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Literary notes about Aviary (AI summary)

The term "aviary" has been used in literature to evoke the image of a bird’s enclosure, often synonymous with words like "volary" or "cage" as seen in early works by Ben Jonson ([1], [2]). In these instances, the term underscores the confined and delicate nature of the space that houses birds. Later, the word evolves beyond its literal meaning; for example, in John Buchan’s work, "aviary" is employed metaphorically to suggest a selection of fine individuals or choices, likening them to prized birds in a well-curated collection ([3]). This shift in usage underscores the flexibility of literary language, where terms rooted in physical descriptions gradually acquire abstract, symbolic dimensions.
  1. VOLARY, cage, aviary.
    — from Every Man in His Humor by Ben Jonson
  2. VOLARY, cage, aviary.
    — from The Alchemist by Ben Jonson
  3. Peter had been a wise old bird, and these fellows I was after were about the pick of the aviary.
    — from The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan

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