| 释义 |
indistinct, a. (n.)|ɪndɪˈstɪŋkt|
[ad. L. indistinct-us, f. in- (in-3) + distinctus distinguished, distinct: cf. F. indistinct (1549 in R. Estienne).]
1. Not distinct or distinguished from each other, or from something else; not kept separate or apart in the mind or perception; not clearly defined or marked off.
(In quot. 1871 with mixture of sense ‘Not distinguished or celebrated, without distinction’: cf distinct a. 5.)
1604T. Wright Passions v. §4. 199 What shall I say of..three sacred persons in Trinitie, distinguished really, and yet indistinct essentially? 1612Selden Illustr. Drayton's Poly-olb. i. (R.), The Gauls, Cimmerians and Celts, under indistinct names,..over-ran Italy, Greece, and part of Asia. 1658Phillips, Indistinct, not distinguisht or known one from another. [1871Ruskin Fors Clav. ix. 12 The rest of the candidates for distinction, finding themselves, after all their work, still indistinct, think it must be the fault of the police, and are riotous accordingly.]
2. In active sense, of judgement or action: Not distinguishing between different things; undiscriminating, indiscriminate. Now rare or Obs.
1650Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iii. xxv. (ed. 2) 144 Some in an indistinct voracity eating almost any, others out of a timorous preopinion refraining very many. 1794Gifford Baviad 74 Fools who, unconscious of the critic's laws, Rain in such show'rs their indistinct applause. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 15 The use of the relative and antecedent is more indistinct..than in the other writings of Plato.
3. Not seen or heard so as to be clearly distinguished or discerned, or to present a clear distinction of parts; confused, blurred; hence, faint, dim, obscure. (Also transf., e.g. from speech to the speaker.)
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. iv. [v.] (Arb.) 87 The most laudable languages are alwaies most plaine and distinct, and the barbarous most confuse and indistinct. 1726–46Thomson Winter 632 The city swarms intense. The public haunt, Full of each theme, and warm with mixt discourse, Hums indistinct. 1764Reid Inquiry vi. §22 (R.) According as they are more distant..their minute parts become more indistinct, and their outline less accurately defined. 1839Longfellow Hyperion ii. iii, The objects around them grew indistinct in the fading twilight. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India I. 247 He.. was awakened by the indistinct noise of the approaching multitude. 1887Nature 21 Apr. 581/1 The Oldhamia is often indistinct.
b. Of the act of perception or mental impression, or a faculty by which something is perceived.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 186 But this fayth..was not sufficyent: for it was imperfyte & indistincte. 1780T. Francklin tr. Lucian, True Hist. (1887) 135 We had a view, but confused and indistinct, of the Island of Dreams. 1781Cowper Conversat. 539 Their views indeed were indistinct and dim. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 275, I have an indistinct recollection of his mentioning a complex Cretic rhythm.
c. as n. Something indistinctly perceived. rare.
1880G. Meredith Tragic Com. (1881) 173 The woman who had become the radiant indistinct in his desiring mind was one whom he knew to be of a shivery steadfastness. |