| 释义 |
impracticable, a. (n.)|ɪmˈpræktɪkəb(ə)l|
Also 7 inp-.
[f. im-2 + practicable: cf. F. impraticable (16th c.).]
1. Not practicable; that cannot be carried out, effected, accomplished, or done; practically impossible.
a1677Barrow Serm. (1810) I. 252 To attempt things impossible or impracticable. 1696Lond. Gaz. No. 3226/2 Finding that design inpracticable. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. 244 Such distrust would render the exercise of that power precarious and impracticable. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxv. 182 Balmat pronounced the passage impracticable.
2. That cannot be put to use or practically dealt with; unmanageable, intractable, unserviceable.
a. Of things generally.
1717S. Clarke Leibnitz' 5th Paper 181 The Fiction of a material finite Universe, moving forward in an infinite empty Space, cannot be admitted. It is altogether unreasonable and impracticable. 1821Craig Lect. Drawing ii. 113 The colours become stiff and impracticable soon after they are applied. 1838W. Irving in Life & Lett. (1866) III. 123 Millions of acres which might..have remained idle and impracticable wastes.
b. Of roads, districts, etc.: Incapable of being used for passage; impossible to pass along, over, through, or to; impassable or inaccessible.
1653Cromwell Sp. 4 July in Carlyle, The way they were going in would be impracticable. 1711Addison Spect. No. 165 ⁋5 They took Post behind a great Morass which they thought impracticable. 1847Grote Greece ii. xl. (1862) III. 435 The pass appeared impracticable. 1871L. Stephen Playgr. Europe iii. (1894) 78 Cliffs so steep as to be perfectly impracticable.
c. Of persons, or their dispositions, etc.: Incapable of being ‘managed’, influenced, or persuaded; impossible to deal with or get on with; intractable, stubborn.
1713Rowe Jane Shore i. i, And yet, this tough impracticable Heart Is govern'd by a dainty-finger'd Girl. 1768Goldsm. Good-n. Man ii. i, A poor impracticable creature! 1809Malkin Gil Blas x. xi. (Rtldg.) 377 Scipio..is one of those impracticable beings, on whom good example, good advice, and a good horsewhip, are equally thrown away. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. vii. 203 Fisher must have been a hopelessly impracticable person.
B. as n. An impracticable person: see 2 c.
1829Bengalee 13, I was looked upon as an utter impracticable. 1870Emerson Soc. & Solit. ix. 187 Then the heady men, the egotists..the steriles, and the impracticables. |