| 释义 |
ˈlip-labour
[See lip n. 6 a (b).]
Labour of the lips. a. Empty talk; esp. vain repetition of words in prayer. Also attrib.
1538Bale Thre Lawes 1140 No Sabboth wyl we with Gods worde sanctyfye, But with lyppe labour, and ydle ceremonye. 1599Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 235 Those heathenish repetitions and unnatural lip-labours which our Saviour censured. 1641Arminian Nunnery in R. Brunne's Chron. (1810) I. App. Pref. 130 A lip-labour devotion, and a will-worship. a1642Sir W. Monson Naval Tracts ii. (1704) 286/2 They will think it a little Lip-labour for their Tongues to pronounce it. 1679‘T. Ticklefoot’ Trial Wakeman 6 Marshal not being shye of his lip-labour, fell to impertinent questioning him. 1732Law Serious C. x. (ed. 2) 152 They [our Prayers] become an empty lip-labour. 1788–92T. Scott Comm., Pract. Obs. on Eccl. v. 1 Our wandering imaginations..render our attendance on divine ordinances little better than a mere lip-labor.
†b. Kissing. Obs.
1583Stanyhurst æneis, etc. (Arb.) 145 Syth mye nose owtpeaking, good syr, your liplabor hindreth, Hardlye ye may kisse mee, where no such gnomon apeereth. 1665R. Brathwait Comment. 2 Tales 17 They express their mutual love in Lip-labour.
Hence † lip-labouring = lip-labour; † lip-laborious a., given to lip-labour.
1549Latimer Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 124 Many talke of prayer, and make it a lyplabourynge. Ibid. 132 It is no prayer that is wythout fayth, it is but a lyppe labouring. 1630Lord Hist. Banians xiii. 86 The Bramanes grew hypocriticall and lip-laborious. |