| 释义 |
sure-footed, a.
(stress variable)
[sure a. 4 b.]
1. Sure of foot; treading securely or firmly; not liable to slip, stumble, or fall.
1707[implied in surefootedness]. 1764Smollett Trav. xx. (1766) I. 313 The mules of Piedmont..are the only carriage that can be used in crossing the mountains, being very sure-footed. 1834H. Caunter Orient. Ann. xv. 207 The elephant is remarkably surefooted, seldom stumbling, and much more rarely falling. 1845S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. II. 425 A few sure-footed landsknechts..guarded the steps of their veteran leader; and thus..he traversed the terrific pass. 1884Times (weekly ed.) 12 Sept. 7/2 Hills..so steep that even the sure-footed hill cattle could not tread them.
2. fig. Not liable to make a ‘slip’ or error; proceeding surely; unerring.
1633Herbert Temple, Dotage ii, True earnest sorrows, rooted miseries,..Sure footed griefs, solid calamities. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. 170 Thus that safe and sure-footed Interpreter, Alex. Aphrodisius, expounds his Masters Meaning. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 257 The one human being who was able to mislead that farsighted and surefooted judgment. 1864Lowell Lincoln Wks. 1890 V. 199 Worthy of his cautious but sure-footed understanding.
Hence ˌsureˈfootedly adv., ˌsureˈfootedness; so † sure-footing.
1665J. Sergeant (title) Sure-footing in Christianity, or Rational Discourses on The Rule of Faith. 1702Penn Maxims Wks. 1726 I. 847 The Wise Man..has in every Thing an Eye to Sure-Footing. 1707Mortimer Husb. (1721) I. 224 [Mules] are the best sort of Creatures..for Burden and Surefootedness. 1869W. B. Rands Chaucer's Eng. I. i. 8 Logical sure-footedness. 1869Pall Mall G. 14 July 7 It is said..that the sturdy old mountaineer's eyesight was failing, and that he had lost of late some of the sure-footedness for which he has been famous. 1936Discovery Aug. 242/1 Clambering sure-footedly about the larger..trunks. 1977Times Lit. Suppl. 15 Apr. 449/2 Walks surefootedly through the minefield that separates fulsome idolatry from condescending anecdotal chit-chat. |