| 释义 |
indiˈstinctness
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality or condition of being indistinct; obscurity, dimness. (In reference to either sensuous or mental perception.) a. As a quality of the object: Incapability of being clearly perceived or understood.
a1727Newton (J.), According to the indistinctness of this picture [in the bottom of the eye], the object will appear confused. 1785Reid Intell. Powers v. ii. (1803) 123 If we attend to the cause of this indistinctness, we shall find, that it is not owing to their being general terms, but to this, that there is no definition of them that has authority. 1827Whately Logic (1845) Introd. 33 The ambiguity or indistinctness of Terms. 1880E. White Cert. Relig. 35 There is a certain indistinctness in her outlines.
b. As a quality of perception or thought: cf. indistinct 3 b.
1783Blair Rhetoric x. I. 186 The obscurity which reigns so much among many metaphysical writers is, for the most part, owing to the indistinctness of their own conceptions. 1783Johnson Lett. to Mrs. Thrale 19 June, I felt a confusion and indistinctness in my head, which lasted I suppose about half a minute. 1837Whewell Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857) I. 185 The indistinctness of thought which is so fatal a feature in the intellect of the stationary period. |