Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0025287, Thu, 17 Apr 2014 01:21:37 +0000

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Re: Jansy's and
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Yes, Beth is right. But it’s also standard English. See Webster’s Second, plum, 7: "Something likened to a plum in desirableness; a good or choice thing of its kind, as among appointments, positions, parts of a book, etc.” Or W3: 4b: "something excellent or superior of its kind (as a choice passage in a book or an unusually good position)”; 4c: “something desirable received or available as a recompense for service.”

Brian Boyd

On 17/04/2014, at 12:51 pm, Don Johnson <chtodel@COX.NET<mailto:chtodel@COX.NET>> wrote:

Susan’s answer re Jansy’s query is certainly on target. I would add that “plum” as in “plum good” or “plum smart” was quite
common in my semi-ruralIndiana childhood---possibly echoing its use in the old English childrens’ rhyme. Don Johnson

From: NABOKV-L, English<mailto:nabokv-l@HOLYCROSS.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2014 5:30 AM
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU<mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
Subject: [NABOKV-L] QUERY: Plums and Easter eggs

In response to Jansy's inquiry, I assume that Nabokov has in mind the English nursery rhyme "Little Jack Horner,"<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Jack_Horner> in which the title character pulls out a hidden plum from a pie and then congratulates himself.

:) SES

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Susan Elizabeth Sweeney
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