| 释义 |
unˈbutton, v.
[un-2 3.]
1. a. trans. To unfasten (buttons); to undo the buttons of (a garment).
c1325Gloss. W. de Bibbesw. in Wright Voc. 149 Unbotone [glossing Tachet]. c1530Redforde Play Wit & Sci. (Shaks. Soc.) 29 Unbuttun thy cote, foole; canst thow do nothyng? 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxix. 113 Hereupon she unbottoned one of the sleeves of a red Satin Gown she had on. 1688R. Holme Armoury iv. xi. (Roxb.) 447/1 The oyntment being thus prepared, the Kings buttons are to be vnbuttoned. 1727Swift Circumcision E. Curll Wks. 1755 III. i. 166 Six Jews..laid hands upon him, and unbuttoning his breeches threw him upon the table. 1829Lytton Disowned 28 The stranger slowly unbuttoned his gaiters. 1891C. Roberts Adrift Amer. 118 Unbuttoning my coat I pulled my six-shooter round handy over my right hip.
fig.1593G. Harvey Pierce's Super. Wks. (Grosart) II. 124 Vnbutton thy vanity, and Vnlase thy folly. 1652J. Wright tr. Camus' Nat. Paradox v. 107 Wee shall never have done contesting..unless I quite unbutton my breast to you. 1830Galt Lawrie T. ii. vii. (1849) 64 Unbuttoning my bosom and showing him all the profitable secrets I had learnt in business. 1892Stevenson Across the Plains 25, I..unbuttoned my wrath under the similitude of ironical submission.
b. With personal object. Also refl.
1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. ii. 3 Thou art so fat-witted with drinking of olde Sacke, and vnbuttoning thee after Supper. 1619R. Jones Serm. Resurr. (1659) 64 Help them, good Women! unbutton the Souldiers, ye need not fear their Halberts. 1650Greaves Seraglio 5 He puts off his uppermost Coat,..then turns up his sleeves, and unbuttoneth himself. 1696Vanbrugh Relapse ii. i, Call a surgeon there.—Unbutton him quickly. 1784Cowper Tiroc. 304 The little ones, unbutton'd, glowing hot, Playing our games.
absol.1725Fam. Dict. s.v. Swoon, The most common way of relieving the Patient, is to throw Water in his Face; to make him lie on his Back, to unbutton or unlace.
c. absol. To undo one's own buttons; also (quot. 1605), to become unbuttoned. Also fig.
1605Shakes. Lear iii. iv. 112 Off, off you Lendings: Come, vnbutton heere. 1664[J. Scudamore] Homer à la Mode 54 Till th' were so cramd with beef and mutton, That every one was faine t' unbutton. a1697Aubrey Lives (1898) I. 110 A man that is buttond or laced too hard, must unbutton before he can be at his ease. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 142 Gluttony stuffs till it pants, and unbuttons and stuffs again. 1817–8Cobbett Resid. U.S. (1822) 201 You are here disgusted with none of those eaters by reputation that are found..in England: fellows that unbutton at it. 1956N. Streatfeild Judith iii. 235 She definitely unbuttoned about her letters. 1978O. White Silent Reach ix. 97 If I cleared you, he'd probably unbutton.
2. transf. To open up or unfold (a bud).
1663Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxxvii, It swells into small knobs or buttons... Suppose you should unbutton it as soon as it swells,..would you not endanger the spoiling of its beauties?
Hence unˈbuttoning vbl. n.
1591Percivall, Desabotonadura, vnbuttoning. 1892Photogr. Ann. II. p. xxxi, With the unbuttoning of a strap..three legs unfold and give us a most rigid Tripod. |