| 释义 |
peakish, a.1|ˈpiːkɪʃ|
[In sense 1 app. f. peak n.3 (also in Skelton), perh. associated with peak v.1 3; in sense 2 f. peak n.2; sense 3 goes with peak v.1 4, peaking ppl. a. 2, peaky a.2: see -ish1.]
†1. Slothful, spiritless (L. ignavus); stupid; ignorant, silly: an epithet of contempt, of which it is difficult to ascertain the exact meaning. Obs.
(In quot. a 1560 with play on Peak n.1; cf. peakish a.2)
1519W. Horman Vulg. vi. 61 He is shame faste but nat pekysshe, verecundus est sine ignauiâ. a1529Skelton Ware Hauke 225 The pekysh parsons brayne Cowde not rech nor attayne What the sentence ment. a1560Becon Jewel of Joye Wks. ii. 6 Philem. I trauayled into Darbyshere and from thence into the Peke... Theoph. I thynke you founde there verye peakeish people. Phi. Not so, I confesse to you that I founde there very good wyttes and apte vnto learnynge. 1568Jacob & Esau ii. i, I will see, if any [meat] be ready here at home, Or whether Iacob haue any, that peakishe mome. 1570Levins Manip. 145/40 Peakish, mimicus, a. a1603T. Cartwright Confut. Rhem. N.T. (1618) 512 These dreamers dreame night and day,—otherwise to proue a sect or peakish order of Franciscans, etc.
2. Somewhat peaked or pointed. dial.
1749W. Ellis Sheph. Guide 151 A peekish Head and Tail.
3. Somewhat ‘peaky’ (peaky a.2).
1836Smart, Peakish..colloq. having features that seem thin or sharp, as from sickness. 1900Barrie Tommy & Grizel xxvii. 327 He was rather peakish but he had not complained.
Hence † ˈpeakishness Obs., spiritlessness.
1519W. Horman Vulg. v. 55 He rebuked hym of hys dastardnes and pekishnes [ignaviæ]. a1575Pilkington Exp. Nehemiah iv. 11–15 Wks. (Parker Soc.) 436 God requireth not such peakishness in a man, that he suffer himself to be wounded, that by the law of nature alloweth every man to defend himself. |