释义 |
wiliness|ˈwaɪlɪnɪs| Forms: see wily. [f. as prec. + -ness.] The quality or character of being wily; craftiness, cunning, guile.
c1450tr. De Imitatione i. vii. 8 Truste not in þin ovne konnyng, ner in þe wilynes of eny man livyng. c1460J. Metham Wks. (1916) 133 A mowght þe qwyche ys smal off qwantyte with thynne lyppys sygnyffyith onmyghtynes, ferffulnes, and wylynes. 1556Olde Antichrist 162 b, So (with certain foxlike wylynesse) they clooke the bloody meanyng. 1601R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 2 Neither let any man suppose that from wilines without force, nor force without iudgement, can preceed any proiect of worthy consideration. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 181 To defend them from all Assaults and Wiliness of the Devil. 1818M. W. Shelley Frankenstein xix. (1823) II. 126, I will watch with the wiliness of a snake, that I may sting with its venom. 1878Bayne Purit. Rev. iii. 81 He had the wariness and wiliness of the cat. |