| 释义 |
indecent, a.|ɪnˈdiːsənt|
[a. F. indécent (14th c.), or ad. L. indecēnt-em, f. in- (in-3) + decēnt- decent.]
1. Unbecoming; highly unsuitable or inappropriate († to); contrary to the fitness of things; in extremely bad taste; unseemly.
1563–87Foxe A. & M. (1684) III. 94 It is not..indecent to thy Justice. 1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. (Arb.) 283 The Philosophers [action was] disproportionable both to his profession and calling and therefore indecent. a1674Clarendon Hist. Reb. x. §44 This so positive Declaration of the Prince..made all farther Arguments..not only useless but indecent. 1779–81Johnson Lives, Sydenham Wks. IV. 500 He never betrayed any indecent impatience, or unmanly dejection. 1839Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 82 With indecent haste she gave him her hand. 1879Froude Cæsar xx. 345 It is indecent to owe money to a political antagonist.
†2. Uncomely, inelegant in form. Obs.
1590Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 1 Of all Gods workes..There is no one more faire and excellent, Then is mans body..Whiles it is kept in sober gouernment; But none then it more fowle and indecent, Distempered through misrule and passions bace. 1671Blagrave Astrol. Physic 77 His thighs lean, his feet and knees indecent. 1705J. Logan in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. X. 57 To correct that much..would render it too indecent and ungrateful to the eye. 1743tr. Heister's Surg. 190 They usually occasion indecent Cicatrices.
3. Offending against the recognized standards of propriety and delicacy; highly indelicate, immodest; suggesting or tending to obscenity.
1613J. Chamberlain in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1848) I. 273 If you knew what indecent words have passed in the course of this suit, you would excuse me and think me modest. 1676tr. Guillatiere's Voy. Athens 267 Their Dances were lascivious, their Gestures indecent, and their Songs immodest. 1751Earl of Orrery Remarks Swift (1752) 21 The many filthy ideas, and indecent expressions (I mean indecent in point of cleanliness and delicacy) that will be found throughout his works. 1768Sterne Sent. Journ. (1778) II. 65 (Passport), I have something within me which cannot bear the shock of the least indecent insinuation. 1883C. J. Wills Mod. Persia 322 The costume of the women..is now, when carried to the extreme of the fashion, highly indecent. 1965Times 17 Feb. 17/2 After verdict and before sentence, while the jury were still in court, they had come to the conclusion that neither the films nor the brochure were obscene, but had concluded that they were indecent.
4. Special collocations: indecent assault: an assault (sense 3) of a sexual nature, but not involving rape or attempted rape; used colloq. as a euphemism for rape (Webster, 1934); indecent exposure (see exposure 1 f).
1861Act 24 & 25 Vict. c. 100 §52 Whosoever shall be convicted of any indecent Assault upon any Female..shall be liable..to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour. Ibid. §62 Whosoever..shall be guilty..of any indecent Assault upon any Male Person, shall be guilty of a Misdemeanor. 1938J. Curtis They drive by Night xvii. 190 You want to get pinched for indecent assault, do you? 1956Act 4 & 5 Eliz. II c. 69 §14 It is an offence, subject to the exception mentioned in subsection (3) of this section, for a person to make an indecent assault on a woman. Ibid. §15 It is an offence for a person to make an indecent assault on a man. 1969C. Allen Textbk. Psychosexual Disorders (ed. 2) xxii. 458 The Act does not provide a definition of ‘indecent assault’... In the majority of cases a man..has, without invitation, put his hand up the clothing of an unsuspecting female. 1974Guardian 24 Jan. 7/3 Mr Breredon, at present serving four years for two cases of indecent assault.
Hence inˈdecentness, indecency (Bailey vol. II, 1727). |