| 释义 |
▪ I. import, v.|ɪmˈpɔət|
Also 5 inp-, 6 emport(e, ymporte, 6–7 importe.
[ad. L. importā-re to carry or bring in, f. im- (im-1) + portāre to carry. Also, in part. ad. F. emporter, OF. en porter, L. *inde portāre to carry away.]
I. From literal senses of cl. L. importare.
1. trans. To bring in; to introduce from a foreign or external source, or from one use, connexion, or relation into another.
1508Skelton P. Sparowe 216 That..To me it myght importe Some pleasure and comforte. 1623Cockeram, Impresse, to import the forme of a thing. 1646Crashaw Steps to Temple 82 Good fortunes without gain imported be. 1651–3Jer. Taylor Serm. for Year (1678) 184 He that carries and imports into the understanding of his Brother notices of faith, and incomes of spiritual propositions. 1774Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. Diss. i. 36 They imported with them into England the old Runic language and letters. 1858Gladstone Stud. Homer II. i. 31 The human element was gradually more and more imported into the divine. 1872Liddon Elem. Relig. i. 30 You hate the lie, and your hatred imports force into your contradiction. 1872Mivart Elem. Anat. xii. 461 The function of importing oxygen into the blood.
2. spec. To bring in or cause to be brought in (goods or merchandise) from a foreign country, in international commerce. Opposed to export.
1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI 169 b, That the said estraungers imported and transported, into and out of this realme, all suche marchandises. 1670Temple Lett. Ld. Berkeley Wks. 1731 II. 217 Ireland runs every Year an eighth Part in Debt by importing so much beyond its Exportation. 1797Burke Corr. IV. 413 We import things of great value, and, in return, export little or nothing. 1841W. Spalding Italy & It. Isl. I. 91 There were collected duties ad valorem on merchandise imported and exported. 1861Goschen For. Exch. 17 A country which has large sums of interest to pay annually abroad, must import so much less or export so much more.
3. To convey to another, communicate (information, etc.). Obs. exc. as merged in 1 or 5 c.
1565Queen Elizabeth in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. II. 304 Your letters of the xxiiijth of January directed to our Secretary, and by him imported to us and our Counsaile. 1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xxi. (Arb.) 59 The profitable sciences were..meete to be imported to the greater number of ciuill men for instruction of the people. 1726Cavallier Mem. iv. 303, I was not able to import the variety of Torment that were used; and if I were, I would save his Majesty the pain of hearing the rehearsal of them. [1847Emerson Poems (1857) 77 Hearts to hearts their meaning show, Sum their long experience, And import intelligence.]
†4. To bring about, cause, occasion; to carry with it or involve as a consequence or result. Obs.
1550Crowley Waie to Wealth B vij a, Certenlye the greatnes of your sinnes importeth as present distruccion to you as if ye were the same Niniuites. c1555Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 29 It must needs then be a matter of marvellous moment..that should induce and import a divorce between two such excellent personages. 1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 219 b, If these dealynges emporte not a generall overthrow of all Civill, and politicke governementes, let the accuser hym selfe deny it. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 87 Searched for concealed Slaves, and goods contrabanded; which found, import no lesse than losse both of ship and liberty. 1705Stanhope Paraphr. I. 24 The Salvation will import that Bliss which the Faithful expect.
5. a. To carry with it, as involved in its nature; to involve; to imply, betoken, indicate.
1529More Suppl. Soulys Wks. 326/1 It importeth also plaine and open blasphemy. 1548Gest Pr. Masse H v b, Honoure and prayer importe the presence of his glorye and maiestye where they be exhibited to him. c1600Shakes. Sonn. cxxii, To keepe an adiunckt to remember thee, Were to import forgetfulnesse in mee. 1643Declar. Commous, Rebell. Ireland 59 Their Lordships giving Warrant to print any Paper comming from his Majestie..did not import their approbation of the contents thereof. 1657J. Smith Myst. Rhet. 31 Admitted to sacrifice to Him, which was a dignity importing honour. 1884Law Rep. 26 Ch. Div. 131 Release..by deed under seal..imports valuable consideration and creates an estoppel.
b. To convey in its meaning; to bear the meaning of; to imply, signify, denote, mean.
1533More Debell. Salem Wks. 956/1 If, he sayth, importeth alwaye a doubte. 1574Whitgift Def. Aunsw. i. Wks. (Parker Soc.) I. 162 The words of Christ rather import the contrary. 1577tr. Bullinger's Decades Pref., Euery Decade containing (as the word importeth) ten. 1581Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. (1887) 163 The publike acknowledging of him to be such a one, as his title emporteth. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 139 Sarrack imports as much as a theefe. 1703Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1721) 135 Heliopolis, or City of the Sun; for that the word imports. a1716South Serm. (1717) VI. 427 Having thus seen, what is imported in a Man's trusting his Heart. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 366 The levee was exactly what the word imports.
c. To bear as its purport; to convey as information; to express, state, make known.
c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (1840) 117 At goode leyser dothe the matier see, Whiche inportithe grete intelligence. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 332 Hee beginneth his letter with..a kinde of speache importing his inwarde gladnesse. 1595T. P. Goodwine Caxton's Blanchardyn i, Amongst many antient Chronicles importing the haughtie exploites of sundry nations. 1647Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) 81, I cannot gett ready so soon as your letter imports. 1777Howard Prisons Eng. (1780) 93 Over the gate is an inscription importing ‘that it was erected by Pope Pius V in the year 1569’. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 518 They..passed a resolution importing that they relied with entire confidence on His Majesty's gracious promise.
d. To signify (something coming); to portend.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. i. 2 Comets importing change of Times and States. 1722De Foe Plague (1840) 22 That those two comets passed directly over the city, and that..it was plain they imported something peculiar to the city alone. 1727― Syst. Magic i. vi. (1840) 159 Comets..import great changes and troubles among men.
II. From med.L., It. importare, F. importer.
6. intr. To involve a considerable or weighty result (actual or possible); to be of consequence or significance; to be important, ‘signify’, matter. (Only in 3rd person; with various constructions, as in 7.) arch.
1588R. Parke tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 213 They did certifie him, that it was a thing that did import verie much. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 242 Neither imported it where we lodged. 1625Bacon Ess., Unity Relig. (Arb.) 427 The true Placing of them, importeth exceedingly. 1675Evelyn Terra (1729) 35 So little does it import to have it profound. 1765H. Walpole Otranto i. (1798) 26 What imported it to me whether I was seized a moment sooner, or a minute later? 1846Trench Mirac. xxviii. (1862) 387 For them it greatly imports that they should understand this.
7. trans. To be of consequence or importance to; to relate to, have to do with; to concern. (Only in third person.)
a. with simple subject: (a) with personal object (? orig. dat.)
1588Shakes. L.L.L. iv. i. 57 This Letter is mistooke: it importeth none here: It is writ to laquenetta. 1591Sir H. Unton Corr. (Roxb.) 464, I humbly acknowledge her Majesties..favor in lycensinge my retourne, which dothe very much importe me. 1649Bp. Hall Cases Consc. iv. vi. (1654) 349 So great a work and so highly importing us as matrimony. 1700Bp. Patrick Comm. Deut. xxxiii. 1 To admonish their posterity..of such things, as they thought most imported them. 1860Mill Repr. Govt. (1861) 305 There is nothing which more vitally imports the American people, than to guard [etc.]. 1865Q. Rev. CXVII. 280 It is a question that imports us nearly.
(b) with impersonal object.
1586A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 9 [Letters] bearing in them a resolute purpose..importing the present affaires. 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. vi. 14 Affairs very much importing the surety of the Fortress. 1703Rowe Ulyss. iv. i, It may Import the Safety of my Royal Parents. a1718Penn Innocency Wks. 1726 I. 266 Religion..which doth more essentially import the immortal Happiness of Men. 1815Mackintosh Sp. Ho. Comm. 27 Apr., Wks. 1846 III. 315 The King's Ministers, whose character it does most deeply import.
b. with infin. phrase as subject, usually placed after the object, the verb being introduced by it; also (poet.) with impersonal construction, it being omitted. Here the sense often amounts to ‘behove, be incumbent on, be the duty of’.
1561Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc i. ii. 5 Nowe more importeth mee the erst to vse Your faith and wisdome. 1579–80North Plutarch (1656) 86 Showing how much it importeth a nobleman and magistrate, ruleing weightie causes, to have his ears open to hear. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 1 (Though a child) he knew already what it imported him to be last borne, and what it was to bee a younger Brother. 1663Charleton Chor. Gigant. 41 It more imports us to proceed. 1761–2Hume Hist. Eng. lxvii. (1806) V. 72 It imports us to get all the aid and assistance we can. 1820Scott Ivanhoe xxxi, Let me say..what it imports thee to know. 1868Farrar Silence & V. ix. (1875) 157, I know nothing which it more solemnly imports us to realize.
c. with subordinate clause as subject, the verb introduced by it as in b.
1588Orders for Span. Fleet in Harl. Misc. (Park) I. 117 It importeth that all the armies do go close together. 1669Dryden Tyran. Love v. i. Wks. 1883 III. 449 It much imports me that this truth I know. 1786tr. Beckford's Vathek (1868) 41 What imports it you how I am employed? 1819Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 77 It much imports your house That all should be made clear.
III. From Fr. emporter.
†8.
a. To carry, lead, or induce (a person to do something).
b. To influence in feeling, ‘carry away’, ‘transport’. Obs. rare.
1649Evelyn tr. Le Vayer's Lib. & Servit. iv. Misc. Writ. (1805) 18 The small inclination which their princes had to the sciences imported them..to despise and neglect men of a life purely contemplative. 1652― State France ibid. 47 Women and children, who are commonly more imported with wonder and romance, than that solid and real emolument which is..to be conveyed to us.
†9. To obtain, gain, win (victory).
b. intr. To gain the victory, to prevail.
c. trans. To gain the victory over; to conquer, overcome. (Cf. carry v. 16.) Obs.
1598Barret Theor. Warres iii. ii. 75 The most valiantest and skilfullest therein do commonly import the victorie. 1600Holland Livy xlii. lxii. 1152 In the end, Romane constancie imported and had the upper hand. Ibid. lix. Epit. 1243 But Scipio imported and prevailed in the end. 1624Brief Inform. Aff. Palatinate 50 The enemies..had enterprised to import and conquer all the low Palatinate.
Add:[2.] b. Computing. To transfer (data), in the form of one or more blocks, into (part of) a computer. Cf. *export v. 3.
1985Listener 25 Apr. 39/3 It had excellent facilities for ‘importing’ and ‘exporting’ blocks of text from and to other documents. 1988Daily Tel. 27 Apr. 3 (Advt.), New features include the ability to import data into documents from spreadsheets like Lotus 123 and Microsoft Excel. 1991Business Life (Brit. Airways) May 33/1 (Advt.), With Freelance Graphics, he could produce a professional presentation in minutes rather than hours... All he had to do was type in or import his text and data straight into Freelance's pre-set charts.
▪ II. import, n.
(ˈɪmpɔːt, formerly ɪmˈpɔət)
[f. import v.]
I.
1. The fact of importing or signifying something; that which a thing (esp. a document, phrase, word, etc.) involves, implies, betokens, or indicates; purport, significance, meaning.
1601Shakes. All's Well ii. iii. 294 There's letters from my mother: What th' import is, I know not yet. 1685South Serm. (1697) I. 425 Of all the Spiritual tricks and leger⁓demain,..there is none so common, and of so fatal an import as these Two. 1719Young Busiris ii. i. (1757) 37 Husband and King Are names of no mean import. 1781Cowper Expostulation 126 Stiff in the letter, lax in the design And import of their oracles divine. 1817Byron Manfred ii. ii. 190 She replied In words of dubious import. 1857Gladstone Glean. VI. xl. 72 Such a construction..follows the natural import of the words.
2. The quality or condition of having great or weighty significance; consequence, importance.
1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 106 Importunate and most serious designes, and of great import indeed too. 1647May Hist. Parl. iii. ii. 39 Bristoll, a place of great import. 1703Rowe Ulyss. iv. i, I have some Matters Of great and high Import. 1860Tyndall Glac. ii. xiv. 308, I never supposed that passages..of such cardinal import, could have been overlooked. 1872Black Adv. Phaeton xxvii, Something of mighty import had just occurred.
II.
3. a. That which is imported or brought in; a commodity imported from abroad. (Usually in pl.) Opposed to export.
1690Child Disc. Trade (1698) 167 The Imports exceed the Exports. 1746Lockman To 1st Promoter Cambrick & Tea Bills 24 Whence no supplies their imports cou'd create. 1769Burke Late St. Nat. Wks. II. 73 Your import is your own food; as much your own, as that you raise..out of your own soil. 1845McCulloch Taxation ii. x. (1852) 351 Every increase of imports is sure to occasion, directly or indirectly, an equal increase of exports.
b. attrib.
1769Burke Late St. Nat. Wks. II. 73 A merely luxurious consumption..is the idea too generally and loosely annexed to our import article. 1796Colquhoun Police Metrop. (1797) 107 It can generally be uttered..at its full import value. 1817F. Robinson in Parl. Deb. 565 In France the import duty on coals was nearly equal to our export duty. 1897M. Kingsley W. Africa 633 They are mainly carriers of import goods. 1963A. Maizels Industr. Growth & World Trade vi. 150 An analysis has been made of the magnitude of the import-substitution that has in fact taken place in the industrial and semi-industrial countries since 1913. 1969Times 13 Jan. 11/2 What many people wanted to know was how much {pstlg}100 m. of import substitution was worth to the balance of payments. 1971D. E. Westlake I gave at the Office (1972) 121 The import duty you pay now... The export duty you pay on the way out.
4. a. The action of importing; importation.
1797–8Wellington in Owen Mrq. Wellesley's Desp. (1877) 785 The import of Bengal articles ought to be as free for private traders as for the Company. 1861Goschen For. Exch. 11 It is an error..to look on the balance of trade as a mere question of import and export.
b. import-export: a., of a business: engaged in both importing and exporting goods.
1955G. Greene Quiet American i. iii. 49 ‘Really? What kind of business?’.. ‘Import, export.’ 1965‘W. Haggard’ Hard Sell ii. 11 He had an import-export business, mostly import. |