Literary notes about Momentary (AI summary)
The word “momentary” is often employed by authors to invoke the transient nature of experiences, fleeting emotions, or brief actions. For instance, Dickens uses it to describe a “momentary impulse” in decision-making [1], while Dostoyevsky and Austen illustrate brief lapses of reflection and hesitation in their characters’ thoughts and gestures [2, 3]. In some philosophical and political texts, such as those by Jefferson, Dewey, and Santayana, “momentary” serves to highlight actions or interests that are ephemeral compared to enduring values [4, 5, 6, 7]. Moreover, the term frequently appears in descriptions of transient sensory details—a flash of light [8, 9], a glance [10, 11], or a pause in dialogue [12, 13]. Across genres, from the sentimental to the dramatic, “momentary” functions as a precise literary tool to emphasize the fleeting moments that shape both personal character and larger thematic narratives [14, 15, 16].
- ‘It was a momentary impulse, indeed.’
— from The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens - Yes,” said the prince, emerging from a momentary reverie.
— from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - He coloured very deeply, and giving a momentary glance at Elinor, replied, "Yes; it is my sister's hair.
— from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - Separation by more than an octave must only be momentary, and is generally to be avoided.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - The latter makes the momentary act a measure of value, and ignores the connections of our personal action with the energies of the environment.
— from Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education by John Dewey - Else the idealist's philosophy itself would be an insignificant and momentary illusion.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana - All science a deliverance of momentary thought.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana - A momentary blinding flash, a deafening report.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - A momentary blinding flash, a deafening report.
— from Best Russian Short Stories - The glance was but momentary, for Ralph, being disturbed, turned to demand the cause of the interruption.
— from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens - As she gave it to me playfully,—for her darker mood had been but Momentary,—I held it and put it to my lips.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - There was a momentary pause.
— from Twenty years after by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - ‘Now,’ resumed he, after a momentary pause, ‘let us talk about something else.
— from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë - Then a sudden cool self-possession took the place of his momentary confusion and he held the gardener with his eye, and bullied him.
— from The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers - " "Shocks you, my husband!" cried Georgiana, deeply hurt; at first reddening with momentary anger, but then bursting into tears.
— from Mosses from an old manse by Nathaniel Hawthorne - The doleful change in Mr Verloc’s physiognomy, the momentary drooping of his whole person, confessed that such was the regrettable case.
— from The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale by Joseph Conrad
