Literary notes about Hummer (AI summary)
Literary authors employ the term "hummer" in remarkably diverse ways. It can denote an object or creature imbued with unexpected qualities—as when a bird’s peculiar habit or a brief, striking moment is described as "a hummer" [1, 2, 3]—or serve as a mark of excellence, with characters remarking that an event, performance, or witty remark is indeed "a hummer" [4, 5, 6]. At times the word becomes a proper name or nickname, lending distinctive personality to figures or elements within the narrative [7, 8, 9]. In other contexts, it even takes on a more literal, material sense, conjuring images ranging from the rugged appeal of military vehicles to the delicate traits of nature’s creations [10, 11, 12].
- I have seen other birds bathe in the dew or raindrops on tree foliage, but did not before know that the hummer bathed at all.
— from Under the Maples by John Burroughs - Lampornis mango , ( L. ) Swains. —The Mango Hummer.
— from A History of North American Birds; Land Birds; Vol. 2 of 3 by Robert Ridgway - What appears to be the only other vocal accomplishment of this hummer is a somewhat long-drawn, rasping note, very loud and harsh for so small a bird.
— from The Birds of Washington (Volume 1 of 2) A complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state by John Hooper Bowles - I claim I was justified—an' I'll leave it to you if th' joke on Wolf wasn't a hummer?
— from Johnny Nelson How a one-time pupil of Hopalong Cassidy of the famous Bar-20 ranch in the Pecos Valley performed an act of knight-errantry and what came of it by Clarence Edward Mulford - And when your first vacation comes we'll make it a hummer.”
— from Her Father's Daughter by Gene Stratton-Porter - And the holiday proved to be a “hummer” from the very start.
— from Killykinick by Mary T. (Mary Theresa) Waggaman - Robert Grant Burns himself had mentally called it a hummer.
— from Jean of the Lazy A by B. M. Bower - Hence, too, his names of Tohil "the hummer" or "the whisperer," Ehecatl "the breeze," Nauihehecatl "the lord of the four winds," &c.
— from Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion as Illustrated by the Native Religions of Mexico and Peru by Albert Réville - [Pg 152] "This is Mr. Hummer, our press representative," explained Weldon, coming forward eagerly.
— from A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life by Elsie Janis - It was a military-looking Jeep, like an armored Hummer, only it didn't have any military insignia on it.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - I stumbled some, then a hand pushed my head down and I was inside the Hummer.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - But she ain’t a hummer for speed; they can’t get more than eight or nine miles an hour out of her, even at a pinch.”
— from Camp Fire Girls in War and Peace by Isabel Hornibrook
