| 释义 |
ignobility|ɪgnəʊˈbɪlɪtɪ|
[ad. L. ignōbilitās, n. of quality f. ignōbilis ignoble, after nobility: see -ity.]
The quality of being ignoble.
1. Lowliness, humbleness, meanness (of birth or station).
1483Caxton Gold. Leg. (1493) 267 b, His ignobylite or vnworthines was torned in to sublymite and heyth. a1520Barclay Jugurth 10 a, He dysdayned þe ignobylite of Jugurth for asmoche as he was vnlyke vnto them of byrth. 1624Heywood Gunaik. ii. 99 Modestie..illustrates the ignobility of birth. 1793T. Taylor Sallust ix. 50 That nobility or ignobility of parents may be predicted from the stars.
b. the ignobility, the whole body of persons not of the nobility; the commons. rare.
1546Langley Pol. Verg. de Invent. i. x. 20 b, Very many of the ignobilitee wer promoted into the degree of Senatours. 1610Histrio-m. iv. 11 Urgent need makes Princes bend their knee As servile as the ignobilitie. 1835Fraser's Mag. XI. 315 The nobility, like the ignobility, was divided into the two ranks of landed and landless proprietors.
2. Want of nobility (of nature or disposition); meanness or baseness of character.
1549Bale in Leland Itin. C ij b, A more sygne of ignobylytye can not be sene, then to hyde such noble monumentes. c1610Women Saints 4 Much ignobilitie were it, for a potent and riche Prince..to cast his affection on a begger woman. 1737Whiston Josephus, Antiq. iv. viii. §15 Nor let servants be admitted to give testimony, on account of the ignobility of their soul. 1842J. Martineau Chr. Life (1867) 297 Selfishness secretly conscious of its ignobility. |