| 释义 |
loosener|ˈluːs(ə)nə(r)|
[f. as prec. + -er1.]
1. One who loosens or makes loose.
1843Browning Blot in 'Scutcheon ii. Wks. 1896 I. 343/1 No loosener O' the lattice. 1852R. A. Coffin tr. Liguori's Glories of Mary (1868) 87 Loosener of my bonds..listen to my prayers.
2. Something which serves to loosen anything.
1630R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlem. (1641) 99 Immoderation is a loosener of the sinewes and a lessener of the strength. 1643Caryl Sacr. Covt. 5 It is a loosner of affection. 1684tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. i. 9 It is not good to use looseners, as Apples, Prunes..frequently. 1784Jefferson Corr. Wks. 1859 I. 334 The most powerful looseners of the bands of private friendship. 1871R. Ellis tr. Catullus ii. 13 The golden apple..Late-won loosener of the wary girdle.
Add:3. a. Cricket. A ball delivered early in a spell, while the bowler is ‘loosening up’ before settling into a regular rhythm. b. transf. A deliberately easy round, question, etc., occurring early on in a contest; a warm-up.
1962Times 24 May 4/3 Graveney was caught off the first ball after tea. It was a loosener from Platt before he took the new ball. 1982M. Brearley Phoenix from Ashes v. 61/1 Botham, with his third ball, which was little more than a loosener, had Wood lbw. 1986Sports Illustr. 27 Oct. 90/3 First balls from fast bowlers tend to be just looseners. 1987Shooting Life Spring 5/1 Few ardent game shooters bother with the clays..other than as a pre-season loosener. 1992Independent 24 Feb. 8/6 The early stages were deceptively simple, a few looseners about classic films and novels which all of us got right. |