Both Uses of
dilate
in
Oliver Twist
- A moment before, his clenched hands had grasped the air; his eyes had dilated; and his face grown livid with passion; but now, he shrunk into a chair, and, cowering together, trembled with the apprehension of having himself disclosed some hidden villainy.†
Chpt 26 *dilated = wider than normal (bigger); or became wider
- The robber sat regarding her, for a few seconds, with dilated nostrils and heaving breast; and then, grasping her by the head and throat, dragged her into the middle of the room, and looking once towards the door, placed his heavy hand upon her mouth.†
Chpt 47
Definitions:
-
(1)
(dilate as in: dilated eyes) become wider (bigger)
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much more rarely, dilate can mean to add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing.