| 释义 |
profitable, a. (adv., n.)|ˈprɒfɪtəb(ə)l|
Also 4–6 prophit-, profet-, prouf(f)it-, proffet-, profect-, etc.: see profit n.; also 5 providabille.
[a. F. profitable (prophitable, 12th c., Littré): see profit and -able.]
1. Yielding profit or advantage; beneficial, useful, serviceable, fruitful, valuable. (Rarely of persons.) Formerly, also, useful as a remedy.
c1325Spec. Gy Warw. 4 Þat i wole speke..is swiþe profitable. a1340Hampole Psalter cvi. 38 Sympil men and profetabile. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. vii. 262 ‘Bi seint Poul!’ quod pers: ‘þeos beoþ prophitable wordes!’ 1382Wyclif 2 Tim. iii. 16 Al scripture of God ynspyrid is profitable to teche, to arguwe, to reproue, for to lerne in riȝtwysnesse. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 191 More Providabille ys to a man to govern hymself than othir mene. 1450in Wars Eng. in France (1861) I. 514 Marchaundisses..as shal be thoughte most behoveful and prouffuitable. 1528in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden) 5 To name and appoynt..suche one as your grace shall thinke moste mete and profightable for the place. 1562Mountgomery in Archæologia XLVII. 240 Pleasaunt howses, faire gardens, and goodlie meades, whithe theire proffectable groundes. 1627Lisander & Cal. i. 9 Silence or flight were much profitabler for you. 1658Whole Duty Man ix. §1 Sleep was intended to make us more profitable, not more idle. 1717Berkeley Tour Italy Wks. 1871 IV. 586, B. della Regna..is profitable to the bladder, eases tenesmus and ague. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 290 If we are good, then we are profitable; for all good things are profitable.
2. Yielding pecuniary profit; gainful, lucrative, remunerative.
1758R. Brown Compl. Farmer (1759) 79 Geese are profitable in many ways. 1776Adam Smith W.N. i. xi. (1869) I. 231 It becomes as profitable to employ the most fertile..lands in raising food for them [cattle] as in raising corn. 1825McCulloch Pol. Econ. ii. ii. 117 This mighty channel for the profitable employment of millions upon millions of capital. 1845― Taxation i. (1852) 111 One shipowner has a ship at sea, making a profitable voyage, while that of another is in port unemployed.
†B. quasi-adv. Profitably. Obs. rare.
1654Whitlock Zootomia Pref. a iij b, That thou mayest be thine own Auditor, and write profitable for thine own perusall.
C. absol. as n. A thing that is profitable.
1681R. L'Estrange Tully's Offices 6 Of Two Profitables whether is the more Profitable? |