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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I don't know which definition of "instinct" Dickens meant here: "'Open the window,' said the sick man.
He did so. The noise of carriages and carts, the rattle of wheels, the cries of men and boys, all the busy sounds of a mighty multitude instinct with life and occupation, blended into one deep murmur, floated into the room. Above the hoarse loud hum, arose, from time to time, a boisterous laugh; or a scrap of some jingling song, shouted forth, by one of the giddy crowd, would strike upon the ear, for an instant, and then be lost amidst the roar of voices and the tramp of footsteps; the breaking of the billows of the restless sea of life, that rolled heavily on, without. These are melancholy sounds to a quiet listener at any time; but how melancholy to the watcher by the bed of death!"
Instinct \In"stinct\, n. [L. instinctus instigation, impulse, fr. instinguere to instigate: cf. F. instinct. See Instinct, a.] 1. Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object to be accomplished.
An instinct is a propensity prior to experience, and independent of instructions. --Paley.
An instinct is a blind tendency to some mode of action, independent of any consideration, on the part of the agent, of the end to which the action leads. --Whately.
An instinct is an agent which performs blindly and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge. --Sir W. Hamilton.
By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing dangers. --Shak.
2. (Zo["o]l.) Specif., the natural, unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance of any action, without of improvement in the method.
The resemblance between what originally was a habit, and an instinct becomes so close as not to be distinguished. --Darwin.
3. A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct. Instinct \In*stinct"\, v. t. To impress, as an animating power, or instinct. [Obs.] --Bentley.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I'll take number 3, Bill. and I really like the sound of it.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I think Dickens is using instinct as an adjective here: ADJECTIVE: (n-stngkt)1. Deeply filled or imbued: words instinct with love. 2. Obsolete Impelled from within. (From the AHD http://www.bartleby.com/61/0/I0170000.html Sense 1 seems to fit the bill. Bingley
Bingley
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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that makes sense, Bing. in number three, the phrase I liked was animating power. that felt good for me.
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