释义 |
▪ I. retiring, vbl. n.|rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ| [-ing1.] 1. The action of the verb in various senses: a. In intransitive uses.
1548Elyot, Recessus, goyng awaie or backe; retyryng. 1601Holland Pliny ii. xxxv. I. 39 By the retiring and going backe of the sea. 1604E. Grimstone Hist. Siege Ostend 62 In their retiring there were many of them stayed. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xviii. §4 Soon after his retiring, he ended his life. 1707Sir W. Hope New Method Fencing iv. 122 Breaking of Measure is but a Genteel Term Sword-Men have given to a Moderat Retiring, or Giving of Ground. 1730A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 406 The Retiring of the Wall..is both towards the inner-side and the out-side too. 1808Helen St. Victor Ruins of Rigonda III. 6 Previous to my retiring, I was employed in my vespers. 1861G. Chapman Art Fencing 16 Retiring is, however, occasionally performed by first withdrawing the right [foot]. b. In transitive uses.
1594I. G. Di Grassi's Arte of Defence O ij b, Without any other retyring of himselfe. 1599B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. ii. i, Supplies for retyring of his old ward-robe from pawne. 1681Stair Institut. i. vii. 80 An Executor for whom simple retiring of the Bond will not be sufficient without Discharge or Assignation. 2. attrib. a. Of places: Devoted to retirement or privacy.
a1586Sidney Arcadia i. (1605) 8 Hard by was a house of pleasure built for a sommer retiring place. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 494 Downham where the Bishop hath his retyring House with a Parke. 1621H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 11 The Prynce came and wente into his retyringe roomes, and having putt on his roabes went and mett the King. a1700Evelyn Diary 8 Feb. 1645, It was once the retyring place of Julius Cæsar. 1719De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 412 [The] handsome Rooms..which..served as Closets or retiring Rooms. 1778Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2), Havering at Bower, Essex,..was the ancient retiring-place of the kings of England. 1818Scott Br. Lamm. xxvi, The cooper's house was so roomy, that each guest had his separate retiring room. 1884Pall Mall G. 14 May 4/1 The erection of public retiring rooms for both sexes in the streets. b. Consequent upon, or connected with, retirement from office or employment.
1837Lockhart Scott II. iii. 84 In those days there was no system of retiring pensions for the worn-out functionary of this class. 1855Thackeray Newcomes viii, Binnie had his retiring pension, and, besides, had saved half his allowance ever since he had been in India. 1859Russell Diary India (1860) I. 87 They say..that every Indian officer has a right to a good retiring allowance. 1919Rep. Departmental Comm. Old Age Pensions App. 153/1 in Parl. Papers (Cmd. 411) XXVII. 299 The retiring age in this case is 50, but, providing the consent of the company is obtained, members are not bound to retire at that age. 1945‘G. Orwell’ Animal Farm iii. 26 There was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal. 1973G. Greene Honorary Consul v. v. 329 If you were in the Service you would have passed the retiring age quite a while ago. c. Connected with retirement (from a room, etc.).
1880Meredith Tragic Com. (1881) 152 He delivered his retiring bow to the Frau von Rüdiger's shoulder. 1901Scotsman 1 Mar. 7/3 A retiring collection after a concert. ▪ II. retiring, ppl. a.|rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ| [f. the vb. + -ing2.] 1. That retires, in various senses of the verb.
c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. cvii. viii, How many mounting winged tree For traffique leave retiring land? 1604Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 455 The Ponticke Sea, Whose Icie Current, and compulsiue course, Neu'r keepes retyring ebbe. 1690tr. Blancard's Phys. Dict. 2 Abductores Musculi,..the retiring brauwns. 1707Sir W. Hope New Method Fencing iv. 124 Several Warlike Nations have made use of a Retiring and Flying way of Fight, as a thing of singular Advantage. 1796Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 208 A retiring line may also throw back a wing,..by the echellon march, or some other of the modes already prescribed. 1817Shelley Rev. Islam iii. xiv, The far sound Of their retiring steps. 1853Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxi. (1856) 271 So high that, with its retiring flanks on either side, it can be none other than the projecting Cape Warrender. 1890Gross Gild Merch. I. 146 To appoint the retiring mayor of the town mayor of the staple. 2. Characterized by retirement; reserved, shy.
1766Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wm. (1767) I. iii. 96 The retiring graces have been always the most attractive. 1832Lytton Eugene A. i. vii, So retiring a nature as his might never have harboured love. 1861Smiles Engineers II. 280 He was an exceedingly modest, unpretending, and retiring man. Comb.1859F. Francis Newton Dogvane (1888) 60 A fair, retiring-looking girl, with chestnut hair. Hence reˈtiringly adv.
1861Meredith Evan Harrington III. viii, She answered, retiringly: ‘Indeed I cannot say’. 1885Sat. Rev. 12 Dec. 769 Sir William..was not at all to the fore, but, on the contrary, very retiringly to the back. |