| 释义 |
well to pass, adj. phr. Now Sc.
[See well a. 3.]
a. In predicate: Well off, well to do. Also well to pass in the world.
1610T. Scott Philomythie (1616) A 7 His Mothers Husband..being rich and well to passe. c1645Howell Lett. v. xv. (1650) 152 Their Masters are both of them very wel to pass, and of good repute. 1702W. J. tr. Bruyn's Voy. Levant ix. 29 Those who are well enough to pass in the World. 1784R. Bage Barham Downs II. 100, I..am mistress of this inn, and thank God well to pass. 1815Scott Guy M. xxxvii, Our poor friend has died well to pass in the world. 1901G. Douglas House with Green Shutters 11 They were an able lot, and..most of them were well enough to pass. Ibid. 266 Johnny Coe, idle and well-to-pass.
b. attrib. (with hyphens).
1908E. W. Hamilton Mawkin of Flow xvii. 228 With a neatness that any well-to-pass housewife might have envied, were ranged sack upon sack of oatmeal, barley and peas.
c. absol. (as pl.).
1902Barrie Little White Bird xii. 124 They were children of the well-to-pass.
d. Well provided, well off for (something).
1809E. S. Barrett Setting Sun I. 65 Charles XII. of Sweden (although himself a king, and not very well to pass for sense even among them).
Hence † well-to-passer nonce-wd., a person of good estate.
1654Whitlock Zootomia 504 Horace met with such Selfe-applauding well-to-passers, triumphing over anothers inferiority in Estate. |