| 释义 |
inchmeal, adv. (n.)|ˈɪnʃmiːl|
[f. inch n.1 + -meal, ME. -mele, OE. -mælum.]
By inches; inch by inch; by small portions, little by little.
1548Cooper Elyot's Dict., Vuciatim, ynche by ynche, ynche meale. 1579J. Jones Preserv. Bodie & Soule i. xxxi. 63 Some dyed Inch-mele, some were Famished, some Starued. 1583Foxe A. & M. 2066/1 Thou shalt bee racked inchmeale. a1734North Exam. ii. iv. §108 (1740) 286 As Towns are taken Inch-meal. 1792Holcroft Road to Ruin iv. iii, I would indeed starve inchmeal, rather than he should marry her! 1813M. Edgeworth Patron. (1833) II. xxviii. 187 People..will stand to be cut to pieces inchmeal, rather than submit to a conqueror.
b. Also with by (giving the force of the lost inflexion).
1530Palsgr. 833/1 By ynche meale, menuement, or par poulcées. 1549Chaloner tr. Erasm. on Folly L iij b, They take upon theim to measure the sonne..as it were by ynche⁓meale. 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. ii. 3 All the infections that the Sunne suckes vp From Bogs, Fens, Flats, on Prosper fall, and make him By ynch-meale a disease. a1691J. Flavel Sea-Deliv. (1754) 167 To lengthen our miserable lives a few hours, to die, as it were, by inch-meal. 1893National Observer 18 Feb. 329/1 The ground must be fought by inch⁓meal. |