| 释义 |
vulpine, a.|ˈvʌlpaɪn|
[ad. L. vulpīn-us, f. vulpēs fox: see -ine1. So obs. F. vulpin (16th cent.), Sp. vulpino, It. volpino.]
1. Characteristic of a fox; similar to that of a fox.
1628Feltham Resolves ii. [i.] xii. 34 There is an innocentiall prouidence, as well as the slynesse of a vulpine craft. 1828Lytton Pelham lxix, Round those vulpine retreats was a labyrinthean maze of wrinkles, vulgarly called crows feet. 1847Helps Friends in C. i. i. 12 A very close vulpine nature, all eyes, all ears, may succeed better in deceit. 1865Sat. Rev. 4 Feb. 146/1 Men of business glide about in glossy black cloth, with vulpine features, and hands as brown as a mummy. 1894J. A. Steuart In Day of Battle i, A vulpine calculation and duplicity marked all his doings.
2. Resembling a fox; spec. in vulpine opossum or vulpine phalanger.
1789Phillip Voy. Botany Bay xv. 150 Vulpine Opossum. This is not unlike the common fox in shape, but considerably inferior to it in respect to size. 1865Chambers's Encycl. VII. 459/2 The Vulpine Phalanger (P. vulpina), also called the Vulpine Opossum. c1880Cassell's Nat. Hist. III. 225 The Vulpine Phalanger, an animal with long loose fur, which inhabits New South Wales, Western Australia, and North Australia.
b. fig. Cunning, sly.
1830Fraser's Mag. I. 599 How cunningly the vulpine Cantab has shapen his phraseology.
3. Consisting of foxes.
1849W. S. Mayo Kaloolah vi. (1850) 56 Which [food] soon brought numerous lupine and vulpine visitors. 1887Field 19 Feb. 233/2 Sparrow Gorse..seems to offer small inducement to the vulpine fraternity.
4. Of or pertaining to a fox or foxes.
1854Thoreau Walden (1884) 293 Sometimes one came near to my window, attracted by my light, barked a vulpine curse at me, and then retreated. 1885Field 3 Oct. 501/1 A singular instance of vulpine sagacity and daring was witnessed.
Hence ˈvulpinism, foxy character.
1851Carlyle Excurs. Paris in Last Words T.C. (1892) 187 A healthy Human Animal, with due beaverism (high and low), due vulpinism, or more than due. 1858― Fredk. Gt. ix. v. (1865) II. 457 He was without guile, and had no vulpinism at all. |