| 释义 |
unˈhandsome, a. (and adv.)
[un-1 7. Cf. WFris. on-, ûnhânsum inexpert, unmanageable, Du. and Flem. onhandzaam (earlier -saem) intractable, unusable, older Da. uhandsøm.]
1. Not handsome, elegant, or graceful; faulty in appearance, form, or structure; plain, uncomely.
1530Palsgr. 328/1 Unhansome,..mausade. 1579E. K. Gloss to Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Nov. 51 Not comed, that is rude and vnhansome. 1589Horsey Trav. (Hakl. Soc.) App. 343, I was placed in an howse verie unhandsoom [and] unholsoom. 1648J. Beaumont Psyche xvi. clxxxix, Who ever thought the Rose or Lilie stood Guilty of course unhandsom Nakednesse, Because they never put on borrowed Hood? 1695Phil. Trans. XIX. 152 This was formerly no unhandsom Structure, being built in the form of our Churches. 1781P. Beckford Hunting (1802) 49, I could tell you that I have seen very good sport with very unhandsome packs. 1789Gibbon Autobiogr. (1854) 43 A narrow, gloomy street, the most unfrequented of an unhandsome town. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xiv, Both dressed in the ancient Saxon garb,..not unhandsome in itself. 1866R. Tate Brit. Mollusks iv. 142 Helix rotundata is provided with not an unhandsome shell. 1895Sir G. Parker Trail of Sword viii, A large unhandsome house.
b. Of persons, their features, etc.
a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. xix, I was glad I had done so good a deede for a Gentlewoman not unhandsome. 1631A. Townshend Albion's Tri. 22, I was as loath to be brought vpon the Stage as an vnhansom Man is to see himselfe in a great Glasse. 1653R. Sanders Physiogn. 144 Socrates was the most nasty and unhandsom of all men living. 1709Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1720) II. 215 This spruce, affected, not unhandsome Lawyer had maid the Overture of his fair Person to Corinna. 1787W. Thomson tr. Hist. Gt. Brit. iii. I. 121 Being generally well-shaped, and not unhandsome. 1826Q. Rev. XXXIV. 331 It was hard to say whether he was more dunce or dwarf, more unlearned or unhandsome. 1887A. Elliot Old Man's Favour ii. i, A dark, unhandsome..face.
c. As adv. Unhandsomely.
1596Spenser F.Q. v. xii. 38 Such were these Hags, and so vnhandsome drest.
†2. Unhandy, inconvenient, ill-adapted. Obs.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John ix. 67 The night (perdy) is unhansome to woorke in. 1567Palfreyman Baldwin's Mor. Philos. To Rdr., If I should haue ioyned the said number of sentences to the whole sum of this treatise, it should..haue seemed..the more vnhandsome of the reader to be carried. 1608Topsell Serpents 270 These kindes of Spyders haue..shorter feete, and more vnhandsome to worke or finish any Webbes in their Loomes. 1690Nesse O. & N. Test. I. 451 A loose, discinct, and diffluent mind is unready, unnimble, unhandy, and unhandsome for Gods service.
†3. Inexpert, unskilful. Obs.—1
1604Shakes. Oth. iii. iv. 151, I was (vnhandsome Warrior, as I am) Arraigning his vnkindnesse with my soule.
4. Unfitting, unbecoming, unseemly; discourteous, mean.
1645Chas. I in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 317 The treuth is, that his unhansom quitting the Castell and Forte of Bristol, hath inforced me to put him off those Commands. 1658in Verney Mem. (1907) II. 83 Let mee conjure you not to doe a thing soe unhandsom, soe unmanly. 1729Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 II. 18 It is barbarously unhandsome that one should be the butt of the company. 1799Dundas in Owen Wellesley's Desp. (1877) 700 It was an unhandsome proceeding upon their part. 1810Sporting Mag. XXXVI. 234 What he thought unhandsome conduct on the part of the plaintiff. 1856G. Wilson Gateways Knowl. (1859) 96 To employ one's tongue..to speak against itself is but unhandsome treatment of it.
b. Of expressions, language, etc.
1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. v. §263 To countenance those unhandsome expressions..they had found a new way of exprobration. 1656Hobbes Six Lessons Wks. 1845 VII. 331, I leave it to your consideration to whom belong..the unhandsome attributes you so often give me. 1704Lond. Gaz. No. 3987/2 Their Commander, having used some unhandsome Expressions, was detained. 1732Neal Hist. Purit. I. 187 It was reported that some of the warmer Puritans had turned the Habits into ridicule, and given unhandsome language to them that wore them. 1814Jane Austen Mansf. Park xxi, Lest it should betray her into any observations seemingly unhandsome.
c. Not generous or liberal.
1800E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. III. 109 I'll take her without a sixpence; which, let me tell you, I think no unhandsome offer.
†5. Unfortunate; unhappy. Obs.
1633Fletcher & Shirley Night-Walker i. i, I know she loves him..Beyond the Indies in his mouldy Cabinets, But 'tis her unhandsome fate. 1657W. Coles Adam in Eden To Rdr., Sundry unhandsome dysasters have happened to the ruine of many.
†6. Unpleasant, nasty. Obs.
1660Jer. Taylor Ductor i. v. rule 8 §28 Like unhandsome and ill-tasted physick, it is against nature in the taking and in its operating. |