| 释义 |
ˈtowardliness Now dial. or arch.
(see next)
[f. towardly a. + -ness.]
The quality or character of being ‘towardly’.
1. Good disposition towards something, willingness; spec. aptness to learn, docility, tractableness; forwardness in learning, ‘promise’; ingenuity, proficiency: = towardness 1, 2.
a1569A. Kingsmill Confl. Satan (1578) 25 Such as haue no towardlinesse nor framing of their hearts..to do the will of God. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 360 [He] appointed eight hundred of the Christian children, in whom appeared most towardlinesse, to be brought up for Ianezaries. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. p. xxv, All schollars of any towardlinesse and diligence may be made absolute Grammarians, and euery way fit for the Vniuersitie, by fifteen yeares of age. 1735–6Carte Ormonde I. Introd. 65 The loss of his only son, a noble young gentleman and of great towardliness. 1830Godwin Cloudesley III. i. 3, I had children that improved every day in towardliness and beauty.
2. Favourableness, friendliness, affability.
1566Q. Mary Let. in Sir J. Melvil's Mem. (1735) 144 Touching our Towardliness to them of the Religion. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 573 The great towardlinesse and courteous nature of the Turkish emperour.
3. Furtherance, advancement, promotion.
1553S. Cabot Ordinances in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 262 In towardlinesse of beneficiall traffike. 1653Manton Exp. James iv. 16 Wks. 1871 IV. 394 If God suspend his concurrence, the creatures cannot act, at least not with any towardliness and success.
†4. Likelihood, likely condition or position, prospect; in such phrases as in great towardliness, very likely. (Cf. towardness 3.) Obs.
1579–80North Plutarch (1676) 297 Cato put out of the Senate also, one Manlius, who was in great towardliness to have been made Consull. 1655Owen Vind. Evang. Wks. 1853 XII. 192 The signs..that he would be exalted to a Kingdom. He was by them in a good towardliness for it. |