| 释义 |
maximize, v.|ˈmæksɪmaɪz|
[f. L. maxim-us maxim a. + -ize.]
1. trans.
a. To increase to the highest possible degree. (Common in Bentham.) Used esp. in Economics.
b. To magnify to the utmost (in estimation or representation).
1802Bentham Princ. Judic. Procedure Wks. 1843 II. 8/2 By this means, appropriate moral aptitude may be maximized. 1866Alger Solit. Nat. & Man iv. 360 Instead of minimizing he maximized the distinction of himself from other men. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 282 The turpitude is maximised. 1902W. James Var. Relig. Exper. 130 In contrast with such healthy-minded views as these..stands a radically opposite view, a way of maximizing evil. 1943E. R. Walker From Econ. Theory to Policy v. 93 He [sc. the businessman]..is frequently engaged in exploratory action, designed to discover methods of maximizing profit. 1968Listener 28 Mar. 403/1 The evidence is not inconsistent with the hypothesis that peasants act as if they maximised profit. 1970Jrnl. Gen. Psychol. LXXXII. 15 The adversarial system of justice, which demands that each litigant do whatever is necessary to maximize the probability of a favorable result. 1970T. Lupton Managem. & Social Sci. (ed. 2) i. 11 So arranging spells of work and rest that output would be maximized. 1971Daily Tel. 12 June 20/7, I wish to maximise my after tax income. Do you consider an investment in Guaranteed Income Bonds is a safe way of doing this? 1971J. Z. Young Introd. Study Man xxv. 361 Difficulties of adjustment will be maximized by ignorance and uncertainty. 1972Jrnl. Social Psychol. LXXXVI. 57 These groups were selected so as to maximize the variety of occupational areas included.
2. intr. To maintain the most rigorous or comprehensive interpretation possible of a doctrine or an obligation. Chiefly Theol.
1875J. H. Newman Cert. Diffic. Anglic. (1876) 365 When I speak of minimizing, I am not turning the profession of it into a dogma; men, if they will, may maximize for me, provided they too keep from dogmatizing. 1882W. S. Lilly in Contemp. Rev. Feb. 243, I am far from wishing to maximize upon this matter. 1898Knox Little in Our Churches, etc. 13 The Roman Church may be said to maximise, the Anglican to minimise. The Anglican teaches just what is necessary to be believed for the salvation of souls; the Roman turns pious opinions into necessary doctrines.
3. intr. To attain a maximum value.
1972Physics Bull. Oct. 587/3 Photons of energy hν greater than satisfies equation (1) suffer absorption while at some energy hνmax the gain maximizes. 1973[see minimize v. 3]. 1974Globe & Mail (Toronto) 21 Oct. 4/3 If emissions were curtailed now, the resultant ozone destruction would maximize around 1990 and would remain significant for several decades.
Hence ˈmaximized, ˈmaximizing ppl. adjs.
1920A. S. Pringle-Pattison Idea of God (ed. 2) 356 Eternal, not in the sense of a maximized consciousness of time, but as an apprehension different in type. 1927N. P. Williams Ideas of Fall & Orig. Sin 395 The maximising and minimising versions of the Fall-Doctrine. 1949Mind LVIII. 195 The concept of a maximising individual, the famous ‘Economic Man’, has arisen. This maximising assumption is usually held to be the fundamental assumption of Economics. 1968Listener 28 Mar. 403/1 Time enough, if the peasant is already a maximising Economic Man in the Henry Ford mould. |