AtD translation: twinkle

[Mark Kohut]

i agree...

On Mon, Jun 1, 2026 at 9:44 AM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I thought so in the case of "IN HILBERT’S CLASS" as well, but a few lines
> later it says;
>
> P604.14   The twinkle, as some reported later, modulated to a steady
> pulsation.
>
> To me, this seems to contradict the idea of a wink, unless
> Herr Geheimrat Hilbert started to wink steadily.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 1, 2026 at 3:57 PM Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I see at least two, I think....In HILBERT'S CLASS
>>
>> and "a sort of confidential twinkle" esp...
>>
>> On Fri, May 15, 2026 at 1:11 PM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> According to the OED:
>>>
>>> twinkle v.
>>> 1.a. *intransitive*. To shine with rapidly intermittent light; to emit
>>> tremulous radiance; to sparkle; to glitter; †to shine dimly, to glimmer;
>>> to
>>> flicker (*obsolete*).
>>> 2.a. *intransitive*. To close and open the eye or eyes quickly
>>> (voluntarily
>>> or involuntarily); to make a signal by this means; to wink, blink; also
>>> said of the eye or eyes. *Obsolete* or *archaic*.
>>>
>>> twinkle n.
>>> 1.a. A winking of the eye; a wink, blink; also, a momentary glance (in
>>> quot. 1593, of the mind); cf. blink n.2 2 ? *Obsolete*.
>>> 3.a. An intermittent or transient shining; a sparkle, a scintillation;
>>> also, a faint or momentary gleam; a glimmer.
>>>
>>> So basically "sparkle" or "wink", with "wink" possibly considered
>>> obsolete.
>>>
>>> P34.29-30   “Well, ring-tailed rutabagas.” Vibe’s eyes with a
>>> contemptuous
>>> twinkle which colleagues had learned meant he had what he wanted.
>>>
>>> P139.29-30   “Ah,” twinkled Dr. Vormance, “and you can see right down
>>> through the snow at the base of it, I suppose.”
>>>
>>> P306.34   “Appreciate that,” Merle twinkled back, “so I’ll let you in on
>>> something.
>>>
>>> P455.24-26   Merle, recognizing the name of a popular brand of blasting
>>> agent, twinkled back discreetly. “Powerful fella. Twelve Labors instead
>>> of
>>> twelve Apostles, ‘s I recall. . . .”
>>>
>>> P596.1-3   “Dang, Yash, you sure read my mind there,” with what he hoped
>>> was enough of a twinkle that she wouldn’t take offense, for her
>>> unannounced
>>> ferocities, however playful, continued to cause him some dismay.
>>>
>>> P604.1-2   IN HILBERT’S CLASS one day, she raised her hand. He twinkled
>>> at
>>> her to go ahead. “Herr Geheimrat—”
>>>
>>> P604.14   The twinkle, as some reported later, modulated to a steady
>>> pulsation.
>>>
>>> P682.32-34   The Professor-Doktor put in his monocle and had a squint at
>>> Lew, which rapidly became a sort of confidential twinkle. “You and Max
>>> actually looked after the Crown Prince at one time?”
>>>
>>> P729.4-5   After a warning look sideways at Kit, “Just some little
>>> pennsilvoney,” Reef insincerely twinkled, “forget just what part of
>>> town.”
>>>
>>> Does any of the above instances of "twinkle" refer to a wink? Or are they
>>> all "sparkle" or "said with a sparkle in one's eyes"?
>>> --
>>> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>>>
>>