| 释义 |
▪ I. † ˈfaintly, a. Obs.
[f. faint a. + -ly1.]
= faint in various senses.
1712W. Rogers Voy. (1718) 267 It being but a faintly food. 1771J. Foot Penseroso ii. 69 Hence the spring Emits a faintly blush.
▪ II. faintly, adv.|ˈfeɪntlɪ|
[f. as prec. + -ly2.]
†1. Feignedly, by way of feint or pretence, deceitfully. Obs.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 152 Gode acord to make, forsoþe fulle fayntlie. c1400Cato's Morals 16 in Cursor M. App. iv, Fainteli for to speke..is falsid and blame. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccxxi. 287 Some men of armes passed after fayntly. 1548Hall Chron. 241 Countryes..by hym stollen and faintly conquered. 1741Middleton Cicero I. v. 365 Gabinius..was forced to..fight for Pompey at first faintly [L. simulate] and unwillingly, but at last heartily.
†2. In a spiritless manner, like a coward; timidly.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10596 Hii fouȝte feinteliche. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 491 What he bygynneþ frescheliche, he forsakeþ hit feyntliche as a womman. c1400Melayne 1419, I fro this grete Iournee Fayntly fledde a way. 1580Baret Alv. W 341 Womanishlie, faintlie, fearefullie, muliébriter. 1643Denham Cooper's H. 285 He faintly now declines the fatal strife.
3. In a weak, feeble, or languid manner; feebly.
c1320R. Brunne Medit. 572 Cryst goþ krokedly þys heuy cros vndyr, And feyntly hyt bereþ. c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 180 Þus moun we se how feyntli we serve to Crist. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 1617 Wel feyntlie she felt hir stere. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 155 b, Perfeccyon, whiche they slowly & weykly or fayntly desyre. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 29 Faintly kissing him, she breathed out her life. 1699W. Dampier Voy. II. i. 16 The tide pressing against the stream, tho faintly. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. II. xli. 504 Their valiant promise was faintly supported in the hour of battle. 1861Athenæum 29 June 854 Cavour faintly smiled.
†b. With hesitation, not actively or energetically, coldly, half-heartedly. Obs.
c1440Promp. Parv. 153 Feyntly, segniter. 1488Caxton Chast. Goddes Chyld. 13 Though I wyll but fayntly..my wylle is to wylle perfyghtly. 1548Hall Chron. 177 They set forward the king, and..brought him to London..where he was fayntly receyved, and febly welcomed. 1627May Lucan iii. (1635) 356 Brothers faintly would 'gainst brothers fight. 1712Steele Spect. No. 468 ⁋3 To praise faintly the good Qualities of those below them. 1756C. Lucas Ess. Waters III. 180 Having but Mayow..faintly on my side.
4. In a faint or almost imperceptible degree; very slightly; in faint tones; without vividness or distinctness.
1590Spenser F.Q. iii. v. 24 An arrow..fayntly fluttering. 1595Shakes. John iv. ii. 227, I faintly broke with thee of Arthurs death. 1695Blackmore Pr. Arth. iii. 706 Some..faintly Blue. 1708J. Philips Cyder ii, The cowslip posies, faintly sweet. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 149 The wide and stony beds, whose centre was faintly marked by the course of a shallow stream. 1800tr. Lagrange's Chem. I. 420 This salt detonates faintly. 1849M. Somerville Connex. Phys. Sc. xxxvii. 436 Faintly visible to the naked eye. 1892Law Times XCIII. 459/1 The notice of objection is not signed by any elector, but is stamped faintly with a stamp signifying that ‘Richard Mason’ is the objector.
†b. Hardly, scarcely. Obs.
1529Supplic. to King 50 Doo not these thinges fayntely agree with the sayenge of..Paule the Apostle. 1634Massinger Very Woman ii. ii, We have but faintly yet begun our journey. 1636― Bashful Lover iii. iii, My enemy—I can faintly call him so. |