释义 |
groundwork|ˈgraʊndwɜːk| [Cf. MDu. gront-werck (Du. grondwerk), G. grundwerk.] 1. a. The solid base on which an edifice or other structure is built; foundation. Now rare.
c1550Cheke Matt. xxv. 34 Sins y⊇ groundworkes of y⊇ world weer laied. 1562Pilkington Expos. Abdyas 49 Thei could not pearce the hard stones of the grounde worke, beinge so many, harde, depe, and stronge. 1591Spenser Vis. Bellay 99 A riuer swift, whose fomy billowes Did wash the ground⁓work of an old great wall. 1611Tourneur Ath. Trag. v. i. Wks. 1878 I. 136 Like the falling noise of some great building when the ground-worke breakes. 1662J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 5 The Ground-work of it [Cyrus's Palace] is twenty two Geometrical feet in height. 1776G. Semple Building in Water 139 The first Course of the Ground-work. 1891Atkinson Last of Giant Killers 96 They..had dug out the foundations, and got the ground⁓work laid. b. fig. The basis or foundation of something immaterial.
1557N.T. (Geneva) Ep. *iv, The Lord Iesvs, which was the groundeworke and substance therof. 1605Timme Quersit. ii. ii. 108 The groundworke and beginnings of medicine depend upon them. 1631Gouge God's Arrows iii. §33. 243 God's promises are the most proper ground-worke of faith. 1711Addison Spect. No. 62 ⁋8 No Thought can be valuable, of which good Sense is not the Ground-work. 1774Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. App. 139 These..still form the basis or groundwork of the Common law. 1818Scott Rob Roy i, Some things..I must recall to your memory, because..they afford the ground-work of my destiny. 1856Stanley Sinai & Pal. xiii. (1858) 433 A ground⁓work of historical and geographical fact. 1878R. B. Smith Carthage 61 The grand moral qualities which formed the groundwork of the Roman character. †2. = ground-plan. Obs.
1574R. Scot Hop Gard. (1578) 48 The grounde worke hereof is so set out here, that anye Carpenter will easily frame the whole house by the same fygure. 3. a. The body or foundation on which other parts are overlaid, or on which they rest for display, as in embroidery work, painting, and the like.
1655W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. verse 15. x. (1669) 147/1 In needle-work, the sad ground-work is laid before the beautiful colours. 1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 276 Cushions of flower'd Satin, the ground-work thereof Gold and Silver. 1693Dryden Ovid's Met. i. 220 A way there is, in Heavn's expanded plain Which..mortals, by the name of milky, know. The ground-work is of stars. 1875Knight Dict. Mech., Ground-work, the base color on which the painting is performed. 1892E. Reeves Homeward Bound 221 Where there was fine embroidery or other work the effect was spoilt by..common material for ground-work. b. The principal ingredient in anything. rare.
1822Lamb Elia Ser. i. Praise Chimneysweepers, There is a composition, the ground-work of which I have understood to be the sweet wood yclept sassafras. 4. †a. Working in earth (obs.). b. (See quot. 1875.)
1655Mouffet & Bennet Health's Improv. (1746) 292, I permit unto true Labourers and Workmen to feed often..if their Work be Ground-Work or very toilsome. 1875Knight Dict. Mech., Ground-work, the preparation of ground for the foundation of a structure, or giving it the required contour for any other purpose. 5. Cricket. = ground-fielding (ground n. 18).
1898K. S. Ranjitsinhji With Stoddart's Team (ed. 4) iv. 79 The catching of the team was far better than the ground work. 1905Westm. Gaz. 19 Sept. 3/1 The ground⁓work was always splendid, and the throwing a joy to behold. 6. Boxing and Judo. Physical exercises performed by a sportsman whilst lying on the ground.
1906Miyake & Tani Game of Ju-Jitsu (ed. 2) vi. 40 Ground-work cannot be described as systematically as standing work... Ju-jitsu ground-work is merely the proper use of the legs. 1948D. S. Lister Boxing 24 Gymnasium training..consists of..top work, ground work and, of course, boxing. 1954E. Dominy Teach Yourself Judo vii. 77 Groundwork ability is seldom related to the ability of the judoka with the standing up side of the sport. So † groundwork v. trans., to lay the foundations of, to found (nonce-wd.).
c1550Cheke Matt. vii. 25 It fel not for it was ground⁓wrought on a rock. Ibid. xiii. 35 Thinges hiden sins y⊇ world was groundwrought. |