| 释义 |
would-have-been, a.
[The verbal phrase used attributively.]
That would have liked to be, that aimed at being, (something specified).
1744Eliza Heywood Female Spect. v. (1748) I. 233 Her penetrating eyes immediately discovered her would-have-been gallant. Ibid. vii. II. 29 The would-have-been member was ready to burst with inward rage at this sneer. 1844Alb. Smith Adv. Mr. Ledbury xxxiv, The would-have-been assassin of Louis the Fifteenth. 1901Westm. Gaz. 16 Nov. 7/1 The hunt goes forward after the would-have-been invaders of Natal. |