| 释义 |
unˈwish, v.
[un-2 3.]
1. trans. To retract, cancel, or abrogate (a wish, choice, etc.).
1594Southwell Mary Magd. Funeral Tears 48 b, If that wish had taken effect, I would now vnwish it again. a1639W. Whately Prototypes ii. xxiv. (1640) 12 Had not Job cause to unwish his former wishes. 1651N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. xxxiv. 267 Who..lived to disdesire and unwish their former choise by late repentance. 1853C. M. Yonge Heir of Redclyffe i, ‘Never was a more absurd wish,’ said Charles..; ‘unwish it forthwith’. 1864Miss Smedley Linnet's Trial II. iv. i. 222, I hope you won't un-wish your wish as soon as it is gratified.
absol.1881C. M. Yonge Lads & Lasses Langley ii. 110 Frank was left to wish and unwish.
2. To make an end of by wishing; to wish away or annihilated. Also refl.
1599Shakes. Hen. V, iv. iii. 76 Now thou hast vnwisht fiue thousand men: Which likes me better, then to wish vs one. 1658Sir T. Browne Hydriot. v. 71 The most tedious being is that which can unwish it self, content to be nothing, or never to have been. 1697Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. 179 Were I sure never to be pleased, my next Business should be to unwish my self, and pray for Annihilation.
b. To wish or desire (a circumstance or thing) not to be.
1628Quarles Argalus & P. ii. 71 Performe, performe what now it is too late, T' unwish againe, too soone to violate. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. x. 38 To desire there were no God, were plainly to unwish their owne being. 1709O. Dykes Eng. Prov. & Refl. (ed. 2) 170 Crack'd Maiden-heads cannot be set together again, like broken China,..by unwishing the Misfortune. 1821Byron Sardan. iv. i. 275 Do not poison all My peace left, by unwishing that thou wert A father. 1876R. Broughton Joan i. xxviii, What we wish to-day, often we unwish to-morrow.
c. refl. To seek to remove (oneself) from a particular class or category by wishing; to wish not to be something.
1615Hall Contempl., O.T. ix. vii, How many shall un⁓wish themselves Christians, when God's revenges have found them out! 1633T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter ii. 10 At that dreadfull day how many shall unwish themselves Christians?
Hence unˈwishing vbl. n.
1699R. L'Estrange Fables ii. lxxii. 69 This Levity, of Wishing, and Unwishing, is..the Great Bus'ness and Mistake of Humane Life. |