| 释义 |
well-bred, ppl. a.
1. a. Of good family and bringing up. Usually: Displaying good breeding; having refined manners; courteous in speech and behaviour.
1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 26 A Gentleman well bred, and of good name. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 2 If my thoughts haue wandred, I must intreat the well-bred Reader to remember, I haue wandred through many deserts. 1652Kirkman Clerio & Lozia 100 Netling speeches, which well-bred women should avoyd as a dangerous Precipice. 1698J. Collier Immor. Stage 60 A well Bred Man will no more Swear than Fight in the Company of Ladies. 1709Pope Ess. Crit. 635 Tho' learn'd, well-bred; and tho' well-bred, sincere. 1752Chesterfield Lett. to Son 19 Sept., The officers,..when of a certain rank and service, are generally very polite, well-bred people. 1781Cowper Conversat. 193 A moral, sensible, and well-bred man Will not affront me, and no other can. 1813Jane Austen Pride & Prej. xlv, Whose endeavour to introduce some kind of discourse proved her to be more truly well bred than either of the others. 1886Ruskin Præterita I. x. 327 The first well-bred and well-dressed girls I had ever seen.
b. of speech, behaviour, etc.
1699Bentley Phal. 251 I'll give him leave to tell me again in his well-bred way, That my head has no Brains in't. 1728Young Love Fame i. 115 It makes dear self on well⁓bred tongues prevail, And I the little hero of each tale. 1784Cowper Task ii. 413 With a well-bred whisper close the scene. 1808M. T. Kemble Day after Wedding 27 You sit at such a well-bred distance from each other, one would swear you had been married 24 years, instead of 24 hours. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. l, Lady Staunton only answered this hint with a well-bred stare, which gave no sort of encouragement. 1867M. E. Herbert Cradle L. vii. 173 His manner was grave to sadness, but extremely well-bred.
2. Of good breed or stock Said of animals.
1805Times 7 Nov. 1/1 To be sold..four capital well-bred hunters. 1815Sporting Mag. XLVI. 118, I knew in their day, runners of fair repute, and as well bred as any horses upon earth. 1849R. T. Claridge Cold Water Cure 202 When the horse is well-bred, and his wind is unimpaired. |