The response to the jury’s verdict was one of outrage.

[kadioguy]

The response to the jury’s verdict was one of outrage.

(From https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/outrage)
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Does it mean "The response to the jury’s verdict was one (= a response) of (= about, concerning, or pertaining to) outrage"?

 

[jutfrank]

The pronoun one refers to 'outrage', yes—a response of outrage.

However, the preposition of is not similar to 'about, concerning, or pertaining to'.

 

[kadioguy]

However, the preposition of is not similar to 'about, concerning, or pertaining to'.

Then what does it mean?

 

[emsr2d2]

It's the appropriate linking word between the reaction and the type of reaction ("outrage"). I don't think you can say it "means" anything.

 

[Tarheel]

Put simply, people were outraged at the verdict. That's what you should get from that.

 

[kadioguy]

Then what does it mean?

It's the appropriate linking word between the reaction and the type of reaction ("outrage"). I don't think you can say it "means" anything.

How about this one?

Then what is it like?

 

[Tarheel]

How about this one?

Then what is it like?

That's a perfectly good question, but I'm sure that's not the response you're looking for. Could you expand on that?

 

[kadioguy]

That's a perfectly good question, but I'm sure that's not the response you're looking for. Could you expand on that?

"Then what is it like?" is my modification of "Then what does it mean?" because emsr2d2 said "I don't think you can say it ‘means’ anything."

 

[Tarheel]

The point is that it (of) is just a linking word and doesn't really mean anything. It performs a grammatical function but doesn't carry any meaning.

 

[jutfrank]

I agree of course that of doesn't really 'mean' anything in the sense of lexical meaning.

It's the appropriate linking word between the reaction and the type of reaction ("outrage").

Yes, I like how emsr2d2 puts this, but I'd probably put it a bit differently and say that it links the nature of the outrage.

I'd say the logical link itself is the meaning.