释义 |
open-mouthed, a.|ˈəʊp(ə)nˈmaʊðd| [Parasynthetic f. open mouth: see open a. 22 b.] 1. Having the mouth open; having an open mouth: hence rapacious, in full cry, etc.
c1532G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 899 Ye shal pronounce your a as wyde open-mouthed as ye can. 1709Steele Tatler No. 62 ⁋2 A fine open-mouthed Dog. 1801Strutt Sports & Past. iii. iv. 182 Hounds running at them open-mouthed. 1900Westm. Gaz. 28 Aug. 2/3 An open-mouthed army, like an open-mouthed individual, does not strike one as particularly intelligent. b. Of a vessel or the like: Having a wide mouth.
1660Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. xxii. 177 The open-mouth'd Glass was by this means almost replenished. 1830R. Knox Béclard's Anat. 186 Each molecule of the organs is in a manner placed between two open-mouthed vessels. 2. Gaping, as with astonishment or surprise.
1593Drayton Pastorals v. Poems (1810) 437/1 This fond gentility, Whereon the fool world open-mouthed gazes. 1786tr. Beckford's Vathek (1883) 118 The poor peasants..remained open-mouthed with surprise. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop xiii. Mr. Swiveller looked, as he was, all open-mouthed astonishment. 1870Morris Earthly Par. III. iv. 56 Yet did the shipmen stay their speech And open-mouthed upon her stare. 3. With mouth open to speak; speaking freely, clamorous, vociferous.
1599Massinger, etc. Old Law v. i, Justice, indeed, Should ever be close-eared, and open-mouthed. a1602W. Perkins Cases Consc. (1619) 367 What is that makes men to be open mouthed in declaring and censuring our faults? 1802Jefferson Writ. (1830) III. 500 Officers who are active or open-mouthed against the government. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. viii. II. 367 Zulestein..found all the people whom he met open-mouthed about the infamous fraud just committed by the Jesuits. Hence ˌopen-ˈmouthedness.
1882–3Schaff Encycl. Relig. Knowl. II. 973 He confessed, with his usual incurable open-mouthedness. |