| 释义 |
theftuous, a. Originally Sc.|ˈθɛftjuːəs|
Forms: α. 5 thiftwis, 5–6 thiftuis, 6 thiftewus. β. 6–7 thifteous, (7 thiefteous, 6 thiftius). γ. 6 thiftuus, 6–7 -uous, 7 theftous, 6– theftuous.
[ME. thiftwīs, f. theft + wise n.: cf. righteous from rihtwís.]
1. Of the nature of theft, thievish.
c1400[implied in theftuously]. 1491Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 2 For the thiftwis owtputtin and awaytakin of the gudis. 1502Ibid. 117/1 The thiftewus distruction of Johne Mans gudis. 1569Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 22 In thiftuous maner. 1593Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) IV. 43/2 Pairttakaris in thair thifteous and wicked deidis. 1678Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. xx. §3 (1699) 108 Whosoever..assists them in their theftous Stealings. 1837B. H. Hodgson in Jrnl. Asiat. Soc. Bengal VI. 367 It is..remarkable..for its theftuous propensities. 1880Muirhead Gaius Digest 506 Theftuous removal of property.
b. transf. Furtive, secret, sneaking.
1881Masson De Quincey xi. 138 A theftuous hope to amuse an hour for you after dinner.
2. Of the nature of a thief; given to theft.
1632Lithgow Trav. (1906) 363 The Hungarians have ever beene thiftuous, treacherous and false. 1859M. Napier Visct. Dundee I. p. x, That theftuous animal a cheap book⁓seller's hack. 1883Century Mag. XXVII. 183 Pettily theftuous, like the English gypsies. 1885St. James' Gaz. 28 Mar. 6/1 No man ever saw the most theftuous sparrow ashamed of himself.
b. fig. Said of an animal or vegetable parasite.
1883H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spir. W. (ed. 2) 342 By means of its twining and theftuous roots it [Sacculina] imbibes automatically its nourishment ready-prepared from the body of the crab. 1883R. Turner in Gd. Words July 470/2 Some [plants]..living by theftuous practices alone. |