| 释义 |
fearsome, a.|ˈfɪəsəm|
[f. fear v. or n.1 + -some.]
1. Fear-inspiring; frightful, dreadful.
1768Ross Helenore 3722 The foremost looks a fearsome chiel. 1816Scott Old Mort. xxxii, War's a fearsome thing. 1842Barham Ingol. Leg., Nell Cook, The masons three..saw a fearsome sight. 1871M. Collins Mrq. & Merch. I. viii. 236 Iron fencing..with fearsome spikes at the top.
Comb.1815Scott Guy M. xxxix, ‘A muckle stoor fearsome-looking wife she was as ever I set een on.’
¶2. ? erron. Timid, apprehensive, frightened.
1863A. Fonblanque Tangled Skein III. 205, I was..fearsome of this very danger. 1871B. Taylor Faust (1875) I. viii. 120 I'm but a silly, fearsome thing!
Hence ˈfearsomely adv., in a fearsome manner. (a) So as to excite fear. (b) ¶ Timidly. ˈfearsomeness, the quality of being fearsome. (a) Dreadfulness; terror. (b) ¶ Timidity.
1876B. L. Farjeon Love's Victory ii, He looked about him fearsomely. 1883Daily News 5 July 5/2 A prisoner..as fearsomely exciting as the elegant baron of fiction. 1891T. Hardy Tess i. xii, The fact..lent Tess's supposed position, by its fearsomeness, a far higher fascination. 1893Black & White 11 Mar. 286/2 The women..were hiding fearsomely in their innermost rooms. 1893Daily News 6 June 3/4 There is even a fearsomeness in her expression, as if she dreaded to move. |