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Literary notes about Build (AI summary)

The word "build" assumes a rich spectrum of meanings, both literal and metaphorical, across literature. In some works, it denotes physical construction—whether erecting a house or a temple, as in commanding the construction of altars and cities in biblical texts ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5]), or describing the labor involved in constructing shelters, villages, and even canoes ([6], [7], [8], [9]). In other contexts, it serves to evoke the idea of creating or developing more abstract structures, such as a reputation, a mindset, or an ideological superstructure ([10], [11], [12], [13], [14]). Additionally, the term can describe inherent physical attributes, highlighting one's build or stature, as seen in character sketches ([15], [16], [17]). Across historical documents, instructional texts, and creative narratives, "build" thus functions as a versatile metaphor for both tangible creation and the nuanced formation of ideas and identity.
  1. Aggeus Chapter 1 The people are reproved for neglecting to build the temple.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  2. But thou shalt not build the house, but thy son, who shall come out of thy loins, he shall build a house to my name.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  3. And Balaam said to Balac: Build me here seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  4. And David said to him: To buy the thrashingfloor of thee, and build an altar to the Lord, that the plague, which rageth among the people, may cease.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  5. And I shewed them how the hand of my God was good with me, and the king's words, which he had spoken to me, and I said: Let us rise up, and build.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  6. He’ll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next.
    — from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
  7. their troubles with the Scioux & Pawnees or Ricaras Compelled them to move and build a village where they now live.
    — from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis
  8. So did I mine, to build upon a foolish woman's promise.
    — from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
  9. they also build their houses, construct their canoes, and make all their wooden utensils.
    — from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis
  10. It remains for us to build the superstructure.
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  11. We need to build up a Pan-American esprit de corps , based on the instinct of self-defence.
    — from The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by James H. Blount
  12. It lays, furthermore, a foundation of fact on which to build later statements, arguments, and appeals.
    — from The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie and J. Berg Esenwein
  13. He has to build us both up from the beginning again.
    — from A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
  14. Now, my boy, what you've got to do is to put all the past behind you and build yourself up a steady reputation.
    — from Justice by John Galsworthy
  15. Men of immoderately long and attenuated build delight in a stunted and short figure.
    — from Essays of Schopenhauer by Arthur Schopenhauer
  16. She was remarkable only for her large build, and was not lighter than many pure-blooded women.
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  17. “These yer ’s a little too small for his build,” said Haley, showing the fetters, and pointing out to Tom.
    — from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

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