Literary notes about rancid (AI summary)
The word "rancid" has been used to evoke both literal spoilage and metaphorical decay across various literary genres. In scientific and practical texts, as seen in T. H. Pardo de Tavera’s writings [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6], it describes the inevitable degradation of oils, fats, and plant-based substances, emphasizing their loss of quality with time. Similarly, discussions of food preservation in reports on nut growers also employ the term to denote spoilage [7, 8, 9, 10]. In contrast, modern literary works imbue "rancid" with metaphorical resonance, as authors like James Joyce, Chekhov, and Mark Twain use it to create a sensory imagery of decay or corruption, whether describing a shefiend’s attire or critiquing outdated ideas [11, 12, 13]. This dual application underscores the word’s versatility, linking the physical process of decay with more abstract notions of moral or aesthetic deterioration.
- When fresh its odor is agreeable, but it easily becomes rancid and assumes a most disagreeable odor.
— from The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by T. H. Pardo de Tavera - Cooked as a sort of mush it may be used as a substitute for linseed poultices and has the great advantage of not becoming rancid.
— from The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by T. H. Pardo de Tavera - It [ 185 ] is bright yellow, viscid, does not easily become rancid and is used for illuminating purposes in some Philippine provinces.
— from The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by T. H. Pardo de Tavera - It does not easily become rancid and, for this reason, enters into the composition of many ointments and pomades, or is used alone.
— from The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by T. H. Pardo de Tavera - This preparation is, in our opinion, undesirable on account of its liability to become rancid and vaseline should be the excipient used.
— from The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by T. H. Pardo de Tavera - It melts at 26° and decomposes at 200° [ 85 ] forming a colorless oil; it is not vesicant, burns with a dark flame, and has the odor of rancid oil.
— from The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by T. H. Pardo de Tavera - This is unlike the pecan which, stored in the same room with the hickory nuts, became rancid by the following year after collection.
— from Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 44th Annual Meeting - The nuts eventually became rancid though 3 years of storage in a heated room did not cause the bulk of the test samples to change in flavor.
— from Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 44th Annual Meeting - Long ones are not good; and the best, if not carefully shelled, are apt to be a little rancid on account of the gall!”
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition by Edgar Allan Poe - It consisted of watery soup, seasoned with pepper and rancid oil.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen - A shefiend’s whiteness under her rancid rags.
— from Ulysses by James Joyce - The Lenten oil in the shop is bitter, rancid, the people have pitch that is better.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - If he had left out that old rancid one about the lecturer I wouldn’t have said anything; but I couldn’t stand that one.
— from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
