| 释义 |
self-suˈfficient, a.
[self- 3 b; in sense 1 rendering Gr. αὐτάρκης.]
1. a. Sufficient in or for oneself (itself) without aid or support from outside; able to supply one's needs oneself. Not now of persons.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xii. 22 One God Almightie, euerlasting, and in euery respect selfe suffizant (autharcos). c1645Howell Lett. (1890) I. 41 A compleat self-sufficient Country, where there is rather a Superfluity than Defect of anything. 1702S. Parker tr. Cicero's De Finibus iv. 228 Vertue, it seems, is Self-sufficient to render us as Happy as 'tis possible for us to be. a1706Evelyn Hist. Relig. (1850) I. 411 These books..[which] if they be not written by the dictate of the Holy Spirit,..St. Athanasius assures us are self-sufficient. a1711Ken Hymnarium Poet. Wks. II. 1 Thou self-originated Deity,..Thou Self-sufficient, by thy self didst reign. 1803W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. I. 427 The proportion of paupers to self-sufficient persons, is larger in villages than in cities. 1869F. W. Newman Misc. 184 Syria is a very self-sufficient region. 1897tr. Fichte's Sci. Ethics 223 The truly free and self-sufficient Ego. 1899W. R. Inge Christ. Myst. vii. 267 Physical science..while it keeps to its proper subject..is self-sufficient, and can receive nothing on external authority.
b. spec. Of persons, groups, or nations: able to provide enough of a commodity (as food, oil) to supply one's own needs, without obtaining goods from elsewhere; self-reliant, self-supporting, independent. Freq. const. in.
1932[implied at self-sufficiency 1 a]. 1955K. A. H. Murray Agriculture iii. 40 For countries that are practically self-sufficient in their food requirements.., war or the threat of war may necessitate little or no change in agricultural effort or output. 1973J. & S. Seymour Self-Sufficiency i. 10 More and more people, in all the highly industrial societies, are trying partially to opt out of the big-industry set-up and become less specialized and more self-sufficient. 1977Undercurrents June–July 11/2 If we are to become self-sufficient in food production in Britain we are told that we must eat more grain and less meat. 1978Lancs. Life July 54/2 He was soon back in the Lake District.., becoming self-sufficient through selling his paintings and wood sculptures, doing odd jobs and growing his own food.
2. In an unfavourable sense: Having excessive confidence in oneself, one's powers, etc.; characterized by overweening or self-conceited opinion or behaviour.
1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. II. ii. (1827) 96 Haughty and self-sufficient behaviour. 1824R. C. Dallas Corr. Byron (1825) I. 51 Self-sufficient free-thinkers and witty sophs. 1842S. Lover Handy Andy vii, A self-sufficient jackanapes.
Hence as n. (rare), one that is sufficient in itself (oneself); self-suˈfficientness = self-sufficiency 1 a.
1889Lowell Let. to Mrs. Mitchell 9 Mar., [Philadelphia] was very sweet in its provincial valley of self-sufficientness and contentment. 1909W. James Meaning of Truth xiv. 276 Mr. Russell, and also Mr. Hawtrey..seem to think that in our mouth also such terms..are self-sufficients with no context of varying relation that might be further asked about. 1926I. Brown H. G. Wells iii. 43 They have the Cockney's superb self-mastery, his power to rise to an occasion... Bert Smallways in The War in the Air is another of these admirable self-sufficients.
Add: self-suˈfficiently adv.
1906Somerville & ‘Ross’ Some Irish Yesterdays 81 There was a time, not long ago, when every self-respecting evening paper and most of the magazines had something sufficiently—or self-sufficiently—illuminating to say about Karma or the Mahatma. 1989Newsday 5 May (Weekend Suppl.) 23/1 Bob Benner and his family are homesteading on the 14-acre farm, living self-sufficiently by growing their own vegetables and fruits and raising their own animals. |