What does the word "tentacles" mean in this context?
Because they are most likely not the tentacles some animals like snails have. It is from "The Time Machine". The Time Traveller meets future people and sees the first one here:

"He came a step forward, hesitated, and then touched my hand. Then I felt other soft little tentacles upon my back and shoulders".

Could you please comment on the usage of the word "tentacles" in this context, not only how I am to understand it, but also how usual/unusual it is?

Question

What does the word "tentacles" mean in this context?
Because they are most likely not the tentacles some animals like snails have. It is from "The Time Machine". The Time Traveller meets future people and sees the first one here:

"He came a step forward, hesitated, and then touched my hand. Then I felt other soft little tentacles upon my back and shoulders".

Could you please comment on the usage of the word "tentacles" in this context, not only how I am to understand it, but also how usual/unusual it is?

Answer

tentacles= the long thin parts like arms of some sea creatures, which are used for feeling and holding things, catching food or moving; like those of an octopus or a squid

Answer

an arm that has no bones.  It is solid muscle and starches.

Answer

Err... snails don't have tentacles.

In this case, several of the future people were touching him to make sure he was real. If you can imagine how an octopus or squid feels something (ie. with not one touch, but many touches from several tentacles), that gives the image of how the touches felt to the time traveller.

So "tentacles" is figurative here.

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