| 释义 |
contractor|kənˈtræktə(r)|
Also 6 -our, 6–7 -er.
[a. L. contractor, n. of action from contrahĕre to contract.]
†1. One who enters into a contract or agreement; a contracting party. Obs. exc. as in 2.
1548Hall Chron. 212 Although the Princes be named, as chief contractors in everie treatie and amitie concluded. 1570Act 13 Eliz. c. 8 §5 Whereupon is not reserved..to the Lender, Contracter..or Deliverer, above the Sum of ten Pound for the Loan. a1652J. Smith Sel. Disc. vii. 334 These contractors with heaven. 1748Anson Voy. iii. ix. 392 Nor did it appear, that the Contractors had taken the least step to comply with their agreement. 1767Blackstone Comm. II. 380 That the deed be taken most strongly against him that is the agent or contractor, and in favour of the other party.
†b. party contractor: contracting party. Obs.
1644Bp. Maxwell Prerog. Chr. Kings ix. 102 The resileing of one partie contractor is not sufficient to void the contract. 1671True Nonconf. 208 The party contracter doth expressly thereby engage for himself and his posterity.
2. spec. One who contracts or undertakes to supply certain articles, or to perform any work or service (esp. for government or other public body), at a certain price or rate; in the building and related trades, one who is prepared to undertake work by contract.
1724Lond. Gaz. No. 6290/3 The Contractor to begin to Work..70 Yards Distance from the Shoar. 1765Ann. Reg. 136 Mr. Cole was employed under Mr. Warrington, the contractor for artillery horses. 1846McCulloch Acc. Brit. Empire (1854) II. 65 Immense sums of money have been lavished upon them [Irish canals] to very little purpose, except the enriching of contractors. 1869E. A. Parkes Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3) 184 The meat is supplied by contractors. Mod. Messrs. — and Co., Builders and Contractors.
3. One who or that which contracts, narrows, or shortens; used esp. of muscles which contract or draw in some part of the body.
1682T. Gibson Anat. (1697) 515, I place the internal intercostals among the contracters of the breast. 1877E. R. Conder Bas. Faith iv. 161 The extensor and contractor muscles of the same limb.
†b. Something that restricts or narrows. Obs.
1628Earle Microcosm. xxi. 46 Friendship is..a contracter and taker up of our affections to some few. 1796E. Parsons Myst. Warning I. 50 What a contractor of the heart is wealth! |