| 释义 |
▪ I. nimble, a. (and adv.)|ˈnɪmb(ə)l|
Forms: α. 1 nǽmel, 4 nemel, -il, 5 nemyl(l(e, nemble, 6 neem-, neamble, 9 dial. neamle. β. 1 numol, -ul, numel, 5 nymyl, -el, 6 Sc. nymill, 9 dial. nimmel, nummle; 5 nymbyll, 5–6 nymble, Sc. nymbil, nimbill, 6– nimble.
[The α-forms appear to represent OE. nǽmel (found only once), f. *nǽm-, ablaut-variant of the stem (*nem-) of niman to take, nim v. + -el, -le 1. The β-forms represent the more usual OE. numol, -ul, -el (cf. also scearpnumol efficacious), f. the ppl. stem num- of the same verb. The OE. evidence is, however, very scanty, and the word only becomes common after the original sense had been obscured.]
†1. Quick at grasping, comprehending, or learning; hence, clever, wise. Obs.
αc1000in Napier Contrib. O.E. Lex. (1906) 47 He wearð þa swiðe næmel þurh þæs Halᵹan Gastes ᵹife, þæt on litle firste he oferþeah his mæᵹester on wisdome. 1483Cath. Angl. 251/2 Nemylle; cavtus; vbi wyse.
βa1000Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 198 Capax, qui multum capit, andᵹetul, gripul, numul. c1000ælfric Gram. ix. (Z.) 69 Capax, numol oððe ᵹefyndiᵹ. c1440Promp. Parv. 356/2 Nymyl, capax.
†2. Quick to seize or take hold of one. Obs.—1
c1000in Napier Contrib. O.E. Lex. (1906) 49 Swa swa deaðes geferan, swa forfleoh þu þæt numele win [L. mordax vinum].
3. Quick and light in movement or action; agile, active, swift, rapid.
a. Of persons, animals, or things.
nimble lizard, the common or viviparous lizard.
αa1300Cursor M. 21528 Of he kest al to his serk, To mak him nemel [v.r. nemil] til his werk. a1400–50Alexander 1065 Þar was na man so nemyll þat him hit couthe. c1430Lydg. Order Fools 108 in Bk. Precedence 83 A biche Nemyl of mouthe for to mordyr A hare. a1450Fysshynge w. Angle (1883) 8 Þus schall ye make yow a rode..and hyt wyl be lyȝt & nemyll [1496 nymbyll] to fysche with. a1500Sir Beues (M) 2252 Syr Beuys was bothe nemble and wyght And start away from his dynt. 1535Coverdale Wisd. vii. 24 For wiszdome is neembler then all neemble thinges. 1570Levins Manip. 208/23 Neamble, agilis. 1828Craven Gloss. s.v., As neamle as a cat on a haat backstone.
β1470–85Malory Arthur viii. xxvi. 312 Sire Tristram was lyght and nymel and voyded his hors lightely. 1509Fisher Funeral Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 304 It [the risen body] shall be more nymble..then is any swalowe. 1529More Dyaloge i. Wks. 153/2 As the hande is the more nymble by the vse of some feates. a1547Surrey æneid ii. 1057 Like nimble windes, and like the flieing dreame. 1587Fleming Cont. Holinshed III. 1544/2 These were chosen of the strongest and nimblest men. 1609Rowlands Crew Kind Gossips 3 Swift report hath very nimble wings. 1648Burrell Cordial 3 Being nimbler then the nimblest of them, he escaped. 1670Cotton Espernon ii. viii. 409 Those of his followers who were nimblest of Foot. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 72 The rogues were too nimble for him and had got to his boat before him. 1782Cowper Gilpin 78 Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed. 1833H. Martineau Charmed Sea iv. 53 She..climbed a neighbouring pine like the nimblest of squirrels. 1857Willmot Pleas. Lit. xv. 82 His nimble hand ranges over the keys. 1875Buckland Log-bk. 89, I am as nimble as most of them, and a deal nimbler.
transf.1623Lisle ælfric on O. & N. Test. Pref. 19 Our language is..become the fairest, the nimblest, the fullest. 1742Young Nt. Th. iv. 807 That hour, so late, is nimble in approach. 1781Cowper Conversat. 152 Their nimble nonsense takes a shorter course.
b. Of actions, motion, qualities, etc.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. (Arb.) 303, I haue seene him runne vp a paire of staires so swift and nimble a pace. 1627Lisander & Cal. iii. 53 With his nimble strength..[he] lifted them both up from the ground. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 73 The passive Air upbore Thir nimble tread. 1728Pope Dunc. i. 183 (Globe), As clocks to weight their nimble motion owe. 1794Cowper Moralizer Corrected 20 Proceeding with his nimblest pace.
transf.1681Relig. Clerici 30, I believe the nimble Confession of Nathaniel..was better approved of by Christ, than the..deliberate advances of Judicious Nichodemus.
c. Of ships: Fast and easily handled.
1588Exhort. Faithful Subjects in Harl. Misc. (1800) II. 100 Look to the amending and new building of ships. Make them strong, light, and nimble for the battle. 1627Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ix. 43 Shee is a nimble ship that in..tacking about will not fall to the Lee-ward of her wake. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 77 Antiochus should surrender his long ships..; and not have more than ten nimble Gallies. 1704Lond. Gaz. No. 4001/3 The Enemy being a more nimble Sailer, got away from her. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. ii. 376 As the Roman galleys..were neither very nimble nor easy to work.
d. Applied to coins or sums of money, indicative of brisk circulation or return in business; chiefly in nimble ninepence.
1851Mayhew Lond. Labour (1864) II. 263/1 The ‘nimble ninepence’ being considered ‘better than the slow shilling’. 1860Emerson Cond. Life, Wealth Wks. (Bohn) II. 351 The farmer's dollar is heavy, and the clerk's is light and nimble. 1883C. Reade in Harper's Mag. June 94/2 He often sold his purchase on the road, for the nimble shilling tempted him. 1894Sir J. D. Astley 50 Years Life II. 68 Not a bad instance of the nimble ninepence.
4. a. Of the mental faculties: Quick or ready in devising, designing, etc.; acute, alert.
1589[? Lyly] Pappe w. Hatchet E ij b, If thy vaine bee so pleasant, and thy witt so nimble, that all consists in glicks and girds. 1600Holland Livy vii. xiv. 258 Having a subtle wit and nimble head. 1638Junius Paint. Ancients 62 Invited and drawne on by..their nimble Imaginations. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. 31 The faculties of the mind..grow thereby the more vigorous and nimble. 1701W. Wotton Hist. Rome 270 He was a man of very nimble and dextrous parts. 1839Ld. Brougham Statesmen Geo. III, Ser. ii. 58 A subtlety so nimble, that it materially impaired the strength of his other qualities. 1885Manch. Times 7 Feb. 5/5 The less nimble wits and the less educated intellects.
b. Of persons: Quick or ready-witted.
1604T. Wright Passions Pref., The Italians..become very nimble in the managing all affaires. c1645Howell Lett. (1650) I. 253 There was there for the Queen, Gilpin, as nimble a man as Suderman. 1851Carlyle Sterling ii. v, Every way a very human, lovable, good and nimble man. 1893Liddon Life Pusey I. 361 Whateley, indeed, was a nimble dialectician.
c. Cleverly or smartly contrived.
1602W. Fulbecke Pandects 1 A briefe definition and verie nimble, if it be nimbly vnderstood. 1625B. Jonson Staple of N. iii. i, I do admire this nimble ingine, Picklock. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 95 ⁋2, I was..initiated in a thousand low stratagems, nimble shifts, and sly concealments. 1868Kinloch Ballad Bk. 29 (E.D.D.), For the nimble trick to the Friar she play'd.
5. a. Quick or ready at or in (or to do) something.
a1591H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 144 Judas was nimble to betray Christ. 1628Feltham Resolves ii. xxxviii. 117, I know, wise men are not too nimble at an injurie. 1633Ford Broken H. iv. iv, Nimble in vengeance, I forgive thee. 1686A. Horneck Crucif. Jesus xiv. 342 Make me..nimble in religion without lightness. a1703Burkitt On N.T. Luke xxii. 32 Our Intercessor is full as nimble and speedy in our suit for us, as Satan is..against us.
†b. Of physical agents: Acting rapidly. Obs.
1671Salmon Syn. Med. iii. x. 345 You may give nimble purging Physick. 1683Robinson in Ray's Corresp. (1848) 138 [Volatile alkalies] destroy those nimble acids. 1744J. Paterson Comm. Milton's P.L. 288 Nimble mercury or quicksilver dissolved.
†c. Of actions: Taking place quickly. Obs.—1
1707Mortimer Husb. (1721) II. 332 This is said..to contribute much towards the nimble Precipitation of the Fæces.
†6. n. pl. Cant. The fingers. Obs. rare—1.
1621B. Jonson Gipsies Metam. Wks. (Rtldg.) 619/2 Lay by..using your nimbles In diving the pockets.
7. In special collocations, as nimble-chaps (or -chops), a talkative person (now dial.); so † nimble-chop, talkative; nimble-come-quick a., of rapid growth; nimble Dick, dial. (see quot.); nimble-fingers, a juggler (nonce-wd.); † nimble Jack, an elusive person; nimble-pimble v. intr. (nonce?), to behave in a sentimental or trifling manner (toward); † nimble-tail (see quot.); nimble-tailor, dial. (see quots.); nimble Will, U.S. a slender grass, Muhlenbergia schreberi, found in the central United States and sometimes used for pasture.
1614J. Cooke Greene's Tu Quoque c, Yes, *nimble-chappes; what say you to that? 1673Wycherley Gent. Dancing-Master iii. i, How now, Mrs. Nimblechaps.
1662Hibbert Body Divinity ii. 146 All the *nimble-chop Jesuites..labour in vain to prove Peter prince of the apostles.
1863Kingsley Water-Bab. viii, The hugest and softest *nimblecomequick turnip you ever saw.
1887Kentish Gloss., *Nimble Dick, a species of horse fly or gadfly, differing somewhat from the Brims.
1781C. Johnston Hist. J. Juniper II. 158 Here you, master *nimble-fingers!..let us have some of your tricks to divert us.
1682Bunyan Holy War 387 Mr. Unbelief was a *numble Jack, him they could never lay hold of.
1927D. H. Lawrence Let. 6 Feb. in E. & A. Brewster D. H. Lawrence: Reminisc. & Corr. (1934) 115, I feel an infinite disgust at the idea of having to be there while the fools *nimble-pimble at the dialogue.
a1661B. Holyday Juvenal (1673) 69 The silurus being a vile fish,..I render it, for defect of a proper name for it with us, a *nimble-tail. Ibid. 255 With half a stinking nimble-tail.
1854A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., *Nimble-tailor, a field-pea. 1879G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk., Nimble Tailor, the Long-tailed Tit⁓mouse.
1816D. Thomas Jrnl. 10 July in Travels through Western Country (1819) 168 He pointed out to me a grass, of which I had heard much, known through all the western country by the name of *nimble Will. 1817S. R. Brown Western Gazetteer 109 This is the short, nutritious grass called ‘nimble will’, which has completely overspred with astonishing celerity, almost every spot of waste or uncultivated ground. 1847Darlington Amer. Weeds, etc. (1800) 375 Spreading Muhlenbergia. Drop-seed Grass... It is said to be known in Kentucky by the name of ‘Nimble Will’. 1865Trans. Illinois Agric. Soc. V. 863 The Muhlenbergia diffusa, or Nimble Will, is a common grass, which is rather known as a troublesome weed. 1894J. M. Coulter Bot. W. Texas iii. 523 Nimble Will... Dry hills and woods, northern Texas and northward.
8. Comb., as nimble-brained, nimble-eyed, nimble-feathered, nimble-headed, nimble-heeled, nimble-jointed, nimble-mouthed, nimble-pinioned, nimble-spirited, nimble-throated, nimble-tongued, nimble-toothed, nimble-winged adjs. See also nimble-fingered, -footed, -witted.
1836–48Walsh Aristoph., Clouds i. iv, Subtile disputes with *nimble-brained men.
1628Feltham Resolves ii. xxi. 69 His malice makes him *nimble-eyed.
1624Gataker Transub. 80 This *nimble-headed Doctor wanteth not an evasion for it.
1719D'Urfey Pills V. 7 Such *nimble Heel'd Witnesses never were known.
1591Spenser Muiopotmos 121 Being *nimbler joynted than the rest.
1836–48Walsh Aristoph. 176 note, Before thy *nimble-mouthed tongue-grievousness.
1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. v. 7 Therefore do *nimble-Pinion'd Doues draw Loue.
1599B. Jonson Ev. Man. out of Hum. ii. i, These be our *nimble-spirited catsos, that..will run over a bog like your wild Irish.
1930Blunden Poems 310 The girls are quicker, more *nimble-throated.
1608Dekker Belman of London Wks. (Grosart) III. 79 An old *nymble-tongd beldam. 1700T. Brown tr. Fresny's Amusem. 47 A nimble-tongu'd painted Sempstress. 1836–48B. D. Walsh Aristoph., Clouds i. v, Bold, nimble-tongued, impudent. 1951Essays in Criticism I. ii. 165 She [sc. Mrs. Behn]..is nimble-tongued indeed at the expense of a military fop who was ready to damn her play.
1860Wynter Curios. Civiliz. 138 The grating..is eaten through by this *nimble-toothed burglar.
1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. ii. 346 [She] doth also feed th' air's *nimble-winged guests. 1960S. Plath Colossus (1967) 37 Each thumb-size bird Flits nimble-winged in thickets.
9. a. quasi-adv. Nimbly.
1568Satir. Poems Reform. xlviii. 44 Bayth thik and nymill gais the spwle. c1600Shakes. Sonn. cxxviii, Those jacks that nimble leap To kiss the tender inward of thy hand. 1631Celestina 196 That I may runne away the nimbler. 1683Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xxiv. ⁋6 That they may all perform their several offices the easier, lightlier, and nimbler. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 151, I turned much nimbler back again. Ibid. III. 94, I turned nimble upon him. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 210 Mr. Micklewhimmen..came running as nimble as a buck along the passage.
b. Comb., as nimble-moving, nimble-shifting, nimble-stepping.
1591Spenser Teares of Muses 34 The joyous Nymphes..Did learne to move their nimble-shifting feete. 1777Potter æschylus, Prom. Bd. 21 With light foot now this nimble-moving seat..I leave. 1845Mrs. Norton Child of Islands (1846) 158 Thou supple-limbed and nimble-stepping slave.
▪ II. ˈnimble, v. Now rare.
[f. prec.]
†1. trans. To make nimble or supple. Obs.
1581Mulcaster Positions x. (1887) 58 Certaine preparatives for nimbling, and spreding the vocall powers. Ibid. xvi. 75 We thinke it [dancing] beseemeth children best, to enable, and nimble their iointes therby. 1643Trapp Comm. Gen. xlvi. 5 His joynts oyled and nimbled.
†2. To do hastily. With up. Obs. rare—1.
1612[see nimbling vbl. n. below].
3. intr. To move nimbly.
1598,1640[see nimbling ppl. a.]. 1827Clare Sheph. Cal. 64 The squirrel..Who nimbles round from grain to grain. 1938E. Bowen Death of Heart ii. ii. 191 She nimbled in with the tray.
Hence ˈnimbling vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1598Marston Sco. Villanie iii. ii. 227 Torquatus, that nere op't his lip But in prate..Of the nimbling tumbling Angelica. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus iii. 5 The priuate nimbling vp of the matter in corners by some Priest or Minister. 1640in Fuller Abel Rediv., Luther (1651) 46 Conserve with care, what ever is thine owne, Mischance sure footed comes like th' nimbling Hart. |