| 释义 |
unˈanswerable, a.
[un-1 7 b.]
†1. Wanting in correspondence or agreement; discrepant, dissimilar. Obs.
1611Florio, Inrispondéuole, vnanswerable. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 86 His good will was much, but the success unanswerable. 1674N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 133 Another man..may make over the beginnings of manliness.., with a liveliness no ways unanswerable.
†b. Const. to. Also quasi-adv. Obs.
(a)1614W. B. Philosopher's Banquet (ed. 2) 244 A man of so large a stature and bodie,..a woman so small and vnanswereable therevnto. 1616J. Hayward Sanct. Troub. Soul i. xv. (1620) 325, I yeeld thee praises (O Lord) although base and bare, and farre vnanswerable to thy deserts. 1660Seas. Exhort. 13 Our barrenness and unanswerable walking to the Gospel of Christ.
(b)1657Austen Fruit Trees ii. 93 When the enemies of God see professours..behave themselves unanswerable to their profession, these things reflect even upon God. 1670Devout Commun. (1688) 175, I have walked..unanswerable to those multiplied obligations laid upon me.
2. That cannot be answered; not admitting of an answer.
1613Purchas Pilgrimage ix. xv. 747 A Bishop in America hath written a large and vnanswerable Treatise of the..vnchristian Antichristian proceedings in the new World. 1690C. Nesse O. & N. Test. I. 29 The unanswerable argument of [i.e. for] his knowledge and wisdom. 1709Berkeley Th. Vision §1 A new and unanswerable proof of the Existence and immediate Operation of God. 1796F. Burney Camilla viii. x. IV. 379 Edgar sighed, but acknowledged this question to be unanswerable. 1814Byron Corsair ii. xv, Oh! too convincing—dangerously dear—In woman's eye the unanswerable tear! 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxviii, A solving of all moral problems by an unanswerable wisdom! 1894M. Dyan Man's Keeping (1899) 271 She never plied him with embarrassing, unanswerable questions.
3. Unable to answer; irresponsible.
1884Manch. Exam. 21 July 4 He committed the offence..whilst suffering from a fit, and unanswerable for his acts. |