| 释义 |
vastity Now rare.|ˈvɑːstɪtɪ, ˈvæs-|
Also 7 vaustity.
[ad. L. vastitās or F. vastité (= It. vastità, Sp. vastedad): see vast a. and -ity.]
†1. The fact or quality of being desolate, waste, void, or empty. Obs.
1545Joye Exp. Dan. ix. 162 b, Aftir the batails were done there remayned a perpetuall vastite & desolacion. 1586J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 49 Hauing warre and discorde as the causes of destruction, vastity and penurye. 1592Nashe P. Penilesse Wks. (Grosart) II. 25 Finding nothing but emptines and vastitie. 1618J. Taylor (Water P.) Penniless Pilgr. Wks. (1630) 130/2 Hee therefore did replenish the vaustity of my empty purse. 1622Peacham Compl. Gent. 69 Earthquakes..upon the face of the Earth, raising of it in one place, leaving Gulfes and Vastitie in another. 1651Raleigh's Ghost 174 The army of the Gentiles causing desolation, and vastity, shall..destroy the City.
2. The quality of being vast or immense; vastness, vastitude.
1603Florio Montaigne ii. xii. 345 In considering the clowdy vastitie and gloomie canapies of our churches. 1635Heywood Hierarchy i. 4 Th' unbounded Sea and Vastitie of shore, All these expresse a Godhead to adore. 1657Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 403* The Dead Sea because of its vastity..remains immovable.
transf.1654Cokaine Dianea iii. 255 This [Kingdom] of Cyprus is sufficient to satiate the vastitie of these thoughts. 1859Adolph Simplicity Creation p. xi, The fifth had read a great part of my work, admired the vastity of physical knowledge embodied therein.
3. A vast or immense space. rare—1.
1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 17 Witness the manie sandie parts of Africa and the immense vastities of the new world. |