| 释义 |
ˈthird-ˌrate, a. and n.
[See rate n.1 9, 9 b.]
A. adj.
†1. Of the third ‘rate’ (esp. of ships). Obs.
1649Cromwell Let. 14 Nov. in Carlyle, The Garland, one of your third-rate ships, coming happily into Waterford Bay. 1666Pepys Diary 9 Mar., Mr. Castle's new third-rate ship, which is to be called the Defyance. 1693Lond. Gaz. No. 2857/3 This day was Launched a New Third Rate Ship of 80 Guns, called the Norfolk.
2. Of the third class in point of quality; usually depreciative, below ‘second-rate’; of decidedly poor or inferior quality. Also absol.
1814Theatrical Inquisitor IV. 357 Allusions, which have long constituted the commonplaces of poetry among third-rate makers of verse. 1816Jane Austen Emma II. i. 2 In danger of falling in with the second rate and third rate of Highbury. 1838Thirlwall Greece V. xliv. 327 An actor of third-rate parts. 1850Grote Greece ii. lxi. VII. 491 A town of second-rate or third-rate magnitude. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xix. IV. 354 The poor thoughts and poor words of a thirdrate pamphleteer.
B. n. Naut. A war-vessel of the third rate.
1666Pepys Diary 4 July, Ten great ships..none to be under third-rates. 1695Lond. Gaz. No. 3061/1 A Third Rate of 62 Guns. 1790Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. I. 65 The fleet.., consisting of but one third rate, five fourth rates, and one sixth rate.
Hence ˈthird-ˈrateling, ˈthird-ˌrater, a third-rate person or thing.
1816Southey Ess. I. 245 The second and third-ratelings compose works of perishable stuff. 1820Blackw. Mag. VIII. 89 Where is there a Whig in England..that, as a literary man, is fairly out of the class of third raters? |