| 释义 |
disappointment|dɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt|
[f. disappoint v. + -ment: cf. F. désappointement (14–15th c. in Hatz.-Darm.); also dispointment.]
1. The fact of disappointing; the frustration or non-fulfilment of expectation, intention, or desire.
1614Raleigh Hist. World iv. v §11 (R.) Such disappointment of expectation doth much abate the courage of men in fight. 1690Norris Beatitudes (1692) I. 25 Not that which the World understands by Disappointment, the not compassing what you design'd..but the not enjoying what you have compassed, the Disappointment of Fruition. 1700Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 1107 Penalties..for the disappointment of the Lord by his Ward's marrying himself without his consent. 1794S. Williams Vermont 139 All the prospects of success and disappointment. 1860Tyndall Glac. ii. ix. 271 Severe labour and frequent disappointment had taught observers the true conditions of success.
b. with a. and pl. An instance of this.
1614Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 935 Lest..he..should want means of speedy thankesgiving for so gratious a disappointment; beholde a Ram stands ready for the sacrifice.
1752Johnson Rambler No. 196 ⁋4 Hope will predominate in every mind, till it has been suppressed by frequent disappointments. 1866Geo. Eliot F. Holt (1868) 23 She saw clearly that the meeting with the son had been a disappointment in some way.
2. The state or condition of being disappointed, with its resulting feeling of dejection.
1756Burke Subl. & B. i. v, If pleasure be abruptly broken off, there ensues an uneasy sense called disappointment. 1822Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Detached Th. on Bks., Newspapers always excite curiosity. No one ever lays one down without a feeling of disappointment. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 118 The disappointment was intense in proportion to the interests which were at issue.
3. ellipt. A cause of disappointment; a thing or person that disappoints.
1765Cowper Lett. 1 Aug., One who has been a disappointment and a vexation to them ever since he has been of consequence enough to be either. 1843Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life III. x. 177 Bath is a disappointment—monotonous, bald, poor, and dead. |