| 释义 |
fractious, a.|ˈfrækʃəs|
[f. fraction (sense 3), after captious, etc.
The original sense seems to have been ‘disposed to make breaches, factious’; the more trivial use now current may be due to association with fratch.]
Refractory, unruly; now chiefly, cross, fretful, peevish; esp. of children.
1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 353 Having had an account how mutinous and fractious they had been. 1776Foote Capuchin iii. Wks. 1799 II. 399 The young slut is so headstrong and fractious. 1824W. Irving T. Trav. II. 30 A terrible peevish fractious fellow. 1847Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole lxi. (1879) 510 Baby would be getting so very fractious. 1857Buckle Civilisation vii. 402 The fractious and disloyal conduct of many of the hierarchy. 1880L. Wallace Ben-Hur ix. 46 Men struggling doubtfully with fractious cows and frightened sheep.
transf.1821Coleridge in Blackw. Mag. X. 261 The fractious noise of the dashing of a lake on its border.
Hence ˈfractiously adv.; ˈfractiousness.
1727Bailey vol. II, Fractiousness. 1736― (folio), Fractiously. 1753J. Collier Art Torment. 159 She will..ask your pardon..for having indulged your own fractiousness. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 54 The treason of Russell is to be attributed partly to fractiousness. 1858Polson Law & L. 99 His fractiousness, and his want of patience. 1878Mrs. H. Wood Pomeroy Ab. (ed. 3) 122 ‘How stupid you are, Bridget!’ she fractiously said. |