Pregnant construction (gcide) | Pregnant \Preg"nant\, a. [L. praegnans, -antis; prae before +
genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. pr['e]gnant. See Gender,
2d Kin.]
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1. Being with young, as a female; having conceived; great
with young; breeding; teeming; gravid; preparing to bring
forth.
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2. Heavy with important contents, significance, or issue;
full of consequence or results; weighty; as, pregnant
replies. " A pregnant argument." --Prynne. " A pregnant
brevity." --E. Everett.
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3. Full of promise; abounding in ability, resources, etc.;
as, a pregnant youth. [Obs.] --Evelyn.
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Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. --Shak.
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Pregnant construction (Rhet.), one in which more is implied
than is said; as, the beasts trembled forth from their
dens, that is, came forth trembling with fright.
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