| 释义 |
vastly, adv.|ˈvɑːstlɪ, ˈvæs-|
[f. vast a. + -ly2.]
1. In a waste or desolate manner. rare—1.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 1740 Who, like a late-sackd island, vastly stood Bare and unpeopled in this fearful flood.
2. Immensely; to an extent or degree not readily grasped or estimated.
1664Power Exp. Philos. Pref. 17 Though these hopes be vastly hyperbolical. 1676G. Etherege Man of Mode i. i, Why, first she's an Heiress vastly rich. 1708J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. (1710) 7 It hath many safe and commodious Ports and Havens, as Falmouth vastly spacious. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. iii. §5 This vastly great, or infinite power and wisdom. 1862Cornhill Mag. Jan. 73 Popular power has increased vastly during the last half-century in our own country. 1885Manch. Exam. 4 April 4/6 A policy which will add so vastly to its influence and power.
b. Freq. with words or phrases denoting comparison.
1665Glanvill Def. Van. Dogm. 25 When the Actions whereby they are produced are so vastly diverse. 1693Apol. Clergy Scot. 35 In a sense vastly different from what was intended by Mr. Rule. 1710J. Clarke tr. Rohault's Nat. Philos. (1729) I. i. ii. 53 The Bullet will be carried vastly further than the small Shot. 1778Sheridan Camp ii. iii, To be sure, a circus or a crescent would have been vastly better. 1820Hazlitt Table-T. Ser. ii. xvi. (1869) 322 You have got on vastly beyond the point at which you have set out. 1846Greener Sci. Gunnery 229 It is of trifling consequence..that the explosion of sporting powder is vastly more rapid and powerful. 1879Tourgee Fool's Err. xxii. 134 The Union people here are vastly in a minority.
3. In weakened sense as a mere intensive: Exceedingly, extremely, very. (Cf. vast a. 5.)
Common in fashionable use in the 18th cent., chiefly with adjs. (a), but occasionally with vbs. (b) or advs. (c). The abuse of vast and vastly is commented on by Lord Chesterfield, Lett. No. 195 and 196.
(a)1664Verney Mem. (1907) II. 204 She putts on and assumes much, very much of the vastly extravagant humors. 1722De Foe Plague (1754) 219 The City..was vastly full of People. 1733T. Burnet MS. Let. 30 Jan., Believe me most affectionately, though vastly peevish, Yours T. B. 1782F. Burney Cecilia vi. xi, This is all vastly true; but I have no time to hear any more of it just now. 1826J. Foster in Life & Corr. (1846) II. 78 A vastly acute and doggedly intellectual fellow. 1850Thackeray Pendennis xxii, Mrs. Portman..was vastly bitter against Pen..since his impertinent behaviour to the Doctor. 1872Black Adv. Phaeton vi. 68 That small person..was becoming vastly indignant.
(b)1750H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 358, I laughed vastly. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xii, I protest I like my Lady Blarney vastly. c1850Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 234, I should vastly like to examine this little hunchback a little more closely. 1879K. S. Macquoid Berksh. Lady 182 That will please me vastly.
(c)1756M. Calderwood in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club) 127 He..sung vastly fine. 1799Sheridan Pizarro Prol., An't you come vastly late? 1814Jane Austen Lady Susan xv, She talks vastly well. 1837Lytton E. Maltravers 5 As for bed, this chair will do vastly well. |