In this passage from “The Nightingale” by Hans Christian Andersen, the word "wound" refers to the action of winding up the artificial nightingale to make it sing. Therefore, in this context, the meaning of "wound" is best interpreted as "turn to activate" (in the sense of winding a mechanism to make it function).
Read the passage from “The Nightingale” by Hans Christian Andersen.
One day a large parcel came for the emperor; outside was written the word 'Nightingale.'
'Here we have another new book about this celebrated bird,' said the emperor. But it was no book; it was a little work of art in a box, an artificial nightingale, exactly like the living one, but it was studded all over with diamonds, rubies and sapphires.
When the bird was wound up it could sing one of the songs the real one sang, and it wagged its tail, which glittered with silver and gold.
What is the meaning of “wound” in this passage?
turn to activate
injury
change direction
wrap around
1 answer