All 4 Uses of
glimpse
in
The Great Gatsby
- When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart.†
p. 2.5glimpses = briefly sees; or instances of briefly seeing
- We passed Port Roosevelt, where there was a glimpse of red-belted ocean-going ships, and sped along a cobbled slum lined with the dark, undeserted saloons of the faded-gilt nineteen-hundreds.†
p. 68.1glimpse = a quick look or partial understanding
- Then the valley of ashes opened out on both sides of us, and I had a glimpse of Mrs. Wilson straining at the garage pump with panting vitality as we went by.†
p. 68.3
- He doesn't know very much about Tom, though he says he's read a Chicago paper for years just on the chance of catching a glimpse of Daisy's name.†
p. 79.5 *
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