| 释义 |
width|wɪdθ|
[A literary formation of the 17th century, taking the place of wĭdness wideness (which is the usual word in modern dialects), the short vowel of breadth (6–7 bredth) providing an analogy. Johnson 1755 calls it ‘a low word’.]
1. Extent across, or from side to side; transverse dimension: = breadth 1; occas. extent of opening, distance apart (of the two parts of something, as a pair of compasses).
† In first quot. quasi-concr. Opening: = wideness 4 b.
1627Drayton Agincourt cxlii, Whence from the wydth of many a gaping wound, There's many a soule into the Ayre must flye. 1678Moxon Mech. Exerc. v. 82 For the width of the Mortess Gage this side,..then for the Tennant, Gage on that end of the Quarter you intend the Tennant shall be made. 1731W. Halfpenny Perspective 22 The Perspective Widths of the Squares, parallel to EF. 1835Dickens Sk. Boz, Astley's, A child..with very large round eyes, opened to their utmost width. 1836W. Irving Astoria xliv, The river was here a rapid stream four hundred yards in width. 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 264 The two remain'd Apart by all the chamber's width. 1871A. Meadows Man. Midwifery (ed. 2) 186 The power of the forceps increases with the length of its blades,..the compressing power..is dependent first upon the character of the lock..and secondly upon the width or divergence of the blades. 1902S. E. White Blazed Trail xviii, Thin, flexible cedar strips of certain arbitrary lengths and widths.
2. Large extent across, or in general: = wideness 1, 2. Also fig. (cf. breadth 1, wideness 5).
1697Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 388 Let thy Vines in Intervals be set,..Indulge their Width, and add a roomy Space, That their extreamest Lines may scarce embrace. 1832L. Hunt Sir R. Esher (1850) 349 The general width of his manner, if I may so call it. 1841― Seer (1864) 54 Milton..was never weak in his creed..; he forced it into width enough to embrace all place and time.
3. quasi-concr. A wide region or expanse: cf. breadth 2 b.
1866Lytton Lost Tales Miletus, Secret Way 29 'Mid funeral earth-mounds, skirting widths of plain.
4. concr.
a. = breadth 2.
1872D. G. Rossetti Let. 26 Sept. (1967) III. 1076 It would be quite enough to make four curtains..6 ft ½ wide (or under would do if more convenient with the widths of the velvet). 1876‘Ouida’ Winter City iii, In the back widths of her skirt. 1882Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework, Width, a term employed in dressmaking, synonymously with that of Breadth; meaning the several lengths of material employed in making a skirt, which—according to the fashion of the day—is composed of a certain number, gored or otherwise. The term Breadth is more generally in use. 1892E. Reeves Homeward Bound 242 She mounted the steps, and I watched her go on her knees right up to the altar..I am sure she would need a new width in the front of her dress.
b. The width of a swimming-bath taken as a measure of the distance swum. Cf. length n. 4 d.
1930Swimming Instruction (Amateur Swimming Assoc.) 55 From this stage the class should proceed to swim..several widths, legs only, using supports or ‘Dog Paddle’. 1971Daily Tel. 17 Nov. 3/6 Mrs Annie Oakley, 86,..has been presented with a certificate for swimming two widths at Soundwell Swimming Club. 1981H. Engel Ransom Game (1982) xxx. 198 She went off the board again... She did two lengths to each of my widths.
Hence ˈwidthless a., having no (great) width, narrow; ˈwidthways, -wise adv., in the direction of the width, transversely.
1852Meanderings of Mem. I. 98 The *widthless road.
1794S. Williams Vermont 316 When applied to uses which require plaiting *widthways. 1890W. J. Gordon Foundry 63 If they are to be curved lengthways or widthways.
1882Blades Caxton 105 The mould..was capable of a sliding adjustment, *widthwise to the width of the various letters. 1900O. Onions Compl. Bach. xv, [She] looked me up, down, widthwise, and through, and found no speech. |