Both Uses of
hoary
in
Oryx and Crake
- Once in a while he'd come out with some hoary maxim, served up with a wry irony that did nothing to reduce the boredom quotient;
p. 41.9 *hoary = trite due to familiarity
- He memorized these hoary locutions, tossed them left-handed into conversation: wheelwright lodestone, saturnine, adamant.
p. 195.7
Definitions:
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(1)
(hoary as in: tells hoary stories) trite due to familiarity; or old-fashioned; or ancient; or old
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(2)
(hoary as in: hoary old man) appearing old -- often with gray hair
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(3)
(hoary as in: hoary leaves) covered with grayish or whitish hairs
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(4)
(hoary as in: hoary ashes) grayish white in color