon as he caught his first glimpse of the cage.†
p. 283.9
Definition:
a quick look or partial understanding
The exact meaning of glimpse can depend upon its context. For example:
- "I caught a glimpse of her when I was walking to class." -- a very quick look
- "I glimpsed at the headlines." -- looked quickly
- "Reading the book gave me a glimpse of the life of a devout Muslim immigrant in America." -- a quick, incomplete view