| 释义 |
▪ I. ninny1|ˈnɪnɪ|
Forms: 6–7, 9 ninnie, 7 ninnee, 7–8 ninney, 7– ninny.
[Of obscure origin: perh. an abbreviation of innocent with prefixed n (see N 3).]
A simpleton; a fool.
1593Passionate Morrice (New Shaks. Soc.) 83, I should be quickly rid of a neere mishap, in being prevented of matching with a nice ninnie. 1609R. Armin Ital. Taylor (1880) 143 Not long since I discouered a nest of Ninnies in this great wombe the Worlde. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iv. iv. (1651) 149 He thought himself to be a man of most excellent skill (who was indeed a ninnie). 1669Penn No Cross ix. §10 Being slighted of them as a Ninnee, a Fool, a Frantick. 1731Fielding Mod. Husband Epil., When ev'ry ninny Might put them on and off—for half a guinea. 1778F. Burney Evelina xxxiii, You needn't trouble yourself to make a ninny of me neither. 1812H. & J. Smith Rej. Addr., G. Barnwell, The weak and incurable ninny. 1842Mrs. Gore Fascination 23 If my husband has been ninny enough to give your fascinating marquis credit. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. xlviii, He would not have liked a wife who..was..a ninny, unable to make spirited answers.
b. attrib. and Comb., as ninny-minded adj; † ninny-broth, coffee.
1696Poor Robin, Prognostication, How to make coffee, alias Ninny-broth. 1705E. Ward Hud. Rediv. i. i, Their wounded Consciences they heal With Ninny-Broth. 1849E. P. Gurney in Hare Gurneys (1895) II. 268 In this little ninny-minded world.
Hence ˈninnyish a., characteristic of a ninny; foolish. ˈninnyism, behaviour characteristic of a ninny. ˈninnyship, the fact of being a ninny.
1804Spirit Publ. Jrnls. VII. 94 We shall never do well till a commission of ninnyism is grantable. 1822Blackw. Mag. XII. 342 Had he been previously heard muttering sulky execrations, or ninnyish innuendoes, against the King. 1826Ibid. XX. 419 Our gorge rises at the namby-pamby ninnyism. 1852W. Jerdan Autobiog. I. 41, I felt the ninnyship of my ignorance and presumption.
▪ II. † ˈninny2 Obs. rare—1.
[ad. Sp. niño, niña.]
A child.
c1626Dick of Devonsh. i. ii. in Bullen O. Pl. II. 15 Nurses still'd Their little Spanish Nynnies when they cryde ‘Hush! The Drake comes’. |