| 释义 |
expensive, a.|ɛkˈspɛnsɪv|
[f. L. type *expensīv-us f. expendĕre (see expend and -ive); but early associated with expense.]
†1.
a. Of a person: Given to profuse expenditure (of money, time, health, etc.); lavish. Of an employment: Tending to consume (time, health, etc.). Const. of. Obs.
1628Earle Microcosm., Universal Dun (Arb.) 74 Hee is now very expensiue of his time. 1655Jer. Taylor Golden Grove (1659) 55 Use what innocent refreshment you please..[but] let it not be too expensive of time. a1656Bp. Hall Episc. & Liturg. Rem. Wks. (1660) 421 See whether any have been more expensive either of their ink, or their blood. 1704Steele Lying Lover ii. (1747) 36 Young Men of this Age are..so expensive both of their Health and Fortune. 1817J. Gilchrist Intell. Patrimony 112 A regular arrangement of extracts..is..more expensive of time.
b. Fond of expense; extravagant. Now rare.
1650Jer. Taylor Holy Living (1727) 99 What is it to me..whether his wife be expensive. a1698Temple (J.), Frugal and industrious men are friendly to the established government, as the idle and expensive are dangerous. 1782F. Burney Cecilia ix. v, She was far other than expensive. 1845Carlyle Cromwell (1873) I. 19 Sir Oliver, likewise an expensive man.
†c. ‘Liberal, generous, distributive’ (J.). rare.
1678Sprat Serm. (1722) 103 An active, expensive, indefatigable goodness..such as our Apostle calls..a Labour of Love.
2. a. Of a thing: Attended with expense; costly, dear. to come expensive: see come 24 b. Also fig.
1634Brereton Trav. (Chetham Soc.) 70 The two late expensive and chargeable sieges of Buss. 1664Evelyn tr. Freart's Archit. 119 Till..the remedy [be] impossible or expensive. a1715Burnet Own Time (1734) II. 658 The Law of England is..very expensive and dilatory. 1726–31Tindal Rapin's Hist. Eng. (1743) II. xvii. 109 He..lived at so expensive a rate. 1776Adam Smith W.N. i. xi. (1869) I. 232 To collect the produce of unimproved lands..would be too expensive. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. iv, It's expensive keeping boys at home. 1865Bushnell Vicar. Sacr. ii. i. 192 God..will bend Himself to any most expensive, lowest burden of sympathy. 1883Froude Short Stud. IV. i. ii. 16 The father..was unable to give the child as expensive an educaton as he had desired.
b. transf. At cricket, of bowling or a bowler.
1882Daily Tel. 27 May, Barrett's bowling was getting rather expensive. 1891Daily News 30 June 3/7 Mr. Ferris, the Australian, proving very expensive.
c. Comb., as expensive-looking adj.
1925T. Dreiser Amer. Trag. I. ii. v. 184 Such expensive-looking and apparently smart displays. 1965F. Sargeson Memoirs of Peon vi. 147 A fancy and somewhat expensive-looking purse.
†3. quasi-adv. = expensively. Obs.
1796E. Parsons Mysterious Warning iv. 236 They lived very expensive.
Hence exˈpensively adv., in an expensive manner, with (great) expense.
a1631Donne Let. to Sir H.G. in Poems 279 Our court tooke the resolution..to receive him [the French Prince] solemnly, ceremoniously; and expensively. a1745Swift (J.), I never knew him live so great and expensively. 1809–10Coleridge Friend (1865) 146 Our immense military force is better and more expensively clothed. 1886Law Times Rep. LIII. 611/1 The liquidators could collect the outstanding calls..less expensively than the plaintiffs. |