Both Uses
provoke
in
Rip Van Winkle
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- This, however, always provoked a fresh volley from his wife; so that he was fain to draw off his forces, and take to the outside of the house—the only side which, in truth, belongs to a henpecked husband.†
*provoked = caused (a reaction)
- One taste provoked another; and he repeated his visits to the flagon so often that at length his senses were overpowered, his eyes swam in his head, his head gradually declined, and he fell into a deep sleep.†
Definitions:
-
(1)
(provoke) to cause a reaction — often an emotional reaction like anger, and sometimes done on purpose
- (2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)