Literary notes about engraft (AI summary)
The word "engraft" appears in literature both in its literal horticultural sense and as a metaphor for the integration of new elements into existing structures. Authors use it to describe the physical act of grafting a branch onto a tree [1, 2, 3], while also employing it figuratively to express the embedding of ideas, values, or even personal traits into a broader narrative or identity [4, 5, 6]. It can illustrate how doctrines shape character or how traits and habits become firmly established within an individual or social framework [7, 8, 9]. In this manner, "engraft" serves as a powerful image for growth and transformation across different contexts [10, 11].
- They began now to engraft on the crab-apple tree, which was found indigenous.
— from History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia by Charles Campbell - As much care should be taken with the “seed” potatoes as in the selection of scions, with which to engraft a tree.
— from The Chautauquan, Vol. 05, October 1884, No. 1 by Chautauqua Institution - "Off with you to the forest!" said the gardener to him one morning, "and fetch me the stem of a wild rose, that I may engraft cultivated roses on it."
— from Fairy Tales From all Nations by Anthony R. (Anthony Reubens) Montalba - To engraft into her infant soul the purest principles of religion was therefore the chief aim of Mary's preceptress.
— from Marriage by Susan Ferrier - When the habit of obedience to customary necessity is thus formed, we may, without much risk, engraft upon it obedience to the voice of authority.
— from Practical Education, Volume I by Richard Lovell Edgeworth - This made it possible to engraft upon the federal constitution of 1787 the full and complete equality of all religious faiths.
— from The History of Orange County New York - I said we had better summon all our amiability and endeavor to engraft ourselves in their good graces.
— from The Adventures of My Cousin Smooth by Timothy Templeton - On such a foundation it was not difficult to engraft the love of knowledge; and literature was always made an indulgence, not a task.
— from Bertha's Visit to Her Uncle in England; vol. 1 [of 3] by Mrs. (Jane Haldimand) Marcet - I, however, got quite enough of hospitality at Turlow, and quite enough of thrashing at Castlebar, to engraft the whole circumstances on my memory.
— from Personal Sketches of His Own Times, Vol. 3 (of 3) by Barrington, Jonah, Sir - He began to expound and enforce it, striving to engraft it on literary society and to embody it in the English national life.
— from The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, February 1884, No. 5. by Chautauqua Institution - Let us not stop in cold admiration, but reflect how we may engraft similar virtues upon our own souls.
— from The Elements of Character by Mary G. (Mary Greene) Ware
