| 释义 |
breadthn. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: brede n.2, -th suffix1. Etymology: < brede n.2 + -th suffix1, after length n., strength n., etc. Compare earlier broad n.1, broadness n. For a parallel formation from the Germanic base of broad adj. + the Germanic base of -th suffix1 compare Old Icelandic breidd and other Germanic forms cited at brede n.2In β. forms with remodelling after lenth, variant of length n. 1. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > [noun] 1459 Inventory Fastolf's Wardrobe in (1904) III. 179 Item, j. hallyng of blewe worstet, contayning in lenthe xiij. yerds, and in bredthe iiij. yerds. a1500 ( in J. S. Brewer (1858) 523 (MED) In brede..viij fete..in breth vij fete. 1560 Isa. viii. 8 The stretching out of his wings shall fil the breadth of thy lande. 1600 W. Shakespeare v. i. 11 Measure his woe the length and bredth of mine. View more context for this quotation 1656 ( in W. Dugdale 354/1 Either of the said long plates for writing shall be in bredth to fill justly the casements provided therefore. 1768 June 291/1 The owner..may dig head-ways or tunnels, not exceeding six feet in height nor four in breadth, below the canal or cut. 1870 F. R. Wilson 79 The breadth, across the transepts, is 54 feet. 1960 41 307 The mastoid breadth, hind foot, and ear measurements, especially, show large differences. 2018 (Nexis) 25 June 7 England is quite a small country, with only 400 miles in length and 270 miles in breadth to call its own. a1513 R. Fabyan (1516) I. ccxxi. f. cxliv/1 This Palle is an Indument that euery Archebysshop must haue..and is a thynge of whyte lyke to the bredeth of a Stole. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius vi. 299 I observ'd, that most of these Indosthans, had, upon the Nose, a mark of Saffron, about the breadth of a Man's finger. 1686 T. Nourse xix. 166 The Finger or Needle of a Watch which moves the breadth of a Barly Corn. 1754 III. 2240/2 A flat, compressed, round fruit, about the breadth of a shilling, brought from the East-Indies. 1820 J. A. Dowling 22 A. There was a bruise, and black, on the top of the right shoulder...Q. What size was that? A. The breadth of my hand, or more. 1879 R. Jefferies vi. 95 There seem to be no houses; they stand in fact a field's breadth back from the lane. 1928 N. Shepherd Quarry Wood i. 2 in (2001) A field's breadth from the cottage, where two dykes intersected, there was piled a great cairn of stones. 2019 20 Mar. The team use..knives made of diamond to slice biological specimens 1000 times smaller than the breadth of a human hair. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > [noun] 1609 W. Shakespeare xv. 87 He will repent the breadth of his great voyage. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. ii. 24 If there bee bredth enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. View more context for this quotation 1836 J. Strang I. 193 From the breadth of the streets, and the agreeable mixture of lines of trees and flower-gardens, each building is seen to the greatest advantage. 1997 A. Sivanandan ii. ii. 138 He moved in the confines of that cubicle as though it were a house: he gave it space and breadth and dimension. 2. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [noun] > vast extent the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > high intelligence, genius > [noun] > breadth, depth, strength of intellect 1532 R. Whitford f. cxxi Perfecte obedience is nat content to kepe ye streytnes & presyse fourme of profession: but rather doth desyre..to approche & climbe vnto a more large bredthe of charite. a1647 T. Hooker (1657) x. 210 A man spreads the breadth of his understanding about that work, and layes out himself about the service wherein there is both difficulty and worth. 1847 G. Grote IV. ii. xxviii. 71 Breadth of common sentiment and sympathy between Greek and Greek. 1871 J. Morley Condorcet in 86 He shows a breadth and accuracy of vision truly striking, considering his own youth. 1965 28 29 His extraordinary breadth as a hellenist made Jenkins the ideal occupant of this Chair. 2019 (Nexis) 25 Apr. Schmitz said he is impressed with the depth and breadth of knowledge the students have acquired. society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > inelegance > [noun] > lowness of style 1849 4 Aug. 75/1 About such details there is a certain rude and vulgar breadth, which, even when they are true, makes them look like exaggeration. 1873 W. C. Hazlitt Pref. p. ix A few of them [sc. tales] exhibit a breadth which is scarcely consonant with modern ideas of decorum. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [noun] > piece of > of specific size > of full breadth 1534 G. Ferrers tr. Great Chartour xxv, in tr. f. 6v One bredth of dyed clothe, russettes and haberiectes, that is to say .ii. yardes within the lystes. 1682 N. Grew ii. i. iv. 73 The several Plates or Bredths of a Floor-Mat. 1743 398 The Number of Biers or Scores of Threads in the Breadth of the said Cloth. 1851 III. 569 Velvet pile carpet, in breadths. 1908 26 Dec. 1020/1 Sellers seem..to have made reductions in their 2 in., increasing 21/ 2 in. breadths, and cutting larger proportions of 1 in., 11/ 4 in. and 11/ 2 in. boards. 2006 C. E. Kriger ii. 53 Women..reduced their labor costs by weaving breadths of cloth that were 50 percent wider than the earlier standard widths of twelve to fourteen inches. 4. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > [noun] > an extent with regard to 1591 G. Fletcher iv. f. 13 Since the Tartar besieged and fired the town..there lieth waste of it a great breadth of ground. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. vi. ix. 119 It is hemmed in with mountaines that encounter it overthwart, which cause it to enlarge it selfe into a breadth on the left hand, as far as to the river Cyrus. 1785 G. Washington 14 Apr. (1978) IV. 119 I sowed half a bushel of Orchard grass Seed..in a breadth through the Field. 1864 29 June 4 Only a given breadth can yearly be sown with grain crops. 1922 J. Joyce ii. x. [Wandering Rocks] 214 The lychgate..showed Father Conmee breadths of cabbages, curtseying to him with ample underleaves. 2008 J. Updike in 30 Oct. 45/3 A breadth of paving passes close by the hedge. the world > the earth > land > tract > [noun] > wide the world > space > extension in space > [noun] > spreading out > an expanse of something the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [noun] > vast extent > that which is 1839 J. Phillips II. vi. 5 The sediment which forms the wide marsh lands by the Thames and the Medway, the enormous breadths of fen land in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. 1876 ‘G. Eliot’ I. i. iii. 33 Green breadths of undulating park. 1904 11 Nov. 638/3 Whole breadths of London rushed into view, all the flickering street corners on Saturday nights, all the world of crowded door-steps and open windows. 1924 G. A. England 114 The air shimmered over the ice that gleamed above the slow swells and opening breadths of sea. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > work of art > [noun] > qualities of work of art 1770 M. Pilkington 50 The distinguishing characters of the pictures of Berchem, are the breadth and just distribution of the light; the grandeur of his masses of light and shadow [etc.]. 1820 H. Fuseli II. v. 57 Breadth, or that quality of execution which makes a whole so predominate over the parts as to excite the idea of uninterrupted unity amid the greatest variety..is a judicious display of fullness, not a substitute of vacuity. 1857 J. Ruskin 311 Good composers are always associating their colours in great groups..and securing..what they call ‘breadth’, that is to say a large gathering of each kind of thing into one place; light being gathered to light, darkness to darkness, and colour to colour. 1902 S. Hartmann (1913) I. iv. 221 Wyatt Eaton painted with a superb breadth, and his broadening of details has rarely been surpassed. 2013 D. Arnold & D. P. Corbett (2016) 342 He [sc. Ruskin] became critical of John Everett Millais' late, pure landscapes for their breadth of treatment. Compounds c1620 Treat. Shipbuilding (modernized text) in W. Salisbury & R. C. Anderson (1958) 24 The perpendicular of the breadth line at S will be to the depth at P as 9 to 8. 1850 J. Greenwood 101 Breadth sweep, a term applied to the radius of the arch which forms part of the shape of a ship's body at the Breadth Line. 2001 A. Nelson vi. 89/2 Below the breadth line on the completed ship ran a large wale made of a thick plank of timber fastened to the stem and rear frame to strengthen the ship. 1808 T. Roberts Let. 3 May in 26 173 I beg leave to send you herewith a sketch of the midship section of a 74 gun ship, showing a more effectual method of securing the beams of ships to their sides, and for superseding the necessity of standards, top and breadth riders. 1948 W. Abell ii. ix. 86 There are also the breadth ‘riders’ which cover the side of the ship at a slight slope to the upright, and extend between the ports to cover two decks only. 2004 Summer 87/1 Substituting a bracket for a lodging knee produced enough strength to eliminate the top and breadth rider and standards. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.1459 |
