| 释义 |
vastation|væˈsteɪʃən|
Also 6 vastacion.
[ad. L. vastātiōn-, vastātio, n. of action f. vastāre, f. vastus waste. So It. vastazione, Pg. vastação.]
†1. The action of laying waste, devastating, or destroying. Also freq., an instance of this. Obs. (very common 1610–60).
1545Joye Exp. Dan. vii. 120 b, Howe greate vastacions and destruccions in the chirche are there prophecied! 1614Raleigh Hist. World iv. i. §1 The Greekes..doe still, as in former times, continue the inuasion and vastation of each other. a1639Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. iii. (1677) 175 Thereupon insued a pitiful vastation of Churches and Church-buildings. 1663J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 383 No war, no sedition,..no vastation,..made so great a waste upon the religion..of that place.
†2. The fact or condition of being devastated or laid waste. Obs.
1578Banister Hist. Man v. 64 The whole masse of man..must needes haue runne in perpetuall ruine, and vastation. 1617Collins Def. Bp. Ely ii. x. 458 We lament their desolation and vastation. 1639Fuller Holy War iii. xxiv. (1840) 162 The sad spectacle of their country's vastation would disturb their minds. 1653Gauden Hierasp. To Rdr. 24 It may be through the Lords mercy, this winters floud shall be for their mendment or fertility, and not for their utter vastation and ruine.
3. The action of purifying by the destruction of evil qualities or elements. Also transf.
1847Emerson Repr. Men, Swedenborg Wks. (Bohn) I. 328 He was let down through a column that seemed of brass,..that he might descend safely among the unhappy, and witness the vastation of souls. 1888J. Ellis New Christianity xii. 290 Spirits preparing for heaven, or undergoing vastation. 1892[see vastate v.]. |