| 释义 |
onslaught|ˈɒnslɔːt|
Forms: 7 anslaight, onslat(t, onslought, anslacht, 7, 9 onslaught.
[Appears first early in 17th c., when also it has the forms anslaight, anslacht, and is termed by Phillips ‘Dutch’; but the nearest Dutch word, aanslag, Ger. anschlag striking at, attempt, does not quite yield the required form. On the other hand, the ME. word slaht, slaught, sleight ‘slaughter’ appears to have become obs. c 1400.
Perh. it represents the Du. or Ger. word, modified after Eng. nouns of action such as draught. Cf. the following instances, which in sense closely approach the continental words: 1637 Monro Exped. ii. 52 The Swedens disappointed of their onslaught, retired after his Majestie to their Leaguer,..having put a terror in the enemies Armie, by this defeat.1683Sir J. Turner Pallas Armata 176 The noise of them [bandeliers] betray those who carry them in all Surprizals, Anslachts, and sudden enterprizes. ]
Onset, attack; esp. a vigorous or destructive assault or attack.
(App. not used in the 18th c.: cited by J. only from Hudibras, and by Todd 1818 said to be ‘not in use’. Used in 19th c. by Scott, and now common.)
a1625Fletcher M. Thomas ii. ii. (1639) D iij b, I doe remember yet that anslaight, thou wast beaten, And fledst. 1652News fr. Lowe-Countr. 4 What Skermish, Battell, Onslat, Fight. 1654Gayton Pleas. Notes 19 The severall duels, onslaughts, stormes, and military performances. 1663Butler Hud. i. iii. 422 Which was best, By Siege or Onslaught, to invest The Enemy. 1678Phillips (ed. 4), Onslought (Dutch), a storming, or fierce assault upon any place. 1828Scott F.M. Perth vii, For witnesses to the onslaught. 1847Lewes Hist. Philos. (1867) I. 358 The Sceptics had made an irresistible onslaught upon the two fortresses of Perception and Reason. 1859in Trevelyan Macaulay (1876) II. viii. 54 The fierce onslaught upon that Government. 1874Motley Barneveld I. Pref. 7 Had withstood single-handed the onslaughts of Spain. |