| 释义 |
underbred, ppl. a. and n.|-ˈbrɛd, older ˈʌndə-|
[under-1 10 a.]
1. Of inferior breeding or upbringing; wanting in polish or refinement; vulgar:
a. Of persons.
1650B. Discolliminium 50 Our late..under-bred Committee-men. 1706Farquhar Recruiting Officer v, Pray, Sir, dunna be offended at my Sister, she's something under⁓bred. 1771Goldsm. Haunch of Venison 37 An under-bred, fine-spoken fellow was he. 1825T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. III. 154 The boisterous mirth of the under-bred village belle. 1885Spectator 30 May 715/1 All the gentlemen and ladies he has to do with are just a little underbred.
Comb.1824Scott Redgauntlet ch. vi, Behind a long table..sat a smart, underbred-looking man.
b. Of manners or conduct.
1796F. Burney Camilla III. 209 The under-bred positiveness of her father. 1840Willis Loiterings II. 161 His underbred politeness of insisting on following his host. 1849C. Brontë Shirley vii, His somewhat underbred manner and aspect.
2. Of animals: Not pure bred; of inferior strain.
1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 337 Australian horses..seem wretched underbred creatures.
b. n. An underbred animal (esp. a horse).
1880Encycl. Brit. XII. 198/1 When the thoroughbred is but cantering, the underbred will be doing his utmost. 1897Times 11 Mar. 12/2 At recent shows in Ireland he thought there were more under-breds than 15 or 20 years ago. |