释义 |
neshadj.n.adv.Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with early modern Dutch, Dutch regional (West Flemish) nesch , nisch soft (of eggs), damp, sodden, foolish (16th cent.), Gothic hnasqus soft, tender. A connection with Old High German nascōn and its cognates in sense ‘to eat dainty food or delicacies’ (see nosh v.) has been suggested, but seems unlikely.The further etymology of the word is unclear: it has been suggested that it is related to Sanskrit kiknasa particles of ground grain (of rice), flesh of rice (represented in only one corrupt late Vedic text, with variants caknasa, cikkasa, in context implying an unattested compound piṣṭa-cikkasa particle of flour, from which some have posited a Sanskrit root cikk- to hurt) and further with Latvian regional knost, knosīt to peck at plumage with the beak, pluck, beat (compare Latvian knosīties to scratch oneself), but the connection between the two is difficult to make, and their joint connection with the Germanic word is not generally accepted. Now regional. A. adj. 1. the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > [adjective] α. OE (Northumbrian) xi. 8 Mollibus uestiuntur : mið hnescum [OE Rushw. næscum] gerelum gescirped biðon uel sind. OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Vitell.) (1984) vi. 50 Ðeos wyrt..bið hnesceum leafum. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Bodl.) xxxiii. 80 Þæt hnesce & flowende wæter. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 995 Bulltedd bræd..wass..smeredd wel wiþþ ele sæw & makedd fatt & nesshe. ?a1200 (?OE) (1896) 45 Syle hym etan hnesce ægere. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 71 Nest is heard vtewiõ..inwiõ nesche & softe. c1300 St. Wulstan (Laud) 141 in C. Horstmann (1887) 75 (MED) Þe staf wende into þe marbreston ase it were in nesche sonde. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 614 Mar filthe es nane, hard ne nesshe, Þan es þat comes fra a mans flesshe. a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in (2002) i. 183 Lett hym go to bed, but looke it be soote & nesche. 1546 T. Phaer (1553) sig. Rv The sinues of a child be verye neshe and tender. 1597 W. Langham 529 Bake it hard, and apply it till it waxe nesh. 1678 J. Ray tr. F. Willughby ii. x. 160 Their [sc. turkeys'] young Chickens are very nesh and tender, and not to be reared without great care and attendance. 1788 W. Crowe 30 The darker fir, light ash, and the nesh tops Of the young hazel. 1802 T. D. Fosbroke i. vii Their feathery leaves where nesh Acacias spread. 1864 W. Barnes in Oct. 477 The nesh-bleäded grass, By the young apple-trees. 1915 R. C. Thompson 71 The road from the bridge is like an English lane with blackberry hedgerows..and a nesh track for a morning gallop. 2007 13 Jan. (Mag.) 44/2 April and May is when they are busiest, feasting on the nesh young foliage of plants. β. c1300 (Laud) (1868) 217 (MED) Þe blod ran of his fleys, Þat tendre was and swiþe neys.a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 429 (MED) Harde þinges beeþ bettre wiþstonde wiþ nesche [v.r. naysche] þinges þan wiþ hard.c1460 J. Lydgate (1934) ii. 736 Fyr..Makith hard thyng neisshe and..Neisshe thyng hard.a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 2884 (MED) Of þe erthe is þe fleisshe, And of þe water his blood neisshe. 1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard 109 Nash, Naish,..tender and juicy: applied to lettuce.1974 28 Dec. 4 It is hoped that the report will have a wide circulation as a guideline to asking sharp and pertinent questions that strip away the nish outer flesh and get right to the bone of the problem.γ. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 316v Certeyn moisture..comeþ at endes of certein woode while þat it brenneþ, as doþ colophonia and neisshe pyche [L. pix liquida] and som oyle of þe tre Iuniperus.1686 R. Plot iii. 148 The coal of the upper wallings being generally nasher; i.e. softer and more friable.a1722 E. Lisle (1757) 250 The first spring-grass, which was luscious and gnash.1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard 109 Nash, Naish,..tender and juicy: applied to lettuce.the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [adjective] > not harsh or gentle a1250 (?a1200) (Nero) (1952) 85 Ȝe muwen more dreden þe nesche dole þene [þe] herde of õeos fondunges þet is uttre ihoten. a1450 (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1912) 9098 Thought my stroke be hard or nasshe [v.r. nesshe], Of myn enmys, this knyght woll not sett arych. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 231 A nesh brekynge and Plesaunte voice tokenyth a..wel y-manerit man. the world > matter > liquid > condition of being or making wet > [adjective] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 333 (MED) Þe lond [sc. Ireland] is nesche, reyny, and wyndy, and lowe by þe see syde. 1573 T. Twyne tr. Virgil in T. Phaer & T. Twyne tr. Virgil x. sig. Eejv Whan by nighttime nesh som blasing star All bloodred sanguine shewes. 1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Nash, Naish, Nesh,..chilly. a1903 W. W. Skeat in (1903) IV. 252/1 [Somerset] Nesh [of the weather: wet, damp, chilly]. 2012 @mitchell_beers 29 Nov. in twitter.com (O.E.D. Archive) Nesh is an understatement!! Its freezing. the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective] > lacking vigour or energy the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adjective] > indiligent or remiss the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] > weak in character or will the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adjective] eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) lx. 453 Swa he ðone hnescan ðafettere on recceleste ne gebrenge. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 199 Recabes sunen. þet beoð helle bearnes ifindeð swa unwaker & swa nesche ȝetewart. c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 1589 in C. Horstmann (1887) 152 For þat þe bischopus bifore me weren to nesche..Þe stude fastore i mot beo. a1382 (Bodl. 959) xviii. 9 Who is neshe [a1425 L.V. neisch; L. mollis] & dissolut in his werk. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Jer. li. 46 Lest par auenture waxe nesshe ȝoure herte, and ȝee drede the heering. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. 3681 (MED) He was to neysshe and sche to hard. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Job xxiii. 16 God hath maad neische myn herte. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 227 (MED) Tho that haue the chynne smale and febille bene nesshe and lyke to women. 1841 R. W. Hamilton 354 Nesh is applied to a cowardly, undecided person. 1879 G. F. Jackson (at cited word) 'Er's a nesh piece, 'er dunna do above 'afe a day's work. 1995 9 Oct. 12 The worst crime was the charge of being ‘nesh’... It was..nesh to..wait for the bus to stop before jumping into the road [etc.]. 2004 D. Mitchell (U.K. ed.) 397 ‘I wouldn't have locked up Noakes and stolen a car if I'd known you couldn't pick the lock!’ ‘Aye, exactly, you're nesh, so you needed encouragement.’ †3. the mind > emotion > love > tenderness > [adjective] the mind > emotion > compassion > [adjective] > inclined to the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > [adjective] eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 126 Sie ðær eac lufu, næs ðeah to hnesce. OE 99 Drihten næfre ne forsyhþ þa eaþmodan heortan ne þa hnescestan. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 1461 Ȝiff þin herrte iss arefull. & milde. & soffte. & nesshe. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 171 Þu art totrusti & haldest godd to nessche forte wreoke sunne. 1340 (1866) 153 Riȝtuolnesse is..þet me deþ be dome riȝtuol and trewe, ne to nesssse ne to hard. a1382 (Bodl. 959) xv. 1 A Nesshe [a1425 L.V. soft; L. mollis] answere brekeþ wrathe. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 898 Thou arte more harder than ony stone, and woldyst never be made neyssh..that ys the hete of the Holy Goste may nat entir in the. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 10264 (MED) Pite comeþ of a free blood And of a nesshe herte þat is good. c1530 1092 It semeth for love his harte is tender nessh. OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xii. 124 Hnesce on mode to flæsclicum lustum. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 4716 Þe birrþ ben harrd wiþþ skill Onn ȝæness alle sinness. Forr þu mihht sket to nesshe ben Ȝæn þa þatt drihhtin wraþþenn. c1275 (?c1250) (Calig.) (1935) 1387 Wymmon is of neysse [v.r. nesche] fleysse, & fleysses lustes is strong to queysse. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 8986 (MED) Man for to fall in filth o fless, Thoru forme kind þat es sa nesse. ?a1475 (1922) 28 (MED) Oure hap was hard, oure wytt was nesch to paradys whan we were brought. 4. the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > of constitution α. OE (Claud.) xxxiii. 13 Ic hæbbe hnesce lytlingas & geeane eawa & gecealfe cy mid me; gyf ic hi to swyðe drife, ealle hi forwurþað. c1390 in C. Horstmann (1892) i. 59 (MED) Þat flesch boren was to dye, Þat flesch refloured þat was nessche. c1450 (a1375) (Calig.) (1979) 1210 (MED) Wymmen beþ of swych maner, All tendre and nessche. 1553 T. Wilson i. f. 20 We are all so weake of wit..and our bodie so neshe, that it loketh euer to bee cherished. 1583 P. Stubbes sig. Eiv This pampering of our bodies, makes them weker, tenderer, and nesher, than otherwyse they would be. 1607 E. Topsell 377 If the horse be nesh and tender, & so wax lean without any apparant griefe. 1639 T. de Gray ii. iii. 59 These..are naturally slow, dull, heavy, and nesh or wash of their flesh. 1789 W. Marshall I. 330 Nesh; the common term, for tender or washy, as spoken of a cow or horse. 1845 P. J. Bailey (ed. 2) 247 He..let All rigour do its worst, which only served To harden him, though nothing nesh at first. 1887 H. Caine I. vi. 115 Their own little room.., where no fire burned lest they should grow ‘nesh’. 1977 R. Scollins & J. Titford II. 16 Up at seven, nesh o't cowd. a1978 S. T. Warner (1985) 76 ‘They take looking after. They're nesh.’ Nesh. Her father's word, meaning ‘delicate’. The girl looks nesh. 2001 R. Hill (2002) xxxv. 379 As you can see, I am nesh enough to like a fire when things get a little too chilly or damp. β. 1924 5 237 Nish.., delicate.1963 38 299 [Newfoundland] Nish, adj. (1) Tender. (2) Easily injured.1964 L. E. F. English 31 Nish, tender, easily injured.1980 5 Jan. 11 She had a very nish skin which ran in families with refined blood in their veins.γ. 1666 (Royal Soc.) 1 318 If he be (as the Phrase is among Horse-masters) a Nash or Wash-Horse.1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in 34 Nash: Washy, tender, weak, puling.1825 J. T. Brockett Nash, Nesh tender, weak, fragile.1860 ‘G. Eliot’ I. i. iv. 49 They're nash things, them lop-eared rabbits.1924 18 Mar. 8/3 A delicate, easily affected child, who therefore needs more than ordinary care, is said by old people to be nash.1839 G. C. Lewis 72 Nesh, dainty, delicate, tender. 1848 A. B. Evans 60 Naish, or Nash,..is also used for dainty. ‘A naish feeder’ is said of a horse. 1895 E. Castle 76 There was niver nought nesh about 'er same as there is about most women. a1903 L. C. Musters in (1903) IV. 252/1 [Nottinghamshire] Nesh [dainty, fastidious, squeamish; scrupulous]. †B. n. Usually in collocation with hard. the world > the earth > land > ground > [noun] > soft the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > [noun] > that which is soft eOE (Corpus Cambr. 422) ii. 287 Him on hand gæð heardes & hnesces. OE Handbk. for Use of Confessor (Corpus Cambr. 201) in (1965) 83 18 Æghwæt hnesces oððe heardes, wætes oððe driges. OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz (Corpus Cambr. 191) lx. 295 Efne nu þu blac list..ne gefelst þu god ne yfel, ne heard ne hnesce [L. non dura, non mollia sentis]. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) 8166 (MED) He hadde wonder of his pruesse, Þat so leyd doun hard and nesse. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) 1 Cor. vi. 10 Nether auouters, neither neische [L. molles], neither lecchours of men..schulen weelde the kyngdom of God. ?c1450 (1891) 1413 Hongyr and calde it semed him aylde, Als he gane thurgh harde and nesche. 1460–70 in C. Innes (1861) 506 Ascendand up..betwix the hard & the naysch ewyn sowth owr to the burn. 1553 (Edinb. Reg. House) f. 15 Betuix the litill north fald dik and the naiche. 1584 23 Dec. Keipand betuix the nasche and the hard north and northeist. 1618 in J. Robertson (1847) II. 371 Betuix the Nesche and the Hard at the north syde of the moss of Monblettoun. society > authority > lack of strictness > [noun] > leniency c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 3734 Mann mihht himm fon. & pinenn. Wiþþ hat. & kald. wiþþ nesshe. & harrd. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 260 Þe deade nis namare of scheome þenne of menske of hard þenne of nesche. c1390 Vision St. Paul (Vernon) in C. Horstmann (1892) i. 255 Þei soffred harde and noþing nessche. c1400 (?c1380) 606 Queþer-so-euer he dele nesch oþer harde. 1417 in T. Rymer (1709) IX. 435 (MED) Thys two my Lordys wylle abyde harde and nesche all weyes. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > circumstance [phrase] > in all or any case or circumstances c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 14829 To wurrþenn herrsumm till þin godd. Inn harrd. i nesshe. & æfre. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) 2968 Y schal him avowe in nesse & harde. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. 4693 (MED) Lihtere is to fle the flint Than gete of him in hard or neisshe Only the value of a reysshe. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > circumstance [phrase] > in all or any case or circumstances ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 228 A letter þis fole tok, bad him for nessh or hard þeron suld no man loke. c1425 (c1400) 17454 Holde we to-gedur for hard or nesche! c1450 (a1400) (Calig. A.ii) (1969) 1483 (MED) No knyȝt, for nessche ne hard, Þey he schold be for-fard, Ne geteþ her non ostell. a1475 (Sloane) (1862) 33 Feyre hony do into hit..Too fyngurs thyke for harde or nesshe. C. adv.the mind > emotion > love > tenderness > [adverb] the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [adverb] > without harshness or gently the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [adverb] > affectionately or tenderly c1175 ( Ælfric Martyrdom of St. Vincent in W. W. Skeat (1900) II. 438 Ic eom nu gestrangod & hnesce understreowod. c1300 All Souls (Laud) 49 in C. Horstmann (1887) 421 (MED) Sire Gilbert þe preost..nis neuere wrothþ; he wollez schriue us nessche i-nouȝ and ore sunnes al forȝyue. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 8964 Þis gode mold..wess þe meseles vet..& wipede is nessce [v.rr. nesche, nesselyche; a1400 Trin. Cambr. softe] afterward. c1330 (Auch.) (1933) 718 (MED) Hit hadde of þre norices keping..Þe child was keped tendre an nessche. ?c1450 in (1911) 34 186 Lat hym brenne a braunche of esche. And take þe water þt rennes oute nesche. 1839 A. Bywater 135 Yo mon't dee nesh, wumman. a1903 W. H. Smith in (1903) IV. 252/2 [Yorkshire] A greyhound is said to run ‘nesh’. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). neshv.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: nesh adj. Etymology: < nesh adj. Compare Dutch regional (West Flemish) neschen to wet.In Old English the prefixed forms gehnescian, gehnescan, are also found. Now regional. the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > become soft [verb (intransitive)] eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) xxxvii. 271 Se hearda stan..hnescað ongean ðæt liðe blod. eOE (Royal) (1865) ii. xix. 202 Hnescað se swile sona & gebersteþ innan. c1300 St. Clement (Laud) 286 in C. Horstmann (1887) 331 Huy nescheden ase doth wex a-ȝein þe fuyre. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 250v Þise trees bremeþ nouȝt in fuyre neyþer neissheþ [L. resoluuntur] in water. c1440 (?c1350) in G. G. Perry (1914) 33 Es na herte sa herde þat it na moghte nesche. the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > soften [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > make less violent or severe [verb (transitive)] > render mild or gentle OE Ælfric (St. John's Oxf.) 191 Mollio ic hnexige. lOE liv. 22 Mollierunt sermones suos super oleum : hy hnescodon spreca here ofer ele. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 1549 Þu brekesst wel þin corn. & grindesst itt. & nesshesst. 1340 (1866) 94 (MED) God..nhesseþ þe herte and makeþ zuete and tretable ase wex ymered. a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) liv. 24 in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 186 (MED) Nesched [v.r. Smeþe] als oyle his saghs bene. c1400 Comm. on Canticles (Bodl. 288) in T. Arnold (1871) III. 68 Iys and leed ben..neischid [v.r. neschid] aȝein by hoot. a1500 (?1471) G. Ripley (Ashm.) f. 104 (MED) Nesshe not your wombe by drynkynge immoderatly. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 190 (MED) Loue of women and brandynge fylthed of lechurie nesshyth a manes herte. 1525 sig. C.i Cepe..nesshyth somwhat the wombe. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun > turn aside from 1881 S. Evans (new ed.) 199 Shay's a gooin' to be married, an' it een't o' noo use 'er neshin' it. 1887 T. Darlington When it come to gettin' up at five o'clock of a cowd winter's mornin' hoo nesht it. 1995 9 Oct. i. 12/5 Full-backs who..held back from sliding tackles were accused of ‘neshing it’. Derivatives the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > [noun] > becoming or making soft a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 321v The vertu of naisshynge nerischeþ by hete and by moysture. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.adv.eOEv.eOE |