| 释义 |
defenceless, defenseless, a.|dɪˈfɛnslɪs|
1. Without defence; unguarded, unprotected.
c1530Remedie of Love (R.), O ther disceit vnware and defencelesse. 1589Warner Alb. Eng. v. xxvi. (R.), King Dermote..Was left defencelesse..And fled to England. 1667Milton P.L. x. 815 That fear Comes thundring back with dreadful revolution On my defensless head. 1713Lond. Gaz. No. 5149/3 It is a Place entirely Defenceless. 1740Wesley Hymn, ‘Jesus, Lover of my soul’ ii, Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of Thy wing. 1755Monitor No. 12 ⁋10 In the murder of the innocent and defenceless. 1841Borrow Zincali I. xi. 50 To attack or even murder the unarmed and defenceless traveller.
†2. Affording no defence or protection. rare.
1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 811 Defenceless was the Shelter of the Ground.
Hence deˈfencelessly adv., deˈfencelessness.
a1723Bp. Fleetwood [according to Todd uses] Defencelessness. 1802Paley Nat. Theol. xxvi. (R.), Defencelessness and devastation are repaired by fecundity. 1813Shelley Q. Mab iv. 136 All liberty and love And peace is torn from its [the soul's] defencelessness. 1818Todd, Defencelessly. 1824Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. (1863) 9 His unprotectedness, his utter defencelessness. |