Meaning of Quickening | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An increase of speed.
2. The action of bringing someone or something to life.
3. The first noticeable movements of a foetus during pregnancy, or the period when this occurs.
4. Stimulation, excitement (of a feeling, emotion etc.).

Equivalents

Examples

“If the following guide⟳ lose⟳ his distance from the one leading (which can only happen⟳ by his own⟳ fault), he will correct⟳ himself by slightly lengthening or shortening a few steps, in order⟳ that there may not be sudden quickenings or slackenings in the march⟳ of his platoon.”

“It resembled them in the sense⟳ that it was not ended, when it was past, but continued to unfold, in Watt's head, from beginning to end⟳, over and over again, the complex connexions of its lights and shadows, the passing from silence to sound⟳ and from sound⟳ to silence, the stillness before the movement and the stillness after, the quickenings and retardings, the approaches and the separations, all the shifting detail of its march⟳ and ordinance, according to the irrevocable caprice of its taking place⟳.”

“It may indeed be said that these days brought on a high quickening of Maisie's direct⟳ perceptions, of her sense⟳ of freedom to make⟳ out things for herself.”

CEFR level