Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
High times
English answer:
turbulent, violent times
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Oct 26, 2012 11:47
11 yrs ago
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English term
High times
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
And from their tumultuous midst, they pushed forward a tall, grim, pine-tree of a fellow, who loomed up out of the throng, like the Peak of Teneriffe among the Canaries in a storm.
"Drive the knaves out! Ho, cowards, guards, turn about! charge upon them! Away with your grievances! Drive them out, I say, drive them out! ------------------—High times, ------------------truly, my lord Media, when demi-gods are thus annoyed at their wine. Oh, who would reign over mortals!"
So at last, with much difficulty, the ragged rout were ejected; the Peak of Teneriffe going last, a pent storm on his brow; and muttering about some black time that was corning.
Thank you!
"Drive the knaves out! Ho, cowards, guards, turn about! charge upon them! Away with your grievances! Drive them out, I say, drive them out! ------------------—High times, ------------------truly, my lord Media, when demi-gods are thus annoyed at their wine. Oh, who would reign over mortals!"
So at last, with much difficulty, the ragged rout were ejected; the Peak of Teneriffe going last, a pent storm on his brow; and muttering about some black time that was corning.
Thank you!
Responses
| 4 +1 | turbulent, violent times |
Charles Davis
|
| 4 | Amazing times |
Jenni Lukac (X)
|
| 4 | weird, strange, changed times |
Yvonne Gallagher
|
Change log
Oct 26, 2012 11:47: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"
Oct 31, 2012 13:49: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Responses
+1
2 hrs
Selected
turbulent, violent times
I think Simon is on the right lines here. The context clearly implies that the tumultuous invasion of "knaves" is an outrage,"when demi-gods are thus annoyed at their wine". The speaker sees this as a violent and threatening event.
Among the many definitions of "high" in Webster's 1828 dictionary, the most relevant to this text, in principle, I think the following are the relevant ones, particularly the last:
"12. Loud; boisterous; threatening or angry. The parties had very high words.
20. Violent; rushing with velocity; tempestuous; as a high wind.
21. Tumultuous; turbulent; inflamed; violent; as high passions."
http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/high
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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-10-26 14:40:20 GMT)
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Nowadays the expression "high times" has a positive sense of "prosperous times" or "good times", but that is obviously not the sense here.
Among the many definitions of "high" in Webster's 1828 dictionary, the most relevant to this text, in principle, I think the following are the relevant ones, particularly the last:
"12. Loud; boisterous; threatening or angry. The parties had very high words.
20. Violent; rushing with velocity; tempestuous; as a high wind.
21. Tumultuous; turbulent; inflamed; violent; as high passions."
http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/high
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2012-10-26 14:40:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Nowadays the expression "high times" has a positive sense of "prosperous times" or "good times", but that is obviously not the sense here.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
PoveyTrans (X)
: I like turbulent
2 hrs
|
|
I agree; that's the word that best captures it, I think. Thanks, Simon!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs
Amazing times
Usually "high times" are fun, prosperous times, and the expression "it's high time to..." indicates that something should have already been undertaken. I think that it is used here to express a certain amount of amazement, but one must also take into account that the speaker is given over to (a bit addicted to) hyperbole.
10 hrs
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, Irish, UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
663
weird, strange, changed times
is how I read this in the context (and I add the part that leads up to this)
It's clear from this that Abrazza has nothing but contempt for mortals and wants absolutely nothing to do with them. So, he is outraged (very annoyed) when what he would consider to be nothing but "knaves" or the lowliest of the low burst in past his guards to try and air their grievances
He calls the guards "cowards" and tells them to get rid of this rabble.
So, I would see this as him (King Abrazza) thinking: "how times have changed that this rabble would dare approach a demi-god like me!" so times are weird or strange. I don't agree they are tumultuous since the rabble don't get very far with their grievances and he is still lording it over them.
The previous paragraph which I have segmented
"You are right, you are right, after all, my dear demi-god," said
Abrazza.
"And to say truth, I seldom worry myself with the ways of
these mortals; for no thanks do we demi-gods get. We kings should be ever indifferent. Nothing like a cold heart; warm ones are ever chafing, and getting into trouble. I let my mortals here in this isle take heed to themselves; only barring them out when they would thrust in their petitions.
This very instant, my lord, my yeoman-guard is on duty without, to drive off intruders.--Hark!--what noise is that?--Ho, who comes?..."
It's clear from this that Abrazza has nothing but contempt for mortals and wants absolutely nothing to do with them. So, he is outraged (very annoyed) when what he would consider to be nothing but "knaves" or the lowliest of the low burst in past his guards to try and air their grievances
He calls the guards "cowards" and tells them to get rid of this rabble.
So, I would see this as him (King Abrazza) thinking: "how times have changed that this rabble would dare approach a demi-god like me!" so times are weird or strange. I don't agree they are tumultuous since the rabble don't get very far with their grievances and he is still lording it over them.
The previous paragraph which I have segmented
"You are right, you are right, after all, my dear demi-god," said
Abrazza.
"And to say truth, I seldom worry myself with the ways of
these mortals; for no thanks do we demi-gods get. We kings should be ever indifferent. Nothing like a cold heart; warm ones are ever chafing, and getting into trouble. I let my mortals here in this isle take heed to themselves; only barring them out when they would thrust in their petitions.
This very instant, my lord, my yeoman-guard is on duty without, to drive off intruders.--Hark!--what noise is that?--Ho, who comes?..."
Discussion