| 释义 |
looseness|ˈluːsnɪs|
Forms: see loose a.
[f. loose a. + -ness.]
The attribute of being loose.
1. Freedom from restraint, attachment, rigid connexion, tightness, or density. lit., transf., and fig.
c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 64 Þe enchesoun of cause coniuncte is compounned of þe mouþis of þe veynes and arteries,..or ellis to greet febilnes or to greet losenes. 1562Turner Baths 8 b, They are good for the lousnes and to muche sofftnes of the pappes. 1587Golding De Mornay xiii. 223 After that maner therefore may we wade..betweene Loocenesse and Bondage by leauing their mouings free. 1607Markham Caval. ii. (1617) 92 Hold vp his head, so as by no meanes he may..win it to such a loosnesse from the riders hand, that [etc.]. 1621T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieill. 34 Loosenesse of teeth. 1635–56Cowley Davideis iii. 640 Not all that Saul could threaten or persuade, In this close Knot the smallest Looseness made. 1675A. Browne App. Art Limning 20 The third thing Excellent in a Good Draught is Loosness, that is, that the Body be not made Stiff in any part. 1889J. M. Robertson Christ & Krishna xvii. 107 The looseness and flexibility of the materials of which the cumbrous mythology of the Hindu epic poems is composed.
2. Lack of strictness; laxity of principles or practice.
1585C. Fetherstone tr. Calvin on Acts xviii. 17 This loosenesse must bee imputed not so much to the sluggishnes of the deputie as to the hatred of the Iewish religion. a1639W. Whately Prototypes i. xix. (1640) 191 They know how to tie others hard and leave themselves loose, through the loosenesse of an evill conscience. a1665J. Goodwin Filled w. the Spirit (1867) 465 Any looseness or lightness of spirit. 1723Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 58 The Non-subscribing principle has a natural and necessary tendency to looseness and the opening a door for error. 1855N.Y. Express Sept. (Bartlett), The perfect looseness, with which books not on the invoice were sold [at auction]. 1878Lecky Eng. in 18th C. II. vii. 290 The greater looseness of their principles. 1891Daily News 28 Oct. 2/3 It is confessed by members of the Stock Exchange that their methods of dealing sometimes encourage a certain amount of looseness.
b. Lack of exactness or accuracy.
1769Burke Late St. Nat. Wks. II. 70 The looseness and inaccuracy of the export entries. 1797Godwin Enquirer i. vi. 42 Misunderstandings..may be traced to..looseness of expression. 1849Ruskin Sev. Lamps p. vij, The looseness of the drawing..may perhaps diminish their credit. 1873M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma (1876) 142 The incurable looseness with which the circumstances of what is called and thought a miracle are related. 1885Sir A. Wills in Law Times Rep. LII. 518/1 Throughout the Act there is not the smallest indication of looseness of phraseology.
3. Moral laxity; licentiousness or lewdness in conduct, speech, or thought.
1576J. Woolton Chr. Manual H v b, Nature hath mingled pleasure with thinges necessarye... If pleasure come alone, it is lousnesse. 1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 25 This chastitie may be seduced in processe of tyme to loosenesse. 1599R. Crompton Mansion Magnanimity N iv b, The said noble Earle..knowing the loosenesse of soldiers..caused the Ladies..to be safely conveyed out of the Citie. 1693–4Wood Life 3 Mar., He told him that such a College in Oxford was a debauch'd college, that they were all given to loosness. 1709Felton Classics (1718) 26 The Looseness of his Thoughts, too immodest for chaste Ears to bear. 1868Milman St. Paul's 302 Looseness too often sinking into obscenity. 1900W. M. Sinclair Unto You Young Men x. 187 Scenes of luxury or looseness.
4. Laxity (of the bowels), esp. as a morbid symptom; diarrhœa; † an attack of diarrhœa.
1586T. Randolph in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. III. 121 He fell into a greate losenes of his bodye. 1600Surflet Country Farme i. xv. 97 For the loosenes of the belly, some make them meate of the husks of barlie steept in wine. 1663Boyle Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos. ii. v. xi. 232 If rubarb be justly affirmed to be an excellent medicine in loosenesses. 1702J. Purcell Cholick (1714) 163 The Pains grew violent, and a great Looseness succeeded. 1737Bracken Farriery Impr. (1749) I. 217 In Diarrhœa's or Loosenesses. 1755Gentl. Mag. XXV. 28 His looseness encreased to a great excess, which brought on much weakness. 1760Gray Let. Poems (1775) 283 A violent looseness carried him off. 1897Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 242 A certain looseness of the bowels..is a common symptom of the disease [i.e. of whooping-cough]. 1898P. Manson Trop. Diseases xvii. 271 The preliminary looseness in such cases [of cholera] is called the ‘premonitory diarrhœa’. |