| 释义 |
ironical, a.|aɪˈrɒnɪkəl|
[f. as prec. + -al1.]
1. Of the nature of irony or covert sarcasm; meaning the opposite of what is expressed.
1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 237 note, He was (belike) some Pomilio or litle dwarfe, and that made him to use this eironical method. 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 665 Another kinde there seemes to be of ironicall praise, opposite unto the former; namely, when semblant is made of blame and reproofe. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. Democr. to Rdr. (1676) 14/1 Democritus..was so far carried with this ironical passion, that the Citizens of Abdera took him to be mad. 1707Reflex. upon Ridicule 222 They praise themselves..and drink like Nectar, the ironical Encomiums that are made them. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xii, ‘Your reasons are indeed such as cannot be doubted’, replied the lady with an ironical smile. 1853Macaulay Biog., Atterbury (1867) 8 Boyle..paid, in his preface, a bitterly ironical compliment to Bentley's courtesy.
2. That uses or is addicted to irony.
1589Nashe Pref. to Greene's Menaphon (Arb.) 6 Some deepe read Grammarians, who..take vpon them to be the ironicall censors of all. 1793Beattie Moral Sc. iv. i. §1. II. 464 Socrates used it so happily..that he got the name of ὁ ειρων, or the ironical philosopher. 1848W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc's Hist. Ten Y. I. 337 Ostrowski was dignified, Lelewel ironical and inflexible.
†b. transf. ? Mockingly imitative. Obs.
1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 2 [Apes] are held for a subtill, ironicall, ridiculous and unprofitable Beast..of the Grecians termed Gelotopoios, made for laughter.
†3. Dissembling; feigned, pretended. Obs. rare.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. iv. 14 The circle of this fallacie is very large, and herein may be comprised all Ironicall mistakes; for intended expressions receiving inverted significations, all deductions from metaphors, parables, allegories, unto reall and rigid interpretations. 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. iv. (1840) 115 So much force is ironical righteousness.
Hence iˈronicalness, ironical quality.
1775in Ash. 1846in Worcester. |