Literary notes about enumerate (AI summary)
The term “enumerate” has been employed in literature as a versatile tool to convey the act of listing or detailing elements, whether they are tangible objects, abstract ideas, or catalogues of human endeavor. Authors ranging from Shelley [1] to Plato [2, 3] use the word to emphasize the vastness or diversity of their subjects—be it the adornments of humanity, the multitude of tobacco varieties [4], or the many forces in epic battles [5]. Philosophers like Locke [6, 7, 8], as well as historians and critics such as Diogenes Laertius [9, 10, 11], have employed enumeration to structure complex arguments or to underscore the exhaustive nature of their observations. Even in more conversational or satirical contexts [12, 13], the act of enumerating serves to both clarify and dramatize, contributing a rhythm and precision that enhances the narrative flow.
- Alas! to enumerate the adornments of humanity, shews, by what we have lost, how supremely great man was.
— from The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley - And now you shall repay me what you borrowed; and I will enumerate the rewards of justice in life and after death.
— from The Republic of Plato by Plato - And now you shall repay me what you borrowed; and I will enumerate the rewards of justice in life and after death.
— from The Republic by Plato - In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-, cigarette-, and pipe-tobacco, with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash.
— from The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle - This gives occasion to the poet to enumerate all the forces of the Greeks and Trojans, and in a large catalogue.
— from The Iliad by Homer - But having occasion to speak more at large of these in another place, I here only enumerate them.
— from An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1 by John Locke - I think it will be needless to enumerate all the particular simple ideas belonging to each sense.
— from An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1 by John Locke - I do not pretend to enumerate them all, nor to treat at large of this set of ideas, which are got from reflection: that would be to make a volume.
— from An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1 by John Locke - He has also given other definitions on a great many subjects, which it would be tedious to enumerate here.
— from The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius - And let us also enumerate the disciples of Phædo, the chief of whom were the Eretrians.
— from The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius - But we will enumerate them briefly, as we have been in the habit of doing in the case of the other philosophers.
— from The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius - Good gracious, do you expect me to go on my knees to you with such a treasure, to enumerate all the advantages, to court you!
— from The possessed : by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Shall I enumerate them, or will you?” “Oh, you,” I replied hastily.
— from The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
