| 释义 |
infidelity|ɪnfɪˈdɛlɪtɪ|
[ad. L. infidēlitās unfaithfulness, n. of quality from infidēlis infidel. Cf. F. infidélité (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. Want of faith; unbelief in religious matters, esp. disbelief in the truth or evidences of Christianity; the attitude of an infidel.
1509Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) II. 188 Nowe shall I touche wretches of mysbyleue, Expressynge theyr foly by theyr infydelyte. 1529More Dyaloge i. Wks. 158/1 The stubburnes and obstynate infidelite of the Jewes. 1577T. Vautrollier Luther on Ep. Gal. 20 Not fained or trifling sinnes, but such as are against the first table: to wit, greet infidelitie, douting [etc.]. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. iv. §15. 278 Let us for the present yield thus much to your Infidelity and grant that Christ was but an ordinary man. 1755Young Centaur i. Wks. 1757 IV. 106 Infidelity lets loose the rein to Pleasure, and gives it an ample range. 1814Chalmers Evid. Chr. Revel. Advt. 5 The external testimony of Christianity..leaves infidelity without excuse. 1875Manning Mission H. Ghost iv. 110 Infidelity is the proper opposite of faith.
†b. Muhammadanism; Heathenism (cf. infidel n. 2). Obs. rare.
1603Knolles Hist. Turks Introd., Whose grieuous groanings vnder the heauy yoke of infidelity no tongue is able to expresse. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 746 That thy Virgin Truth, by Virginian Plantation, or Northerly Discovery, may triumph in her conquests of Indian Infidelity.
†c. An infidel opinion or practice. Obs. rare.
1542–5Brinklow Lament. (1874) 80 Which thinge aboue all other infidelityes shall be our dampnacion. 1652Gaule Magastrom. xxvi, Yea, they fear not to teach most pernicious heresies and infidelities.
2. In general sense: Disbelief, incredulity.
1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 171, I meane not to wast winde in prouing that, which thine infidelytie will not permit thee to beleeue. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. xviii. 335 After his death, how did men struggle to keep him alive in their reports?..partly out of infidelity that his death could be true. 1853Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxvi. (1856) 325, I am, I fear, heterodox almost to infidelity as to the direct action of remedies.
3. Unfaithfulness or disloyalty to a person, e.g. to a sovereign, lord, master, friend, lover; esp., in mod. use, to a husband or wife, called more fully conjugal infidelity.
1529Latimer Serm. Card i, The king, seeing the great infidelity of this person, dischargeth this man of his office. 1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI 128 b, The Duke..sente his letters to the kyng of Englande..to purge and excuse himselfe, of his untruth and infidelitie. 1598R. Barckley Felic. Man (1631) 636 Martiall finding the infidelitie and inconstancie of love and friendship giveth this counsell. 1673R. Head Canting Acad. 120 A remarkable casual revenge on Tradewells infidelity. 1676tr. Guillatiere's Voy. Athens 243 When Theseus, after his infidelity to Ariana, stole away Hellen. 1700‘Castamore’ (title) Conjugium Languens; or, the Natural, Civil, and Religious Mischiefs arising from conjugal infidelity and impunity. 1749Fielding Tom Jones xviii. x, I told her..that you had never been guilty of a single instance of infidelity to her since your seeing her in town. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. xi. (Cab. ed.) II. 357 Whether provoked or not by infidelity on the part of Henry, [Anne's] own conduct had been singularly questionable. 1877S. Cox Salv. Mundi Pref. 11 Any man's infidelity to his convictions.
b. With an and pl.: An instance or act of such unfaithfulness.
1714Spectator No. 624 ⁋5 The Infidelities on the one Part between the two Sexes, and the Caprices on the other. 1739Cibber Apol. (1756) I. 95 That scene of Alexander, where the heroe throws himself at the feet of Statira for pardon of his past infidelities. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. lxiii, When his mother accused him of being in love with a Jewess, any evasion seemed an infidelity.
†4. Untrustworthiness; an instance of this. rare.
1777Burke Let. to Fox Wks. 1842 II. 389 My opinion of the infidelity of that conveyance [the post] hindered me from being particular. 1785Jefferson Let. to Izard 26 Sept. in Corr. (1829) I. 325 The infidelities of the post offices, both of England and France, are not unknown to you. |