| 释义 |
malcontent, a. and n.|ˈmælkəntɛnt|
Also 6–9 malecontent.
[a. OF. malcontent: see mal- and content a.]
A. adj. Discontented, dissatisfied. Now chiefly in political use: Actively discontented; indisposed to acquiesce in the existing administration of affairs (e.g. of the state, of a party, etc.); inclined to rebellion or mutiny; restless and disaffected.
1586B. Young Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iv. 201 b, If the Ape is malecontent for want of a taile. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. i. 10 How like you our Choyce, That you stand pensiue, as halfe malecontent? 1601F. Godwin Bps. of Eng. 116 He quickly began to grow malcontent, and..entred at last into a conspiracie. 1673Temple Observ. United Prov. Wks. 1731 I. 19 At this time began to be form'd the Male-content Party in the Low-Countries. 1679J. Goodman Penit. Pard. i. iv. (1713) 86 He presently grows male-content with his condition. 1769Ann. Reg. 4/2 This malcontent temper of the Grecian Christians. 1816Scott Old Mort. vii, Lady Margaret Bellenden had returned, in romantic phrase, male⁓content, and full of heaviness. 1827Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) III. xv. 146 The malecontent whigs were now [1701] so consolidated with the tories as in general to bear their name. 1892Stevenson Across the Plains 234 He has ever since been malcontent with literature.
B. n.
1. A malcontent person (see A).
1581L. Aldersey in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 177 Besides the perill of the Malcontents, who were vpon both sides of the riuer [Rhine]. 1581G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iii. (1586) 152, I thinke they haue iust cause to be mal contents, who knowing themselues to be sufficient men..are..used by their father like children. 1587Holinshed Chron. III. 10/2 The onelie place wherein all the mal-contents [ed. 1577 Rebels] of his realme had their refuge. 1668R. Steele Husbandman's Calling v. (1672) 67 No, sayes the male-content, if things had sorted to my mind, it had been far better than it is. 1687Dryden Hind & P. iii. 662 Your sons are male⁓contents, but yet are true, As far as non-resistance makes 'em so. 1759Robertson Hist. Scot. iii. Wks. 1813 I. 258 The malecontents had not yet openly taken up arms. 1841Trench Parables (1860) 416 He expostulates with the malcontent. 1874Green Short Hist. ix. §7. 662 The leading malcontents..were already calling on him to interfere in arms.
†2. The state of being discontented. Obs.[Really a distinct word: see content n.] 1591Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 39 We must obscure this mone with melodie, Least worser wrack ensue our male⁓content. 1632Lithgow Trav. i. 6 Let me enter into consideration of the intractable passage of my malecontents past. 1643Milton Divorce ii. xx. Wks. 1851 IV. 119 A necessity of sadnesse and malecontent. 1658Sir T. Browne Hydriot. v. 25 Content to be nothing, or never to have been, which was beyond the male-content of Job, who cursed not the day of his life, but his nativity. 1663Flagellum or O. Cromwell (1672) 29 Rash and blind Furies, that made way to the unobserved advancement of this private Male-content. |