| 释义 |
aspen, a. and n.|ˈɑːspən, æ-|
Forms: ? 1 æspen, 4– aspen, 6–8 aspine, 7–9 aspin.
[f. asp1 + -en; cf. ashen. In aspen leaf we might suppose a survival of the OE. gen. æspan: see the first quot.; cf. MHG. espenlaub; the later subst. use evidently arose from taking aspen in such constructions as a n. used attributively; later instances of the adj. may be really attrib. uses of the factitious n.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to the asp: see asp1.
[Cf.c1000Sax. Leechd. II. 116 Genim æspan rind.] c1386Chaucer Sompn. Prol. 3 Lyk an aspen leef he quok for ire. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iv. 45 Oh had the monster seene those Lilly hands, Tremble like Aspen leaues vpon a Lute. 1632G. Fletcher Christ's Tri. 66 Perch't on an aspin sprig. 1829Southey All for Love vi. Wks. VII. 188 Like an aspen leaf he trembled.
2. fig. Tremulous, quivering; quaking, timorous.
a1420Hoccleve A de B xvii, With aspen herte I praye hem abyde. 1596Chapman Iliad viii. 405 Possess'd with aspen fear. c1630Drummond of Hawthornden Wks. (1711) 7/1 And, as their aspin stalks those fingers bind [? band]..I wish'd to be a hyacinth in her hand. 1757H. Walpole Lett. H. Mann 296 III. 191 Has the aspen Duke of Newcastle lived thus? 1820Keats Hyperion i. 94 His beard Shook horrid with such aspen malady.
3. esp. in reference to a woman's tongue.
1532More Confut. Barnes viii. Wks. 769/1 For if they [women] myghte be suffred to begin ones in the congregacion to fal in disputing, those aspen leaues of theirs would neuer leaue waggyng. 1597T. Howell Poems (1879) 150 In womens mindes: are diuers winds, which stur their Aspin tunge, to prate and chat.
B. n. = asp1.
1596Spenser F.Q. i. i. 8 The aspine good for staves. 1703Art's Improv. I. 33 The whitest Wood..is fitest for this purpose; as Aspen, Abel, Sycamore. a1717Parnell Poet. Wks. (1833) 51 Thy aspins quiver in a breathing breeze. 1870Morris Earthly Par. I. ii. 454 Above our heads rustle the aspens grey.
b. in similative relations; as aspen-like, aspen-weak.
1863Geo. Eliot Romola lxii, A momentary aspen-like touch. 1879J. Todhunter Alcestis 116 And leaves me weak, O, aspen weak. |