| 释义 |
oˈffenceless, a.
[f. as prec. + -less.]
Without offence; unoffending, inoffensive; not causing offence or disgust; incapable of offence or attack.
1604Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 275 Euen so as one would beate his offencelesse dogge, to affright an Imperious Lyon. 1611Chapman May Day Plays 1873 II. 325 O most offenceless fault. 1642Milton Apol. Smect. Introd., Wks. (1851) 274, I shall endeavour it may be offencelesse to other mens eares. a1763Shenstone Love & Hon. 126 A soft-ey'd maid, a mild offenceless prey. 1889Swinburne Poems and Ball., Armada, Tame and offenceless, and ranged as to die.
Hence oˈffencelessly adv., without offence.
a1631Donne Ess. Div. (1651) 135 We may (offencelesly since there is nothing but [God] himself so large as the world) thus compare him to the World. 1866Ruskin Cr. W. Olive Pref. 29 If I might offencelessly have spoken. |