the exact meaning

Hello again! I have some questions!
1. Could you tell me what does exactly "side-tables" mean?
2. How do you interpret the expression "out of the knowledge" in the following sentence:
"...; and out of the knowledge that no one could possibly enter his rooms without perceivinghim to be a man of wealth.."?
3. Could you explain the expression "to make his/her own way"?
4. Which is correct:
- our world is wrapped up in the cosmos like in swaddling clothes;
-as in swaddling clothes
or -seems to be wrapped in swaddling clothes by space?
Thank you!

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by steliyana

Hello again! I have some questions!
1. Could you tell me what does exactly "side-tables" mean?
2. How do you interpret the expression "out of the knowledge" in the following sentence:
"...; and out of the knowledge that no one could possibly enter his rooms without perceivinghim to be a man of wealth.."?
3. Could you explain the expression "to make his/her own way"?
4. Which is correct:
- our world is wrapped up in the cosmos like in swaddling clothes;
-as in swaddling clothes
or -seems to be wrapped in swaddling clothes by space?
Thank you!

1. Side-tables are tables that stand beside another piece of furniture, usually a sofa or a bed.

2. In that sentence "out of" means "from". His opinion developed out of the knowledge that the man was rich.

3. "To make his/her own way" means "to take his/her own path".

4. "As in swaddling clothes" would be correct. It is a metaphor/simile. The cosmos wraps our world as swaddling clothes wraps a baby.