Literary notes about deport (AI summary)
The term "deport" in literature has served a range of meanings related to behavior and movement. In Hans Christian Andersen's work, it is employed in a whimsical context where it describes the self-directed, almost magical behavior of the Will-o'-the-Wisps [1]. In contrast, Thomas Jefferson reflects on the word's playful connotation by linking it with mirth and leisure, suggesting an element of recreation in its use [2]. Meanwhile, Washington Irving adopts a more practical sense of the term by prescribing specific ways to behave or carry oneself in social contexts [3]. Together, these examples illustrate how "deport" has evolved from depicting ethereal, self-motivated motions to outlining the prescribed characteristics of proper conduct.
- "Can you tell me how the Will-o'-the-Wisps deport themselves, and how they behave?
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen - desport , mirth; cp. OF. deport (Bartsch).
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - They were giving her a world of staid counsel how to deport herself, what to say, and in what manner to receive the expected lover.
— from The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon by Washington Irving
