| 释义 |
unˈstrung, ppl. a.
[f. unstring v., or un-1 8 b.]
1. Having the string(s) relaxed or removed:
a. Of a harp, etc.
1598Florio, Scordato,..put out of tune, vnstrung. 1633[? F. Davison] Ps. 137 iii, Our mute harpes, untun'd, unstrung, Up wee hung On greene willowes. 1694Prior Hymn to Sun viii, 'Till Nature's Musick lyes unstrung. 1738Wesley Ps. cxxxvii. ii, Our Harps..We cast aside, untun'd, unstrung. 1820Byron Juan v. xxxvi. (MS.), As silent as an unstrung drum. 1821Shelley Adonais xxxvi, The song, Whose master's hand is cold, whose silver lyre unstrung. 1871Macduff Mem. Patmos 333 The unstrung tuneless harp.
transf.1613Campion Descr. Lords Maske Wks. (1909) 99 The good old Sage is silenc't, her free tongue That made such melodie, is now vnstrung. 1646Crashaw Steps Temple, Ps. 137 21 O may at once my tongue Lose this same busie speaking art, Unpearch't, her vocall Arteries unstrung. 1784Cowper Task ii. 728 His voice, unstrung, Grew tremulous, and mov'd derision more Than rev'rence.
b. Of a bow. Also = not strung.
1744W. Whitehead Atys & Adrastus 259 Behind him hung His rat'ling Quiver, and his Bow unstrung. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) II. 209/2 Now the long-bow (when unstrung) may be most conveniently covered. 1831James Phil. Augustus I. iv, His features..had expanded like an unstrung bow. 1856FitzGerald Salámán (1879) 69 Salámán Call'd for an unstrung Bow—himself the cord Fitted unhelpt.
2. Weakened, relaxed; unnerved.
1692Dryden Don Sebastian v. iii, These Sinews are not yet so much unstrung, To fail me. 1746Hervey Medit. Among Tombs 57 The Nervous Arm is unstrung; the brawny Sinews are relaxed. 1794R. J. Sulivan View Nat. II. 49 In the Sirocco wind at Naples,..the whole system is unstrung, and the nerves seem to lose..their tension. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xxix, It gave new tone to my unstrung nerves. 1866Le Fanu All in Dark v, Their entertainer remained behind unstrung and melancholic. |