| 释义 |
entrenchment, intrenchment|ɛn-, ɪnˈtrɛnʃmənt|
[f. entrench v. + -ment.]
1. a. The action of enclosing within trenches.
In mod. Dicts.
b. concr. That which is formed by entrenching; a line of trenches, a post fortified by trenches; loosely, a fortification. Also fig., spec. the establishment of constitutional safeguards by entrenched clauses.
α1590Spenser F.Q. ii. xi. 6 Seven of the same against the Castle gate In strong entrenchments he did closely place. 1649Cromwell Lett. 17 Sept., They got ground of the enemy, and by the Goodness of God, forced him to quit his entrenchments. 1670Cotton Espernon i. iv. 166 A great Ditch, which the torrent of Land floods had worn, and hollow'd into the form of a regular entrenchment. 1772Pennant Tours Scotl. (1774) 74 A strong entrenchment on a steep and lofty clay cliff. 1813Wellington in Gurw. Disp. XI. 177 The 52nd regiment..carried the entrenchment with the bayonet. 1847Emerson Repr. Men, Napoleon Wks. (Bohn) I. 372 A thunderbolt in the attack, he was found invulnerable in his entrenchments.
β1622F. Markham Bk. War v. iv. 175 Intrenchments, fortifications, places of approach. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. (1702) II. vii. 357 He Besieged them in their own Intrenchment. 1732T. Lediard Sethos II. x. 371 To surprize him in the middle of his intrenchments. 1796Burke Corr. IV. 353 Had your miserable slanderers been there, to make an intrenchment of their worthless carcasses.
fig.c1630B. Jonson To Inigo Marquis Would-be, When thou..canst of truth the least entrenchment pitch. 1741Middleton Cicero I. ii. 147 Had forced the entrenchments of the Nobility. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. II. 27 This sally on a weak point of Mrs. Wilfer's entrenchments. 1876E. Mellor Priesth. viii. 385 The sacerdotalists have here an intrenchment from which they can never be dislodged. 1961Ann. Reg. 1960 92 The only entrenchment in the Constitution was that guaranteeing the equal status of the two official languages, English and Afrikaans.
†2. The action of trenching upon something; encroachment, intrusion. Obs.
1649Selden Laws Eng. i. (1739) 202 Kings looking upon this as an intrenchment upon their Prerogative. 1684Charnock Attrib. God (1834) I. 760 All the speeches of men..are intrenchments upon God's wise disposal of affairs. 1691–8Norris Pract. Disc. IV. 182 An intrenchment upon Publick Decency. a1694Tillotson Serm. xl. (1742) III. 159 A high entrenchment upon the office of, etc. |