| 释义 |
▪ I. unbeˈcoming, vbl. n.
(un-2 8.)
1883H. Maudsley Body & Will iii. vii. 317 Are we to look forward to a continued becoming or to an ultimate unbecoming of things? Will evolution on earth go on for ever?
▪ II. unbeˈcoming, ppl. a.
[un-1 10 and 5 d.]
Not becoming or befitting; unsuitable; improper. a. Without const.
1598Florio, Inconueneuole,..vnbeseeming, vnbecomming. 1605Shakes. Macb. iii. i. 14 If he had beene forgotten, It had bene as a gap in our great Feast, And all⁓thing vnbecomming. 1659W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida iii. 187 Some this bold Act of her's Term un-becoming Passion. 1688in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 155 One of his own officers..had provoked Mr. Howard to give him some unbecoming language. 1727Swift To Young Lady Wks. 1755 II. ii. 49 Those of our sex, who presume to take unbecoming liberty before you. 1775Sheridan St. Patrick's Day i. ii, It is very unbecoming in you to want to have the last word with your Mamma. 1816J. Wilson City of Plague ii. i. 209 With frantic outcry and with violent steps Most unbecoming mid the hush of death. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxi. IV. 541 They pointed out..with a grave irony which is not unbecoming, the absurdities..of the statute. 1885Sir J. Hannen in Law Rep. 15 Q.B.D. 143 It would be highly unbecoming if the justices were present when the medical man made his examination.
b. Governing a n. (Cf. become v. 8 b.)
1658Whole Duty Man x. §23 This savageness..is so unbecoming the nature of a man, that [etc.]. 1670Cotton Espernon I. i. 12 An assiduity and diligence unbecoming his Spirit, and Blood. 1749Fielding Tom Jones v. viii, Behaviour, so unbecoming a Christian. a1774Goldsm. Hist. Greece I. 21 They..had a power of arresting..their kings, if they acted unbecoming their station. 1830Scott Pirate vii. note, The woman's dwelling and appearance were not unbecoming her pretensions. 1842Tennyson Ulysses 53 Some work of noble note may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods. 1882Daily News 22 Aug. 6/4 Temper unbecoming of all places the Judgment seat.
c. Const. of.
1741Chesterfield Lett. May, What was not unbecoming of a child would be disgraceful to a youth. c1800R. Cumberland John De Lancaster (1809) II. 254 You must not do what is unbecoming of your situation. 1803Censor 1 Nov. 124 He never offered any thing unbecoming of a man who has serious intentions of wedding a woman. 1862J. F. Stephen Def. Rowl. Williams 180 It would be unbecoming, I think, of the character of any man [etc.].
d. Const. to.
1893Wilde Lady Windermere's Fan iii. 90 There is nothing in the whole world so unbecoming to a woman as a Nonconformist conscience. 1901G. B. Shaw Capt. Brassbound's Conversion ii. 245 Brandyfaced Jack: I name you for conduct and language unbecoming to a gentleman. 1980Washington Post 1 June a17 But to set out to fix blame is..unbecoming to America. 1982Financial Times 21 Aug. 4 Rumours flew about in a manner most unbecoming to the month.
e. ellipt. after a n. in conduct unbecoming (sc. of a military officer); also transf.
1971B. England (title) Conduct unbecoming. 1976Time 5 July 46/3 The Merchant Marine Academy, which classifies copulation in the barracks as conduct unbecoming and worthy of dismissal. 1976Times Lit. Suppl. 6 Aug. 988/4 Conduct unbecoming in a man of letters must be reprimanded. |