| 释义 |
stiffness|ˈstɪfnɪs|
[f. stiff a. + -ness.]
The state or quality of being stiff (in any sense).
1. a. Rigidity, inflexibility; viscosity (of liquids and semi-liquids); density, heaviness, compactness (of soil). Also fig.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. clxxv. (1495) 717 Som⁓tyme a crokyd rodde is put in the fyre: and by hete of the fyre the styfnesse and hardnesse is tempred and made nesshe, and so the rodde is the more easely streyghted. c1440Promp. Parv. 475/1 Styfnesse, or starkenesse, rigiditas, rigor. 1577Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. 24 b, Some grounde requireth more seede then other, as the grounde is of stiffenesse or lightnesse. 1639O. Wood Alph. Bk. Secrets 169 Incorporate all these in a morter with a pestle with oyle of white Rose, and Virgins waxe thin scraped to the stifnesse of a plaister. 1642Fuller Holy St. iii. xx. 206 The stiffnesse of the judgement is abated, and suppled with charity. 1726–31Waldron Descr. Isle of Man (1865) 59 A woman..was saved by the stiffness of her hoop petticoat which kept her above water. 1869Rankine Machinery & Millwork 531 In all cases in which precision of movement is required, stiffness is essential both to the moving pieces and to the framework of a machine.
b. spec. (a) the force required to produce unit deflection or displacement of an object; (b) the maximum deflection of a beam divided by its span or length.
1710J. Clarke tr. Rohault's Nat. Philos. (1729) I. 133 The Property which is called Stiffness, and which Work⁓men call the Power of Springing. 1824Tredgold Ess. Cast Iron 202 The stiffness of a body is its resistance at a given deflexion. 1893H. T. Bovey Theory of Structures iii. 190, dP1/dl = EA/L, and EA/L is consequently a measure of the longitudinal stiffness of a bar. Ibid. vi. 389 If D is the maximum deflection of a girder of span l under a load W, then W/D, or more usually D/l, is a measure of the stiffness of the girder. 1922Glazebrook Dict. Appl. Physics I. 808/2 The stiffness of a beam is usually measured by the maximum deflection, when loaded, divided by the span. 1925J. Case Strength of Materials xxiv. 386 The ‘stiffness’ of a spring is the load required to produce unit deflection. 1969C. O. Raspor in W. R. R. Park Plastics Film Technol. iv. 88 The tensile modulus is often used as a measure of film stiffness. This quantity is obtained by calculating the ratio of a stress to strain at a certain point on a tensile stress–strain curve. 1978Sci. Amer. Dec. 116 (caption) Stiffness of an isolated muscle (the change in the force developed by the muscle when it is stretched, divided by its change in length) increases as the muscle is stretched.
c. Naut. (See quots.)
1877W. H. White Nav. Archit. iii. 65 This method may be used in estimating the ‘stiffness’ of a ship, i.e. her power to resist inclination from the upright by the steady pressure of the wind on her sails. 1913Attwood Modern Warship 67 The metacentric height is a measure of the stiffness of the ship.
2. Lack of suppleness (in limbs, muscles, etc.); the name of certain diseases causing rigor of muscles, esp. tetanus. Also fig.
1552Huloet, Stifnes of sinowes, that the membres ne may be bowed, tetanicus morbus, tetanos. 1581Mulcaster Positions vi. (1887) 47 Where ioyntes be to bend,..there must needes be motion: or else stifnesse will follow. 1591Percivall Sp. Dict., Calambre, stifnesse of the sinewes, the crampe, Neruorum rigor, spasmus. 1641Tatham Distracted State iv. i. (1651) 20 Whose knee dares own a stiffeness? whose Obeysance To Adulanter dare be wanting? 1791Burke Corr. (1844) III. 365 Your mother is, bating occasional stiffness, very well. 1862W. Hunter Biggar & Ho. Fleming iv. 45 The cattle are often attacked with a disease called the ‘stiffness’ or ‘cripple’.
†3. Strength, sturdiness, stoutness; violence. Obs.
1399Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 251 Iche rewme..Sholde stable and stonde..By styffnesse and strengthe Of steeris well y-yokyd. c1460Promp. Parv. (Winch.) 436 Styfnesse, or strength, fortitudo, robur. 1596Spenser F.Q. iv. iv. 19 And him against Sir Blandamour did ride With all the strength and stifnesse that he can. 1623Bingham Xenophon, Lipsius' Compar. V 3, They throw stones..with such stiffenesse and strength, that the blow seemeth to come from some Engine.
4. Inflexibility in purpose, opinion, or course of action; resolution, firmness; obstinacy; haughtiness.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 92 Styfnes of mynde or obstinacy they haue, whyche frowardly wyll defende theyr errour. 1641J. Jackson True Evang. T. ii. 161 Such as did seeke the Glory of Martyrs..out of stiffenesse of spirit. 1673[R. Leigh] Transp. Reh. 39 There has been a party of 'em in England..of such a pontifical stiffness, as if they were companions for none but princes. a1677Barrow Serm. Wks. 1716 II. 38 Where may we discern..that stoutness of courage and stiffness of patience which you talk of as the..issues of faith? 1690Locke Hum. Und. iv. xvi. §3 And yet these of all Men hold their Opinions with the greatest stiffness. 1741C. Middleton Cicero (1742) II. vi. 52 The other chiefs of the Aristocracy..whose stiffness had ruined their cause. 1887Rider Haggard Allan Q. xxi. 242 The..forces give on every side, there is no stiffness left in them.
5. Formality; constraint; lack of ease or grace; coldness, aloofness (of manners and deportment); artificiality, excessive regularity, pedantry (of style).
1638Junius Paint. Ancients 27 All the statues before Dædalus his time, have had a most unpleasant stifnesse. 1710Felton Diss. Classics (1718) 70 Provided he..doth not make himself a Slave to his Rules; for that will introduce a Stiffness and Affectation, which are utterly abhorrent from all good Writing. 1717Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Mar 18 Apr., An air so majestic, yet free from stiffness or affectation. 1748Anson's Voy. iii. x. 412 There is a stiffness and minuteness in most of the Chinese productions. 1765Ann. Reg. ii. 56 The king,..laying aside all the stiffness of state,..enjoys himself with a few select friends. 1789Burney Hist. Mus. III. 330 The two parts in one..discover no restraint or stiffness in the melody, which continues to move with the same freedom, as if no canon had existence. 1836[J. Grant] Random Recoll. Ho. Lords xiii. 299 Before he had spoken two or three sentences, it must have been apparent..that he had not yet got rid of the formality and stiffness of school. 1907J. A. Hodges Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6) 118 Introducing an unnatural stiffness into the portrait. |