| 释义 |
unaˈssuming, ppl. a.
[un-1 10.]
Free from assumption; unpretentious: a. Of persons.
1726Thomson Winter 772 See now the cause, Why unassuming worth in secret liv'd, And dy'd, neglected. 1780Mirror No. 90, In his manners simple and unassuming. 1839Dickens Nich. Nick. xviii, A very unassuming young woman. 1862Calverley Verses & Transl. (ed. 2) 49 Once, an unassuming Freshman Through these wilds I wandered on.
b. Of character of manners.
1796F. Burney Camilla IV. 401 His character [was] unassuming. 1797S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. (1799) I. 369 The unassuming and simple dignity of Lothaire. 1805Southey in Ann. Rev. III. 570 A gentleman of unassuming talents. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) II. 392 He walks about on the sea shore in an unassuming way.
c. Of things.
1805Wordsw. Prelude xiii. 46 The unassuming things that hold A silent station in this beauteous world. 1838Lytton Alice i. v, The expensive, yet unassuming robe de soie. 1896Mrs. Caffyn Quaker Grandmother 146 Stopping to hit at the blackened unassuming remains of a dock.
Hence unaˈssumingness.
Also, in recent use, unassumingly adv.
1768Woman of Honor I. 48 An unassumingness, which was the result of most perfect modesty. 1799Southey in Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 303 Davy is a surprising young man, and one who, by his unassumingness,..soon conciliates our affections. 1830James Darnley xxi, A sort of unassumingness, which seemed to hold his own high qualities as light, silenced much envy. 1876Mrs. Whitney Sights & Insights xii. 124 That unassumingness which is conscious of nothing to assume. |