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People pardoned our hazy lack of details through realisation of the shock the sad event must have caused us, and believed us when we explained that the mangling action of the wind had rendered all eleven bodies unsuitable for transportation outside. Indeed, I flatter myself that even in the midst of our distress, utter bewilderment, and soul-clutching horror, we scarcely went beyond the truth in any specific instance. The tremendous significance lies in what we dared not tell—what I would not tell now but for the need of warning others off from nameless terrors.

I don't get the phrase "tremendous significance" here. It feels like there's something missing in this sentence, making the meaning hard to get, but I can't quite put my finger on what exactly is wrong with it. Maybe it should have been "tremendous significance of "?

Could someone help me please?

Source: https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/mm.aspx

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  • Although there might be some wordplay (from the etymology "to be trembled at") this can be read completely literally "tremendous"= great in importance "significance"= the quality of being worthy of attention. I'd agree that it means "The significance of these events" Commented Apr 4, 2024 at 12:55
  • I think Lovecraft is using 'tremendous' in the sense 'awe-inspiring' rather than the casual usage relating to the size of something. If there is something missing it could be "The tremendous significance [of the events described] lies in ..." Commented Apr 4, 2024 at 12:56
  • The 'tremendous significance', is that of what the narrator and his/her fellows dared not tell (something awful and creepy, obviously, this being Lovercraft). Commented Apr 4, 2024 at 12:58
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    I might add a personal remark - HP Lovecraft was a truly bad writer, if anyone deserved that description. No good can come of reading the dreadful rubbish he produced. Commented Apr 4, 2024 at 13:00
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    @WeatherVane - he was one of the most horribly racist writers I have ever encountered. Commented Apr 4, 2024 at 13:40

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The tremendous significance lies in what we dared not tell—what I would not tell now but for the need of warning others off from nameless terrors.

lies=is found in

Explanation: The huge or very important significance is found in what we dared not tell (recount), and which I would not tell now were it not for [if there was not the need for warning others] the need to warn others away from nameless terrors.

warn others away: tell others to stay away from them.

Short form of the idea: In other words, I am only telling you about these nameless terrors [whatever those are] because I need to warn you about how important they are for you to know in order to avoid them.

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