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Location: Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt
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In H. G. Wells' short story, "the Cone", I found this description of fire:
""Come on," said Horrocks in Raut's ear, and they went and peeped through the little glass hole behind the tuyeres, and saw the tumbled fire writhing in the pit of the blast−furnace."
What does "tumbled" mean in this context?
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Location: Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom
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It's an unusual usage - many British people (like me) would understand it without realising that it doesn't really fit the normal pattern of 'past participle adjectives'.
It seems to fit more as an adjective formed from the noun 'a tumble' - chaos, confusion, disorder, jumble, mess, mix-up, muddle, scramble - chaotic, confuse.
The fire is writhing in a chaotic manner.
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Rank: Newbie
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Location: Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt
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Thanks :)
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