| 释义 |
weakling|ˈwiːklɪŋ|
Also 6 weak(e)lyng, weikling, Sc. waykling, 6–7 weakeling.
[f. weak a. + -ling1. Cf. G. weichling effeminate man.]
†1. An effeminate or unmanly person. Obs.
1526Tindale 1 Cor. vi. 9 Nether fornicators,..nether whor⁓mongers, nether weaklinges [µαλακοί; Luther, weichlinge]. 1600Holland Livy xxxiii. xxviii. 840 Men were much deceived to thinke, that so horrible and straunge a murder was committed by such weaklings and persons as they were [qui tam atrocem caedem pertinere ad illos semiviros crederent].
2. A person or animal that lacks physical strength, or is weak in health or constitution.
1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 358 Will you lay a heauie and weightie burthen, vppon the..shoulders of a young beginner, of a weakling, of an infant, which is able to make Demosthenes sincke vnder it, and falter to the grounde? 1579–80North Plutarch, Hannibal (1595) 1143 There it was that Annibals souldiers..became then of valiant men, rancke cowardes: of strong menne weakelings. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 584 Thy selfe art mightie,..My selfe a weakling, do not then insnare me. 1609Holland Amm. Marcell. 133 Hewen in pieces they were pell-mell one with another, armed souldiors and unarmed weaklings, and no regard of sex was made. 1641Milton Animadv. 31 Like a carved Gyant terribly menacing to children, and weaklings. 1684J. S. Profit & Pleasure united 2 It will..cause her [the Cow] to produce weaklings, or unhealthy Calves. 1697J. Puckle New Dial. 33 Of pitiful Weaklings at Land, they come to be hardy, stout, and healthfull Persons. 1822Lamb Elia, Roast Pig, The strong man may batten on him [the pig], and the weakling refuseth not his mild juices. 1850Kingsley Alton Locke iv, Shakspeare was lame; Alfred, a rickety weakling. 1881Besant & Rice Chapl. of Fleet ii. viii, I say nothing for that poor weakling, that hot-house plant, [etc.]. 1889Spectator 27 Apr. 571/2 The caravans must have dropped many dead weaklings, men and beasts alike, in every hundred miles.
fig.1648W. Jenkyn Blind Guide i. 14 So poor a weakling, and so mishapen a monster it [sc. a book] is, that..none will doubt it for his.
3. One who is weak in character or intellect.
1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1121/2 Those honest men that had beene of Throckmortons quest..submitted them-selues, and said they had offended like weakelings. 1616Hayward Sanct. Troub. Soul i. xiv. (1620) 290 What then shall I doe, wretched weakeling? Shall I speake? or shall I be silent? I must not bee silent, and I cannot speake. a1656Hales Serm. Golden Rem. i. (1673) 47 Weaklings are able to begin a quarrel, but the prosecution and finishing is a work for stronger men. 1844Thirlwall Greece lxvi. VIII. 448 If they were men they would be in no want of allies, nor, if weaklings, of masters. 1884Browning Ferishtah i. 28 Should he play The helpless weakling, or the helpful strength That captures prey and saves the perishing? 1896W. Watson Purple East 36 Only the witling's sneer, the worldling's smile, The weakling's tremors, fail him not who fain Would rouse to noble deed.
b. One who is a tiro or unskilled in (a subject).
1575Fleming Virg. Bucol. Ep. Ded. A iij, Leauing nothing vnsifted which might appertaine to the vttermost exposition of these Bucolikes, that weakelinges in Poetrie myght rather be supported then suppressed.
4. One who is weak in the faith or in spiritual attainments.
Common in 16–17th centuries.
1548Udall Erasm. Par. Mark i. 9–11 A ministre..muste..eschew all thinges wherwith the weakelinges may be offended. 1577Hanmer Socr. Schol. Eccl. Hist. iii. vii. 304 Eusebius..confirmed like a cunning Phisicion such as were weakelings in the faith. 1657Owen Commun. with God ii. iii. Digress. ii. 123 We that can doe nothing in our selves, we are such weaklings, can doe all things in Jesus Christ, as Giants. 1865C. Stanford Symb. Christ vii. 201 Many a weakling has thought himself strong.
5. appositive or as adj. Weak, feeble.
1557N. Grimalde in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 102 Hee shall, for man, a weaklyng woman prooue. 1821Lamb Elia, Mackery End, In the days of weakling infancy I was her tender charge. 1848Kingsley Saint's Trag. ii. v, But now to wash Christ's feet were dangerous honour For weakling grace. 1906Times Lit. Suppl. 13 July 246/1 The author does not spare himself, and he does not spare the weakling reader. |