| 释义 |
titivate, tittivate, v. colloq.|ˈtɪtɪveɪt|
Also tidi-, tiddi-.
[In early examples tidi- or tiddivate, perh. from tidy with a quasi-Latin ending, after cultivate.]
1. a. trans. To make small alterations or additions to one's toilet, etc. so as to add to one's attractions; to make smart or spruce; to ‘touch up’ in the way of adornment, put the finishing touches to. Also with off, up.
1805[implied in titivation]. 1824in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1825) 35 Decorated with his white flag in front, and tiddivated up to his elbows in a pair of unblemished..Holland sleeves. 1827Sporting Mag. XIX. 341 The shot manufacturers want titivating too. 1833Marryat P. Simple xxxiv, You'd better make yourself scarce, Peter, while I tidivate myself off a little, according to the rules and regulations..when you are asked to dine with the skipper. 1843Haliburton Attaché xxii, I'll arrive in time for dinner, I'll titivate myself up, and down to drawin'-room. 1852R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour xxv, He..saw him titivating his hair and arranging his collar. 1885B. M. Croker Proper Pride ix, Helen was calmly titivating herself at the glass. 1893Couch Delectable Duchy 60 Come here, and let me tittivate you. 1897Daily News 22 Dec. 8/3 It was drawn through the Fair..by eight oxen tidivated with ribbons and flowers.
b. intr. for refl.
1836–9Dickens Sk. Boz, Charac. vii, Regular as clock⁓work—breakfast at nine—dress and tittivate a little. 1859Thackeray Virgin. xlviii, Whilst you call in your black man, and titivate a bit.
¶2. Used by confusion for titillate v. 1.
1915[see eroticize v.]. 1933Dylan Thomas Let. Sept. (1966) 23 Even now twelve heartfelt pages are titivating the senses of a Dead Letter superintendent. 1976Telegraph-Journal (Saint John, New Brunswick) 27 Aug. 2/4 What would the exhibition be without the midway, with its sounds, sights and smells to titivate the senses?
Hence ˈtitivated, ˈtitt- ppl. a., ˈtitivating, ˈtitt- vbl. n. and ppl. a.; titi-, tittiˈvation, the action of titivating; ˈtiti-, ˈtittivator, one who titivates; ¶ = titillator; ˈtitivatory a. ¶ = titillatory a.
1805Sporting Mag. XXV. 187 Affords infinite amusement during the ceremony of titivation. 1831Fraser's Mag. IV. 462 One worthy with a titivated brown wig and a sprigged waistcoat. 1876E. Jenkins Blot on Queen's Head 15 He had a fancy for titivation..and for splendour and display. 1889W. S. Gilbert Gondoliers ii, Spend an hour in tittivating. 1895Sat. Rev. 1 June 726/2 People who never..compare the scene-painter's titivated imitations with the..originals. 1902C. G. Harper Cambridge, Ely, etc. 56 The furbishers and titivators of things ancient and worshipful. 1928Galsworthy Swan Song i. iv. 29 The papers were like cocktails—titivators mostly of the appetite and the nerves. 1964E. Huxley Back Street New Worlds ix. 95 Displaying a shapely but naked midriff, eyelids kohl-ed, hands henna'd, perfumed with eastern essences as titivating to the senses as they were no doubt unsettling to the aldermen. 1975Time Out 24 Jan. 5/2 All the magazine lacks is a titivatory piece on ‘what they do in bed’. |