| 释义 |
viperish, a.|ˈvaɪpərɪʃ|
[f. viper + -ish.]
1. fig. Venomous, viperous, spiteful.
1755Smollett Quix. (1803) II. 40 Tell me, you viperish scoffer, what you think hath won this kingdom? 1860W. Collins Wom. White iii. narr. W. Hartwright vii, She cast one viperish look at me as I entered the hall. 1880M. E. Braddon Just as I am xlv, He listened to her viperish speech. 1889Spectator 14 Dec. 839 All sorts of characters, from the most malignant and viperish to the noblest and most self-forgetful.
2. Somewhat resembling a viper; viper-like.
1863M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd xv, It seemed as if her footfall had startled some viperish creature. 1873Symonds Grk. Poets vii. 218 [Medea's] viperish loose hair and throbbing skin.
Hence ˈviperishly adv., with the rapid and sinuous motion of a viper.
1870Temple Bar Mag. XXIX. 180 Men..with lissom wrists that can make a foil curl viperishly round an antagonist's blade. |