Teacher Discussion Forums

Can anyone tell me why "by" and not "with" was used in the following?


In the course of his narrative he refreshes himself by a draught from the drinking-horn into which meanwhile Hagen has pressed the juice of an herb.

http://www.music-with-ease.com/gotterdammerung.html

or succeedeth in smuggling in a drink, or after much importuning,
the janitor is induced to cool the coppers by a draught from the spigot that sizzes and adds to the thirst that is not quenched;

http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenwe...t/hamorwpen.txt


With these preliminary remarks, and after wetting his whistle by a draught from a small pocket flask, he made the echoes of Kenmuir ring with the following, which he sung to the old Gaelic air, "I am asleep, do not waken me:"-

http://forums.delphiforums.com/dict...+Reading+%3E%3E

"They got into the castle by a trick"

There seems to be a meaning of "by" similar to "through" , "by means of" or "using". Certainly "by" is used with -ing in this way:

They quenched their thirst by drinking huge quantities of beer

They quenched their thirst by drinking huge quantities of beer

However much beer I drink, I always feel thirsty the next day. Clearly I don't drink enough.

Well, the obvious answer is that it's written in archaic language. I haven't been able to find anything analagous in Shakespeare, however.

Wagner has reputation as being a bit of a proto-nazi. Why are you interested in this stuff?

I don't want to suggest that you are one yourself, clearly you are not, but it is unusual subject matter.

JuanTwoThree wrote:"They got into the castle by a trick"

There seems to be a meaning of "by" similar to "through" , "by means of" or "using". Certainly "by" is used with -ing in this way:

They quenched their thirst by drinking huge quantities of beer

Yes, that use is normal, but the other...?

[

quote="Andrew Patterson"]Well, the obvious answer is that it's written in archaic language. I haven't been able to find anything analagous in Shakespeare, however.

Wagner has reputation as being a bit of a proto-nazi. Why are you interested in this stuff?

Does a linguist keep well away from analysing language that does not agree with his personal ideology?

I don't want to suggest that you are one yourself, clearly you are not, but it is unusual subject matter.

Try to focus linguistically.

metal56 wrote:Try to focus linguistically.

Do you need to wear ugly glasses for that?

fluffyhamster wrote:

metal56 wrote:Try to focus linguistically.

Do you need to wear ugly glasses for that?

No, not at all. Just be in an ugly mood.

metal56 wrote:No, not at all. Just be in an ugly mood.

haha! funny!