| 释义 |
unconˈtrollable, a.
[un-1 7 b and 5 b.]
†1. Incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable.
1577tr. Bullinger's Decades iii. ix. 460 That diuine saying of Sainct Peter remaineth for euer vncomptroleable. 1602Warner Alb. Eng. Epit. (1606) 362 It is to be noted, as warranted out of vncontrowlable authours, that [etc.]. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. vi. i. 273 His labours are rationall, and uncontroulable upon the grounds assumed. 1673Cave Prim. Chr. iii. iii. 304 He makes it an uncontrolable Argument of the Truth. 1701Swift Contests Nobles & Comm. i, The error of those, who think it an uncontrollable maxim, that power is always safer lodged in many hands than in one. 1738― Pol. Conversat. Introd. 74.
2. Not subject to control from a higher authority; absolute.
1593G. Harvey Pierce's Super. Wks. (Grosart) II. 180 Armed with that supreme & Vncontrowlable authoritie, which they affect in causes Ecclesiasticall. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 526 His sentence in matters of Law and Religion is uncontrollable. 1672Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 140 He had vested them with an..unlimited power, and uncontroulable in the Government of Religion. 1711Steele Spect. No. 167 ⁋3, I have grasped imaginary Scepters, and delivered uncontroulable Edicts. 1752Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 39 Authority..can never..become quite entire and uncontroulable. 1809M. Edgeworth Manœuvring xv, She had an uncontroulable right to marry as she thought proper. 1836J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. ii. 49 The power of the Creator over all his creatures is entirely uncontrollable.
b. In quasi-adverbial use.
a1704T. Brown Praise Drunkenness Wks. 1730 I. 35 Consider whether 'tis not the Drunkard, that..acts so uncontroulable as the Gods themselves.
3. That cannot be controlled or restrained.
1648R. Josselin Diary (1908) 54 The wofull uncontroulable encrease of all manner of wickedness. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 262 Cardarigas..fancies to himself that they were brought thither by some uncontroulable destiny to be destroyed. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. i. 2 His natural imperiousness and fierce and uncontroulable temper. 1823Scott Quentin D. ix, His horse, seizing the bit with his teeth, went forth at an uncontrollable gallop. 1846McCulloch Acc. Brit. Empire (1854) II. 629 Poverty and misery produced by accidental and uncontrollable causes. 1879H. C. Wood Therap. 570 Hydrophobia is a perfectly uncontrollable disease.
absol.1754Richardson Corr. (1804) IV. 89 Dr. Young is another uncontrollable, therefore unaccountable. 1819Shelley Ode West Wind 47 The impulse of thy strength, only less free Than thou. O uncontrollable!
Add:B. n. A person or thing (esp. a factor) that is uncontrollable or unpredictable. Cf. sense A. 3 absol.
1977Daily Tel. 13 Apr. 17/3 Cheshire is trying to switch these uncontrollables from one school to another. 1981Bank Marketing Dec. 23/2 Economic turmoil, political crises, war, peace, flood, and famine are uncontrollables. 1986Parl. Affairs XXXIX. iii. 307 Budget officials often refer to the major spending programmes authorised by welfare state legislation as ‘uncontrollables’. 1988Communications (U.S.) Feb. 53/1 If paging companies look at creative ways to turn ‘uncontrollables’ into long-term customers, the financial impact is dramatic. |