Literary notes about dab (AI summary)
The word “dab” is used in literature with a surprising range of meanings and grammatical functions. At times it denotes a small amount of something applied lightly, as in a character dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief [1] or a gentle application of a cosmetic product [2, 3]. In other instances it conveys a brief, delicate touch or stroke, whether in painting a face with a brush [4] or marking a scene with a quick, utensil-guided application [5]. At times it even embodies a sense of proficiency, describing someone as adept—a dab at topography or polo [6, 7]—while in other contexts, “Dab” appears as a proper name or nickname shaping a character’s identity [8, 9, 10]. The term’s versatility is further underscored by its linguistic presence in classical Latin constructions [11, 12, 13, 14], highlighting its rich historical resonance in literature.
- He paused to take off his hat and dab his forehead with his handkerchief.
— from Burgo's Romance by T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight - She ran a comb through her hair, gave a dab of powder to her nose and opened the door again.
— from Cynthia Steps Out by Erick Berry - "Just wet your finger with it, and dab it gently on."
— from Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works by John Galsworthy - He could paint faces to a marvel; with a brush-dab here and a line there changing them past recognition.
— from Kim by Rudyard Kipling - A chair was overturned, and there was a violent dab at the wall.
— from The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories by H. G. Wells - If you will just give me a sort of concise direction,—I am a dab at topography.
— from The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns, and Hoaxes of Theodore Hook by Theodore Edward Hook - “I'm supposed to be quite a dab at polo.”
— from Samuel the Seeker by Upton Sinclair - "Well, I was thinking what a good time Fuz and Joe would be likely to have, trying to get ahead of Dab Kinzer."
— from Dab Kinzer: A Story of a Growing Boy by William O. Stoddard - “No,” said Dab-Dab, “I haven’t seen him.”
— from The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting - But don't you think three meals a day is rather short allowance for a boy like Dab?"
— from St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, No. 08, June 1878 Scribner's Illustrated by Various - dō has dabō , eō has ībō , and queō has quībō .
— from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane - dō , dās , dat damus , datis , dant Imp. dabam , dabās , dabat dabāmus , dabātis , dabant Fut.
— from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane - dabō , dabis , dabit dabimus , dabitis , dabunt SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.
— from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane - dabar , dabāre or -ris , dabātur dabāmur , dabāminī , dabantur Fut. dabor , dabere or -ris , dabitur dabimur , dabiminī , dabuntur SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.
— from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane
