| 释义 |
▪ I. princely, a.|ˈprɪnslɪ|
[f. prince n. + -ly1.]
1. a. Of, pertaining, or belonging to a prince or princes (in various senses); held or exercised by a prince; royal, regal, kingly.
1503Dunbar Thistle & Rose 118 He did thame ressaif with princely laitis. 1513More Rich. III, Wks. 59/1 She said also yt it was not princely to mary hys owne subiect. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. iv. ii. 37 The Prince..is lesse frequent to his Princely exercises then formerly he hath appeared. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. II. 439 The Bull's head was esteemed a princely hieroglyphic. 1845S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. II. iii. iv. 119 To destroy the Council of Regency, which Hutten looked upon as the representative of the princely power. 1869Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 177 Among the princely houses of Western Europe.
b. princely states, the states of India that were ruled by native princes before the Indian Independence Act of 1947. Also (rare) in sing.
1952Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of World 835/2 By Jan. 26, 1950, when India became a sovereign republic, all acceding princely states had been brought within the constitutional framework. 1959Listener 19 Mar. 497/2 The Princely States..have disappeared. 1967Singha & Massey Indian Dances iv. 59 Both the South Indian Princely States and the Madras High Court recognized their rights and status. 1975Times 29 Aug. 12/1 The map of India..was redrawn to incorporate the former princely states. 1980H. R. F. Keating Murder of Maharajah xviii. 225 Here is a simple District Superintendent of Police..invited to a princely state because a murder has been committed.
2. That is a prince; of princely descent or royal rank; royal, kingly.
1582Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 19 Too this princelye regent [æolus] her suit ladie Iuno thus opned. 15941st Pt. Contention (1843) 5 We thank you all for this great favour done In entertainment to my Princely Queen. 1769Gray Installation Ode 42 Princely Clare, And Anjou's heroine. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxiii, The Constable's lodgings received the owner and his princely guest. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. I. v. §3. 321 The sovereign powers enjoyed by the princely churchmen of the Empire.
3. Like a prince, princelike; having the appearance, manner, or qualities of a prince; dignified, stately, noble.
1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxxviii. 49 Thy famous Maire, by pryncely governaunce,..the rulith prudently. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. ii. iii. (1634) 128 God..furnisheth those with a Princely nature whom he appointeth to beare governement. 1588Copy of Letter, etc. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 75 Praising her for her stately person and princely behaviour. 1793Burke Rem. Policy Allies Wks. VII. 149 His conversation is open,..his manners gracious and princely. 1810Scott Lady of L. ii. xxxii, I see him yet, the princely boy! 1871M. Collins Mrq. & Merch. II. i. 3 A merchant might be princelier than he.
transf.1850R. G. Cumming Hunter's Life S. Afr. (ed. 2) I. 188 He was a princely old stag, carrying splendid horns and a beautiful coat of new hair.
4. Like that of a prince; befitting or fit for a prince; sumptuous, magnificent, munificent.
1539Act 31 Hen. VIII, c. 5 A goodly sumptuous beautifull and princely manour, decent & convenient for a king. 1555Eden Decades To Rdr. (Arb.) 49 Yet gaue he a greate parte of his glory to that princely buyldynge. 1614Latham (title) Falconry or The Faulcons Lure and Cure: in two bookes,..published for the delight of noble mindes, and instruction of young Faulconers in things pertaining to this Princely Art. 1677Evelyn Diary 10 Sept., My Lord..is given to no expensive vice but building, and to have all things rich, polite, and princely. 1688R. Holme Armoury iii. 372/1 The Jacobs Staff..is a Princely Instrument being set forth in its Perfection. 1838James Robber ii, The estates are princely. 1866Neale Sequences & Hymns 183 Princeliest galleys bedropped the main, bound outward or inward. 1889Pall Mall G. 21 Nov. 6/1, I am told in the newspapers that Sir E― G―'s gift of {pstlg}250,000 is ‘princely’.
5. Comb., as princely-loyal, princely-proud.
1605Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. iv. Captains 1268 O Peers, Princely-loyall Paladines. 1872Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 158 Her own true Gareth was too princely-proud To pass thereby.
▪ II. ˈprincely, adv. Now rare.
[f. as prec. + -ly2.]
In the manner of or befitting a prince; royally.
a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV 234 The kyng..answered to hys wordes so soberly, so grauelye, and so princely, that the Frenchmen their at not a littell mused. 1573L. Lloyd Marrow of Hist. (1653) 25 Thou shalt live princely, thou shalt injoy pleasures. 1668H. More Div. Dial. ii. xxi. (1713) 154 Some Vertuous and Beautiful Virgin, Royally descended and Princely attired. 1807E. S. Barrett Rising Sun I. 104 Georgy did go it till he got (according to the vulgar idiom) princely drunk. 1885Howells Silas Lapham I. 169 She would have gone to Rome..and lived princely there for less than it took to live respectably in Boston. |