| 释义 |
▪ I. free-ˈthinking, vbl. n.
The free exercise of reason in matters of religious belief, unrestrained by deference to authority; the adoption of the principles of a free-thinker.
1692[see free-thinker]. 1708Brit. Apollo No. 58. 1/2 Free Thinking (to use the Modish Phrase)..is no better than a Sword in a Child's hand. 1758Gray Let. Poems (1775) 263 The mode of free-thinking is like that of Ruffs and Farthingales, and has given place to the mode of not thinking at all. 1773Gentl. Mag. XLIII. 122 If, by free-thinking, Deism be meant.
attrib.1719Free-Thinker 118 ⁋2, I proceeded..to give Assurances of many Free-Thinking Feats, which it was, then, generally suspected I never intended to perform.
▪ II. free-thinking, ppl. a.
1. Holding the principles of a free-thinker.
a1716South Serm. (1843) II. 109 Our free thinking and freer practising age. 1750Coventry Pompey Litt. ii. ix. (1785) 66/1 A free-thinking writer of moral essays.
2. Pertaining or relating to free-thinkers or free-thought.
1726Amherst Terræ Fil. xi. 52 Those heritical, pernicious, and free-thinking tracts. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xix, Her shocking free thinking ways. 1882Sat. Rev. 18 Nov. 671/1 Trashy freethinking productions. |