| 释义 |
superstitious, a.|s(j)uːpəˈstɪʃəs|
Also 4–7 -icious, 5 -ycyus, 5–6 -ycious, 6 -icyous, -ycyous(e, -iciouse, -itiouse, Sc. -itius.
[a. OF. superstitieux (= It. superstizioso, Sp., Pg. -icioso), ad. L. superstitiōsus, f. superstitio superstition.]
1. Of the nature of, involving, or characterized by superstition.
c1386Chaucer Frankl. T. 544 To maken hise Iapes and his wrecchednesse Of swich a supersticious cursednesse. 1426Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 20234 That..I may represse Thyn errours and thyn ffolye, Groundyd on Astrologye, Wych ne be nat vertuous, For they be superstycious. 1538Bale Thre Lawes 865 With rytes superstycyouse. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iv. 136 Shall we denie that it is a superstitious worshippyng, when men do throwe themselues downe before bread, to worship Christe therein? 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. ii. §8. 68 In their Superstitious Belief, of Ghosts, Spirits, Dæmons, Devils, Fayries and Hob-goblins. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. xiv. (1782) I. 508 Fear is commonly superstitious. 1866Kingsley Life & Lett. (1877) II. 241 The superstitious terror with which that meteor-shower would have been regarded in old times. 1874Green Short Hist. ix. §1. 588 [To the Puritans] It was superstitious to keep Christmas, or to deck the house with holly and ivy.
transf.1588Kyd Househ. Philos. Wks. (1901) 258 The Husband commeth not with those prophane and superstitious cleppings as the delicate and wanton Louer doth. 1791Paine Rights of Man (ed. 4) 104 To unhinge it from the superstitious authority of antiquity.
b. superstitious uses (Law): see quot. 1827.
1596Bacon Max. & Use Com. Law i. x. (1630) 52 The statute of Chantries that willeth all lands to be forfeited, giuen or imploied to a superstitious vse. 1602–3in Coke Reports (1604) iv. 106 b, Intant que le statute [viz. 1 Edw. VI, c. 14] per expres parols abrogate & tolle touts tiels supersticious vses queux fuerent dauer continuance a touts iours. 1715Act 1 Geo. I, Stat. ii. c. 50 (heading) To enquire of the Estates..of Popish Recusants, and of Estates given to superstitious Uses. 1790–1Act 31 Geo. III, c. 32 §17. 1827 Jarman Powell's Devises II. 13 Superstitious uses..are declared..to be where lands, tenements, or goods, are given for the maintenance of persons to pray for the souls of dead men in purgatory, or to maintain perpetual obits, lamps, &c. 1848Wharton Law Lex. s.v. Charities, The history of the law of charities prior to the 43rd Eliz. c. 4, which is emphatically called the Statute of Charitable Uses, is extremely obscure... It is clear that no superstitious uses are within the purview of the statute.
2. Subject or addicted to superstition; believing or practising superstitions.
1526Tindale Acts xvii. 22 Ye men of Attens, I perceave that in all thynges ye are somwhat [1534 to] supersticious. 1589Puttenham Engl. Poesie iii. xxii. (Arb.) 267 To abuse the superstitious people, and to encomber their busie braynes with vaine hope or vaine feare. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. iv. 36 The superstitious idle-headed-Eld Receiu'd..This tale of Herne the Hunter, for a truth. 1671Milton P.R. ii. 296 It seem'd..to a Superstitious eye the haunt Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs. 1791Burke Let. to Capt. Woodford 11 Feb., I am extremely superstitious, and think his coming into it was of evil augury. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 88 Prone to the error, common in superstitious men, of mistaking his own peevish..moods for emotions of pious zeal. 1882Pitman Mission Life Greece & Pal. 251 The Maronite sect, which is a very ignorant and superstitious sect.
absol. (with the).1728Chambers Cycl. s.v. Superstition, The Punishment allotted by several Councils for the Superstitious, was to fast a Month in Prison. 1913Nature 14 Aug. 607/2 The omen of blood was viewed with some alarm by the superstitious in the village.
†b. Idolatrously or extravagantly devoted. Obs.
1582Lyly in T. Watson's Poems (Arb.) 30 Were not men more supersticious in their praises, then women are constant in their passions. 1613Shakes. Hen. VIII, iii. i. 131 Haue I..Lou'd him next Heau'n? Obey'd him? Bin (out of fondnesse) superstitious to him? a1704T. Brown Beauties Wks. 1730 I. 42 My superstitious love adores them all.
†3. Over-scrupulous; punctilious; extremely careful or particular. Obs.
1535[see superstitiously 2]. 1553Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 10 Yf..anye supersticious head shall thinke it a heynous matter in any poynte to contrary Sainct Augustyne. 1590Swinburne Test. 5 It is rare if at the last; after long and superstitious reuolution, one man at least among so many subtile heads..doe not espie some defect or excesse in the definition. 1608Topsell Serpents 261 They [spiders] haue giuen themselues to curious and superstitious hunting,..watching and espying their prey. 1617Moryson Itin. iii. 221 The Germans are so superstitious in this kind, as a Gentleman may haue an action against him, who saith hee is no Gentleman. 1648J. Beaumont Psyche i. ccxxiii, Shall squeamish He my Pleasures harvest by Fond superstitious coyness thus prevent? 1680Otway Orphan ii. i, The superstitious Statesman has his sneer. 1816[implied in superstitiously 2].
4. Used in or regarded with superstition; venerated, observed, or believed in, in the way of superstition. Now rare or Obs.
1566in Peacock Engl. Ch. Furnit. (1866) 120 The mass bookes and all other popishe and supersticious bookes. 1595in Maitl. Club Misc. I. 77 To absteyne fra keiping of superstitious dayes. 1599B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. i. iv, Pulling downe a superstitious crosse. c1618Moryson Itin. iv. v. i. (1903) 399 The sweating of stones, Nodding of Images, and like supperstitious Miracles. 1665J. Webb Stone-Heng (1725) 140 To cleanse away the Filth of the superstitious Victims [sc. sacrificed oxen]. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Superstitious-Pies, Minc'd, or Christmas-Pies, so Nick⁓nam'd by the Puritans, or Precisians, tho' they can Eat em. a1700Evelyn Diary 25 Dec. 1657, An ordinance made that none should any longer observe the superstitious time of the Nativity (so esteem'd by them). 1774Pennant Tour Scot. in 1772 23 An..arch, decorated with a variety of superstitious figures. 1879S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Pal. xx. 436 The room..contained some superstitious spots.
†b. Magical; having or credited with supernatural efficacy. Obs.
1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 363 Þer was noon helpe..Þat vaille myȝt ageyn þe cursed charmys; Þei wer so strong and supersticious. c1450Mankind 313 in Macro Plays 12 To defende me from all superstycyus charmys. 1651Hobbes Leviathan iii. xxxvi. 225 All those Impostors, that pretend by the helpe of familiar spirits, or by superstitious divination of events past..to foretell the like events in time to come. [1728Chambers Cycl. s.v. Magic, Superstitious Magic consists in the Invocation of Devils.]
†5. Extraordinary; excessive; superfluous. Obs.
c1407Lydg. Reason & Sens. 4301 Eke Phedra lovede hyr sone yn lawe, Whos love was superstycious. 1484Caxton Fables of Alfonce viii, There is folke superstycious or capaxe that they may not be contented with fewe wordes. 1598Hakluyt Voy. I. 150 Certain sinister reports and superstitious slanders. 1638Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed.2) 301 They..have such a superstitious conceit of their owne merit and temper [etc.]. 1640Fuller Joseph's Coat v. 143 Let us take heed wee bee not all condemned by God, for being Fellons, de se; for wilfull murthering our owne lives, with our knifes by our superstitious eating. |