Literary notes about Imposing (AI summary)
The adjective "imposing" is frequently employed in literature to evoke a sense of grandeur or authority, whether describing people, architecture, or events. It often characterizes physical objects as monumental or majestic, as seen when vast buildings or natural formations are rendered with an almost overwhelming presence ([1], [2], [3]). Likewise, characters are sometimes noted for an "imposing" appearance or demeanor that hints at strength, command, or even menace—a well-worn shirt-collar can elevate the aura of a humble figure ([4]), while figures with stern, dark eyes might be seen as both daunting and distinguished ([5]). Moreover, the term extends to abstract notions, lending weight to ceremonies or events that resonate with historical or societal significance ([6], [7]). In each usage, "imposing" enriches the narrative by imbuing its subject with an air of dignity and power that captivates the reader’s imagination.
- The gloomy building rose from the bosom of the ocean with imposing majesty and seemed to dominate the scene.
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - Most of the Parthenon’s imposing columns are still standing, but the roof is gone.
— from The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain - It had a high broad wall with four circular towers at the corners, and quite an imposing gateway.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - His clothes were shabby, but he had an imposing shirt-collar on.
— from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure.
— from Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - It is an imposing ceremony, performed in a full assembly of the court, and one of the few which has never been relinquished.
— from Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, v. 1 of 3 by James Tod - The event was by long odds the most imposing in the town's history.
— from What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain