| 释义 |
unˈpayable, a.
[un-1 7 b, 5 b.]
1. Incapable of being paid:
a. Of debts, etc.
1463G. Ashby Prisoner's Refl. 44, I am put to vnpayable det. 1611Cotgr., Insolvable, vnpayable, vnlikely to be payed. 1656Earl of Orrery Parthen. iii. iv. 269, I finde my scores of gratitude are as unpayable to the Brother, as those of adoration are to the Sister. a1716South Serm. (1744) X. 295 The debt of a thousand talents due to him from her, yet by reason of this her great poverty..utterly unpayable. 1899Mackail W. Morris ii. 27 The price is unpayable.
b. Of persons.
1856Lever Martins of Cro' M. xxxi. 325 Our Club [would] become only an asylum for unpayable tailors. 1868Carlyle in Mrs. C.'s Lett. (1883) I. 24 A poor creditor, un⁓payable, overheard Mrs. A. whispering, ‘Let us keep’ [etc.]
2. Incapable of paying; unremunerative.
1880G. Sutherland Tales Goldfields 50 The goldfields were unpayable. 1896in Morris Austral-Eng. (1898) 487 Unpayable Lines... Of these [railways] 33..do not pay working expenses. |