| 释义 |
serviceableadj. Origin: Partly a borrowing from French. Probably also partly formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: French servisable ; service n.1, -able suffix. Etymology: Originally (i) < Anglo-Norman and Middle French servisable, servissable, Middle French serviçable helpful, obliging, compliant (late 12th cent. in Old French), obsequious, servile (c1350) < service service n.1 + -able -able suffix. In later use probably also partly < service n.1 + -able suffix.With the β. forms compare post-classical Latin serviciabilis (in an undated source in Du Cange). 1. a. Willing to be of service or assistance; active or diligent in doing or rendering service; obliging, helpful, compliant. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > [adjective] > ready or willing to serve α. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 338 Be..seruisabul to þe simple so as to þe riche. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 99 Curteys he was, lowely, and seruysable And carf biforn his fader at the table. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 3139 He..was plesaunt & seruisable. ?1510 T. More in tr. G. F. Pico della Mirandola sig. g.iii Thredly of reason be we seruisable..To such as haue done much for vs bi fore. 1573 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger (rev. ed.) xxix. f. 80 Are they not all seruisable spirites sent forth to doe seruice for their sakes which are heyres of saluation. 1608 W. Shakespeare xx. 243 A seruiceable villaine, As dutious to the vices of thy mistres, as badnes would desire. View more context for this quotation 1714 D. Manley 118 He might and would not receive Favours; especially from a Sweet, Clean, Witty, Friendly, Serviceable and young Woman, as Rivella was. 1798 J. Woodforde 12 Dec. (1931) V. 152 Poor Tom Thurston was at Church on Sunday and did his Duty as Clerk as usual. He was an harmless, industrious working Man as any in the Parish and very serviceable. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in 21 Seeing her [sc. Enid] so sweet and serviceable. 1890 11 Jan. Her loyal and serviceable friend. 1920 S. H. Adams viii. 124 ‘I go this way because the bus conductors are so decent about helpin' you on and off,’ said she, paying a merited compliment to the most courteous and serviceable of New York's transportation employees. 1967 A. Djoleto vi. 78 The four boys started carting the edibles only to the house without being told and Mensa..thought they were disciplined and serviceable. 2006 (Nexis) 12 Dec. Akhigbe never lacked the zeal to serve. He has been serviceable to the aspirations of Nigerians all his life. society > authority > subjection > service > [adjective] > ready or willing (of service) 1527 in J. Imrie et al. (1960) 88 Serviciabyll service done to me in tymes bypast and to cum. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. Luke xxiiii. f. cxc The seruiceable attendaunce of charitie towardes the nedie. 1608 D. Tuvill sig. A3 My seruiceable affection towards your Honour. 1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn xxvii, in 12 And all about the Courtly Stable, Bright-harnest Angels sit in order serviceable. a1721 Lady Cave Let. in M. M. Verney (1930) II. xxviii. 170 Sister Lovett received your letter and with her serviceable salutes to all thanks you for it. 1854 Apr. 187/2 He joined the sect early, and rose to eminence by his serviceable obedience. 1924 July 9/1 There he found good waffles, pure maple sugar, fine butter, an inviting place of business, and polite and serviceable attention. the mind > emotion > humility > servility > [adjective] 1483 (1975) 29 The second fader is he that gate the and thy moder that bare the, to whom thou shalt be subget & seruysable. ?1526 P. Bush sig. B.iiiv Than ruleth wyll and brutall sensualyte So that vertue to vice must be seruysable. 1613 J. Hayward 88 He was..sottishly seruiceable both to pleasure and sloath. 1646 S. Bolton 77 What ever is a mans master-desire, all the rest are servants to it: as all other lusts are serviceable to the master-lust. 1746 11 Some obsequious serviceable Knave, Some sly Court Devil, some great fav'rite Slave. 1849 G. P. R. James I. iii. 53 Thou hireling, serviceable knave. 2. a. That may be of service or of use; that fulfils a particular (specified or unspecified) function or purpose; usable; functioning; useful. the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 762 For thelementz ben servicable To man. ?1548 A. Gilby f. lxxxii You haue beleued and thought the open mainteinaunce of whoredome (both bodily and speritually) to be worthely cherished, and that the one was seruiseable for the commune wealth: the other profitable to Christes religion. 1563 in S. R. Meyrick (1824) III. 45 Hagbutts uppon crocke xiij whereof xij serviceable. 1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero 43 To finde so and so many seruiceable horse for the warre. 1668 M. Hale 8 He shall never be able to carry on a distinct serviceable Memory at all..without helps of Use or Method. 1709 J. Swift 7 The most Serviceable Treatise that could have been Published at such a juncture. 1735 W. Ellis I. xvii. 109 The Claret Cask will a great deal sooner be brought into a serviceable State for holding strong Drink, if it is two or three times scalded with Grounds of Barrels. 1816 W. Scott III. vi. 129 His museum..contained nothing that could be serviceable on the present or any other occasion. 1857 J. Ruskin i. 7 To procure him large intervals of healthful rest and serviceable leisure. 1931 C. E. Salmon 436 The plant has been grown in gardens from the 16th century onwards, the root being particularly serviceable in salads. 1965 24 Aug. 17/1 (advt.) Every OK-tagged car has been inspected, roadtested and reconditioned as necessary to be in serviceable condition when you buy it. 2000 6 May (Weekend Suppl.) 10/1 He makes serviceable and well-proportioned plant pots. the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] > specifically of person 1583 G. Babington To Rdr. sig. ¶¶¶¶2 Straight he toke himselfe to that studie whereby he might be most seruiceable to gods Church. 1614 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Treat. Anger ii. xxv, in tr. Seneca 542 The Page is scarce seruiceable that either ministreth water to warme for our wine, or a bed to sit vpon vnmade, or a table negligently furnished. 1691 J. Norris 133 What makes you Good and Religious here, serves also to make you useful and serviceable hereafter. 1794 S. Williams 263 In what manner the people of Vermont could be the most serviceable to the British government. 1866 ‘G. Eliot’ II. xxix. 210 Johnson was a most serviceable subordinate. 1918 Feb. 309 A man who can carry out a Wilson plan is a more serviceable man than some who might suit Colonel Harvey. 2018 (Nexis) 14 Aug. (Sports section) 4 c While McCown will prove serviceable, Bridgewater appears capable of offering more big-play ability. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > mediocrity > [adjective] 1920 3 Nov. 10/2 Mrs Patrick Campbell's Lady Macbeth..[was] a thoroughly serviceable performance rather than one of haunting beauty. 1979 8 Mar. 16/6 The new translation..is serviceable rather than distinguished. 2015 24 Oct. c3/2 My interviews were occasionally good but mostly serviceable. I did my homework..but I rarely grilled subjects or forced them off course. the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > edible a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in (2002) i. 170 Beef or moton stewed seruysable. 1495 (de Worde) xvii. xcvi. sig. Riv/2 Lens lentis is a manere of coddeware. And is seruysable to potage. society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > type of soldier generally > [adjective] > fit for service 1629 R. Bernard xxvii. 230 To save life by lawfull meanes, is no disgrace but a duty. And what is desperate hazard..but a foolehardnesse,..a losse of serviceable men, and discredit to the Commander. 1763 O. Goldsmith 8 Above 300 French vessels..and above 8000 of their most serviceable seamen, were carried into the ports of Great Britain. 1899 M. Hume iv. 125 (note) There were said to be at the time 15,000 Spanish troops in Denmark, several battalions in Italy, [etc.]... These were the official figures, but the number of serviceable troops was very much smaller. 2015 D. Cressy iv. 130 Thousands of families were uprooted, as ‘serviceable’ men (and sometimes men not so serviceable) were turned into mariners and soldiers. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2021; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  adj.a1375 |
