| 释义 |
▪ I. ˈoverˈflowing, vbl. n.
(stress var.)
[f. overflow v. + -ing1.]
1. The action of the verb overflow; an overspreading or covering with water; an inundation.
1530Palsgr. 250/1 Overflowyng with water, inundation. 1629Drayner Conf. (1647) B, In Meddowes, over-flowings will doe good. 1846Grote Greece (1862) II. xx. 481 The overflowings of the Nile.
fig.1540Bible Ps. xviii. 3 The ouerflowinges [1611 floods] of vngodlynesse made me afrayed.
2. The action of flowing over because the containing vessel is too full; also, that which flows over; hence, excess, superfluity, superabundance. Esp. in phr. (full or to fill) to overflowing: more than full, so as to overflow.
1573–80Baret Alv. O 174 An ouerflowing, a superfluous abunding. 1615Latham Falconry (1633) 103 The ouerflowing of the gall, a disease that most Hawkes are subiect vnto. 1778W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric. 28 Aug. an. 1776, Some over-flowings of clover, I ordered to be made into a square cock for the cart-horses. 1857C. Brontë Professor i, I anticipated no overflowings of fraternal tenderness. 1879R. A. Sterndale Afghan Knife II. vii. 69 In the meantime fugitives kept pouring into the house, which was full to overflowing. 1898Skeel & Brearley King Washington (1899) xii. 75 The boys..were filled to over⁓flowing with the excitement of the hour. 1920H. M. Pim Short Hist. Celtic Philos. v. 62 They might have produced a Tartarus, and filled it to overflowing. 1961Washington Post 1 June a24 The jails were filled to overflowing with political prisoners who had incurred his displeasure.
▪ II. ˈoverˈflowing, ppl. a.
(stress var.)
[-ing2.]
That overflows: in the senses of the verb; flowing over the brim; superabounding, exuberant, etc.
c1020Rule St. Benet lxi. (Logeman) 102 Ᵹif bið ᵹemet oferflowende oððe leahterfull. c1450tr. De Imitatione iii. lxiii. 148 Fulfilled wiþ so gret loue of þe godhede & so ouer⁓flowing ioy. 1611Bible Jer. xlvii. 2 Waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood. a1614Donne βιαθανατος (1644) 188 To expresse the abundant and over⁓flowing charitie of our Saviour. 1876Bancroft Hist. U.S. II. xxiv. 118 Benevolence gushed prodigally from his ever overflowing heart.
Hence overˈflowingly adv.; overˈflowingness (in ME. = luxury, extravagance).
c1175Lamb. Hom. 115 Ȝif heo edmodnesse habbeð and ouerflowendnesse forletað. 1648Boyle Seraph. Love xiv, The goods, which he so overflowingly abounds with. 1854Tait's Mag. XXI. 333 Wilson was brimfully, nay, over⁓flowingly, imbued with the poetic element. 1883G. Meredith Let. 30 Oct. (1970) II. 718, I have been hearing from Will of your radiant overflowingness. |