| 释义 |
unreˈturnable, a.
[un- 7 b, 5 b.]
†1. Admitting of no return. Obs.
Chiefly as a rendering of L. irremeabilis.
1513Douglas æneid vi. i. 60 The naimcouth hous, that Laborinthus hait, Full of wrinkillit vnreturnable dissait. Ibid. vii. 4 The fludis bank.., Quhais passage is vnreturnable went. 1611Cotgr., Irremeable, vnreturnable, or, from which one cannot goe backe. 1648Hexham ii, Onwederkeerlick, vnreturnable [Kil. irremeabilis].
2. Incapable of being returned.
1740Richardson Pamela (1741) II. 343, I am even oppress'd with unreturnable Obligations. 1788A. Hughes Henry & Isabella III. 151 The unexpected, and as he esteemed it, unreturnable proof of friendship he had given him. 1795Jemima II. 195 Having such unreturnable benefits to thank him for. 1884Marshall's Tennis Cuts 114 He can..place it in the opposite corner at such a pace that the stroke is practically unreturnable.
Hence unreˈturnably adv.
1513Douglas æneid v. x. 81 Laborynthus..a thousand slychtis wrocht, For to dissave all wncouth tharin brocht, To wavir and er thar wnreturnably. 1788A. Hughes Henry & Isabella II. 72 Where there is a certain equality..of advantages, so as to leave neither parties unreturnably obliged to the other. |