释义 |
riddance|ˈrɪdəns| Also 6 ryddance, -aunce, -aunse. [f. rid v. + -ance.] 1. Removal, clearance; an instance of this; a clearing out, scouring. a. In phr. to make (clean, etc.) riddance.
1535Coverdale Zeph. i. 18 He shall soone make clene ryddaunce of all them that dwell in the londe. 1577B. Googe Herebach's Husb. ii. (1586) 83 b, You must make this riddance of the Rootes at euery fall of the leafe. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 577 The old Vice-Roy maketh quicke and cleane riddance of all Vtensils. 16822nd Plea for Nonconformists 19 It is not good, that a general Riddance should be made of all Dissenters. 1784Cowper Task v. 70 Clean riddance quickly made, one only care Remains to each—the search of sunny nook. b. In other uses.
1577–87Holinshed Chron. I. 202/2 From the time of the first entrance of the Danes into this realme, vntill their last expulsion & riddance. 1606Holland Sueton. 92 The skouringe and riddance of the workehouse prisons. 1667Milton P.L. iv. 632 Those Blossoms also, and those dropping Gumms,..Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease. 1762R. Guy Pract. Obs. Cancers 34 It is in vain to expect an effectual Riddance of the Water by opening the Vesicles. 1855Bain Senses & Int. ii. iv. §3 Coughing and sneezing..are also involuntary; that is, the mechanical irritation works the riddance of itself. †c. A means of removal. Obs.—1.
1567J. Maplet Gr. Forest 90 b, This bird profiteth ægipt verie much, and is the best riddance or conueiaunce that they haue of..discommodities..brought by Serpentes. †2. Clearance of goods by sale. Obs.—1
1545Brinklow Compl. (1874) 11 What maketh ryddance or good sale so moch, as whan a comodyte is at a pryce resonable? †3. a. Progress or dispatch in work. Obs.
1581Mulcaster Positions v. (1887) 33 Writing being ones perfectly goten doth make a wonderful riddance in the rest of our learning. 1608Willet Hexapla Exod. Ded., The nether milstone is heauie, slow, and of small riddance. 1657Trapp Comm. Neh. iii. 20 A ready heart makes riddance of God's work. 1683Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xi. ⁋1 It would be troublesom and tedious..for the Press-man, and would hinder his usual riddance of Work. 1725Family Dict. II. s.v. Root-grafting, The Work may be done with great Riddance..within doors. 1763Mills Pract. Husb. IV. 32 This hoeing..may be performed with a wider hoe, for the sake of greater riddance. †b. Progress or advance in moving. Obs.
1598R. Bernard tr. Terence, Eunuch v. iii, I see thee stirre, but thou makest no riddance. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 61 In like cases ships use to draw them selves in, by the casting and weighing of Anchors, with great labour, and slow riddance of way. 1647Trapp Comm. Heb. xii. 12 A drooping spirit makes no riddance of the way. 4. Deliverance or rescue from something.
1591Spenser Daphnaïda 364 Els surely death should be no punishment,..But rather riddance from long languishment. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xxvii. §1 Deliverance from sudden death, riddance from all adversity. 1682Norris Hierocles 66 By the care of Providence an utter riddance and delivery from it. 1886Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. cxliv. 11, 12 Riddance from the wicked, and the gracious presence of the Lord are sought [etc.]. 5. a. A deliverance which consists in getting rid of something. Freq. with adjs., as good, happy. Also transf., something of which one gets rid.
1596–1676 [see b]. 1694Kettlewell Comp. Persecuted 102 Give them comfort under their sufferings, and in thy due time an happy riddance thereof. 1827Scott Jrnl. II. 4 God send honest industry a fair riddance. 1844Thirlwall Greece VIII. lxii. 147 The loss of so many captives was treated as a happy riddance. 1861Dickens Gt. Expect. xlii, Compeyson took it easy as a good riddance for both sides. 1867― Dr. Marigold, His mother indignantly declared that a girl who could so conduct herself was indeed a good riddance. b. In interjectional phr. a good († fair, gentle) riddance. Also in phr. good riddance of (or to) bad rubbish.
1596Shakes. Merch. V. ii. vii. 78 Portia adew... Por. A gentle riddance. c1613Middleton No Wit like Woman's ii. iii, Low. They've given thee all the slip. Mis. Low. So, a fair riddance! 1676G. Etherege Man of Mode ii. ii, Loveit. Call him again. Pert. E'n let him go, a fair riddance. 1742Young Nt. Th. ii. 119 We..all expedients tire, To lash the ling'ring moments into speed, And whirl us (happy riddance!) from ourselves. 1782E. N. Blower Geo. Bateman III. 7 In less time than whilst one could cry—‘A good riddance’. 1847Dickens Dombey (1848) xliv. 438 A good riddance of bad rubbish!.. Get along with you, or I'll have you carried out! 1863C. Reade Hard Cash xxxii, She is turned away—for sauce—and a good riddance of bad rubbish. 1883‘Annie Thomas’ Mod. Housewife 35 ‘As soon as his master comes home he shall go.’ ‘A good riddance too,’ she said morosely. 1924M. Irwin Still she wished for Company xviii. 220 If all they say downstairs is true..it's good riddance to bad foreign rubbish. 1928S. Sassoon Mem. Fox-Hunting Man viii. ii. 287 It may well be wondered how the Hunt had survived the despotism of the old-world grandee, with whom previous Masters had been obliged to cooperate (as ‘best Master we've ever had’ while they reigned, and ‘good riddance of bad rubbish’ when they resigned). 1975Times 4 July 5/3 The American War of Independence..can be seen, as George III consoled himself by looking at it, as good riddance to bad rubbish. 1977H. Fast Immigrants ii. 110 A dead Chinese was good riddance to bad rubbish. |