Dodgson's Explanation to Maud Standen

"I am afraid I can't explain 'vorpal blade' for you--nor yet 'tulgey wood', but I did make an explanation once for 'uffish thought'! It seemed to suggest a state of mind when the voice is gruffish, the manner roughish, and the temper huffish. Then again, as to 'burble', if you take the three verbs 'bleat, murmer, and warble, then select the bits I have underlined, it certainly makes 'burble', though I am afraid I can't distinctly remember having made it in that way."

--Letter, December 1877

Source:

Graham, Eleanor. "Lewis Carroll and the Writing of Through The Looking Glass", Introduction to Through The Looking Glass. In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland/Through The Looking Glass, Puffin Books: Great Britain, 1981.

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