| 释义 |
misimˈprove, v. Now rare.
[mis-1 7.]
1. trans. To employ wrongly (cf. improve v. 2); to fail to use to good purpose; to abuse, use ill. Obs. or U.S.
1658H. Moseley Healing Leaf 15 What should become of him that had ten Talents, if he had misimproved them? 1680Mather Irenicum 19 That good principle of..moderation towards Brethren of differing Judgments, hath been..perversely misimproved. 1737J. Willison Affl. Man's Companion vii. i. (1744) 128 The most Part of Men..mis⁓improve their Health. 1798Missionary Mag. No. 22. 133 We warned the people against misimproving so high a privilege. 1826Longfellow in Life (1891) I. vii. 87 You either overrated my abilities and advantages..or I have sadly mis⁓improved them both.
2. To improve injudiciously; to ‘make worse for mending’. Also absol.
1847Miller First Impr. Eng. xvi. (1857) 266 Nowhere..had the hand of improvement misimproved so sadly. 1853G. Johnston Nat. Hist. E. Bord. I. 115 This, our only station for the plant,..has been..tampered with and mis⁓improved of late. |