| 释义 |
endearment|ɛnˈdɪəmənt|
Also 7–8 indearment.
[f. endear v. + -ment.]
1. The action of endearing or the fact of being endeared; concr. something that endears, that excites or increases affection.
1663Aron-bimn. 3 The Object of all this Care, this Indeerment and joy, is the Ark of God. 1673Lady's Call. ii. 82 One of the greatest endearments of Abraham to God. 1688H. Wharton Enthus. Ch. Rome 78 The belief of his endearment to God, made him often presume upon the Favour of Heaven. 1690Norris Beatitudes (1694) I. 202 The Heathen, to whom the Unity and Agreement of the First Christians was a great indearment. 1881P. Brooks Candle of Lord 164 The enlargement of the faith brings the endearment of the faith.
†b. An obligation of gratitude, a bond of attachment. Cf. endear v. 6 b. Obs.
1628Earle Microcosm., World's wise man (Arb.) 61 His deepest indearment is a communication of mischiefe. 1677Hale Contempl. ii. 72 That Lust..which the..Saviour, upon the Indearment of his own Blood, begs us to Crucifie.
2. An action or utterance expressive of love or fondness; a caress. Also abstr.
1702Rowe Tamerl. i. i. 341 Are War and Slavery the soft Endearments With which they court the Beauties they admire? 1742Richardson Pamela IV. 141 His Indearments and Tenderness to his Lady..was alone worthy of all her Risque. 1853C. Brontë Villette xxxvi. (1876) 401 M. Paul petted and patted her; the endearments she received were not to be wondered at. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. I. iv. 180 A mere name of endearment.
†3. Affection, fondness. Obs.
1709Strype Ann. Ref. I. xliii. 477 Between these two there was a long and great endearment. 1746–7Hervey Medit. (1818) 19 If you really love the offspring of your own bodies; if your bowels yearn over those amiable pledges of conjugal endearment. 1821Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 60 Travellers returned from foreign ground Feel more endearments for their native earth.
4. The making (a commodity) dearer. rare.
1864Guardian 21 Dec. 1218 People bought in provisions against the endearments of Sella's new tariffs.
†5. The action of enhancing the value of anything; also, praise, exaggeration. Obs.
1612Shelton Quix. I. iii. xiii. 249 It is rather a poetical Endearment, than an approv'd Truth. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. (1702) I. ii. 113 If his condition..were so good that it needed no indearment. |