| 释义 |
admirable, a.|ˈædmɪrəb(ə)l|
[a. Fr. admirable, in OFr. amirable:—L. admīrābil-em, f. admīrā-ri: see admire and -able.]
†1. To be wondered at; wonderful, surprising, marvellous. Obs.
1596Spenser F.Q. i. vii. 36 He..was knowne right well To have done much more admirable deedes. 1601Shakes. All's Well ii. i. 26 Lord. Oh 'tis braue warres. Parr. Most admirable, I haue seene those warres. 1639Fuller Holy War i. vi. (1840) 8 It may justly seem admirable how that senseless religion should gain so much ground on Christianity. 1660Milton Free Commw. 431 Not only strange and admirable, but lamentable to think on. 1718J. Chamberlayne Relig. Philos. (1730) I. vi. §10 All the admirable curiosities observable in the Heart. 1794Sullivan View of Nat. II, He has in his words something θοιοντι [? θεῖόν τι], divine and admirable.
Hence, by insensible gradations,
2. Exciting gratified surprise, or wonder united with approbation, esteem or reverence. In later usage the idea of wonder disappears, and the word is a mere exaggerated or emphatic way of expressing estimable, excellent, approvable, likable, pleasing.
1598Shakes. Merry W. ii. ii. 234 You are a gentleman of excellent breeding, admirable discourse. 1604Marlowe Faustus 70 Helen of Greece was the admirablest lady that ever lived. 1678Hobbes Decam. Phys. i. 1 What so many do so highly praise must be very admirable. 1754Chatham Lett. to Nephew iv. 28 The admirable dispositions you have towards all that is right and good. 1788V. Knox Wint. Even. I. ii. xiv. 200 The dialogue of an admirable author. 1825McCulloch Pol. Econ. ii. §2, 99 The admirable machinery invented by Hargreaves. 1856Kane Arctic Expl. I. xi. 29 Crimped seal-skin boots or moccasins, an admirable article of walking gear. 1867Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 288 His wife takes admirable care of him.
¶ Also used formerly as n. and adv., and as name of a butterfly; see admiral 5.
1598Sylvester Du Bartas i. iii. (1641) 23/2 Sure, in the Legend of absurdest Fables I should enroll most of these admirables. 1611Shakes. Cymb. ii. iii. 19 A wonderful sweet aire, with admirable rich words to it. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 291 Made them roast a piece of venison..admirable well. |