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Literary notes about Twisted (AI summary)

In literature, the word twisted is used with remarkable versatility, functioning to evoke both physical contortions and complex emotional states. It describes tangible materials—such as fine linen transformed into elegant textiles [1, 2, 3] or natural elements like trees and vines warped by nature’s force [4, 5, 6]—and is equally applied to human expressions and attitudes, for instance when a character’s mouth twists in anger or pain [7, 8, 9]. Sometimes, it conveys a sinister or chaotic quality, hinting at a deeper, often disturbing inner essence [10, 11, 12]. Additionally, the term captures the literal act of manipulating objects—whether twisting cords into ropes [13, 14, 15] or contorting screws and wires to serve practical purposes [16, 17]—which enriches the imagery and texture of the narrative.
  1. So he made an ephod of gold, violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, 39:3.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  2. He made also a veil of violet, and purple, scarlet and fine twisted linen, varied and distinguished with embroidery: 36:36.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  3. And a girdle of fine twisted linen, violet, purple, and scarlet twice dyed, of embroidery work, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  4. Gnarled and twisted trees spring from the old walls every where, and beautify and overshadow the gray battlements with a wild luxuriance of foliage.
    — from The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
  5. Do you know, I found a cluster of white violets under that old twisted tree over there today?
    — from Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery
  6. The dying day bathed the twisted oaks and mighty pines in black and gold.
    — from The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois
  7. He was never affectionate to his wife in our presence, but simply rolled his eyes angrily at her and twisted his mouth.
    — from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
  8. It was also plain how pale Ilyin was, and how he twisted his upper-lip, trying to smile.
    — from The Bet, and other stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
  9. Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the repulsive sneer to the face!
    — from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
  10. 3 "If this be the Twisted one, Men shall soon be slain by him; 'Neath his feet shall corpses lie; Under bushes mantles white!
    — from The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge
  11. The twisted limbs, the gaping mouths, the staring lustreless eyes, fascinated him.
    — from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
  12. And the grit that lay hidden in the man's soul showed in his pain-twisted smile.
    — from The Best Short Stories of 1917, and the Yearbook of the American Short Story
  13. The seamen were all provided with cordage, which I had beforehand twisted to a sufficient strength.
    — from Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Regions of the World by Jonathan Swift
  14. A handkerchief was twisted up (like a rope) from corner to corner, folded in half, and then tied together at the ends.
    — from Malay Magic by Walter William Skeat
  15. I twisted the wires into the leads for a nine-volt battery and connected the battery.
    — from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
  16. And again he twisted the screw with the stripped thread, and again it turned uselessly in the same place.
    — from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy
  17. You observed that it had a piece of twisted wire through the handle.
    — from The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

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