| 释义 |
indispensable, a. (n.)|ɪndɪˈspɛnsəb(ə)l|
[ad. med.L. indispensābil-is, f. in- (in-3) + dispensābilis dispensable: cf. F. indispensable (17th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
A. adj. Not dispensable; not to be dispensed, or dispensed with. (See also, in senses 1 and 2, undispensable.)
†1. Not subject to ecclesiastical dispensation; that cannot be permitted, allowed, or condoned, by suspension or relaxation of a law or canon. (Cf. dispensable 1.) Obs.
1533Cranmer in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 36, I gave finall Sentance therin, howe it was indispensable for the Pope to lycense any suche marieges. c1555Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 121 There were also two doctors of divinity..that thought the case was indispensable. 1638Chillingw. Relig. Prot. i. vi. §39. 359 Whether the Popes irregularities if he should chance to incurre any, be indispensable? 1654Bp. Hall Cases Consc. Addit. i. 399 [He] absolutely condemnes this marriage as incestuous and indispensable.
2. Of a law, obligation, duty, etc.: That cannot be dispensed with, remitted, set aside, disregarded, or neglected. Also † indispensable with.
1653H. More Conject. Cabbal. (1662) 162 The indispensable dictates of the divine Light. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. v. ii. §18 A Book of Cranmers penning, proving Gods Law indispensable with, by the Pope. a1677Barrow Serm. (1687) I. viii. 100 He..hath by settled rules and indispensable promises obliged himself to requite them. a1714Burnet Hist. Ref. an. 1532 (R.) Those few that were about the pope, thought the prohibition of such marriages was only positive, and might be dispensed with by the pope: whereas all other learned men thought the law was moral and indispensable. a1732Atterbury Serm. 1 Cor. xv. 19 (Seager) A great and indispensable duty. 1736Butler Anal. ii. i. Wks. 1874 I. 170 Our obligations to obey all God's commands..are absolute and indispensable. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxx. III. 142 The citizens, and subjects, had purchased an exemption from the indispensable duty of defending their country. 1818Jas. Mill Brit. India Pref. 24, I lay under an indispensable obligation to be faithful.
3. That cannot be dispensed with or done without; absolutely necessary or requisite. Const. to, for.
1696Phillips, Indispensable, that is of Absolute Necessity. 1707Addison Pres. State War (Seager), There are few perhaps that will not think the maintaining a settled body of numerous forces indispensable for the safety of our country. 1793Holcroft Lavater's Physiog. xvi. 82 The knowledge of anatomy is indispensable to him. 1829Sir W. Napier Penins. War viii. II. 268 To attack Victor, it was indispensable to concert operations with Cuesta. 1831Carlyle Sart. Res. (1858) 139 Thou toilest for the altogether indispensable, for daily bread. 1845McCulloch Taxation Introd. (1852) 19 The articles on which they are imposed are rarely, if ever, indispensable. 1874Symonds Sk. Italy & Greece (1898) I. x. 195 Physical exercises..were indispensable to a young Italian soldier. 1883Froude Short Stud. IV. v. 336 Courage and character..are the conditions indispensable for national leaders. 1899Brit. Weekly 13 July 230/3 There are many ways of getting on in the City, but none apparently in which a silk hat is not indispensable.
B. n.
a. An indispensable thing or person; one that cannot be done without.
1681H. More Exp. Dan. Pref. 77 The Indispensables of Christian Religion. 1720Mrs. Manley Power of Love vi. (1741) 317 To buy your Highness necessary Linnen, and those Indispensables that belong to young Women. 1823J. D. Hunter Captiv. N. Amer. 324 Their equipments and stores amount merely to indispensables. 1895Westm. Gaz. 17 Jan. 2/1 He pays the ‘indispensables’, like engine-drivers, a fancy wage, to seduce them from loyalty to the poorly paid workers in the poorer grades. 1901Ibid. 12 Dec. 3/1 An indispensable to the complete success of the lace blouse is a chiffon lining. 1965Austral. Women's Weekly 20 Jan. 25 Inevitably in a life of constant moving one picks up indispensables.
†b. A kind of small satchel or bag worn by women instead of a pocket. (F. indispensable, Littré.) See N. & Q. 9th Ser. IV. 310. Obs.
1800Gillray Print 12 Feb. (repr. scene French Milliner's), A number of disputes having arisen in the Beau Monde, respecting the exact situation of ladies Indispensibles (or New Invented Pockets). 1806C. K. Sharpe Corr. (1888) I. 265 Rows of pretty peeresses, who sat eating sandwiches from silk indispensables [at Lord Melville's trial].
c. pl. (colloq. euphemism.) Trousers.
a1828J. Bernard Retrospections Stage (1830) II. iv. 116 Black silk indispensables, and stockings. 1841J. T. J. Hewlett Parish Clerk I. 156 Manufacture broadcloth..into coats, waistcoats, and indispensibles. 1842Comic Almanack June (Farmer), He slapped his hand against his yellow leather indispensables. 1884Manch. Exam. 1 Nov. 5/6 A pair of native-cut indispensables. |