0

What does 'drew her back into' mean in context? Can 'drew' be replaced with 'pulled'?

He drew her back into himself again; again she was confronted with the single eye, was pulled through the opening, oval pupil.

From A Wind in the Door by Madelene L'Engle.

Improve this question
0

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

The word "drew" is of course the past tense of "draw", as "pulled" is of "pull".

The word "Draw" has quite a few meanings as a verb (and yet others as other parts of speech) as seen in this definition from Merriam-Webster (and there are other meanings I can think of not listed in this entry)

In this sense the literal meaning of sense 1 from the linked definition

to cause to move continuously toward or after a force applied in advance : pull

or the figurative meaning of sense 3

to bring by inducement or allure : attract

"Pull" has sufficiently similar meanings that it could easily be substituted here, the choice is one of style.

Improve this answer
4
  • You wrote 'the choice is one of style'. I would like to feel different in the style acording to what we use 'draw' or 'pull'. Or it is impossible for not a native speaker?
    – Vitaly
    Commented Jul 18, 2019 at 12:36
  • @Vitaly I don't understand what you mean by "feel different in the style". I meant that whether to use "pull" or "draw" is a stylistic choice, not affecting the meaning significantly. The rest of the sentence need not change based on this choice.
    – David Siegel
    Commented Jul 18, 2019 at 13:30
  • I mean it is difficult for me to feel the difference: Clock out, pull the curtains, and sleep. Lock the door, and draw the curtains, etc. All the time I am not sure what word to use 'draw' or 'pull' in any new my phrase which I did not see before.
    – Vitaly
    Commented Jul 18, 2019 at 13:44
  • I really don't get why people do not upvote these kinds of answers.
    – Lambie
    Commented May 8, 2023 at 14:42

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .