What do “conferences” refer to?
In this case the threat of the Zoological Gardens authorities that if
the men "came out" the animals should come out also had intensified
and precipitated the crisis. The imminent prospect of the larger
carnivores, to say nothing of rhinoceroses and bull bison, roaming at
large and unfed in the heart of London, was not one which permitted of
prolonged conferences. The Government of the day, which from its
tendency to be a few hours behind the course of events had been
nicknamed the Government of the afternoon, was obliged to intervene
with promptitude and decision.
from The Unkindest Blow, a short story by Saki
Are "conferences" the Zoological Gardens authorities' or the Government's?
word-usage
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
add a comment |
In this case the threat of the Zoological Gardens authorities that if
the men "came out" the animals should come out also had intensified
and precipitated the crisis. The imminent prospect of the larger
carnivores, to say nothing of rhinoceroses and bull bison, roaming at
large and unfed in the heart of London, was not one which permitted of
prolonged conferences. The Government of the day, which from its
tendency to be a few hours behind the course of events had been
nicknamed the Government of the afternoon, was obliged to intervene
with promptitude and decision.
from The Unkindest Blow, a short story by Saki
Are "conferences" the Zoological Gardens authorities' or the Government's?
word-usage
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
add a comment |
In this case the threat of the Zoological Gardens authorities that if
the men "came out" the animals should come out also had intensified
and precipitated the crisis. The imminent prospect of the larger
carnivores, to say nothing of rhinoceroses and bull bison, roaming at
large and unfed in the heart of London, was not one which permitted of
prolonged conferences. The Government of the day, which from its
tendency to be a few hours behind the course of events had been
nicknamed the Government of the afternoon, was obliged to intervene
with promptitude and decision.
from The Unkindest Blow, a short story by Saki
Are "conferences" the Zoological Gardens authorities' or the Government's?
word-usage
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
In this case the threat of the Zoological Gardens authorities that if
the men "came out" the animals should come out also had intensified
and precipitated the crisis. The imminent prospect of the larger
carnivores, to say nothing of rhinoceroses and bull bison, roaming at
large and unfed in the heart of London, was not one which permitted of
prolonged conferences. The Government of the day, which from its
tendency to be a few hours behind the course of events had been
nicknamed the Government of the afternoon, was obliged to intervene
with promptitude and decision.
from The Unkindest Blow, a short story by Saki
Are "conferences" the Zoological Gardens authorities' or the Government's?
word-usage
word-usage
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
asked 4 hours ago
bandaid
577
577
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Prolonged conferences here just means people having serious discussions for long periods of time, not the well-organized and extensively scheduled meetings that people mean by conferences today.
From the OED:
Conference: The action of conferring or taking counsel, now always on an important or serious subject or affair.
Presumably these conferences would be people in the government meeting and trying to decide what to do.
This meaning is more or less obsolete today.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
add a comment |
Because he says "prolonged conferences" and not "the prolonged conferences", the author does not mean any specific conferences, but just conferences in general. Since he doesn't mention any conferences in this passage, we can assume he is talking about any and all hypothetical "prolonged conferences", which could possibly be organized either by the zoo, or by the government. i.e. There is no time for long discussion during this dangerous situation.
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
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active
oldest
votes
Prolonged conferences here just means people having serious discussions for long periods of time, not the well-organized and extensively scheduled meetings that people mean by conferences today.
From the OED:
Conference: The action of conferring or taking counsel, now always on an important or serious subject or affair.
Presumably these conferences would be people in the government meeting and trying to decide what to do.
This meaning is more or less obsolete today.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
add a comment |
Prolonged conferences here just means people having serious discussions for long periods of time, not the well-organized and extensively scheduled meetings that people mean by conferences today.
From the OED:
Conference: The action of conferring or taking counsel, now always on an important or serious subject or affair.
Presumably these conferences would be people in the government meeting and trying to decide what to do.
This meaning is more or less obsolete today.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
add a comment |
Prolonged conferences here just means people having serious discussions for long periods of time, not the well-organized and extensively scheduled meetings that people mean by conferences today.
From the OED:
Conference: The action of conferring or taking counsel, now always on an important or serious subject or affair.
Presumably these conferences would be people in the government meeting and trying to decide what to do.
This meaning is more or less obsolete today.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
Prolonged conferences here just means people having serious discussions for long periods of time, not the well-organized and extensively scheduled meetings that people mean by conferences today.
From the OED:
Conference: The action of conferring or taking counsel, now always on an important or serious subject or affair.
Presumably these conferences would be people in the government meeting and trying to decide what to do.
This meaning is more or less obsolete today.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
answered 3 hours ago
Peter Shor
1,875911
1,875911
add a comment |
add a comment |
Because he says "prolonged conferences" and not "the prolonged conferences", the author does not mean any specific conferences, but just conferences in general. Since he doesn't mention any conferences in this passage, we can assume he is talking about any and all hypothetical "prolonged conferences", which could possibly be organized either by the zoo, or by the government. i.e. There is no time for long discussion during this dangerous situation.
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
add a comment |
Because he says "prolonged conferences" and not "the prolonged conferences", the author does not mean any specific conferences, but just conferences in general. Since he doesn't mention any conferences in this passage, we can assume he is talking about any and all hypothetical "prolonged conferences", which could possibly be organized either by the zoo, or by the government. i.e. There is no time for long discussion during this dangerous situation.
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
add a comment |
Because he says "prolonged conferences" and not "the prolonged conferences", the author does not mean any specific conferences, but just conferences in general. Since he doesn't mention any conferences in this passage, we can assume he is talking about any and all hypothetical "prolonged conferences", which could possibly be organized either by the zoo, or by the government. i.e. There is no time for long discussion during this dangerous situation.
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
Because he says "prolonged conferences" and not "the prolonged conferences", the author does not mean any specific conferences, but just conferences in general. Since he doesn't mention any conferences in this passage, we can assume he is talking about any and all hypothetical "prolonged conferences", which could possibly be organized either by the zoo, or by the government. i.e. There is no time for long discussion during this dangerous situation.
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
edited 3 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
answered 3 hours ago
Lorel C.
82725
82725
add a comment |
add a comment |
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