| 释义 |
licentiousness|laɪˈsɛnʃəsnɪs|
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality of being licentious.
1. Assumption of undue freedom; disregard of rule or correctness; laxity, looseness.
1568H. B. tr. P. Martyr's Rom. 441 b, Neither let him with overmuche licentiousnes vse what meates he lust. 1612tr. Benvenuto's Passenger i. ii. §92. 165 It is too great licentiousnesse for a servant to goe out without leaue. 1650R. Stapylton Strada's Low C. Warres i. 15 They sometimes come nearer to licentiousness, then liberty. 1684tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. xviii. 610 Nor can this new Licentiousness of Bleeding be any way defended. 1778R. Lowth Transl. Isaiah Prel. Dissert. (ed. 12) 45 The difference..is not to be imputed to the licentiousness of the translator. 1788H. Walpole Lett. iv. 127 Corneille, Racine, Pope, exploded the licentiousness that reigned before them. 1817Bentham Parl. Ref. Catech. (1818) 76 The inconsistency between the licentiousness on this point in this situation, and the comparative strictness in other public situations. 1883Burgon Revision Revised 31 Nothing else but depravations of the text, the result of inattention or licentiousness.
2. Disregard of law, morality, or propriety; outrageous conduct. Now rare.
1553Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 31 By which theyr licentiousnes, the people of the Iland beyng prouoked. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 14 Such licentiousness or Anarchie is abhorred both of God and nature. 1701Swift Contests Nobles & Commons Wks. 1755 II. i. 38 The custom of accusing the nobles to the people..having been always looked upon..as an effect of licentiousness. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 325 That licentiousness and anarchy which always follow a relaxation of the moral principles. 1815Mackintosh France in 1815 Wks. 1846 III. 187 The licentiousness with which they had exercised their saturnalian privileges. a1852Webster Wks. (1877) II. 392 That authorized licentiousness that trespasses on right.
3. Lasciviousness, lewdness.
1586W. Webbe Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 88 The licenciousnesse of theyr songes..is hurtfull to discipline and good manners. a1631Donne in Select. (1840) 24 Though thou haue no farther taste of licentiousness in thy middle age. 1631Gouge God's Arrows iii. xxviii. 233 Gods wrath against..prophanenesse, lewdnesse, and licentiousnesse. 1727Swift Let. Eng. Tongue Wks. 1755 II. i. 187 That licentiousness which entered with the restoration. 1763J. Brown Poetry & Mus. xi. 191 Poem..was now declared to be the Bawd of Licentiousness. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. xix, The licentiousness and brutality of so old a hand as you. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iii. 194 Among the clergy properly so called..the prevailing offence was not crime, but licentiousness. 1873Symonds Grk. Poets viii. 244 Aristophanes accepts licentiousness as a fact which needs no apology. |