If the prefix pro- means “forward,” what is the exact meaning of the word propel? to hold together to drive forward to place back to send forward

Google says that the definition is: to drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward.

This would mean that it would either be drive or send forward. Think of it this way: a helicopter has a propeller, and it drives the helicopter upwards and forwards, propelling it into the air.

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the miracle worker themeswilliam gibson

themes and meanings

(comprehensive guide to drama)

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there are two central themes in  the miracle worker: that the human spirit can triumph over even the most daunting of disabilities and that a dedicated teacher can transform the lives of those with whom he or she comes into contact. these inspirational themes have long been personified in the widely known true-life relationship between helen keller and annie sullivan, but  the miracle worker  also dramatizes collateral issues that extend beyond the particular case. underlying helen’s process of learning basic principles of what annie terms “obedience” (decorum, etiquette, and hygiene), there are more universal lessons of self-governance—the inculcation of self-restraint instead of willfulness, the development of self-discipline instead of self-indulgence. only when these lessons have been mastered can helen begin to acquire language—which, annie says, “is to the mind more than light is to the eye.”