| 释义 |
sufficient, a. (adv., n.)|səˈfɪʃənt|
Forms: 4 Sc. sufficyand, -yciand, 4–5 -icia(u)nt(e, 4–6 -icyent, Sc. -iciand, 5 -isia(u)nt, -yceant, -ycient, -ycyaunt, -ysyent, -eceant, 5–6 -ycyent, -iente, 6 -iecient, 6–7 -itient, (7 sophytient), 4– sufficient.
[a. OF. sufficient, -ant, or ad. its source L. sufficiens, -ent-, pr. pple. of sufficĕre to suffice. Cf. It. soffic(i)ente, Sp. suficiente, Pg. sufficiente. In ME. the word was partially assimilated in spelling to suffisant.
Formerly † sufficient enough was used in various senses.]
A. adj.
1. a. Of a quantity, extent, or scope adequate to a certain purpose or object.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 260 Ȝif þei tellen a good sufficient cause, telle we þe same cause whi we bileuen þat þis is cristis gospel. a1400–50Wars Alex. 4396 Þat seising burde sufficiant, þofe soȝt ȝe na ferre. a1533Ld. Berners Huon lxxxi. 242 Ye hadde mete and also good wynes suffycyent at home. 1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 32 In former times a mans bare word was sufficient, now no instrument, band, nor obligation can be sure inough. 1614Day Festivals xi. (1615) 318 Should we..praise our God whole Daies, and whole Nights.., it were not sufficient enough. 1667Milton P.L. viii. 5 What thanks sufficient..have I to render thee? 1721Bradley Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat. 186 Some Variety of such exotick Rarities from the hotter Climates, as afford the curious sufficient matter of Admiration. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. v. 177 Intelligence was in sufficient time received..to enable him to collect an army. 1865S. Wilberforce Sp. Missions (1874) 166 It will be quite sufficient if, in the fewest words, I venture to suggest one or two considerations which [etc.]. 1884Gilmour Mongols xxxi. 361 Many a lama who has nominally a sufficient income never receives more than half of his due.
b. Const. for: (a) = to furnish means or material for, to supply, to provide for the performance of (a thing).
c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 346 For noumbre of preestis brouȝt in bi Crist was sufficient for Cristis hous... Who mai denye þat ne þis noumbre of þes officeris is now to myche? c1460Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. viii. (1885) 126 How necessarie it is þat livelod sufficient be asseigned ffor the kynges ordinarie charges. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. IV, 32 b, Treasure sufficient..for such a iourney roiall. 1561T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer i. (1577) G ij, My talke hath not beene..sufficient ynough for the weightinesse of the matter. 1715Atterbury Serm. (Matt. xxvii. 25) (1734) I. 132 These Prophecies..were sufficient for the Conviction of any Men, who did not lie..under a Judicial Infatuation. 1774Chesterfield Lett. xv, Romulus..not having sufficient inhabitants for his new city. 1892Photogr. Ann. II. 557 That is sufficient range for any purpose.
(b) = to provide for the needs or accommodation of, to satisfy (a person or animal). Also with acc. and inf.
1535Fisher Wayes perf. Relig. Wks. (1876) 382 Yet hath he still in him self loue suffitient for infinite moe. 1577Holinshed Hist. Scot. 432/1 It appeareth to be sufficient ynough for vs. 1585Knaresb. Wills (Surtees) I. 150 Sufficient hay for his horse. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. ⁋4 A doctrine..so tempered, that euery one may draw from thence that which is sufficient for him. a1700Evelyn Diary 17 Oct. 1644, The publiq armoury..sufficient for 30,000 men. a1720Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) II. vii. 1 There was not sufficient room for all to sit down at once. 1832Brewster Nat. Magic x. 252 A few general observations will perhaps be sufficient for ordinary readers. 1876E. Mellor Priesth. iv. 164 If the sacrament in one kind is sufficient for the people it is sufficient for the priest.
c. Const. to in the same senses. rare exc. in allusion to or imitation of Matt. vi. 34.
1539Great Bible Matt. vi. 34 Sufficient vnto the daye, is the trauayle therof. 1647J. Saltmarsh Spark Glory (1847) 20 It ought to be sufficient to us, that the Scriptures [etc.]. 1718Atterbury Serm. (Acts i. 3) (1734) I. 174 It was sufficient to that Purpose. 1751Earl of Orrery Rem. Swift (1752) 78 His wit was sufficient to every labour. 1766A. Adams Let. 13 Oct. in L. H. Butterfield et al. Adams Family Corr. (1963) I. 56 Sufficient to the Day is the Evil thereof. 1886Saintsbury Ess. Eng. Lit. (1891) 439 He..is very sufficient also to the tastes of all those who love good English. 1917H. B. Twyford Purchasing & Storing 323 A ‘sufficient unto the day’ policy has brought some rude jolts to many manufacturing establishments. 1921Galsworthy To Let i. xii. 114 He never looks happy—not really happy. I don't want to make him worse, but of course I shall have to, when Jon comes back. Oh! well, sufficient unto the night! 1928D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover ii. 18 Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Sufficient unto the moment is the appearance of reality. 1960C. Day Lewis Buried Day ii. 34 They watch the spring rise inexhaustibly—a breathing thread out of the eddied sand, sufficient to their day. 1967S. Beckett Stories & Texts for Nothing v. 93, I haven't been damned for what seems an eternity, yes, but sufficient unto the day, this evening I'm the scribe. 1983E. Rossiter Lemon Garden v. 72 ‘What about this hospital business?’ Sufficient, I thought, unto another day.
¶ Construed as pr. pple. with dative regimen.
1423Acts Privy Counc. III. 95 Wee consideringe y⊇ saide some..nought suffeceant yow to y⊇..redy paiement of youre saide wages.
d. Const. to with inf.
c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 413 Siþ þo gospel is..sufficyent in treuthe to governe Cristis Churche. 1527in Leadam Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.) II. 166 They can not fynde..that ther is corne sufficient in the same shyre to susteyne the people. 1579–80North Plutarch (1595) 80 The ouer excessiue speeches..were not sufficient enough to expresse the peaceable raign. a1586Sidney Arcadia i. xv. (1912) 97 He..having a fortune sufficient to content, & he content with a sufficient fortune. 1597Morley Introd. Mus. 115, I cannot cease to praie you diligentlie to practise, for that onelie is sufficient to make a perfect Musician. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 102 And by proof we feel Our power sufficient to disturb his Heav'n. 1688Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 228 A sufficient number to make a Quorum. 1736Butler Anal. i. i. Wks. 1874 I. 31 The same kind of force which is sufficient to suspend our faculties..will be sufficient to destroy them. 1820W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 99 The beauty of the day was of itself sufficient to inspire philanthropy. 1890Law Times Rep. LXIII. 765/1 Even a threatened interference with a plaintiff's rights..is sufficient to justify him in taking proceedings.
e. impers. with dependent clause or inf.
1538Starkey England (1878) 44 Suffycyent hyt ys that no man by nature ys excludyd from felycyte. 1553Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 5 They thought it not sufficiente in their life time to deserue prayse. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 252 Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard. 1797S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. (1799) I. 390 It is sufficient that I know thy guilt.
† f. Satisfactory. Obs. rare.
1375Barbour Bruce i. 368 With a wertu of leavte A man may ȝeit sufficyand be.
g. Achieving its object; effective. rare.
1831Scott Ct. Rob. xi, She..dealt him so sufficient a blow, that Toxartis lay lifeless on the plain. 1897‘A. Hope’ Phroso vii. (1905) 130 Phroso paused in her recital of the savage, simple, sufficient old trick.
2. In technical language.
a. Of legal documents, securities, etc.
1461Paston Lett. II. 34 [They] shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment. 1472–3Rolls of Parlt. VI. 40/2 That the seid writyng endented..be lawfull and sufficient warant and discharge ayenst your Highnes. 1495,1523[see discharge n. 4 e]. 1551in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 56 This our Lettre shalbe your sufficient discharge for the same. 1592West 1st Pt. Symbol. §103 d, That then the suruiuor..shall with ij. other sufficient suerties..by their sufficient & lawfull writing obligatory become.. bound [etc.]. 1628Coke On Litt. 270 If the lessee enter into the land, and hath possession of it by force of the said lease, then such release made to him by the feoffor, or by his heire is sufficient to him. a1768Erskine Inst. Law Scot. iv. iv. §90 (1773) 737 Libels might be so laid as to deprive the pannel of every article of exculpation, let it be ever so sufficient. 1820Gifford Compl. Eng. Lawyer 82 The sheriff..is obliged to take (if it be tendered) a sufficient bail-bond. Ibid. 662 The said H. B. doth hereby agree, by good and sufficient conveyance in the law..to assign..unto the said C. D...all those three houses [etc.].
b. Theol. sufficient grace: see grace n. 11 b.
1728Chambers Cycl. s.v. Grace, Grace..is Efficacious, or Efficient, when it has the Effect; and Sufficient when it has it not, tho' it might have had it. 1898Mortimer Cath. Faith & Pract. I. 120 Exciting grace regarded in its result is called (1) Sufficient and (2) Efficient grace.
c. Modern Philos. (principle or law of) sufficient reason: see quot. 1717. sufficient condition (see quot. 1930); cf. necessary condition s.v. necessary a. 1 d.
Sufficient reason is a translation of Leibnitz's ‘raison suffisante’ (Monadologie, 1714, §§31, 32), for which he had previously suggested ‘raison déterminante’ (Réfl. sur le livre de Hobbes, 1710); he may have been influenced in his final selection of the adj. by the use of sufficient cause in:
1656Hobbes Quest. conc. Liberty, Necessity & Chance 294, I hold that to be a sufficient cause to which nothing is wanting that is needful to the producing of the effect. The same is also a necessary cause.
1717S. Clarke tr. Leibnitz's 2nd Paper in Coll. Papers 21 In order to proceed from Mathematicks to Natural Philosophy, another Principle is requisite, as I have observed in my Theodicæa: I mean, the Principle of a sufficient Reason, viz. that nothing happens without a Reason why it should be so rather than otherwise. Ibid. (tr. 5th Paper) 207 The Principle of the Want of a sufficient Reason does alone drive away all these Spectres of Imagination. 1838De Morgan Ess. Probab. 10 Many of our conclusions are derived from this principle, which is called in mathematics the want of sufficient reason. 1839Penny Cycl. XIII. 398/2 The fundamental principles of all reasoning, namely, the principle of contradiction and the law of sufficient reason. Ibid. 399/1 This adjustment of the monads was in accordance with certain sufficient reasons in each monad..; this sufficient reason was their comparative perfection. 1857Maurice Mor. & Met. Philos. IV. viii. §72. 516 The sufficient reason must be found seeing it is implied in all demonstrations. 1914B. Russell Our Knowledge of External Wrld. iv. 109 In the hypothetical sense, continuity may be allowed to be a necessary condition if two appearances are to be classed as appearances of the same thing. But it is not a sufficient condition, as appears from the instance of the drops in the sea. 1923C. D. Broad Sci. Thought xiii. 499 Certain brain-events are the necessary and sufficient conditions of the occurrrence of all our different sensations. 1930L. S. Stebbing Mod. Introd. Logic xv. 271 A condition X is a sufficient condition of an occurrence A provided that whenever X is present A occurs. But if A may occur when X is absent, then X, though a sufficient is not a necessary condition of A. 1948Ambrose & Lazerowitz Fund. Symbolic Logic v. 83 The sufficient condition for q's truth is given by ‘p ⊃ q’. 1949[see necessary a. 1 d]. 1965E. J. Lemmon Beginning Logic i. 28 Hence we shall say that, whenever it is the case that if P then Q, P is sufficient condition for Q, and, whenever it is the case that only if P then Q, P is a necessary condition for Q.
d. sufficient statistic, a statistic that contains all the information in the observations it is based on that is relevant to the estimate being made.
[1922R. A. Fisher in Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. CCXXII. 316 The statistic chosen should summarise the whole of the relevant information supplied by the sample. This may be called the Criterion of Sufficiency. ] Ibid. 359 In the case of the normal curve of distribution it is evident that the second moment is a sufficient statistic for estimating the standard deviation.1972A. W. F. Edwards Likelihood ii. 18 If we were certain that no other model would ever be contemplated, then the sufficient statistic could replace the original data as raw material for inductive inference.
†3.
a. Qualified by talent or ability; competent, capable, able. Obs.
c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1067 Dido, That he was lyk a knyght, And sufficiaunt [v.rr. suffisa(u)nt] of persone & of mygh[t]. 1424Cov. Leet Bk. 85 One or ij sufficiante men to ouerse the Collectours. 1576Abp. Grindal Let. Ld. Burleigh in Rem. (1843) 360, I pray your lordship's help that Mr Redmayn..may be archdeacon of Canterbury. He is a very sufficient man. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 332 Where they were by sufficient teachers, first instructed in the principles of the Mahometan religion. 1659Rushw. Hist. Coll. I. 605 A sufficient preaching Minister shall be provided..to serve the Cure. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 404 Whom shall we send In search of this new world, whom shall we find Sufficient? 1719London & Wise Compl. Gard. p. xiii, Those that..have a sufficient Gardener. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. v. 497 Sir Eyre Coote should be requested to take upon himself, as alone sufficient, the task [etc.].
†b. Const. to, for (a function, work), to do something. Obs.
1382Wyclif 2 Cor. iii. 5 Not that we ben sufficient [L. sufficientes, Gr. ἱκανοί] for to thenke ony thing of vs. c1440Jacob's Well 295 To holdyn offyse þat a man is noȝt suffycyent to. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 23 He was nat sufficiand to governe the office. 1598in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1887) I. 14 A Master of Artes, and euery waie uery sufficient to be the Warden. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. ⁋6 Who had bene so sufficient for this worke as the Apostles or Apostolike men? 1639S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 69 Sufficient to performe their huswifery. 1667Milton P.L. iii. 99, I made him just and right, Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.
†4. Of persons: Of adequate means or wealth; having a competence, substantial, well-to-do; hence, qualified by means or status for an office or duty. (Const. of = in respect of; to with inf.) Obs.
1436Rolls of Parlt. IV. 501/2 The more sufficient that men be of liflode..ye more [etc.]. c1482in Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. (1830) II. Pref. 63 The same Robert is not sufficient to pay and content the said arrerages. 1590Payne Brief Descr. Ireland (1841) 11 [He] hath gotten more sufficient tennauntes into his said countrie then any other two. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. iv. 95 Some sufficient honest witnesses. 1655R. Younge Charge agst. Drunkards 2 More is thrown out of one swines nose, and mouth, and guts, then would maintein five sufficient familes. c1672Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 178 An honest and sufficient farmer. 1678Penn in Life Wks. 1782 I. p. lxiv, How many sufficient and trading families are reduced to great poverty by it. 1679― Addr. Prot. ii. 226 Many, once sufficient, are expos'd to Charity. 1782E. N. Blower Geo. Bateman II. 157 A great many very sufficient people.
†5. Of things: Of adequate quality; of a good standard; substantial; in good condition. Obs.
1473Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 165, ij bollis of hors corn sufficiand. 1490Munim. de Melros (Bann. Club) 600 Of þe quhilk viij chalder five salbe of gud sufficient qwheit. 1507Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 209/2 Sufficiand merchand gudis. 1682in Thanes of Cawdor (Spald. Club) 360 Guild and sufficient work built according to airt. 1699Ibid. 393 Ane sufficient stair caise. c1800Tennant in Southey's Comm.-pl. Bk. Ser. ii. (1849) 422 Their enlargement gradually loosens and shatters the most sufficient buildings. [1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. iv. iv, Making shoes,—one may hope, in a sufficient manner.]
6. In full, sufficient for († to) oneself: = self-sufficient 1.
1388Wyclif Prov. xii. 9 A pore man, and sufficient to him silf. 1850Newman Diffic. Anglic. i. (1891) 21 The English people is sufficient for itself. 1872Ruskin Eagle's Nest §77 The first order of Charity is to be sufficient for thyself.
1382Wyclif Phil. iv. 11, I haue lerud, in whiche thingis I am, sufficient [L. sufficiens, Gr. αὐτάρκης] for to be. 1502W. Atkynson tr. De Imitatione iii. xxiii. (1893) 216 Thou, good lorde, amonge all thinges art best, hyest, moost mighty & moost sufficient.
†7. = self-sufficient 2. Obs.
1620Fletcher Chances v. ii, Thou art the most sufficient, (I'le say for thee) Not to believe a thing. 1671Temple Let. to J. Temple Wks. 1731 II. 246 Sufficient and confident that no Endeavours can break the Measures between us and Holland. 1709Steele Tatler No. 51 ⁋5 A sufficient self-conceited Coxcomb. 1709Cibber Rival Fools iii, The dull Stupidity of a sufficient Fool!
†B. adv. = sufficiently. Obs.
1509Hawes Conv. Swearers xliv, Am not I wounded for the suffycyent? 1560Whitehorne Ord. Souldiours (1588) 15 b, A triangle battaile, may be always sufficient able to breake al maner of foure square battailes. 1592Arden of Feversham i. i, I haue talkt sufficient. 1625Fletcher & Shirley N. Walker iii. i, Was I not late in my unhappy marriage, Sufficient miserable? 1762Falconer Shipwr. ii. 146 When down sufficient, they securely brace [the yard]. 1826W. A. Miles Deverel Barrow 17 When it takes a sufficient southerly course to admit of avoiding the mound.
C. n. (This is prob. in origin partly a reduced form of sufficiante, sufficienty.)
†1. The quality or condition of being sufficient; sufficiency. Obs.
a1450Lett. Marg. Anjou & Bp. Beckington (Camden) 140 His suffisiant of cunnyng and habilite thereto. 1600Sir W. Cornwallis Ess. i. xix, I know not much of want, neither desire I Riches: I am borne to sufficient.
2. A sufficient quantity or supply; sufficient means; enough.
1470–85Malory Arthur xx. xvii. 828 For haue I suffycyaunt that may longe to my person I wylle aske none other ryche araye. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. 60 b, They founde reasonably sufficyent therof. 1526Tindale 1 Tim. v. 16 Let not the congregacion be charged: that hytt maye have sufficient for them that are widdowes in dede. 1587Mirr. Mag., Porrex xii, Sufficient here is sayd to warne the wise. 1807–8W. Irving Salmag. (1824) 155, I have not, nor perhaps ever shall acquire, sufficient of the philosophic policy of this government. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 498 Whether sufficient appeared by the special verdict in this case, to prevent the lessor of the plaintiff..from recovering in the ejectment? 1860Tyndall Glac. i. ii. 14 We saw sufficient to account for the noise. |