| 释义 |
modicum|ˈmɒdɪkəm|
Also 7 mod(d)icom(e.
[a. L., neut. sing. of modicus moderate, f. mod-us measure: see mode n.]
1. A small quantity or portion; a moderate or limited amount. (Often qualified by little or small.)
a. of food and the like.
In quot. 1609 app. a slang term for ‘something eaten in order to provoke thirst’.
c1470Henryson Mor. Fab. ii. (Town & C. Mouse) xi, Ane modicum is mair for till allow, Sua that gude will be caruer at the dais, Than thrawin vult and mony spycit mais. 1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 252 Age seeketh rather a Modicum for sustenaunce, then feastes for surfets. 1605R. Armin Foole upon F. (1880) 24 There was no boote to bid runne for drams to driue downe this vndisguested moddicome. 1609Dekker Gvls Horne-bke. Proœm. 4 Lay open all thy secrets, & y⊇ mystical Hieroglyphick of Rashers ath coales, Modicums & Shooing hornes. a1670Hacket Abp. Williams i. (1693) 74 Eat it up all, or not a whit, for a Modicum will Gripe the Belly. 1725Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Treacle, Drink a small Modicum of good Wine upon it. 1859Trollope West Indies iii. (1860) 42 With the cup of coffee comes a small modicum of dry toast. 1875H. C. Wood Therap. (1879) 306 It is probable that but a modicum of the poison was absorbed.
b. of money or other property.
1604Dekker Honest Wh. Wks. 1873 II. 8 There's a little modicum more, porter, for making thee stay. 1628Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iii. v. (ed. 3) 316 As Alcumists spend that small modicum [ed. 2, 1624 that little] they haue to get gold. 1647Lilly Chr. Astrol. clxxxv. 784 It may also import some parcell of Land or acquisition of some modicum by the decease of a Kinsman. a1734North Exam. i. iii. §123 (1740) 203 Upon Search of his Pockets, there was found his ordinary Modicum of Guineas. 1749Fielding Tom Jones v. viii, St. Paul hath taught me to be content with the little I have. Had the modicum been less, I should have known my duty. 1875McLaren Serm. Ser. ii. i. 14 A true, lofty life may be lived with a very small modicum.
c. gen.
1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. i. 74 What modicums of wit he vtters. 1606Hieron Wks. I. 59 So you must euen giue all, euen for one little modicum of hearty obedience to the truth. 1620Venner Via Recta vii. 115 They are also cooling, notwithstanding the modicum of heate in them. 1675Evelyn Terra (1676) 30 Such [Earth] as having a modicum of Loam naturally rising with it, to entertain the moisture, does neither defile the Fingers, nor cleave much to the Spade. 1781Cowper Conversat. 2 Though nature weigh our talents, and dispense To ev'ry man his modicum of sense. 1858Bright Sp. Reform 27 Oct. (1868) II. 22 And no law can pass, not the smallest modicum of freedom or of justice come to you, until [etc.]. 1874W. E. Hall Rights & Duties Neutrals ii. ii. 64 To possess any force at all, it must possess a modicum of armament. 1878Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xix. 371 The monastic and other schools placed some modicum of learning within reach of all.
†2. Jocularly applied to a person of small stature. Also, more or less disparagingly, to a woman (cf. piece, bit). Obs.
1611Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girl i. (init.), I haue culled out for him..a daintier bit or modicome then any lay vpon his trencher at dinner. 1623Massinger Dk. Milan ii. i, Marc. Where are you? You Modicum, you Dwarfe? Mari. Here, Giantesse, here. 1632Shirley Love in Maze v. iv, Heaven bless your worship, and the sweet-faced modicum in your company. |