Literary notes about thenceforth (AI summary)
The word "thenceforth" functions as a formal adverb in literature, signaling that from a specific moment onward, events or conditions have permanently changed. It often marks a turning point in narratives—whether it be a character's transformation, as when one shifts from being a mere observer to an active participant in life [1], or a decisive historical moment that alters the course of events [2]. Moreover, its usage spans various genres, lending an air of timeless continuity, as demonstrated in narratives ranging from mythic tales to social commentaries [3] [4] [5]. This enduring quality makes "thenceforth" a favored device for conveying irrevocable change and the flow of time in literary works.
- He became, thenceforth, not a spectator only, but a chief actor in the poor minister's interior world.
— from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Before, his name had been one to conjure with; thenceforth it was to have no terrors.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Hyde was thenceforth impossible; whether I would or not, I was now confined to the better part of my existence; and O, how I rejoiced to think of it!
— from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - These masses are often pushed up out of reach of the waves, so that the heaps of gravel are left thenceforth undisturbed.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Then Isis fanned the cold clay with her wings: Osiris revived, and thenceforth reigned as king over the dead in the other world.
— from The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer
