释义 |
▪ I. stunning, vbl. n.|ˈstʌnɪŋ| [-ing1.] The action of the verb stun; the state of being stunned.
c1475Partenay 1230 To hym A gret stonyng was it verily. 1804Abernethy Surg. Observ. 175 The lad had recovered from the immediate stunning occasioned by the injury. 1847J. Russell Remin. Yarrow (1894) 296 Having recovered from the stunning, he was able to sit out the service. b. spec. Exfoliation or scaling away of the surface of stone (see quot. 1843).
1843Billings Durham Cath. 15 There is a peculiarity about the stone, called by the workmen ‘stunning’, which is the peeling off (within a few years), from the effect of hammer and chisel, of a layer varying from one quarter to three eighths of an inch thick. 1884Blunt Annot. Bk. Comm. Prayer 429 note, The deficiencies now existing in the left-hand panel through the stunning of the stone on which they are sculptured. ▪ II. stunning, ppl. a.|ˈstʌnɪŋ| [-ing2.] 1. That stuns or stupefies; dazing, astounding; deafening.
1667Milton P.L. ii. 952 A universal hubbub wilde Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd. 1702C. Mather Magn. Chr. vii. vi. (1852) 578 But the Stunningest wound of all given to them was when..near four hundred of them were..surprised at the house of Major Waldern. 1760Mrs. Delany Autob. (1861) III. 614 The Rooms hot and stunning—I wish for balls as the quieter entertainment! 1818Scott Rob Roy xxxvi, My father's arrival..was a stunning blow to MacVittie and Company. 1863Reade Hard Cash I. ix. 249 The victorious crew raised a stunning cheer. 1911Expositor July 61 His besetting sins received a stunning stroke. 2. colloq. Excellent, first-rate, ‘splendid’, delightful; extremely attractive or good-looking.
1849–50Dickens Dav. Copp. xi, ‘Twopence-half-penny,’ says the landlord, ‘is the price of the Genuine Stunning ale.’ 1850Thackeray Pendennis xxxix, Those regular stunning slap-up out-and-outers. 1856F. E. Paget Owlet of Owlst. 193 Laura Wydawake is the most stunning girl I ever set my eyes on. 1867Trollope Last Chron. Barset I. xl. 346 Fancy Polly with a house of her own! Won't it be stunning? 1883F. M. Peard Contrad. xxiii, The new footman is a stunning hand. b. quasi-adv. (intensifying the following adj.).
1851Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 36/2 A lad about fourteen informed me that ‘brass buttons, like a huntman's..looked stunning flash.’ 1888‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xxiv, The old woman cooked us a stunning good dinner. Hence ˈstunningly adv.
1823Scott Quentin D. xx, The noise..became ten times more stunningly audible. 1854Dickens Hard T. ii. i, Is the lady so very alarming?..Repellently and stunningly clever? 1863Geo. Eliot Romola lxvii, Shouting, yelling, half⁓motiveless execration rang stunningly in his ears. 1889Temple Bar Nov. 351 A pain that would have been fierce had it not been so stunningly dull. |