释义 |
▪ I. sprawling, vbl. n.|ˈsprɔːlɪŋ| [f. as prec.] The action of the verb in various senses.
13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 408 Þenne mourkne in þe mudde most ful nede Alle þat spyrakle in spranc, no sprawlyng awayled. c1440Promp. Parv. 470 Sprawlynge, palpitacio. 1556T. Phaer æneid iv. L iij b, The blade in fomy blood, and hands abrode in sprauling thrown. c1616Chapman Batrachom. 138 Who amids the Fenn Swumme with his brest vp; hands held vp in vaine,..And often with his sprawlings, came aloft. 1822Monthly Mag. LIII. 335 The fairest blossoms of Persian or Arabian poetry..degenerate into extravagant sprawlings. ▪ II. ˈsprawling, ppl. a. [f. as prec.] That sprawls, in senses of the verb: a. Of animals or persons, their actions, etc.
1550J. Coke Eng. & Fr. Heralds §29 The vyle blacke poysoned spralyng todes. 1577Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. ii. 9/1 If you put the heire of an horse taile in mire..for a certaine space, it will turne to a little thin spraulyng worme. 1598Marston Sco. Villanie iii. xi. 225 The whirle on toe, The turne about ground, Robrus sprauling kicks. 1693Creech in Dryden's Juv. (1697) 333 The Cranes descend, and bear The sprawling Warriors through the liquid Air. 1740Somerville Hobbinol. i. 318 Whirl'd aloft High o'er his Head the sprawling Youth he flung. 1791Nairne Poems 80 Both hands were necessary now, To drag it off to make a sprawling bow. 1802James Milit. Dict. s.v., A sprawling charge, a loose and irregular movement of cavalry, instead of a close, compact, forward attack. 1848A. Jameson Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850) 50 Of the sprawling, fluttering, half naked angels..what shall be said? 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 363 Its gait is of a peculiar sprawling character. transf.1623Middleton More Dissemblers iv. ii, A pretty, womanish, faint, sprawling voice. b. Of things.
a1770C. Smart Hop Garden ii. 98 Oft I've seen..the mad pickers, tam'd to diligence, Cull from the bin the sprawling sprigs, and leaves That stain the sample. 1844Dickens Mart. Chuz. xxxix, A great black sprawling splash upon the floor. 1884Sat. Rev. 5 July 12/2 The huge sprawling Archdeaconry of Richmond. 1885J. Runciman Skippers & Sh. 268 Others strolled down the broad sprawling street of the village. c. Of handwriting.
1826Disraeli Viv. Grey i. ii, Travelling cases, directed in a boy's sprawling hand. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxviii, He..signed his name to it in sprawling capitals. 1907H. Wyndham Flare of Footlights xv, The writing seemed vaguely familiar, but for the moment he could not identify the sprawling feminine hand. |