| 释义 |
unˈwinnable, a.
[un-1 7 b.]
Not winnable; esp. of fortresses: Impregnable.
1536Bellenden tr. Boece, Descr. Alb. ix. (1541) B vi b, This crag is callit the Bas; vnwynnabill be ingyne of man. 1551R. Ascham Let. Wks. 1865 I. ii. 256 Many castles stand on the tops of these rocks unwinable. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 289 The place quhilk naturalie was wnwinnable,..was..gyuen ouer on condiciounis. 1621Lady M. Wroth Urania 345 The Castle is impregnable, and she vnwinable, and thus his [= the prisoner's] misfortune fell. a1670Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1850) I. 291 The assaillantis fynding the place..vn-wynnable without gryte skaith. 1972D. Halberstam Best & Brightest 495 The war was unwinnable, or at least it was for a civilized government. 1975F. Bresler You & Law 148 What would make the case absolutely unwinnable would be if the tenant was also coloured. 1980Daily Mail 24 Dec. 15/5 The fifth year of his unwinnable Vietnam-style war.
transf.1588A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 23 Giwe me..a valkryffe harte,..a stoute and vnwinnable, that na tribulation may mak veirie. |