| 释义 |
elderly, a.|ˈɛldəlɪ|
[f. elder a. + -ly1.]
1. Of persons or of things quasi-personified: Somewhat old, verging towards old age. Also in comb., elderly-looking adj.
1611Cotgr., Vieillot, elderlie, somewhat old. 1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 107 Let..twelve elderly men of free condition, together with the Sheriff be sworne. 1712Budgell Spect. No. 301 ⁋1 Elderly Fops, and superannuated Coquets. 1773Priestley Inst. Relig. (1872) II. 353 The more elderly..members presided. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 341 The elderly inhabitants [of Leeds] could still remember the time when the first brick house..was built. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. vi. 529 An elderly man at the time of his marriage. 1871Tyndall Fragm. Sc. I. vi. 198 The ‘Urgent’ is an elderly ship. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. III. xxxv. 30 You had need hire men to..chip it all over artistically, to give it an elderly-looking surface.
2. Of or pertaining to one in later life.
1674N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 152 In our own elderly doings..we are set on work after higher scantlings of wisdom. 1863Geo. Eliot Romola (1880) I. Introd. 8 The Frate carried his doctrine rather too far for elderly ears. 1866― F. Holt (1868) 19 No elderly face can be handsome, looked at in that way.
3. quasi-n.
1865N. & Q. Ser. iii. VIII. 82 Fifty years ago a common exclamation among the elderlies was ‘my eye Kitty Fisher’.
Hence ˈelderliness. [see -ness.]
1876C. M. Yonge Womankind xxxv. 322 The trials of elderliness have either been unfelt or safely weathered. 1883W. M. Baker Roll of Waves in Chicago Advance 27 Sept., A certain reserve and elderliness of manner. |