Literary notes about gushing (AI summary)
The term “gushing” is employed to evoke both an uncontrolled physical flow and an overflow of emotion in literary texts. It often describes vivid natural scenes—waterfalls, streams, and even blood spurting from wounds—to create a sense of dynamic, sometimes overwhelming movement, as when torrents cascade over precipices or blood flows uncontrollably from a cut ([1], [2], [3]). At the same time, “gushing” characterizes enthusiastic or effusive expression, whether in tearful outpourings or fervent letters that brim with excessive sentiment ([4], [5], [6]). In its versatile usage, the word bridges the tangible with the abstract, enriching descriptions by emphasizing both physical force and emotional intensity ([7], [8], [9]).
- With fruitless labour, Clara bound, And strove to staunch the gushing wound: The monk with unavailing cares, Exhausted all the Church’s prayers.
— from Marmion: A Tale Of Flodden Field by Walter Scott - The waterfalls vary from mere threads tinkling into tiny pools to great torrents gushing over dizzy precipices.
— from The School System of Norway by David Allen Anderson - Blood was gushing from its leg as from a spring.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - Jim's first step was to write a somewhat haughty letter to the Rev. Cooper Smith, and an excessively gushing and almost affectionate one to Elsie.
— from A Child of the Glens; or, Elsie's Fortunes by Edward N. Hoare - Then Christian and Hopeful looked upon one another, with tears gushing out, but yet said nothing to the Shepherds.
— from The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come by John Bunyan - what a ruin has befallen thee!" said Hester, with the tears gushing into her eyes.
— from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - ‘Tis night: now do all gushing fountains speak louder.
— from Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - Forth from his ample chest there came A brilliance as of gushing flame.
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki - With the gushing self-sufficiency of youth I was feverish to plunge in headlong and achieve a great reform here—until I saw the Mormon women.
— from Roughing It by Mark Twain
