| 释义 |
sublunary, a. (n.)|sʌbˈl(j)uːnərɪ, səbˈl(j)uːnərɪ; older ˈsʌbl(j)uːnərɪ|
[f. mod.L. sublūnāris: cf. lunary.]
A. adj.
1. Existing or situated beneath the moon; lying between the orbit of the moon and the earth; hence, subject to the moon's influence.
1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 512 Patritius doth not onely auerre this, but that the Sea is as a sublunarie Planet. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. i. ii. (1638) 46 Of these sublunary Devils..Psellus makes six kindes, fiery, aëriall, terrestriall, watery, and subterranean Devils. a1649Crashaw Carmen Deo Nostro Poems (1904) 283 Starrs much too fair and pure to wait upon The false smiles of a sublunary sun. 1692Ray Disc. (1732) 302 The sublunary Aereal Heavens. 1757Young Last Day i. 81 Ye sublunary worlds, awake, awake! 1848A. Jameson Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850) 168 The Four Doctors are in the centre of what may be called the sublunary part of the picture. 1850S. Dobell Roman i, Oh that bright realm of sublunary heaven.
†b. Inferior, subordinate (to). Obs.
1616Donne Serm. (Prov. xxii. 11) III. 337 Endymion loved the Moon. The sphear of our loves is sublunary, upon things naturally inferior to our selves. 1631R. Brathwait Whimzies, Metall-man 60 The arch-artist in this minerall is the alchymist; for the rest are all sublunarie unto him, hee only mercurie sublimate unto them.
2. Of or belonging to this world; earthly, terrestrial.
1592Greene Groat's Wit Ep. Ded., A witte that runnes in this sublunarie maze and takes but Nature for its original. 1615W. Lawson Country Housew. Garden (1626) 24 Euery thing sublunary is cursed for mans sake. 1632B. Jonson Magn. Lady iii. i, From all the points o' the Compasse, (That's all the parts of the sublunary Globe). 1650J. Hall Paradoxes 38 The uncertainty of all sublunary things. a1676Hale Prim. Orig. Man. 83 Sublunary Bodies..are..subject to alteration and corruption. 1713Swift Apollo Outwitted Wks. 1755 III. ii. 109 Stroling Gods, whose usual trade is..To pick up sublunary ladies. 1782Cowper Let. to Jos. Hill Nov., My eyes are, in general, better than I remember them to have been since I first opened them upon this sublunary stage. 1815Scott Guy M. xlvi, The housekeeper..usually waylaid him on his return, to remind him of his sublunary wants. 1841Brewster Martyrs Sci. v. (1856) 83 Like all sublunary blessings it was of short duration. 1873Burton Hist. Scot. VI. lxv. 3 For this too we may find a motive cause among sublunary human influences.
†3. Characteristic of this world and its affairs; mundane; material, gross; temporal, ephemeral.
1639Habington Castara ii. (Arb.) 92 Tis no dull Sublunary flame Burnes in her heart and mine. 1643Milton Divorce i. ix. Wks. 1851 IV. 46 To remedy a sublunary and bestiall burning, which frugall diet without mariage would easily chast'n. 1648Bp. Hall Breathings Devout Soul 3 Can ye hope to finde rest in any of these sublunary contentments? 1742Young Nt. Th. vi. 206 And toil we still for sublunary pay? 1759Johnson Rasselas xlvi, He began gradually to delight in sublunary pleasures. 1814Scott Wav. xi, The Baron was exalted by wine, wrath, and scorn, above all sublunary considerations.
†B. n. A sublunary thing or creature; chiefly pl. Obs.
1641R. Harris Abners Funerall 8 We may say of all these Sublunaries, what Salomon saith of one particular; They are not. 1671J. Webster Metallogr. xii. 178 The mercurial part of it [sc. gold]..cannot be changed..by no sublunary except its compeer. 1720Humourist Ded. p. xxiv, [To] publish to us Sublunaries..all the Secrets of your Honours Privy-Council. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) III. 310 Something extraordinary was to be done to keep her with us sublunaries. |