Literary notes about fetching (AI summary)
Across a range of literary texts, the word "fetching" demonstrates a rich versatility in meaning. In some narratives, it performs the straightforward task of indicating the retrieval of an item—whether it be water drawn for a household duty ([1], [2]), cakes fetched for a relative ([3]), or even turning to physical labor such as hauling objects ([4], [5]). In other instances, it conveys an emotive or conversational nuance; characters may "fetch a deep sigh" as a way of expressing profound emotion or resignation ([6], [7]), or the term may be employed in dialogue to compliment someone's attractive qualities ([8], [9]). Thus, its usage spans both the literal act of carrying something from one place to another and a more figurative mode of communicating attitude, mood, or social interaction.
- There he met one of the female companions of Shiribadatt’s daughter fetching water for the princess.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway - I’d better go to my neighbor’s instead of fetching the water.”
— from Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore - Soon afterwards the wolf knocked, and cried, "Open the door, grandmother, I am little Red-Cap, and am fetching you some cakes."
— from Household Tales by Brothers Grimm by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm - He whirled over, fetching the ground on his back and side.
— from The call of the wild by Jack London - But we four men set to in earnest, digging with all our might and main, shovelling away at the great white pile, and fetching it into the meadow.
— from Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor by R. D. (Richard Doddridge) Blackmore - Then fetching a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart, “Alas!
— from Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by Saint the Venerable Bede - ented sat up, and fetching a deep sigh, said, “Now I am whole, for I am restored to my senses.”
— from Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by Saint the Venerable Bede - You are very charming and fetching, Mademoiselle, but I doubt your being able to bring Williams to your feet.”
— from Molly Brown of Kentucky by Nell Speed - Nothing is more fetching, to my thinking, than a tasteful boating costume.
— from Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome