| 释义 |
inanity|ɪˈnænɪtɪ|
[ad. L. inānitās emptiness, n. of quality f. inānis inane. Cf. F. inanité (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. The quality or condition of being inane, empty, or void; emptiness.
1607Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr. i. iii. 128 How ill God is pleased with that which is vaine, through inanitie of commoditie and of proffit which ought to bee in it. 1631R. H. Arraignm. Whole Creature xiii. §3. 208 What shall fill..the Inanity and Vacuity of the heart of man? 1649G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. IV, cccxxv, Where pruneing Lawes lye by; till the inanitye Of Branches call 'em out, lest the whole Dye. 1744Armstrong Preserv. Health (1807) 29 The elemental tubes Collaps'd and shrunk with long inanity.
2. fig.
a. Want of substance of solidity; the quality of being void of interest; inability to satisfy desire; unsatisfactoriness; vanity; hollowness.
1603Florio Montaigne (1634) 625 Their inanity..will sufficiently be felt, and doth sufficiently produce it selfe. 1684Contempl. St. Man ii. i. (1699) 135 O the inanity and emptiness of temporal Goods! 1751Johnson Rambler No. 133 ⁋4 Such helpless destitution, such dismal inanity..All is gloomy privation or impotent desire. 1826Kirby & Sp. Entomol. III. xxix. 55 He has placed the inanity..of such high-sounding terms in their true name. 1877Farrar Days of Youth xxviii. 279 The inanity of its own cherished hopes.
b. Mental vacuity; lack of ideas or sense; frivolity, senselessness, silliness.
1753C. Smart Hilliad (R.), Inanity will ever be the same. 1756J. Warton Ess. Pope I. iii. 201 The Rambler calls his [Walsh's] works Pages of Inanity. 1803Ann. Rev. I. 400/2 This same topic is treated with similar inanity for thirteen pages more. 1878Lecky Eng. in 18th C. II. ix. 529 The pretentious and verbose inanity of his theological writings.
c. Vacuity of existence; want of active interest; idleness, inaction.
1782W. F. Martyn Geog. Mag. I. 737 They consider any further exertions unnecessary, and retire again to the enjoyment of their favourite inanity. 1797Godwin Enquirer ii. i. 165 A..state of inanity and torpor. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. i, A fine gentleman, bred up in the thorough idleness and inanity of pursuit, which..is absolutely necessary to the character in perfection. 1837Miss Sedgwick Live & let L. (1876) 92 Do not let us consider any occupation so vulgar as indolence and inanity.
3. with an and pl. An instance of vacuity or frivolity; an inane remark or practice.
1661Glanvill Van. Dogm. xvi. 153 To make good its resemblance to that Commentitious Inanity. 1807–8Syd. Smith Plymley's Lett. Wks. 1859 II. 160/1 The embroidered inanities and the sixth-form effusions of Mr. Canning. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. xxviii, If this young lord does..whisper his drivelling inanities in your ears. 1863Holland Lett. Joneses viii. 122 The vanities and inanities of fashion. |