| 释义 |
▪ I. earthen, a.|ˈɜːθ(ə)n|
Forms: 3 eorðen, erthin, 4–5 erþen, 5 erþyn, (6 erdyn), 6– earthen. Also earthern.
[app. not recorded in OE.; the normal form would be *erþen, WS. *ierþen, yrþen = OHG. irdîn, Goth. airþeins:—OTeut. *irþîno-z, f. erþâ earth; see -en.]
1. Made or composed of earth.
a1225Ancr. R. 388 A lefdi was þet was mid hire uoan biset al abuten..wiðinnen one eorðene castle. a1300Cursor M. 27646 Þou man þat es in erth stad þat es noght bot an erthin gadd. c1440Promp. Parv. 141 Erþyn [written eryyn] or of the earth, terrenus. 1719De Foe Crusoe (1840) II. xiv. 286 The earthen floors we have in use in several parts of England..as hard as stone. 1807G. Chalmers Caledonia I. ii. ii. 243 A high earthen rampart..running off, from a British fort. 1871Palgrave Lyr. Poems 16 Pacing the earthen floor with solemn feet.
b. Made of baked clay.
1382Wyclif Jer. xix. 1 Go and tac the erthene litil wyne vessel of the crockere. 1481–90Howard Househ. Bks. (1841) 150 Item, for ij. erthen panys ijd. 1527MS. Acc. R. Gibson Master of Revels, Itm, dew for iiij dosyn erdyn dishes, y⊇ dosyn, iiijd. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 536 The God of Wine, Whose Earthen Images adorn the Pine. 1725De Foe Voy. round W. (1840) 102 Two hundred large earthen jars. 1800tr. Lagrange's Chem. I. 233 A tubulated earthen or iron retort. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 66 The three measures of wine, or the earthen vessel which contains them.
2. Said disparagingly of the human body, or of the world. Sometimes transf. and fig. of conditions, qualities, etc.: Characteristic of the earth, merely material. Also in comb., as earthen-hearted.
16..Lever Prayer in Farr S.P. 523 Let thy holy eyes reflect Their influence upon my earthen state. 1633Earl of Manchester Al Mondo (1636) 174 Nor will he care who shuts up his earthen eyes, when death it selfe opens his soules eyes. a1656Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 68 The best part of this Earthen World is man. 1855Browning Grammarian's Funeral, To make the heavenly period Perfect the earthen. 1870Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 211 We know who is to be the guest of this earthen hospitality,—how much beauty, love, and heartbreak, are to be covered in that pit of clay. 1876Ibid. Ser. ii. 15 Far from a man..be so rash and earthen-hearted a humility.
▪ II. ˈearthen, v. rare—1.
[f. earth n.1 + -en.]
intr. To turn into earth.
1839Bailey Festus v. (1848) 39 While one so beautiful lies earthening here. |