| 释义 |
vail
I. \ˈvāl, esp before pause or consonant -āəl\ verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English vailen, from Old French vail-, vaill-, stem of valoir to be of worth, from Latin valēre to be strong, be of worth — more at wield
archaic : avail
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English valen, partly from Middle French valer (short for avaler to fall, let fall) & partly short for Middle English avalen to fall, let fall — more at avale
transitive verb
1.
a. : to let fall : cause to descend or sink
< vailed her handkerchief and drew a breath of air — Aldous Huxley >
b. : to lower as a sign of respect or submission
< had no intention of vailing their crest — Louis Golding >
2. archaic : to take off especially as a sign of respect or submission : doff
< acknowledged their greeting by vailing his plumed cap — E.G.Bulwer-Lytton >
3. obsolete
a. : humble, abase
< now vail your pride … and kneel for mercy — Christopher Marlowe >
b. : yield, submit
< vail their faith and understanding to his dictates — John Owen >
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to become lowered especially as a sign of respect or submission
b. obsolete : to lower a sail as a sign of respect or submission
2. archaic : to take off one's hat especially as a sign of respect or submission
3. archaic : yield
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from vailen to avail — more at vail I
1.
a. archaic : an occasional fee or offering usually attached to an office
< his revenue besides vails amounted to about thirty pounds — Jonathan Swift >
b. vails plural : a perquisite held or claimed as a customary right or possession
< the upper garment is the vails of the executioner — John Cleveland >
2. also vale : a gratuity given especially to a servant : tip |