| 释义 |
eventual, a.|ɪˈvɛntjuːəl|
[ad. F. éventuel, f. as if ad. L. *ēventuāl-is, f. ēventu-s: see event.]
†1. Of or pertaining to events or occurrences; consisting in events; of the nature of an event. Obs.
1612–5Bp. Hall Contempl. xiv. i, There is nothing more dangerous than to make construction of God's purposes, out of eventuall appearances. 1656Artif. Handsom. 50 To run counter to Gods providence, which is his reall word, and as it were an Eventuall Oracle. 1684H. More Answ. Remarks Exp. Apoc. B iv a, The true Authentick eventual measure to compute the fulfilling of the Medial-Visions by.
†2. That happens to exist. Obs.
1752Fielding Amelia ix. x, By pride I mean that saucy passion which exults in every little eventual pre-eminence over other men. 1794Godwin Cal. Williams 158 In what manner I should prevent the eventual delay of twenty-four hours from becoming..a source of new calamity.
3. That will arise or take place in a particular contingency.
1767Ld. Lyttelton Hen. II, I. (ed. 2) 86 William aspired to secure to himself the eventual succession to the crown of that kingdom [France], in case that Louis..should die before his father. 1785Burke Sp. Nabob Arcot's Debts Wks. IV. 279 Nothing is provided for it, but an eventual surplus to be divided with one class of the private demands. 1874Deutsch Rem. 252 The Bishops will not have too much time to prepare their eventual opposition. 1874Green Short Hist. ix. 623 He offered to admit England to a share in the eventual partition of the Spanish monarchy.
†b. Of stipulations: Conditional (cf. eventually 1 b). Of an army: To be raised if required.
1683Temple Mem. Wks. 1731 I. 440 The Dutch began to talk of finishing an Eventual Treaty (as they call'd it) for themselves, as soon as the Acts about Powers were wholly dispatch'd. 1796Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) III. 98 The consideration of their services should be eventual, and depend on the success of their exertions. 1799T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 279 A bill..authorizing the President in case of a declaration of war..by any European power, to raise an eventual army of thirty regiments.
4. Of the nature of an event or result.
1699Burnet 39 Art. xvii. (1700) 162 The Certainty of the Prescience is not antecedent or causal, but subsequent and eventual. 1755Johnson, Eventual, happening in consequence of anything; consequential. 1810Bentham Packing (1821) 134 Eventual vexation to persons liable to be called upon to serve in the capacity of special jurors. 1834H. Martineau Moral iii. 124 An aggression on the rights of industry, and an eventual injury to all concerned.
5. Ultimately resulting.
1823Faber Diffic. Infidelity (1833) 3 The necessary consequence which it involves..an eventual denial of God's omnipotence. 1850Gladstone Gleanings V. cxxxvi. 252 The silent decay and eventual overthrow of her natural defences. 1857Buckle Civiliz. I. x. 618 As society advances, the eventual cessation of all such attempts is certain. 1868J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. I. 437 Gradually moulded into their eventual form. |