| 释义 |
discretionary, a.|dɪˈskrɛʃənərɪ|
[f. discretion + -ary: cf. F. discrétionnaire.]
1. Pertaining to discretion; left to or exercised at discretion; limited or restrained only by discretion or judgement.
1698Atterbury Disc. Lady Cutts 24 Amongst all her discretionary Rules, the chief was to seem to have none. 1726Ayliffe Parergon (J.), It is discretionary in the bishop to admit him to that order at what time he thinks fit. 1741H. Walpole Lett. H. Mann (1834) I. xii. 34 He had discretionary powers to act as he should judge proper. 1827Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) I. v. 234 The privy council in general arrogated to itself a power of discretionary imprisonment. 1863H. Cox Instit. i. vii. 71 The reference to the House of Lords is entirely discretionary in the Crown. 1960Life 1 Feb. 53/1, 34 million families..control most of the $84 billion ‘discretionary income’ (money left after necessary expenditures) in the country. 1961Times 10 June 11/4 American sociologists have invented the term ‘discretionary time’ to cover the hours left over from eating, sleeping, and earning a living. 1965Hall & Howes Church in Social Work 285 In mid-1958 boys earned an average of {pstlg}5 12s. and girls {pstlg}5 6s., about {pstlg}3 of which was available for discretionary spending.
†2. Characterized by discretion; discreet. Obs.
1712Steele Spect. No. 402. ⁋2, I am never alone with my Mother, but she tells me Stories of the discretionary Part of the World. 1753L. M. tr. Du Boscq's Accomplish'd Woman I. 28 All..unprofitable without a discretionary Silence.
¶3. as adv. At discretion.
1751Eliza Heywood Betsy Thoughtless III. 63 A small fortune, and that to be paid discretionary.
▸ discretionary award n. = discretionary grant n. at Additions (cf. mandatory award n. at mandatory adj. and n. Special uses).
1932Times 18 Oct. 11/3 The Ministry will not countenance irregular or illegal decisions, but would not be averse from the setting up of revisory bodies to review the *discretionary awards of the guardians' committees. 1977Economist 2 Apr. 24/2 Partly because of the burden of fees that councils must willy nilly carry—for first degrees, teacher training and so on—they are cutting down on the discretionary awards they make for other courses. 1990T. W. Areson & M. L. Whicker Public Sector Managem. 71 With formula-project grants, a combination of statutory formula and project applications and discretionary awards occur.
▸ discretionary grant n. an award, esp. of financial assistance, made at the discretion of an adjudicating body; (Brit. Educ.) a grant made at the discretion of a Local Education Authority or equivalent body to a student in further or higher education who does not qualify for mandatory assistance; cf. mandatory grant n. at mandatory adj. and n. Special uses.
1915Times 5 Mar. 3/6 King v. King (*Discretionary grant of decree nisi). 1962Ld. Hailsham in Hansard Lords 8 Mar. 1234 The discretionary grants..will cover all degrees undertaken after the first degree. 1999Evening Post (Nottingham) (Electronic ed.) 28 June Notts sixth formers are to be hit by a 20% cut in discretionary grants. |