Literary notes about Hot (AI summary)
The term “hot” serves as a richly versatile descriptor in literature, functioning on both literal and figurative levels. It is often employed to evoke tangible sensations—a red-hot knife that initiates a “baptism by fire” [1], pleasantly strong hot coffee that dispels a chilly drizzle at sunrise [2], or even the physical heat of crowded rooms and stoves [3, 4]. At the same time, it conveys emotional intensity and immediacy: characters may be described as hot with vexation or passion [5, 6] and even in moments that demand swift and decisive action, as when one is urged to “strike while the iron is hot” [7]. This multifaceted use of “hot” enriches narrative texture by blending sensory detail with metaphorical depth, highlighting both the physical and emotive climates encountered in diverse settings.
- The operation was performed with a red-hot knife or a hot iron, and this was known as the “baptism by fire.”
— from The Satyricon — Complete by Petronius Arbiter - A cup of strong and hot coffee put us to rights at sunrise, but the rain was still coming down, having changed to a steady drizzle.
— from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - It was hot, the wind had dropped, and it seemed the day would never end.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - It was hot in the room, small, and too low where the stove was hissing in the midst of wigs and pomades.
— from Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - I was hot, vexed, confused, but still happy; but I hated the other boys for taking such an absorbing interest in the proceedings.
— from The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain - “I hope not!” said he, giving his neck a jerk with his forefinger that made me turn hot and sick.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - I know I am; but while the iron is hot, I can strike it vigorously too.
— from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
