| 释义 |
insufficient, a. (n.)|ɪnsəˈfɪʃənt|
[a. OF. insufficient (14th c., Oresme; cf. insuffisant), or ad. L. insufficient-em, f. in- (in-3) + sufficient-em sufficient.]
Not sufficient.
†1. Of a person: Of inadequate ability or qualification; unfit; incompetent. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Sompn. T. 252 Holde ye thanne me or elles oure Couent To praye for yow been insufficient? c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 240 Which of mysilfe am insufficient To rekne or count. 1494Fabyan Chron. ii. xlviii. 31 The .ii. sonnes beforenamed of Lud were to yonge or insuffycyent for to take on hande so great a charge. 1562Ld. Bacon in Strype Ann. Ref. (1709) I. xxvi. 256 Some of those that were ministers were much insufficient. 1596Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 647/2 Soe as the bishop..may justly rejecte them as incapable and insufficient. 1657Burton's Diary (1828) II. 58 An ordinance for the ejection of scandalous, ignorant, and insufficient ministers and schoolmasters.
†b. Not having enough of some thing; inadequately provided with money, possessions, etc.
1426Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. (E.E.T.S.) 10739 They be mor Rude than am I, And mor ek insuffycyent Off konnyng, as by jugement. 1427–8Waterf. Arch. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 294 If ony of the saide citsayns be insufficiente..in the saide actione of dette. 1591Lambarde Archeion (1635) 211 Then shall that Clarke both make Fine to the King, and satisfie the partie hurt (if he be able)..But if the Clarke be insufficient, then is the Sheriffe himselfe to answer for him. 1620J. Wilkinson Coroners & Sherifes 2 Hee is insufficient in lands.
2. Of a thing: Deficient in force, quality, or amount; lacking in what is necessary or requisite; inadequate. insufficient answer: see quot. 1848.
1494Fabyan Chron. vii. 314 The maters of obieccion were, by hym and his courte, thought insuffycient. 1586A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 120 Men..whose demeanors are to vertue wholly insufficient. 1642Rogers Naaman 581 Who beleeve not promises according to the intention of them: They make them weaker and insufficienter then they are. 1692Dryden Eleanora Ded., But a single hand is insufficient for such a harvest. 1772Junius Lett. lxviii. 347 Even these provisions were found insufficient. 1848Wharton Law Lex. s.v. Insufficiency, An answer in Chancery is said to be insufficient when it does not specifically reply to the specific charges in the bill. 1879G. C. Harlan Eyesight viii. 115 Good artificial light is much to be preferred to insufficient daylight.
†b. Wanting in strength or stability. Obs.
1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 243 The reason of so many insufficient Buildings, is the using of the Morter, as soon as 'tis made.
B. n.
†1. Insufficiency. Obs.
1494Fabyan Chron. vii. 301 Consyderynge the insuffycyent of Englysshe men & other. Ibid. vii. 549 The sayde kynge Rycharde, knowynge his owne insuffycient, hath..renouncyd and geuen vp the rule and gouernaunce of this lande.
†2. An unfit or incompetent person. Obs.
1654Whitlock Zootomia 433 Some of Abilities..have been no more esteemed than worthlesse Insufficients.
Hence † insuˈfficientness, personal unfitness, incompetence, incapacity.
c1585Cartwright in R. Browne Answ. 93 Giuing the people warning of their corruptions and insufficientnesse. 1727in Bailey vol. II. |