| 释义 |
affluence|ˈæfl(j)uːəns|
[a. Fr. affluence, ad. L. affluentia, n. of state f. affluent-em flowing towards, pr. pple. of afflu-ĕre: see afflue.]
1. A flowing towards a particular point; a general movement of people in any direction, a concourse, a moving crowd.
1600Holland Livy xlv. vii. 1205 d, The affluence of the people was so great..that for the very prease he could not march forward. 1684tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. i. 8 Others die, when there is not a sufficient Affluence to the heart to continue the Circulation. 1759Symmer Electr. in Phil. Trans. LI. 380 The effluence and affluence of electrical matter. 1782Kirwan ibid. LXXII. 223 Phlogisticated air may also be formed by a rapid and copious affluence of phlogiston. 1865Carlyle Fredk. Gt. III. viii. v. 37 There had been great affluence of company, and no lack of diversions.
2. A plentiful flow (of tears, words, feelings, and fig. fortune's gifts); profusion, exuberance.
1447O. Bokenham Lyvys of Seyntys Introd. (1835) 4 Demostenes of Grece more affluence Never had in rethoryk. 1490Caxton Eneydos vi. 26 Her eyen better semed two grete sourges wellynge vp grete affluence of teerys. 1610Healey tr. St. Aug., City of God 511 How could they either feare or grieve in that copious affluence of blisse? 1633Earl of Manchester Contempl. Mort. (1636) 84 Man that thus lives at ease in delicacie with affluence of all things. 1849Longfellow Kavanagh xii. 56 Winter..with its affluence of snows. 1867Swinburne in Fortn. Rev. Oct. 420 The ambient ardour of noon, the fiery affluence of evening.
3. ellipt. Profusion or abundance of worldly possessions; wealth.
1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 35 A heavenly goate whose influence Brings in riches with affluence. 1608J. King Serm. 1 Chron. xxix. 26–28, 29 The very wormes that growe out of their [Kings'] fulnes & affluence. 1713Steele Guardian No. 22 ⁋3 They lived in great affluence. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xxxii, As merry as affluence & innocence could make them. 1807Southey Lett. II. 35 It was not possible to make a better use of affluence than he did. 1840Macaulay Ess., Clive II. 521 Trade revived; and the signs of affluence appeared in every English house.
▸ affluence test n. orig. U.S. a means test designed to reduce or remove the entitlement of more prosperous claimants to a publicly funded benefit, esp. one that was previously awarded regardless of private means.
1993P. G. Peterson Facing Up Introd. 35 My plan includes a steeply progressive ‘*affluence test’ that uses a sliding scale to withhold entitlement benefits from families with incomes above the U.S. median. 1998Observer (Nexis) 11 Jan. (News section) 1 Ms Harman told the Observer that the Government's welfare reforms would not be based on a return to the means test, but on an affluence test, arguing it was legitimate for the affluent, including disabled people, to pay for some of their benefits.
affluence testing n. orig. U.S. the means-testing of a publicly funded benefit (esp. one that was previously awarded regardless of private means) with the aim of reducing or ceasing payment to more prosperous individuals and families.
1993P. S. Hewitt in Retirement Income Security (U.S. Congr. House Comm. Ways & Means) 116 Enormous savings are possible through *affluence testing. 1998Scotsman 28 July 15 [He] may go for taxing child benefits. The Chancellor..is known to favour ‘affluence testing’—taxing or removing benefits for people on high incomes. |