| 释义 |
superb, a.|s(j)uːˈpɜːb|
[ad. L. superbus proud, superior, distinguished, magnificent. Cf. F. superbe, It. superbo.]
1. Of buildings, monuments, and the like: Of noble and magnificent proportions or aspect.
1549Compl. Scot. iii. 25 The kyng anchises lamentit the distructione of the superb troy. 1683Brit. Spec. 111 Their humble Cottages he changed into fair Houses and stately Palaces, superb Porticoes, and sumptuous Baths. a1700Evelyn Diary 23 May 1645, Behind the quire is the superb chapell of Ferdinand I. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) II. 398 This superb obelisk was, by order of Sixtus V{ddd}removed. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxxviii, In this mood, the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superb precincts of the Pleasance. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. II. x. 508 The church itself..gradually gave way to the superb structure with which we are all familiar.
2. Grandly and sumptuously equipped, arrayed, or decorated.
a1700Evelyn Diary 22 Oct. 1658, Saw the superb funerall of the Protector. 1717Prior Alma i. 382 Thus, if You Dine with my Lord May'r,..painted Flags, superb and neat, Proclaim You welcome to the Treat. 1763Churchill Ghost iv. 639 A superb and feather'd hearse, Bescutcheon'd and betagg'd with Verse. 1795Gentl. Mag. July 607/1 A superb watch, set with brilliants. 1814Scott Wav. xvi, He fired his piece accordingly, but missed the superb monarch of the feathered tribes. 1894P. Pinkerton Adriatica, On Asolan Hills, I survey The procession superb of the clouds.
b. in specific appellations of many gorgeously coloured birds, plants, etc.; see quots.
superb bird of paradise, Lophorhina (Paradisea) superba, a species of which the male is violet-black with green iridescence, having a gorget of metallic green feathers, and an erectile hood or mantle of velvet-black plumes on the shoulders; superb lily, a plant of the genus Gloriosa (Methonica), esp. G. superba; superb warbler, the blue wren of Australia, Malurus cyaneus. (See Shaw's Zool. for many other names of birds.)
1760J. Lee Introd. Bot. (1788) App., Superb Lily, Gloriosa. 1783Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds II. ii. 709 Superb Pheasant, Phasianus superbus. 1796Nemnich Polygl.-Lex., Superb warbler, Motacilla cyanea. 1802Shaw Gen. Zool. III. ii. 433 Superb Snake. Coluber Elegantissimus..appears to be a beautiful species, measuring about two feet in length. 1809Ibid. VII. ii. 494 Superb Paradise-bird. Paradisea Superba... This species is about the size of a Thrush, and is a bird of great singularity of plumage. 1847L. Leichhardt Overland Exped. iii. 80 We also observed the superb warbler, Malurus cyaneus of Sydney. 1902Encycl. Brit. XXV. 795/1 The death adder, the brown, the black, the superb, and the tiger snakes [of Australia].
3. Of conditions, language, thought, etc.: Grand, stately, majestic.
1784Cowper Tiroc. 751 Or is thine house, though less superb thy rank, If not a scene of pleasure, a mere blank. 1825J. Neal Bro. Jonathan I. 90 The superb language of Job. a1834Coleridge Notes & Lect. Shaks. (1875) 220 The lines, as epic narrative, are superb. 1851Ruskin Stones Ven. I. vii. §17 A superb breadth of proportion.
4. Expressing emphatic approval: Very fine; splendid; magnificent.
a1729Congreve An Impossible Thing 190 Not all the Wiles that Hell could hatch Could conquer that Superb Mustach. 1753Mrs. Delany Let. to Mrs. Dewes 3 Dec., It is one of the finest things I ever read in my life; was ever a superb family better described! 1827Disraeli Viv. Grey v. ix, The dinner was sumptuous, the wines superb. 1872Jenkinson Engl. Lake Distr. (1879) 181 During the descent there are superb views of a portion of the higher reach of Ullswater. 1908[Miss Fowler] Betw. Trent & Ancholme 160 One of the most superb singers of our century.
†5. Proud, haughty. Obs.
1654tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 166 If they be too superb and haughty their pride is to be punished with severity. a1697Aubrey Lives, W. Oughtred (1898) II. 111 Before he dyed he burned a world of papers, and sayd that the world was not worthy of them; he was so superb. |