| 释义 |
respectable, a. and n.|rɪˈspɛktəb(ə)l|
[f. respect n. + -able. Cf. F. respectable, Sp. respetable, It. rispettabile, -evole, Pg. respeitavel.]
A. adj.
†1. Worthy of notice, observation, or consideration. Obs. rare.
a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. Wks. 1724 II. 598 This unexpected adventure, or vehemently respectable misadventure. 1605Verstegan Dec. Intell. i. (1628) 10 It is also respectable that the most antient Germans being pagans..ordained [etc.].
2. a. Worthy or deserving of respect by reason of some inherent quality or qualities.
1599Sandys Europæ Spec. (1605) F ij, The prince in maiesty..; and the people in their multitude are respectable and honourable.
1750Chesterfield Lett. ccxv. (1792) II. 326 Your studies, the respectable remains of antiquity. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxvii. III. 42 The wisdom of his laws, and the success of his arms, rendered his administration respectable in the eyes both of his subjects, and of his enemies. 1801E. Helme St. Marg. Cave II. 56 His sorrows appear to me not only respectable but sacred. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. iv. 430 He had a personal antipathy to Hyder Ali, which in a mind like his was capable of weighing down more respectable motives. a1859Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxiii. V. 28 There might be a large respectable minority whose recollections might materially differ from the recollections of the majority.
b. Considerable in number, size, quantity, etc.
1755N. Magens Insurances II. 475 They see a respectable Marine kept up in their Country ready to succour each other in Case of War. 1780S. J. Pratt Emma Corbett (ed. 4) II. 44 He has the good fortune to conceal under his hat..a respectable contusion. 1840Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Pref., A beautiful green lane..will carry them..to the foot of a very respectable hill. 1869H. F. Tozer Highl. Turkey II. 337 Modern authorities—whose writings amount to a respectable literature.
c. Of comparative excellence; tolerable, fair.
1775J. Jekyll Corr. ii. (1894) 49 At five the spectacles commence; and first the comedy, which is very respectable. 1799Mrs. J. West Tale Times I. 155 He was said to possess very respectable literary talents. 1824Dibdin Libr. Comp. p. xv, The typographical execution..is delightful, and the engraved frontispieces are very respectable. 1858Hawthorne Fr. & It. Note-bks. I. 155 It is at best but a respectable production. 1903Athenæum 24 Oct. 552/1 Other places have had respectable weather.
d. Of writers, in respect of authority or literary merit.
1781C. Johnston Hist. J. Juniper II. 100 A question, both sides of which are supported by such respectable authorities. 1796H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 436 An anonymous English Author, highly respectable for the soundness of his judgment. 1824L. Murray Eng. Gram. I. 277 The practice of many writers, and some even of our most respectable writers, appears to be erroneous. 1866FitzGerald Lamb (ed. 2) 193 The complete collection of the more respectable English essayists.
3. a. Of persons: Worthy of respect, deserving to be respected, by reason of moral excellence.
1755J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) II. 436 An example to be followed by no man who would appear respectable in the great world. 1770Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 179/2 Thucydides was a great and respectable man. 1816Coleridge Lett. (1895) II. 665 If a balance and harmony of powers..render womanhood amiable and respectable. 1831Sir J. Sinclair Corr. II. 236 The inhabitants of Norway are a most respectable race of people.
b. Used as a commendatory epithet.
1755Man No. 9. 4 We shall endeavour..to ingratiate this respectable order [the clergy] with the people. 1780S. J. Pratt Emma Corbett (ed. 4) II. 152, I caught the..affection..from the respectable authors of my being. 1804Parr in Barker Life (1829) II. 560, I am now on a visit to my respectable friend, Mr. Rye. 1815Paris Chit-chat (1816) II. 174 Nor would the painter fail to give a conspicuous place to the respectable sister Bignan.
†c. As a term of address. Obs.
1768Woman of Honor I. 205 My ever respectable Aunt. 1808Mem. Female Philos. I. 72 My respectable, my tender mother.
4. a. Of persons: Of good or fair social standing, and having the moral qualities regarded as naturally appropriate to this. Hence, in later use, honest and decent in character or conduct, without reference to social position, or in spite of being in humble circumstances.
1758C. Lennox Henrietta v. viii. (1761) II. 260 It will be more for your reputation to have it known that you lived in such a respectable society. 1771–2Ess. fr. Batchelor (1773) I. 120 His secretary,..the Provost, and many other respectable persons came to consult with him. 1806R. Cumberland Mem. (1807) II. 338 Visitors so respectable as the Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, the Ex-Premier Lord North. 1845Ford Handbk. Spain i. 54 The best plan for those who want to buy a horse is to apply to some respectable private person. 1879Froude Cæsar viii. 86 He expressed the opinions of the respectable middle classes, who had no sympathy with revolutionists.
b. So of appearance, character, institutions, etc.
1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 4 A man..of a very respectable appearance. 1788Trifler No. ii. 140 He sent us to the most respectable schools he could select. 1803M. Charlton Wife & Mistr. IV. 32 The loss of the provision which might have afforded you a respectable maintenance. 1834H. Martineau Moral i. 3 All labour for which there is a fair demand is equally respectable. 1889A. Lang Lett. Lit. i. (ed. 2) 7 The ‘Idyls’..are full of a Victorian respectability, and love of talking with Vivien about what is not so respectable.
c. Of decent or presentable appearance.
1775S. J. Pratt Liberal Opin. lv. (1783) II. 154, I believe I have a pair of respectable metal buckles in the house. 1855Dickens Dorrit i. xxxv, It will be necessary to find a milliner, my love... Something must be done with Maggy too, who at present is..barely respectable. 1974A. Price Other Paths to Glory i. iv. 41 Make us all a lot of hot, strong coffee while I get myself respectable. 1978K. Royce Satan Touch v. 77 Herb Stahm knocked on Ashley's bedroom door. ‘It's me, Herb.’ ‘Come on in.’ That meant they were respectable.
†d. Creditable; of a good or superior kind.
1775S. J. Pratt Liberal Opin. lxxxv. (1783) III. 126 It will not..redound much to my credit, or inspire..any respectable ideas of my understanding. 1786A. M. Bennett Juv. Indiscr. III. 188 Of whom he entertained a very respectable opinion. 1800Asiatic Ann. Reg. III. 18/1 Judging that a respectable address of congratulation on the occasion will be becomingly proper, as well as dutiful from us.
†5. Convenient, suitable. Obs. rare—1.
1773J. Wentworth in Chase Hist. Dartmouth Coll. (1891) I. 440 An advertisement in your name, notifying a meeting on the day of your appointment, and at a place and spot most respectable to the College.
6. Comb., as respectable-looking, respectable-tawdry.
1808Coleridge in Edin. Rev. XII. 370 A very respectable-looking man had been up these rivers. 1820Scott Abbot xx, He then addressed, by the title of Sir Robert, an elderly and respectable-looking gentleman. 1874J. W. Long Amer. Wild-fowl ix. 153 That makes quite a respectable-looking flock. 1916E. Pound Lustra 112 A quiet and respectable tawdry trio.
B. n. A respectable person.
1814Moore Mem. (1853) II. 23 We have been visited by some of the respectables in this neighbourhood. 1841J. T. J. Hewlett Parish Clerk I. 293 To show his respect for the respectables by touching his hat. c1890Fred Wilson's Fate 97 It was an assembly of the respectables, and they were not his ‘crowd’. 1940E. Gill Autobiogr. vii. 262 With the young snobs and the young sycophants, the young hangers-on of the academies and, above all the young respectables there is nothing to be done. 1966Guardian 15 June 9/8 Middle aged respectables here tend to shy away from discussion. 1978P. G. Winslow Coppergold 142 You think I'm rotten, don't you?.. You're like Daddy and all the old respectables.
Hence reˈspectableness.
1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. Ded., May it please your Respectableness. 1771Whitaker Hist. Manch. I. 165 The pencil of Age may justly be allowed to throw a shade of respectableness..over the productions of very antient Art. |