| 释义 |
stone-still, adv. and pred. a.
[See stone n. 19 and still adv. and a.; cf. stock-still.]
As still as a stone; perfectly still or motionless. Usually after sit, stand, lie, etc.
a1225Ancr. R. 414 Sitte ȝe mid Marie ston-stille ed Godes fet, and hercneð him one. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints i. (Peter) 491 Þe body lay stan still. c1475Hunt. Hare 42 Jac Wade hase a dogge..wyll take a bull, And hold hym ston-styll. 1595Shakes. John iv. i. 77, I will not struggle, I will stand stone still. 1608L'Estrange Vis. Quev. vii. 212 At the very name of Priest,..Lucifer stood stone-still, as mute as a fish. 1718Pope Let. to Duke Buckhm. Wks. 1886 X. 149, I imagined it had been a village in Amphion's time, where all the cottages having taken a country dance together, had..stood stone-still with amazement ever since. 1859Meredith R. Feverel i, She lay stone-still in a trance of terror.
†b. Perfectly quiet or silent. Obs.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 266 Nouþer suld werri bi lond, no in water bi schip, Bot hold þam stone stille in pes at þer cuntre. c1425Seven Sag. (P.) 1735 Scho sewyd hyr modyr wylle, And went hom al ston stille. |