释义 |
well(-)set, ppl. a. 1. Skilfully, fittingly, or happily placed, fixed, settled, arranged, or adjusted.
c1369Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 828 So had she Surmountyd hem all of beaute..Of stature and of well set gladnesse. c1400Mandeville (1919) vi. 25 The town & the cytee weren full wel sett in a fair contree. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 228 For that requeris obligacioun and trew consent, with wit seker and wele sett. 1475Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 75 The peple that were welle set. 1513More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 787 She verteously denied hym, but..with so good maner & words so well set, that she rather kindled his desire then quenched it. 1535Coverdale Isa. iii. 24 For wellset hayre there shalbe baldnesse. c1611Chapman Iliad xviii. 51 Like a well-set plant In best soiles. 1635–56Cowley Davideis i. 348 Above the well-set Orbs soft Harmony. a1743Savage On False Historians 129 Well-set in plan, and polish'd into style, Fair and more fair may finish'd fraud beguile. 1776[see well-written]. 1895Crockett Men of Moss-hags xxxviii, The air of well-set distinction which marks the man of ancient family. b. with on.
1639T. de Grey Compl. Horsem. i. iv. (1656) 41 The Trunchion small, long, well set on. 1854Surtees Handley Cr. i, A light, well-set-on head. †c. Of a blow: Well planted or delivered. Obs.
a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. viii. (1912) 391 While Ismenus doubled two or three more valiant, then well set blowes. 2. Of a person, animal, the limbs: Strongly built, firmly knit.
13..Guy Warw. 6015 He was michel & wele y-sett. 1530Palsgr. 715/2 The felowe is well sette, or well pyght. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 250 This kyng Edward was..brode brested and well set. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 115 If shee be well sette, then call hir a Bosse. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 74 [Cows] Wel set and compacted legs. Ibid. 666 A thicke, round, and well set Hogge. 1666W. Boghurst Loimographia (1894) 25 Strong well sett men dyed commonly in two dayes. 1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. II. liii. 273 The Tartar was a lusty Man, and the Sailor short, but well set. 1774Pennsylv. Gaz. 21 Dec. 4/2 Run away,..a clever smart looking boy, well set. 1883D. C. Murray Hearts i, His figure was well set. b. Now usually well set-up. (Cf. set ppl. a. 10.)
1867[see set ppl. a. 10]. 1869Blackmore Lorna D. xxvii, Very pretty damsels, and well set up. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer xxii, The men's..muscular, well set-up figures. †3. Well-disposed. Sc. Obs.
1632Lithgow Trav. To Rdr., Referring the well set Reader to the History it selfe. a1670Spalding Troub. Chas. I (Bannatyne Club) I. 5 The marquess of Huntly, and some weill sett freinds settled this feid. †4. Of wine: Matured by keeping.
1720Ramsay Edinb.'s Salut. Ld. Carnarvon iv, The wale of well set ruby juice..I can afford. 5. Cricket. Said of a batsman who is playing the bowling with ease and seems unlikely to get out.
1880J. Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 62 There were only 49 runs left to get with six wickets to fall, one batsman thoroughly well set, and the ground by no means favourable for the bowlers. 1903Jephson in Hutchinson Cricket 112 A bowler that..might bowl a man at any period of his innings, however well set he might be. |