" Scragged means something in this way, old feller," said Charley. As he said it, Master Bates caught up an end of his neckerchief and, holding it erect in the air, dropped his head on his shoulders and jerked a curious sound through his teeth, thereby indicating, by a lively pantomimic representation, that scragging and hanging were one and the same thing. (Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, 1838)
This is an example of a(n) _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The passage uses a pantomimic representation to show what "scragged" means, which is an example of an ostensive definition, where the meaning is demonstrated rather than explained verbally.

" Scragged Means Something in This Way, Old Feller," Said