释义 |
pitiless, a.|ˈpɪtɪlɪs| [f. pity n. + -less.] 1. Without pity or compassion; showing no pity; merciless. Also fig.
a1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 3306 Out of pitee, growith mercy.., ffor piteeles man can do no mercy. 1556J. Heywood Spider & Fl. lxx. 147 To kepe al from pittelesse strife. 1605Shakes. Lear iii. iv. 29 The pelting of this pittilesse storme. 1703Rowe Ulysses iii. i, The Gods are pityless. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits, Ability Wks. (Bohn) II. 35 In Parliament, the tactics of the Opposition is to resist every step of the Government, by a pitiless attack. 1882J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. II. 274 The spirit of the times was pitiless enough. †2. Receiving no pity; unpitied. Obs. rare.
a1618J. Davies Wittes Pilgr. lxxvii, So, do I perishe pitilesse, through Feare. Hence ˈpitilessly adv.; ˈpitilessness.
1611Cotgr., Atrocement, most cruelly, pittilesly. 1755Johnson, Pitilessness. 1848W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc's Hist. Ten Y. II. 353 He was pitilessly dragged along the passages, up or down the stairs. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. xiv. vii. (1864) IX. 237 Their pitilessness to the poor. |