Smoothing

Examples

• The lady was very happy at the flowers, Nastasia said, smoothing her apron. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
• I am not at all sure that I should be befriending your son by smoothing his way to the future possession of Featherstone's property. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
• He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
• What is your great mode of smoothing and managing, Tom? Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
• Mrs. Pryor, bending over the pale little sufferer, was now smoothing the hair under her cap, and gently raising her pillow. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• The hand was smoothing his shaggy moustache. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• She forced a pitiful smile that pinched her face instead of smoothing it. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
• Before this latter operation, the finished tapering, smoothing, varnishing and polishing is done by hand. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
• See there, my boy, says George, very gently smoothing the mother's hair with his hand, there's a good loving forehead for you! Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
• I donno t'night,' said he, lifting off his hat, and smoothing his thin hair with the flat of his hand. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
• When it is desired to give it a smooth, glossy surface, the paper, after its completion, is passed through animal sizing material, and then between drying and smoothing rollers. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
• At this day he said he could recall the sensation of her little hands smoothing his cheek, or burying themselves in his thick mane. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
• Maurice, smiling, did not deny this remarkably accurate guess, and his uncle, smoothing his silver beard, laughed silently. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
• The rector adjusted his _pince-nez_, and, smoothing open the letter, read the name aloud:— Count Constantine Caliphronas. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
• Her colour was rising, and her hands were at work again smoothing her gown. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
• The old Demarch reclined in a capacious chair beside the fountain, smoothing the golden hair of Helena, who was seated at his feet. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
• The power was taken from a water wheel in Steele’s Creek, and the first grindstones for smoothing down the welded edges in gun barrels were cut from a red sandstone ledge up the gorge. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
• Now, I'll tell you what I want, Noddy,' said Mrs Boffin, smoothing her dress with an air of immense enjoyment, 'I want Society. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• There is no name, said she, smoothing it out upon the counter. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
• It's like burned feathers, observed Amy, smoothing her own pretty curls with a superior air. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
• I dare say not, rejoined Stryver, nodding his head in a smoothing and final way; no matter, no matter. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
• After smoothing it carefully set away in a cool place until the varnish has hardened. William K. David. Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians.

Editor: Ryan