“almost lovingly apart” meaning in this context
He had run barely a dozen steps when he reached them: Dudley was curled up on the ground, his arms clamped over his face. A second Dementor was crouching low over him, gripping his wrists in its slimy hands, prising them slowly, almost lovingly apart, lowering its hooded head towards Dudley's face as though about to kiss him....
[Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K.Rowling]
As I understand, 'apart' means 'separated', and 'lovingly' means "with fondness; with love". It seems strange when they put together "lovingly apart" in this context. I don't know what it's supposed to mean. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
add a comment |
He had run barely a dozen steps when he reached them: Dudley was curled up on the ground, his arms clamped over his face. A second Dementor was crouching low over him, gripping his wrists in its slimy hands, prising them slowly, almost lovingly apart, lowering its hooded head towards Dudley's face as though about to kiss him....
[Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K.Rowling]
As I understand, 'apart' means 'separated', and 'lovingly' means "with fondness; with love". It seems strange when they put together "lovingly apart" in this context. I don't know what it's supposed to mean. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
FWIW, it is not an idiosyncratic phrase by any means: google.com/…
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
27 mins ago
add a comment |
He had run barely a dozen steps when he reached them: Dudley was curled up on the ground, his arms clamped over his face. A second Dementor was crouching low over him, gripping his wrists in its slimy hands, prising them slowly, almost lovingly apart, lowering its hooded head towards Dudley's face as though about to kiss him....
[Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K.Rowling]
As I understand, 'apart' means 'separated', and 'lovingly' means "with fondness; with love". It seems strange when they put together "lovingly apart" in this context. I don't know what it's supposed to mean. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
He had run barely a dozen steps when he reached them: Dudley was curled up on the ground, his arms clamped over his face. A second Dementor was crouching low over him, gripping his wrists in its slimy hands, prising them slowly, almost lovingly apart, lowering its hooded head towards Dudley's face as though about to kiss him....
[Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K.Rowling]
As I understand, 'apart' means 'separated', and 'lovingly' means "with fondness; with love". It seems strange when they put together "lovingly apart" in this context. I don't know what it's supposed to mean. How should we understand it?
meaning-in-context
meaning-in-context
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
edited 2 hours ago
RubioRic
4,0541931
4,0541931
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
asked 4 hours ago
dan
4,65722567
4,65722567
FWIW, it is not an idiosyncratic phrase by any means: google.com/…
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
27 mins ago
add a comment |
FWIW, it is not an idiosyncratic phrase by any means: google.com/…
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
27 mins ago
FWIW, it is not an idiosyncratic phrase by any means: google.com/…
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
27 mins ago
FWIW, it is not an idiosyncratic phrase by any means: google.com/…
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
27 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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The Dementor is moving Dudley's arms apart in order to take Dudley's soul. The word "lovingly" is used to make the scene more frightful to the reader. Note the word "almost" - this means "had it been in another situation, this movement would have looked very loving and gentle".
There is a contrast between the horrible situation and the gentle prizing apart of Dudley's arms.
There is a horrible scene (a longer version) in Saving Private Ryan in which a soldier almost lovingly and slowly puts a knife in another soldier during hand-to-hand combat.
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
add a comment |
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The Dementor is moving Dudley's arms apart in order to take Dudley's soul. The word "lovingly" is used to make the scene more frightful to the reader. Note the word "almost" - this means "had it been in another situation, this movement would have looked very loving and gentle".
There is a contrast between the horrible situation and the gentle prizing apart of Dudley's arms.
There is a horrible scene (a longer version) in Saving Private Ryan in which a soldier almost lovingly and slowly puts a knife in another soldier during hand-to-hand combat.
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
add a comment |
The Dementor is moving Dudley's arms apart in order to take Dudley's soul. The word "lovingly" is used to make the scene more frightful to the reader. Note the word "almost" - this means "had it been in another situation, this movement would have looked very loving and gentle".
There is a contrast between the horrible situation and the gentle prizing apart of Dudley's arms.
There is a horrible scene (a longer version) in Saving Private Ryan in which a soldier almost lovingly and slowly puts a knife in another soldier during hand-to-hand combat.
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
add a comment |
The Dementor is moving Dudley's arms apart in order to take Dudley's soul. The word "lovingly" is used to make the scene more frightful to the reader. Note the word "almost" - this means "had it been in another situation, this movement would have looked very loving and gentle".
There is a contrast between the horrible situation and the gentle prizing apart of Dudley's arms.
There is a horrible scene (a longer version) in Saving Private Ryan in which a soldier almost lovingly and slowly puts a knife in another soldier during hand-to-hand combat.
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
The Dementor is moving Dudley's arms apart in order to take Dudley's soul. The word "lovingly" is used to make the scene more frightful to the reader. Note the word "almost" - this means "had it been in another situation, this movement would have looked very loving and gentle".
There is a contrast between the horrible situation and the gentle prizing apart of Dudley's arms.
There is a horrible scene (a longer version) in Saving Private Ryan in which a soldier almost lovingly and slowly puts a knife in another soldier during hand-to-hand combat.
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
edited 3 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
answered 3 hours ago
CowperKettle
28k1088166
28k1088166
add a comment |
add a comment |
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FWIW, it is not an idiosyncratic phrase by any means: google.com/…
– Tᴚoɯɐuo
27 mins ago