| 释义 |
sobriety|səʊˈbraɪɪtɪ|
Also 5–7 sobrietie, 6 sobritie (?).
[ad. F. sobriété (= It. sobrietà, Sp. sobriedad, Pg. sobriedade), or L. sōbrietas, f. sōbrius sober a.]
1. The quality of being sober or moderate in the indulgence of appetite; spec. moderation in the use of strong drink.
1401Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 32 The freer beleeveth..chastitie, meeknesse, and sobrietie. 1531Elyot Gov. iii. xxii. (1880) II. 336 The auncient temperaunce and moderation in diete, called sobrietie, or, in a more general terme, frugalite. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. 19 b, Sobrietie is a bridelyng by discrecion the wilfulnesse of desire. 1607Rowlands Earl of Warw. 69 Unto licentious life they teach us run, And with sobriety associate never. 1655S. Ashe Fun. Serm. Gataker 32 Let the sad consequences of Noah his intemperance give caution for sobriety unto all ancient persons whatsoever. 1781Cowper Conversat. 807 Sobriety, perhaps, may now be found, Where once intoxication press'd the ground. 1836Thirlwall Greece II. xiv. 205 Sobriety was not one of the Persian virtues. 1861Geo. Eliot Silas M. iii, The voice of the good angel, inviting to industry, sobriety, and peace.
2. Moderation in any respect; avoidance of excess or extravagance.
1582N. T. (Rheims) Romans xii. 3 Not to be more wise then behoueth.., but to be wise vnto sobrietie. 1653Binning Serm. (1845) 646 There is also sobriety in the affections, when they are moderate. a1716Bp. O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. 80 Thoughts evil in themselves, are such as..are contrary to Sobriety. 1779Mirror No. 25, The sobriety of manners which home exhibited. 1794Sullivan View Nat. II. 358 Some have imputed this to the sobriety and simplicity of living. 1852Thackeray Esmond i. ii, Misfortune had not taught those exiles sobriety of life. 188419th Cent. Mar. 406 Sobriety of dress must be enforced.
b. In pl. Sober qualities.
1826Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Sanity true Genius, The other to the wildest dreams gives the sobrieties of every-day occurrences.
3. Staidness, gravity, seriousness; soundness or saneness of judgement, etc.
a1548Hall Chron., Rich. III, 55 b, Of suche sobrietie that it coulde never be judged whyther he ware more dull then quicke in speakynge. 1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 46 Curteous country Swaines shake off this sobrietie. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. i. (1739) 1 Others of more sobriety account them no better than Lords. 1675Baxter Catholic Theol. ii. ii. 33 Now whether any man should deny all our Religion,..let sobriety be judge. 1774Reynolds Disc. vi. (1876) 384 To bring us entirely to reason and sobriety, let it be observed [etc.]. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. 60 To secure any degree of sobriety in the propositions made by the leaders in any publick assembly. 1841Spalding Italy & It. Isl. II. 366 He was quite unapproached in that delicacy of feeling and sobriety of judgment, which he added to his learning and invention. 1879Green Readings fr. Eng. Hist. x. 48 He could trust his good sense and wise sobriety of mind. |