| 释义 |
freeness Now rare.|ˈfriːnɪs|
[f. free a. + -ness.]
1. The quality or state of being free (in different senses of the adj.); freedom.
1435Misyn Fire of Love xx. 46 With frenes truly of þer lyst with grace of god þai ar fulfillyd. 1587Golding De Mornay xiii. (1617) 206 According to their freenes..they work freely. 1642Bp. Reynolds Israel's Petit. 22 That cometh like water out of a Spring, with a voluntary freenesse. 1647–8Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 23 Resolution and freeness of courage. 1656Jeanes Fuln. Christ 218 The absolute freenesse of it: It was neither for his advantage, as an end, nor for our deservings, as a motive. 1862C. Dresser Art Decorative Design 70 The convolvulus winding its way in graceful freeness around the branches.
b. Const. from.
1640Bp. Reynolds Passions xxvi. 260 Freenesse from Enemies, Cleernes from Injuries. 1648W. Jenkyn Blind Guide iii. 36 The freenesse of their writings from..error.
2. Readiness; generosity, liberality.
c1300Cursor M. 27861 (Cott. Galba) Frenes of hert and large of gift. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xvi. 88 Filius, bi the Fader wille and frenesse of Spiritus Sancti. 1611Shakes. Cymb. v. v. 421 Wee'l learne our Freenesse of a Sonne-in-Law: Pardon's the word to all. 1648Petit. Eastern Ass. 25 Their..freeness to assist the Kingdome in a time of need. 1660Fuller Mixt Contempl. (1841) 180 Let us now pay taxes that we may never pay taxes; for, as matters now stand, our freeness at the present may cause our freedom at the future. 1709Brit. Apollo II. No. 37. 1/1 This Comparison displays the Freeness of Remission with regard to the Offending Persons.
3. Unreservedness (in speech, etc.); openness, frankness.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. xvii. 13 Frenesse in reprouyng of kynges. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. 106 b, Freenesse of speache, is when we speake boldely & without feare..whatsoeuer we please. c1614Cornwallis in Gutch Coll. Cur. I. 149 He would requite my kind proceeding with a real freeness. 1633Heywood Eng. Trav. iii. Wks. 1874 IV. 57, I am sorry my freenesse should offend you.
Restrict ‘Now rare’ to senses 1–3 and add: 4. W. Indies. Something that is provided or obtained free of charge, esp. entertainment.
1952S. Selvon Brighter Sun xii. 235 Couple of de boys coming, we having ah little party. Is freeness. 1960Tamarack Rev. xiv. 18 He meet up unexpected with a good friend at a freeness. 1965‘Lauchmonen’ Old Thom's Harvest iii. 36 Plenty more where this come from. This is freeness bushy rum. 1973Caribbean Contact Jan. 18/4 Reports of Trinidadian men enjoying ‘freeness’ at the expense of their compatriots and others are heard in Toronto but such gentlemen are much less noticeable than in Port-of-Spain. |