| 释义 |
readable, a. (and n.)|ˈriːdəb(ə)l|
[f. read v.]
1. Capable of being read, legible.
1570Levins Manip. 114 Both readable, and legible, signifie legibilis. 1874M. Burrows Worthies of All Souls 392 Hoveden and Codrington write good readable hands. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 232 Every one..will help the owner of a stray beast to get him, if his brand is readable.
2. a. Capable of being read with pleasure or interest. Usually of literary work: Easy or pleasant to read, agreeable or attractive in style.
1771Monthly Rev. Dec. 493 The real Author of these Letters..chose to turn it to what literary advantage he might make of a couple of very readable volumes. a1817Jane Austen Northang. Abb. (1818) I. vi. 74 Sir Charles Grandison! That is an amazing horrid book... I thought it had not been readable. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey ii. ii, Doubled up the sheet into a convenient readable form. 1832Marryat N. Forster i, The second and third volumes are by far the most readable. 1895J. H. Round in Bookman Oct. 25/2 This history..is..a straightforward, readable narrative.
b. As n. in pl. Readable works.
1864Realm 9 Mar. 8 Though the ingenuity of the story permits us to class this book among the readables. 1977New Yorker 1 Aug. 13/3 Sales clerks..stacked giant displays of discounted readables.
3. Admitting of reading. rare—1.
1819McCrie Melville I. iv. 217 The provost was bound to read lessons in Theology once a week—and the bachelor every readable day.
4. Enabling, making it possible, to read.
1859H. T. Ellis Hong Kong to Manilla 39 Only sufficiently transparent to admit what might be called a readable amount of light.
Hence ˈreadableness, the quality of being readable or legible.
1844S. R. Maitland Dark Ages 69 The correctness and readableness of our own edition of a father or a classic. 1861Smiles Engineers Pref. 10 The interest and readableness of such narratives being often in an inverse ratio to their length. 1883J. Millington Are we to read backwards? 48 Important factors..in the readableness of print. |