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James: decked him out

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Marius Hancu

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Nov 20, 2009, 10:34:13 AM11/20/09
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Hello:

Is this from cards, "decked him out?"
Its meaning?

"Bristling total," the uncomfortable/aggressive totality of men?

---
[Stether and Miss Gostrey have an on-and-off relationship]

She had been wonderful to him at first, with the memory of her little
entresol, the image to which, on most mornings at that time, his eyes
directly opened; but now she mainly figured for him as but part of the
bristling total—though of course always as a person to whom he should
never cease to be indebted. It would never be given to him certainly
to inspire a greater kindness. She had decked him out for others, and
he saw at this point at least nothing she would ever ask for. She only
wondered and questioned and listened, rendering him the homage of a
wistful speculation.

Henry James, The Ambassadors, p. 212
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/432/432-h/432-h.htm
---
--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

Mike Page

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Nov 20, 2009, 10:50:03 AM11/20/09
to
Marius Hancu wrote:
> Hello:
>
> Is this from cards, "decked him out?"
> Its meaning?
>
> "Bristling total," the uncomfortable/aggressive totality of men?
>
> ---
> [Stether and Miss Gostrey have an on-and-off relationship]
>
> She had been wonderful to him at first, with the memory of her little
> entresol, the image to which, on most mornings at that time, his eyes
> directly opened; but now she mainly figured for him as but part of the
> bristling total�though of course always as a person to whom he should

> never cease to be indebted. It would never be given to him certainly
> to inspire a greater kindness. She had decked him out for others, and
> he saw at this point at least nothing she would ever ask for. She only
> wondered and questioned and listened, rendering him the homage of a
> wistful speculation.
>
> Henry James, The Ambassadors, p. 212
> http://www.gutenberg.org/files/432/432-h/432-h.htm

I think this 'deck' in the sense of 'clothe, cover, fit out, equip'
(SOED). She has either, literally, clothed him, or, metaphorically, she
has adorned his reputation.

--
Mike Page
Google me at port.ac.uk if you need to send an email.

Peter Duncanson (BrE)

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Nov 20, 2009, 11:00:44 AM11/20/09
to
On Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:34:13 -0800 (PST), Marius Hancu
<marius...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Hello:
>
>Is this from cards, "decked him out?"
>Its meaning?
>

"deck out" = "bedeck": "decorate" an inanimate object and "dress
(decoratively)" a person.

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

Marius Hancu

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 11:04:42 AM11/20/09
to
On Nov 20, 10:50 am, Mike Page <mikeor...@ntlworld.com> wrote:

> > Is this from cards, "decked him out?"
> > Its meaning?
>
> > "Bristling total," the uncomfortable/aggressive totality of men?
>
> > ---
> > [Stether and Miss Gostrey have an on-and-off relationship]
>
> > She had been wonderful to him at first, with the memory of her little
> > entresol, the image to which, on most mornings at that time, his eyes
> > directly opened; but now she mainly figured for him as but part of the

> > bristling total—though of course always as a person to whom he should


> > never cease to be indebted. It would never be given to him certainly
> > to inspire a greater kindness. She had decked him out for others, and
> > he saw at this point at least nothing she would ever ask for. She only
> > wondered and questioned and listened, rendering him the homage of a
> > wistful speculation.
>

> I think this 'deck' in the sense of 'clothe, cover, fit out, equip'
> (SOED). She has either, literally, clothed him, or, metaphorically, she
> has adorned his reputation.

I had this reading, gave up on it. At it again, seems fine now:-)

Thank you both.
Marius Hancu

the Omrud

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Nov 20, 2009, 11:06:51 AM11/20/09
to

Aw, go on, I was hoping that she had knocked him out cold.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, etc.

--
David

Marius Hancu

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 11:12:23 AM11/20/09
to
On Nov 20, 11:06 am, the Omrud <usenet.om...@gEXPUNGEmail.com> wrote:
> Mike Page wrote:

> >> Is this from cards, "decked him out?"
> >> Its meaning?
>
> >> "Bristling total," the uncomfortable/aggressive totality of men?
>
> >> ---
> >> [Stether and Miss Gostrey have an on-and-off relationship]
>
> >> She had been wonderful to him at first, with the memory of her little
> >> entresol, the image to which, on most mornings at that time, his eyes
> >> directly opened; but now she mainly figured for him as but part of the

> >> bristling total—though of course always as a person to whom he should


> >> never cease to be indebted. It would never be given to him certainly
> >> to inspire a greater kindness. She had decked him out for others, and
> >> he saw at this point at least nothing she would ever ask for. She only
> >> wondered and questioned and listened, rendering him the homage of a
> >> wistful speculation.
>
> >> Henry James, The Ambassadors, p. 212
> >>http://www.gutenberg.org/files/432/432-h/432-h.htm
>
> > I think this 'deck' in the sense of 'clothe, cover, fit out, equip'
> > (SOED). She has either, literally, clothed him, or, metaphorically, she
> > has adorned his reputation.
>
> Aw, go on, I was hoping that she had knocked him out cold.

I was in there, no go:-)

But good try.

Marius Hancu

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