| 释义 |
▪ I. grumble, n.|ˈgrʌmb(ə)l|
[f. grumble v.]
1. An act of grumbling; a murmur, of discontent or dissatisfaction; a subdued utterance of complaint. Of an animal: A low growl. Of thunder: A rumble.
1623W. Sclater Tythes 57 Least the little grumble of Conscience be calmed with that parcell of your opinion. 1636R. Brathwait Roman Emperors To Rdr., I..referre me to thine impartiality, who (if thou art a good fellow) wilt accept a bit with a friend without grumbles. 1682Flatman Heraclitus Ridens (1713) II. 193, I heard sometimes a deep hollow grumble, like the noise of a Stone ratling down a Well. 1724Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 124 When this came to be known there was a considerable grumble. 1840Hood Up Rhine 173 The Hound at his feet gave a grumble. 1884Cycl. Tour. Club Gaz. Mar. 82/1 The only regret or grumble that we heard expressed. 1893Crockett Stickit Minister 36 Efter a show o' hands, an' a bit grummle, they juist did that. 1899Blackw. Mag. Feb. 348/2 The thunder..fading at last to a distant grumble.
2. the grumbles: ill-humour, vented in grumbling. (Used jocularly, as if the name of a malady.)
1861F. W. Robinson No Church II. 78 Pity it isn't catching, like the measles, or that opposite affair, which we all can show—the grumbles. 1869Spurgeon J. Ploughm. Talk 23 Keep out of the way of a man who has the complaint called the grumbles. 1897M. Kingsley W. Africa ix. 167 Before we reach Njole I recognise my crew have got the grumbles, and at once inquire into the reason.
3. slang. [Shortened from grumble and grunt, rhyming slang for cunt.] = crumpet 4 c.
1962E. Brock Little White God v. 68 There's this copper..and he puts away a local tea-leaf. And this tea-leaf's old woman's a fair bit of grumble. 1966Melody Maker 30 July 8/5 American visitors are invariably delighted by references to birds, scrubbers, grumble.
▪ II. grumble, v.|ˈgrʌmb(ə)l|
Also 6 gromble.
[Proximate source uncertain: cf. F. grommeler to mutter between the teeth, Du. grommelen, f. grommen to rumble, growl (cf. grumme v.), G. grummeln to rumble.]
1. intr.
a. Of persons and animals: To utter dull inarticulate sounds; to mutter, mumble, murmur; to growl faintly.
1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. i. 170 You heedlesse iolt-heads, and vnmanner'd slaues, What, do you grumble? Ile be with you straight. 1605― Lear iii. iv. 43 Kent. Giue me thy hand, who's there? Foole. A spirite, a spirite, he sayes his name's poore Tom. Kent. What art thou that dost grumble there i'th' straw? Come forth. 1611Florio, Grugnare, to grunt or grumble as a hog. a1700Dryden (J.), The Lion..with sullen pleasure, grumbles o'er his prey. 1735Somerville Chase iii. 599 The disappointed, hungry Pack Retire submiss, and grumbling quit their Prey. 1870Morris Earthly Par. II. iii. 354 Goodly store Of honey that the bees had grumbled o'er In clover fields of Kent.
b. Of thunder, a drum, etc.: To rumble, esp. faintly or as from a distance.
1621Fletcher Pilgrim iii. iii, Didst thou never see a Drum: Canst thou make this grumble? a1704T. Brown Sat. Fr. King Wks. 1730 I. 60 In fine, the Government may do its will, But I'm afraid my guts will grumble still. 1708Rowe Royal Convert iii. Wks. (1766) 39 Like a storm That gathers black upon the frowning sky And grumbles in the wind. 1746–7Hervey Medit. (1818) 177 Ye Thunders, that awfully grumbling in the distant clouds, seem to meditate indignation. 1864Hawthorne Amer. Note-Bks. (1879) II. 226 The wind..grumbles past the angle of the house. 1865M. Arnold Ess. Crit. i. (1875) 33 The echoes of the storm which was then raised I still from time to time hear grumbling round me.
2. To utter murmurs expressive of discontent; hence gen., to complain. Const. about, at, over, occas. for (a desired object), with inf., or clause.
a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. (1590) 301 b, A countenance still formed to smiling before him..and grombling behind him, at any of his commaundements. 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 506 Upon which unmeasurable and incessant toile, many died, and all were wery, and grumbled thereat. 1632Lithgow Trav. vii. 316 What..doe you grumble for Wine, having the Water of Nylus to drinke. 1646Abp. Maxwell Burd. Issach. in Phenix (1708) II. 301 The best..Subjects grumbled exceedingly to see their Prince so abus'd. 1650Bulwer Anthropomet. 10 Philoxones, that grumbled at Nature for the shortnesse of his Neck. 1701De Foe True-born Eng., Britannia 85 Wise Men affirm it is the English way, Never to Grumble till they come to pay. 1717Prior Alma iii. 425 L'Avare, not using half his store, Still grumbles that he has no more. 1779–81Johnson L.P., Pope Wks. IV. 56 Many more grumbled in secret. 1843Penny Cycl. XXVII. 134/2 He grumbled on about having sacrificed himself to his principles. 1849Thackeray Pendennis (1850) II. 93 Pendennis, in reality, suffered it very equanimously; but in words..grumbled over it not a little. 1865Trollope Belton Est. xv. 170 He was always grumbling about his food. 1883H. Spencer in Contemp. Rev. XLIII. 5 The English are remarked on for their tendency to grumble in such cases.
quasi-trans.a1661Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 503 He grumbled out the rest of his life in visible discontentment. 1810Splendid Follies III. 163 Immerged in such ruminations, she grumbled herself to sleep.
3. trans.
a. To express or utter with mumbling, muttering, or complaining. Also with out.
1824in Spirit Publ. Jrnls. (1825) 285 He..grumbled out good night, and departed to his domus. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. iii, At first he only scolded and grumbled these things. 1894C. H. Simpkinson Life Laud vii. 124 Lord Brooke and the Puritan leaders might grumble out the hope that all the cathedrals..would soon be demolished.
†b. causative. To cause to grumble or rumble. Obs. rare.
1690R. Cromwell in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1898) XIII. 102 Taxes grumble the gizards of many.
Hence ˈgrumbled ppl. a.
1786Wolcot (P. Pindar) Bozzy & Piozzi i. Wks. 1816 I. 268 That actually surpass'd in tone and grace The grumbled ditties of his fav'rite base.
▪ III. grumble
obs. form of gromwell. |