| 释义 |
inconsistent, a. (n.)|ɪnkənˈsɪstənt|
Also 7–8 -ant.
[f. in-3 + consistent a.; cf. mod.F. inconsistant.]
Not consistent. I. 1. Of a substance: Without consistence or firmness, of incoherent nature. rare. arch.
1677Grew Exp. Solut. Salts ii. §10 If the Particles of Water were themselves Fluid or Inconsistent and Alterable. 1718J. Chamberlayne Relig. Philos. (1730) I. xi. §10 The whole Matter is so soft and inconsistent that it can hardly bear touching with the Hands. 1860Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. viii. i. 159 The parts of a crystal are consistent, but of dust, inconsistent.
II.
2. Not consisting; not agreeing in substance, spirit, or form; not in keeping; not consonant or in accordance; at variance, discordant, incompatible, incongruous. a. Said of one thing in relation to another; const. with, † rarely to.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. viii. 30 It containeth impossibilities and things inconsistent with truth. 1664Rhode Island Col. Rec. (1857) II. 64 Whether ther be any lawes that are inconsistent to the present government. 1729Butler Serm. Forgiveness Wks. 1874 II. 109 Resentment is not inconsistent with good-will. 1836J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. viii. (1852) 258 The benevolence of God..is not inconsistent with his determination to punish. 1870Jevons Elem. Logic ix. 76 The proposition, A, then, is inconsistent with both E and O. 1880Haughton Phys. Geog. iii. 163 note, Three combinations..give results inconsistent with the others.
b. Said of two or more things, in relation to each other.
c1656Bramhall Replic. v. 227 Thus he confoundeth Papall and Patriarchall Power, making things inconsistent to be one and the same thing. 1657Cromwell Sp. 21 Apr. in Carlyle, And it is a pitiful fancy..to think they are inconsistent. Certainly they may consist. a1704Locke Posth. Wks. (1706) 179 Can the same unextended indivisible Substance have different, nay inconsistent and opposite Modifications at the same time? 1857Maurice Ep. St. John xv. 247 Are these two passages inconsistent? 1875Abp. Thomson Laws Th. §124. 256 Two or more inconsistent views..may be formed at the same time.
†c. Applied to a benefice incapable of being held together with a fellowship. Obs.
1690Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 85 Dr. Hern..having a liveing at St. Anns in Westminster, the bishop declared it inconsistent with his fellowship. 1691Case Exeter Coll. 51 The Statutes of Exeter-College..would very imprudently have made that distinction betwixt Benefices consistent and inconsistent.
3. Wanting in harmony between its different parts or elements; self-contradictory; involving inconsistency. Said of a single thing, or of action including two or more courses.
1651Baxter Inf. Bapt. 277 For his humanity to reign actually, and to suffer at the same time, is inconsistent. 1658Bramhall Consecr. Bps. v. 134 It had deserved more credit, then this silly, improbable, inconsistent Relation. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. I. 306 All which in time..gave rise to a most inconsistent system of Polytheism. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. ix. 340 The language of the Roman see had been inconsistent, but the actions of it had been always uniform. 1860Abp. Thomson Laws Th. §84. 150 Inconsistent opposition lies between any two affirmative judgments which cannot be correct together, but may be false together.
4. Of a person: Not consistent in thought or action.
a. Const. with, † rarely to (oneself, one's principles, etc.).
b. absol. Acting in a way at variance with one's professed principles, or with one's conduct at another time.
a.1709Strype Ann. Ref. (1824) I. i. viii. 166 Many of these accused them to the Queen..as men that were inconsistent to themselves. 1709Steele Tatler No. 7 ⁋1 Man is a Creature very inconsistent with himself. 1771Junius Lett. xlviii. 252 You..are inconsistent with your own principles. 1887Fowler Deductive Logic (ed. 9) Examples 174 You are inconsistent with yourself.
b.1742Young Nt. Th. ii. 113 Ah! how unjust to nature, and himself, Is thoughtless, thankless, inconsistent man! a1863Whately Comm.-pl. Bk. (1864) 99 A man is..properly called inconsistent whose opinions or practices are at any one time at variance with each other; in short, who holds at once a proposition and its contradictory. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 11 Nor..in speaking of God both in the masculine and neuter gender, did he [Plato] seem to himself inconsistent.
B. n. (pl.) Things, statements, etc. which are inconsistent with each other or with something else.
1652Gaule Magastrom. 147 Necessity and contingency have alwayes been held as contraries and inconsistents. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. i. ii. §4 As for other inconsistents with truth..they prove not that this whole Story should be refused, but refined. 1864Bowen Logic vi. 169 Two Inconsistents..cannot both be true. |