| 释义 |
thankful, a.|ˈθæŋkfʊl|
[f. thank n. + -ful.]
1. a. Feeling or expressing thanks or gratitude; prompted by feelings of gratitude; grateful. Phr. thankful for small mercies.
971Blickl. Hom. 169 Wesað þancfulle þon Hælende eoweres andleofan. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxvii. 72 Be thankfull to this burgh of Aberdein. 1535Coverdale 1 Sam. ii. Contents, The thankfull songe of Anna. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. v. 149 Not proud you haue, But thankfull that you haue. 1685Dryden Thren. August. 383 Live then, thou great encourager of arts: Live ever in our thankful hearts! 1748Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. 317 The generality of mankind have cause to be thankful that their station exempts them from so great temptations. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. in Tales My Landlord 2nd Ser. II. xii. 295 ‘Ye are thankfu' for sma' mercies, then,’ said Mrs Howden, with a toss of her head. 1844Emerson Ess. 2nd Ser. 41, I am thankful for small mercies. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. I. v. 430 We have reason to be thankful that the thing, well or ill, was over. 1874Geo. Eliot Let. 3 Aug. (1956) VI. 72 One has learned to be thankful for sma' mercies in this world of dreadful possibilities. 1947A. Huxley Let. 14 Nov. (1969) 576 It is raining harder and harder and Little Rock feels..remote. However, the Blue Bird is clean and comfortable; so let us be thankful for small mercies. 1950C. S. Forester Mr. Midshipman Hornblower viii. 207 Then be thankful for small mercies. And even more thankful for big ones.
†b. Satisfied, content. Obs.
a900tr. Bæda's Hist. v. xxii[i]. (1890) 478 Scottas..wæron þoncfulle heora gemærum. c1050Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 367/18 Contentus, ðancful.
c. fig. Cf. grateful a. 2 b.
1610Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 273 The ground..is thankefull to the husbandman, in so much as it doth affoord corne to be carried forth.
†2.
a. Worthy or deserving of thanks, gratitude, or credit; pleasing, acceptable, grateful, agreeable.
c1000in Anglia (1890) XIII. 381 We halsiaþ..god þæt þeow þin cync ure..to þe..þancfull he mæᵹe becuman. c1050Suppl. ælfric's Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 191/15 Gratiosus, ðoncful. 1375Barbour Bruce v. 278 He had done mony a thankfull deid. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 68 Unrychtwis offerandis ar nocht acceptable na thankfull to his godhede. 1511Hen. VIII Let. in Burton & Raine Hemingbrough 380 Wherby ye shall ministre unto us right singler and thankfull pleasore. 1552Huloet, Thanckefull, acceptus. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. (S.T.S.) I. 130 The name of king was maist grate and thankful to thame al. 1611Tourneur Ath. Trag. i. ii, His good successe shall be most thankeful to your trust.
†b. Sc. Of a payment: Giving satisfaction, satisfactory. Obs.
1497Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 315, I resauit..for the Erle Marschael his thankfull and reddy payment. 1527Caldwell Pap. (Maitland) I. 61 Alslang and howlang ye said Johnne and his airs mak to me and my airs gud and thankful service. 1612Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1816) IV. 472/1 To mak thame thankfull teynding. 1671in Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. (1892) XXVI. 194 To make tymeous and thankfull payment.
†3. ? Done without reward or payment; gratuitous: cf. next, 3. Obs. rare.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 282 Þe fifte manere þat prestis shulden have shulde be þankful traveilinge; for ȝif þei wolen have þank of God, þei shulden here fle symonie, and neiþer sille her preching ne oþer workes þat þei done. |