| 释义 |
septennial, a.|sɛpˈtɛnɪəl|
[f. L. septenni-um septennium + -al1.]
1. Consisting of, or lasting, seven years.
Septennial Act (Eng. Hist.), an act of 1716 providing that ‘all Parliaments shall and may respectively have Continuance for Seven Years, and no longer’. Hence allusive uses of septennial, as in quot. a 1832; cf. 1748 in sense 2.
1656Blount Glossogr., Septennial, of seven years space. 1719Steele Plebeian No. 4 ad fin., Sitting out the remainder of the septennial term. 1759Smollett Hist. Eng. X. 42 (an. 1733) That a bill should be brought in for repealing the septennial act. 1772Junius Lett. Ded. p. viii, Although the last session of a septennial parliament be usually employed in courting the favour of the people. a1832Crabbe Posth. T. xviii. Boat Race 6 When once enlisted upon either side, He must the rude septennial storm abide. 1881Nation (N.Y.) XXXII. 384 The argument..may also be used in behalf of triennial or of septennial, or of decennial sessions.
2. Recurring every seven years.
1640Howell Dodona's Gr. 23 Being dispensed withall for his septenniall visit. 1748Johnson Van. Hum. Wishes 97 Our supple Tribes..ask no Questions but the Price of Votes; With Weekly Libels and Septennial Ale, Their Wish is full to riot and to rail. 1866J. G. Murphy Comm., Exodus xxiii. 10, 11 The septennial Sabbath thus bore a complete analogy to the hebdomadal. 1886Field 30 Jan. 118/2 He was ready to accept a principle of septennial revaluations.
Hence sepˈtennialist, one who is in favour of septennial parliaments; septenniˈality, the condition of being septennial.
1817Bentham Parl. Reform Introd. 282 The reduction, of the at present established long term indicated by the word septenniality, to the dimensions of this short term. 1820Examiner No. 612. 13/1 To Annual Parliaments the objections of the Septennialists are singularly weak. 1892Review of Rev. V. 3/2 Balfour is too ardent a Septennialist to sanction a premature dissolution. |