| 释义 |
worthless, a.|ˈwɜːθlɪs|
[f. worth n.1 + -less.]
1. Of things, etc.: Destitute of (material) worth; having no intrinsic value.
1588Shakes. Tit. A. v. iii. 117 Me thinkes I do digresse too much, Cyting my worthlesse praise. 1591― Two Gent. iv. ii. 6 But Siluia is..too holy, To be corrupted with my worthlesse guifts. 1664Dryden Rival Ladies Ep. Ded., My Lord, this worthless Present was design'd you, long before it was a Play. 1693Prior To Hon. C. Montague vii, Scorning at Night the worthless Prey, We find the Labour gave the Joy. 1726Pope Odyss. xviii. 435 A worthless triumph o'er a worthless foe! 1784Cowper Epist. J. Hill 18 Can gold grow worthless that has stood the touch? 1823Scott Quentin D. xxiii, Why should I occasion more bloodshed than has already taken place on so worthless an account? 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 208 The indulgence..was clogged by conditions which made it almost worthless. 1885Manch. Exam. 11 Nov. 3/1 The book seems to us about as worthless as a book can be without being morally offensive.
2. Of persons: Lacking worth or merit; destitute of moral character; contemptible, despicable.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. v. 53 So worthlesse Pezants bargaine for their Wiues, As Market men for Oxen, Sheepe, or Horse. 1611Beaum. & Fl. Maid's Trag. ii. Asp... Perhaps he found me worthless. 1619J. Taylor (Water P.) Kicksey Winsey B 5 b, Seuenthly, and last's a worthy worthlesse crew, Such as heau'n hates. 1671Milton Samson 1020 The Timnian bride Had not so soon preferr'd Thy Paranymph, worthless to thee compar'd. 1713Addison Cato iv. ii, Am I then doom'd to fall By a boy's hand?..and for a worthless woman? 1771Franklin Autobiog. Wks. 1840 I. 68 He was a worthless fellow, though an excellent workman. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxix. 275 They get lazy..and take to drinking, and go all down to be mean, worthless fellows. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xx. IV. 384 A worthless adventurer, whose only recommendation was that he was a Papist. 1881M. E. Braddon Asph. III. 300, I am very sorry that an honest man..should have been fooled by a worthless girl.
absol.a1768Secker Serm. (1770) III. 192 If it brings the Worthless and the Wicked into Credit and Familiarity with their Betters. 1890W. James Princ. Psychol. I. 552 The mode of genesis of the worthy and the worthless seems the same.
†3. Unworthy (in various senses) of something, or of a person. Obs.
1592Greene Philomela Wks. (Grosart) XI. 176 But now thou art valued worthlesse of all thy former honours. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. v. i. 61 A peeuish School-boy, worthles of such Honor. 1602Chettle Hoffman iv. (1631) H 2, The worthy Dutchesse, worthles of this death, Was murder'd. 1639G. Daniel Ecclus. xxi. 79 But the wise Man will scorne soe poore An Act, soe worthles of him.
Hence ˈworthlessly adv.
1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xxxii, Miss Oliver..was..exacting, but not worthlessly selfish. 1883Whitelaw Sophocles, Ajax 1162 Me too it shames to hear Words of a babbler, prating worthlessly. |