Both Uses of
phenomenon
in
A Tale of Two Cities
- Thus it was, however; and the last drop of blood having been extracted from the flints, and the last screw of the rack having been turned so often that its purchase crumbled, and it now turned and turned with nothing to bite, Monseigneur began to run away from a phenomenon so low and unaccountable.†
Chpt 2.23phenomenon = something that exists or happened -- often of special interest
- Monseigneur, as a class, had dissociated himself from the phenomenon of his not being appreciated: of his being so little wanted in France, as to incur considerable danger of receiving his dismissal from it, and this life together.†
Chpt 2.24 *
Definition:
something that exists or happened -- especially something of special interest -- sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary
"Phenomenons" and "phenomena" are both appropriate plural forms of this noun. "Phenomena" is generally used in scientific or philosophical contexts.