| 释义 |
sentimental, a.|sɛntɪˈmɛntəl|
[f. prec. + -al1.
The F. sentimental, according to Littré and Hatz.-Darm., is an adoption of the Eng. word as used by Sterne; so also G. sentimental.]
1. Of persons, their dispositions and actions: Characterized by sentiment. Originally in favourable sense: Characterized by or exhibiting refined and elevated feeling. In later use: Addicted to indulgence in superficial emotion; apt to be swayed by sentiment.
1749Lady Bradshaigh in Mrs. Barbauld Richardson's Corr. (1804) IV. 282 What, in your opinion, is the meaning of the word sentimental, so much in vogue among the polite... Every thing clever and agreeable is comprehended in that word...I am frequently astonished to hear such a one is a sentimental man; we were a sentimental party; I have been taking a sentimental walk. 1752H. Walpole Let. to Mann 27 July, I am still sentimental enough to flatter myself, that a man who could beg sixteen guineas, will not give them. 1763F. Brooke Hist. Lady J. Mandeville (1820) 34 Your squires are an agreeable race of people, refined, sentimental, formed for the belle passion. 1823Southey in Q. Rev. XXVIII. 517 Rousseau addressed himself to the sentimental classes, persons of ardent or morbid sensibility, who believe themselves to be composed of finer elements than the gross multitude. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey v. xv, A soft sentimental whisper. 1827Scott Highl. Widow v, Never satisfied with dropping a sentimental tear when there was room for the operation of effective charity. 1837Landor Imag. Conv., Steele & Addison Wks. 1853 II. 152/2 Dear Addison! drunk, deliberate, moral, sentimental, foaming over with truth and virtue. 1862M. E. Braddon Lady Audley xviii, You have no sentimental nonsense, no silly infatuation..to fear from me. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. iv, I am not setting up to be sentimental about George Sampson.
b. absol. (with the). † Also (? nonce-use) as n., a sentimental person.
1784Unfort. Sensibility. I. 39 Your dying sentimentals, who can..execute more mischief in a single hour, than [etc.]. 1849G. Cupples Green Hand iv. (1856) 44 Come, come, old boy,..'twon't do for you to go to the sentimental, you know! 1908R. Bagot A. Cuthbert v. 48, I could hardly say more without approaching dangerously near to the sentimental.
†c. Arising from sentiment or refined æsthetic emotion. Obs.
1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 158 Music..is but..a distant and faint echo of those sentimental and rapturous tunings. 1764Goldsm. Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) I. 41 They [i.e. the English in 7th cent.] were only incapable of sentimental pleasure.
2. Pertaining to sentiment.
a. Arising from or determined by feeling rather than by reason.
1752(title) Reflections on Sentimental Differences in Points of Faith. 1876Freeman Norm. Conq. V. xxiv. 385 They might have a sentimental preference for the race to which they themselves belonged.
b. That is a matter of sentiment and not of material interests. Often in sentimental grievance.
1891Weekly Notes 200/1 The tenant for life..could over⁓ride the sentimental interests of the remaindermen.
3. Of literary compositions (occas. of music or other art): Appealing to sentiment; expressive of the tender emotions, esp. those of love.
1762Ld. Kames Elem. Crit. ii. (1774) I. 138 note, It is beyond the power of music to raise a passion or a sentiment: but it is in the power of music to raise emotions similar to what are raised by sentiments expressed in words pronounced with propriety and grace; and such music may justly be termed sentimental. 1779Sheridan Critic i. i, A genteel comedy..written in a stile which they have lately tried to run down, the true sentimental, and nothing ridiculous in it. 1805W. Cooke Mem. Foote I. 182 Piety in Pattens..was intended to ridicule a species of writing known under the name of sentimental comedy, which was then very much gaining ground upon the stage. 1877A. W. Ward in Encycl. Brit. VII. 419/1 The sentimental drama of France and other countries. Ibid. 422/2 Yriarte and Jovellanos..produced a sentimental comedy in Diderot's manner. |