| 释义 |
▪ I. ˈsmattering, vbl. n.
[f. smatter v.]
1. a. A slight or superficial knowledge in or of something. Also without const.
(a)1538Starkey England i. i. 17 Such haue only a lytyl smateryng in gud lernyng. 1631R. Brathwait Whimzies, Almanack-maker 14 Wherein, trust me, hee ha's a pretty smattering. 1704F. Fuller Med. Gymn. (1711) 55 Known to every one who has but the least smattering in Distillations. 1806Beresford Miseries Hum. Life iv. i, Your utter incapability of ever arriving at the slightest smattering in any of the infernal dialects. 1856N. Brit. Rev. XXVI. 255 It is the only alternative to a superficial smattering in all things.
(b)1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 10 Euerie priuate Scholler..beganne to vaunt their smattering of Latine. 1631Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 785 Onely a little smattering of learning he had. 1742Richardson Pamela IV. 43, I propose to give you a Smattering of the French and Italian. 1836Marryat Japhet iv, I soon obtained a very fair smattering of my profession. 1874L. Stephen Hours Libr. (1892) II. ii. 33 He had..given his son the chance of acquiring a smattering of ‘scholarship’.
(c)1581Mulcaster Positions xxxix. (1887) 219 It were a great deale better that they had no learning at all and knew their owne ignorance, than any little smattering, vnperfit in his kinde. 1612Brinsley Ludus Lit. 108 They who haue had but a smattering, or some little beginning. 1693Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 3 That dangerous and so much fear'd station, which is call'd Smattering. 1865Ruskin Sesame 161 There is a wide difference between elementary knowledge and superficial knowledge—between a firm beginning, and a feeble smattering.
†b. A slight trace or symptom. Obs.—1
1763Phil. Trans. LIII. 197 The patient, at the usual time for the return of his fit, felt some smattering of his distemper.
c. A small amount or number.
1973Nation Rev. (Melbourne) 31 Aug. 1442/6 The news that does appear—other than a smattering of inconsequential rubbish—is..thinly disguised opinion. Ibid. 1464/2 There were 10,000 men (and a smattering of women) of letters in the UK. 1975D. Nobbs Death of Reginald Perrin 154 There was a surprised pause, then a smattering of applause, which grew slowly into a tolerable ovation.
2. The action of discoursing or studying in a superficial manner. rare.
1649Milton Observ. Art. Peace Wks. 1851 IV. 564 The changing forsooth of Monarchy into Anarchy, sounds so like the smattering of some raw Politician. 1692Bentley Boyle Lect. ii. 70, I would advise them to leave off this dabbling and smattering in Philosophy.
▪ II. ˈsmattering, ppl. a.
[f. smatter v.]
†1. ? Ready for smacking or kissing. Obs.—1
a1450Mankind (Brandl) 597, I wyll..geett me a lemman wyth a smattrynge face.
†2. Given to prating or talking. Obs.—1
1526Skelton Magnyf. 2121, I warne you beware of to moche lyberte;..[of being] To flatterynge, to smatterynge,..To claterynge, to chaterynge [etc.].
3. Dabbling; imperfectly learned.
1581Mulcaster Positions xli. (1887) 236 Simple coniectures of some smattering writers concerning the matter of his traine. 1609Holland Amm. Marcell. 93 A bookish smattering Grecian. 1683Kennett tr. Erasm. on Folly 140, I, who am but a smattering Novice in Divinity.
4. Slight, superficial, imperfect.
c1589Theses Martinianae 31, I haue a prety smattering gift in this Pistle-making. 1604F. Herring Mod. Defence 32 Hauing attained any little smattering knowledge. 1686tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 124 Writers of Travels, who understood not the Eastern Languages or at least had but a smattering understanding of 'em. 1818Moore Fudge Fam. Paris ix. 481 My French..Is, on the whole, but weak and smattering. 1873Hamerton Intell. Life xi. ii. 406 That smattering acquaintance with questions of religion, politics, and literature which the world calls ‘well-informed’.
Hence ˈsmatteringly adv.
1849Maury in Corbin Life (1888) 52 To see how smatteringly they are taught, look at the great majority of middle-aged women. 1864Tennyson Aylmer's F. 433 As we task ourselves To learn a language known but smatteringly. |