| 释义 |
exorbitance|ɛgˈzɔːbɪtəns|
Also 7–8 exh-.
[f. exorbitant: see -ance. Cf. Fr. exorbitance.]
The quality or condition of being exorbitant.
†1. Divergence or aberration from the prescribed or ordinary track; eccentricity, irregularity, anomaly, or an instance of these. Also, aberration of mind; an attack of insanity. Obs. or arch.
1631Preston Life Eternal (1634) 26 Now, whence comes this uneven walking, this exorbitance of the wheeles. 1663J. Spencer Prodigies 133 All these exorbitances in Nature serve to foil and set off the general beauty..of its Works. 1684tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. xi. 373 The first exorbitance [in a case of mania] was very violent and lasted for ten months. 1685Boyle Enq. Notion Nat. 149, I shall not..mention those Grand Anomalies, or Exorbitances. 1707Floyer Physic. Pulse-Watch 186 By the Pulse we find by what Method we must regulate all Exorbitances. 1842De Quincey Philos. Herodotus Wks. IX. 208 Our growing exorbitance from our limits warns us to desist.
2. Divergence from the right path; transgression of law or morality; misconduct, lawlessness, criminality; an instance of the same. arch.
1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. viii. §58 A project..so execrable, as well may justifie King Johns exorbitances. a1618Sylvester St. Lewis 324 Eyes deep-vail'd with Ignorance Or Knowledge stained with Sinnes Exorbitance. 1632Massinger City Madam i. i, 'Tis strange my master..can Give the reins to such exorbitance. 1663Gerbier Counsel D v b, Beware of ill Builders..since by their exorbitances, happen many irreparable accidents. 1769Hist. Europe in Ann. Reg. 32/2 A picture..sullied with the most dreadful exhorbitances. 1810Scott Lady of L. ii. xxviii. foot-n., The Border robbers..had committed many exorbitances. 1850Grote Greece ii. lv. (1862) V. 30 Such unprincipled exorbitances of behaviour.
3. Excessiveness, extravagance; an instance of this. Now chiefly, outrageous excessiveness, of demands, charges, prices, estimates, etc.
1646Mrq. Ormond in Carte Life (1735) III. 470 To heighten the exhorbitance of their expectations and demands. 1706Garth Dispens. (ed. 6) ii. 19 They riot still, Unbounded in Exorbitance of Ill. 1793Bp. Horsley Serm. (1824) I. 198 The barriers..against..the exorbitance of licentiousness..will soon be borne down. 1845McCulloch Taxation ii. v. (1852) 212 The exorbitance of the duties on tea and tobacco. 1868Browning Ring & Bk. x. 186 The exorbitance Of sin in this one sinner. 1884Law Rep. 26 Chanc. Div. 240 The exorbitance of Hobson's charge for collecting the debts. |