| 释义 |
licentious, a.|laɪˈsɛnʃəs|
Also 5–6 licencious.
[ad. med.L. licentiōsus, f. licentia licence: see -ous. Cf. OF. licentieux (F. licencieux).]
Characterized by licence or excessive assumption of liberty.
1. Disregarding commonly accepted rules, deviating freely from correctness, esp. in matters of grammar or literary style; overstepping customary limits.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. viii. (Arb.) 95 Our maker must not be too licentious in his concords. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lix. §2 This licentious and deluding arte, which changeth the meaning of words. 1667Denham Direct. Paint. iv. xiii. 4 Poets and Painters are Licentious Youths. 1680Roscommon Horace's Art Poet. 82 The Tyber (whose licentious Waves, So often overflow'd the neighbouring Fields), Now runs a smooth and inoffensive course. a1701Sedley Venus & Ad. Wks. 1722 II. 315 If, Alas! thy too licentious Mind Is still to vig'rous Sylvan Sports inclined. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 86 ⁋12 The rest are more or less licentious with respect to the accent. 1785T. Balguy Disc. 174 It is hard to say whether there be greater inconvenience in too literal or too licentious an interpretation of Scripture. 1837–9Hallam Hist. Lit. I. i. i. §34. 30 Verse..somewhat licentious in number of syllables. 1850Gladstone Glean. V. cxliv. 256 To speak of a treaty as subsisting between the State..and the Church..appears a licentious use of terms. 1881Westcott & Hort Gk. N.T. Introd. §186 Licentious as distinguished from inaccurate transcription.
2. Unrestrained by law, decorum, or morality; lawless, lax, immoral. Now rare on account of the prevalence of the specific use 3.
1535Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 19 Vpon trust of sainctuaries and the licencious liberties that heretofore haue ben..vsed in the same. c1555Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 272 What should I speak of the licentious liberty that divers princes have usurped. 1607Shakes. Timon v. iv. 4 You haue..fill'd the time With all Licentious measure, making your willes The scope of Iustice. 1683Brit. Spec. 61 Rights and Priviledges, which licentious people make their pretence of contesting with their Soveraigns. 1687T. Brown Saints in Uproar Wks. 1730 I. 79 There's no stopping your licentious tongue. 1715Pope Iliad ii. 261 But chief he gloried with licentious style, To lash the great. 1733Neal Hist. Purit. ii. 161 The licentious printing of Popish books. 1737Chesterfield Sp. on Licensing Bill in Hansard Parl. Hist. (1812) X. 338 The only place where they [Courtiers] can meet with any just reproof is a free though not a licentious stage. 1767T. Hutchinson Hist. Mass. II. ii. 147 The licentious practice..of making depredations upon foreign nations. 1788Gibbon Decl. & F. xxvii. (1875) 441/1 A loud and licentious murmur was echoed through the camps and garrisons of the west. 1803Med. Jrnl. IX. 472 Led astray by the premature illusions of a licentious fancy. 1809Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 127 The lying and licentious character of our newspapers. 1859J. Cumming Ruth x. 160 It leaves not one peg for the Antinomian to hang his licentious crotchets upon.
absol.1595Daniel Civ. Wars v. lxxvi, In the Licentious yet it bred Despite.
3. Disregarding the restraints of chastity; libertine, lascivious, lewd. In modern usage the prevailing sense.
1555Eden Decades (Arb.) 53 Dissolute lyuynge, licentious talke, & such other vicious behauours. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. ii. i. 133 How deerely would it touch thee to the quicke, Shouldst thou but heare I were licencious? 1602Warner Alb. Eng. xii. lxxv. 313 The pompious Prelacie of Rome, and liues lycentious thear. 1682Burnet Rights Princes v. 177 This licentious Prince was, by reason of those scandals of his Life, less able or willing to grapple with the Ecclesiastical Power. 1769Robertson Chas. V, vii. Wks. 1813 III. 54 Whose licentious morals all good men detested. 1835Lytton Rienzi i. iv, Seeking occasion for a licentious gallantry among the cowering citizens. 1840Dickens Barn. Rudge xvi, A spectre at their licentious feasts. 1864D. G. Mitchell Sev. Stor. 226 He indulged freely in the licentious intrigues of Venice.
absol.1837H. Martineau Soc. Amer. III. 148 The pleasures of the licentious are chiefly supplied from that class.
†4. quasi-adv. With licence or liberty; freely.
c1425Found. St. Bartholomew's 31 More licencyous we may passe yn-to othir. |