| 释义 |
▪ I. overmatch, n.|əʊvəˈmætʃ|
[over- 24.]
†1. The condition of being overmatched; a contest in which one side is more than a match for the other. Obs.
1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 311 b, Tenne eagles to seuen is an ouermatche. 1581Savile Tacitus' Hist. iv. xii. (1591) 177 Yet were they not, as it happeneth in such ouermatches, spoiled of their riches. 1590Marlowe 2nd Pt. Tamburl. iii. v, Thou wouldst with overmatch of person fight.
2. A person or thing that is more than a match for some other. Const. with genitive or for.
1589R. Harvey Pl. Perc. (1860) 4 The greatest quarrellers meet often with their ouer-match. 1667J. Flavel Saint Indeed (1754) 44 Is he not an overmatch for all his enemies? 1747W. Horsley Fool (1748) II. 332 The French Privateers alone are quite an Over-match for..the British Navy. 1845Napier Conq. Scinde ii. v. 229 Having to deal with a man his over-match in policy.
▪ II. overˈmatch, v.
[over- 24, 2.]
1. trans. To do more than match; to be more than a match for; to be too powerful, skilful, or crafty to be overcome by; to defeat by superior strength, skill, or craft; to surpass, excel.
c1350Will. Palerne 1216 So was he ouer-macched Þat þei wiþ fyn force for-barred his strokes And woundede him wikkedly. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. lix, Be a man neuer soo valyaunt nor soo bygge, yet he may be ouermatched. 1568Queen Elizabeth Let. in H. Campbell Love Lett. Mary Q. Scots (1824) App. 56 Ye have not any in loyaltie and faithfulnes can overmatch him. 1588in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 73 Ships of war..whose service was seen this year to have overmatched the great Armadas and castles of Spain and Italy. 1641J. Trappe Theol. Theol. 81 A treasury of heavenly comforts, such as no good can match, no evill overmatch. 1725Pope Odyss. ii. 280 The valiant few o'er⁓match an host of foes. 1870Rock Text. Fabr. i. 206 The combination..of its two colours in such a way that neither overmatches the other.
†b. To furnish with what is more than a match.
1567Golding Ovid's Met. viii. 187 He knits A rowe of feathers one by one..overmatching still ech quill with one of longer sort.
2. To give in marriage above one's station. rare.
1621Burton Anat. Mel. iii. ii. vi. v. (1651) 579 If a Yeoman have one sole daughter, he must overmatch her, above her birth and calling, to a gentleman forsooth.
Hence overˈmatched, overˈmatching ppl. adjs.; so also † ˈover-ˈmatchable a., too matchable, too comparable; † over-ˈmatchful a., that is more than a match, excelling.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iv. iv. 11 Our ore-matcht forces. 1593― 3 Hen. VI, i. iv. 21 With bootlesse labour swimme against the Tyde, And spend her strength with ouer⁓matching Waues. 1607Rowlands Famous Hist. 5 We toyl so much in other Nations praise, That we neglect the famousing of our own, Which over-matchful unto them were known. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vi. vii. §8. 66 Putting them in remembrance of their wonted valours, which now was farre ouermatchable vnto a fearefull flock of weak women. 1633Bp. Hall Medit. & Vows (1851) 88 None, but thou,..canst relieve his distressed and over-matched soul. |