| 释义 |
fine
I. fine \ˈfīn\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English fin, fine, from Old French fin, from Latin finis boundary, limit, end — more at final
1. obsolete : end, conclusion, close
2.
a. : a sum formerly paid as compensation or for exemption from punishment but now imposed as punishment for a crime — distinguished from forfeiture and penalty
b. : a forfeiture or penalty paid to an injured party in a civil action
c. : a sum of money ordered paid by one in contempt of court to vindicate the court's authority
d.
(1) : a sum paid to a library as a penalty for keeping a book beyond the date due
(2) : the monetary penalty imposed for infraction of a rule or obligation
< club members who were late had to pay a 25-cent fine >
3.
a. feudal law
(1) : a money payment made by a tenant to his lord on a particular occasion (as a transfer of the tenant right)
(2) : an endowment whereby a tenant's widow was permitted to claim her dower
b.
(1) : a final amicable agreement or compromise of an actual or fictitious controversy or suit formerly made in England by leave of the king or his justices
(2) : a settlement giving exemption or release; especially : one obtained by a payment of money
c. or fine of lands : a compromise of a fictitious suit used as a form of conveyance of lands where ordinary conveyances were less efficacious (as in cases involving married women or entailed estates)
d. English & early American law : an agreement effecting a conveyance of estates in land by entering into a friendly lawsuit whereby one party's claim of title was formally recognized by the other, putting an end to all litigation between them
e. English law : a sum of money charged for any benefit, favor, or privilege (as obtaining or renewing a lease)
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- in fine
II. fine verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English finen, from Middle French finer to end, pay (as a fine), from fin, n., end
transitive verb
1. : to pay by way of fine or composition
2. [fine (I) ] : to set a fine on by judgment of a court especially as a punishment : punish by fine
intransitive verb
archaic : to pay a fine, penalty, composition, ransom, or consideration for any special privilege or exemption; especially : to pay for release from accepting the duties of an office — often used with for, off, or down
III. fine adjective
(-er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English fin, fine, from Old French fin, from Latin finis, n., boundary, limit, end (as in such phrases as finis honorum the height of honor, the highest honor; translation of Greek telos, literally, end) — more at final, wheel
1.
a. : free from impurity : brought to perfection : highly purified : refined, superior, pure
< fine gold and silver >
b. of a metal : having a stated proportion of pure metal in the composition
< gold 23 karats fine >
— compare fineness 2b
c. of glass : freed from bubbles
2.
a.
(1) : very small : minute
< fine print >
(2) : marked by subtlety, refinement, or intricacy of thought or expression : hairsplitting
< very fine legal points were involved >
< I cannot follow these fine distinctions >
(3) : performed with extreme care and accuracy
< fine measurement >
< fine adjustment >
(4) of bodily tremors : of slight excursion
b. : not coarse : constituting small particles
< fine sand >
< fine flour >
c.
(1) : not thick or clumsy : slender, filmy
< fine thread >
< fine chiffon >
< a fine-boned hand >
(2) of wool : having a diameter similar to that of merino wool
(3) of paper : of a grade suitable for writing, printing, or drawing
d. : thin, keen, attenuated
< a sword with a fine edge >
e.
(1) : made of delicate materials : delicately fashioned or proportioned : exquisite in texture : light, clear, fair, fragile
< he was fine in profile, in the texture of his fair skin — Osbert Sitwell >
< many of the present inhabitants have fine skins, fair hair, and florid complexions — Tobias Smollett >
< fine linen >
< fine china >
(2) : sharp forward or aft — used of a ship
f.
(1) : trained to a point of weight and muscular activity close to the limit of efficiency — used of an athlete or animal
(2) cricket : being to the rear of the defending batsman and nearer than usual to the line of flight of a bowled ball
< caught at fine leg >
— compare square
g. : having a delicate or subtle quality
< the fine scent of burning wax — Vicki Baum >
< the fine bouquet of a vintage wine >
< the fine irony of it all >
< fine, rapier-edged humor >
3.
a. obsolete : clever, ingenious, cunning, crafty
b. : subtle, sensitive, or acute in perception or feeling
< he has a fine ear for the … idiomatic English that passes for conversation among the youths of the day — Max Wilk >
4.
a. : superior in character, nature, ability, or prospects : noble, skillful, excellent
< a fine man >
< a fine ship >
< a fine musician >
< you have a fine future before you >
b. : superior in construction, execution, design, or expression
< a fine work of art >
< a fine orchestra was playing >
c. : of noble or attractive appearance : beautiful, handsome, pleasant, bright
< a fine view >
< a fine morning >
< a very fine garden >
d.
(1) : ornate, showy : elegant
< fine feathers make fine birds >
< wore a fine new dress >
(2) of writing : excessively ornate : affectedly elegant : florid, rhetorical
< this last sentence is so fine I am quite ashamed — Thomas Gray >
(3) : marked by or displaying elegance or refinement often affected or excessive : fastidious, dainty
< our fine neighbors wouldn't speak to the likes of us >
< sneered at the stranger's fine ways >
5.
a. : splendid, notable, admirable
< spoke with fine enthusiasm >
< his terrible slashing wit, his fine scorn of stupidity and cowardice — John Reed >
< what a fine darling baby >
b. : great, terrific, awful — used as an intensive
< had come running in a fine embarrassment — Glenway Westcott >
< you make a fine mistake if you think I'm out for quarreling — Mrs. Patrick Campbell >
c. : very well : excellent
< I feel fine >
IV. fine adverb
Etymology: Middle English fin, fine, from fin, fine, adjective
1. : finely: as
a. : elegantly, mincingly
< talks and walks so fine, just like a great lady >
b. : splendidly, well
< you did fine >
< he made out fine >
< I liked it fine >
c. : subtly, delicately, minutely
< the line between victory and defeat … will be fine drawn >
2. Scotland : surely : for certain
< fine I know him though I haven't seen him for years — John Buchan >
3. : with a very narrow margin of time or space — often used with cut or run
< close thing … mustn't run it so fine another time — P.G.Wodehouse >
V. fine verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English finen, from fin, fine, adjective
transitive verb
1. : refine, purify, clarify
< fine and filter wine >
< beer is sometimes fined before bottling — B.M.Brown >
< fine gold >
< the glass will be fully fined before being admitted to the working chamber — Glass Industry >
2. : to make finer or less coarse or dull in quality, size, bulk, texture, or appearance
< fine his wits >
: sharpen, pulverize — often used with down
< the one-way disc plow … fines the soil to the extent of increasing losses from blowing — Soils & Men >
< the women, except … where Italian influence has fined down the bone structure, are … well built — Don Smith >
< material fined and refined until every … word … has its place in an artistic whole — Times Literary Supplement >
< fined his tuning, eliminating the interference — Rayne Kruger >
< in this story … human beings are fined down to bee size — New York Herald Tribune >
3. : to make less or finer by graduations — used with away or down
< fine down a ship's lines >
intransitive verb
1. : to become fine, pure, or clear
< the weather gradually fined >
< the ale will fine >
— often used with off
2. : to become fine in lines or proportions : diminish, dwindle — often used with away or down
< even her fatness seemed puppy fat … that must fine down before very long — Mollie Panter-Downes >
VI. fi·ne \ˈfē(ˌ)nā\ noun
Etymology: Italian, from Latin finis boundary, limit, end — more at final
: end — used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeat
VII. fine \fēn\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: French, short for fine champagne
: ordinary French brandy; especially : one of undisclosed origin sold in French restaurants |