| 释义 |
causeless, a.|ˈkɔːzlɪs|
[f. cause n. + -less.]
1. Having no antecedent cause:
a. fortuitous;
b. not to be explained by any natural cause;
c. antecedent to all causes.
c1386Chaucer Merch. T. 731 Grete God above That knoweth that none act is causeles. 1601Shakes. All's Well ii. iii. 3 They say miracles are past, and we haue our Philosophicall persons, to make moderne and familiar things supernaturall and causelesse. 1712Blackmore Creation i. 18 His causeless power, the cause of all things known.
2. Of persons: That has no cause or excuse for his action (obs.); that has no cause at law.
c1374Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 229 Nowe is he Fals, ellas! and Causelesse, And of my woo he is so rewthelesse. 1598Drayton Heroic. Epist. vii. 161 Love causelesse still, doth aggravate his cause. 1607Bp. Hall Ps. vii, If I..Doe good unto my causeless foe That thirsted for my overthrow.
3. Of acts, etc.: Without cause; for which there is no justifying cause or reason; groundless.
1535Stewart Cron. Scot. 27472 Condampnit for ane causles cryme, But ony falt. 1587Turberv. Trag. T. (1837) 29 The causelesse rigour of the cruell Dame. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxv. §16 And so delivered them from causeless blame. 1649Milton Eikon. Wks. 1738 I. 387 A causeless and most unjust Civil War. a1711Ken Hymns Festiv. Poet. Wks. 1721 I. 348 He ne're inflicts a causeless Pain. 1852Hawthorne Tanglewood T., Dragon's Teeth, The strangest spectacle of causeless wrath.
B. As adv. or in quasi-adverbial construction.
(Often capable of being explained as an adj. in sense 2, qualifying the subject or object of the vb.)
c1374Chaucer Troylus i. 779 What may this be, That thou dispaired art, thus causelesse? a1400–50Alexander 3190 Than kest þam twa of his kniȝtis him causeles to spill. c1440Partonope 4923 He hath betrayed me Causeles. 1533More Debell. Salem i. Wks. 934/2 My selfe was not cause⁓lesse there moued to fynde fawte. a1555Lyndesay Trag. 11 Murdreist at Rome, causles and creuellie. 1606G. W[oodcocke] tr. Ivstine's Hist. 93 b, The causles banished men. 1611Bible 1 Sam. xxv. 31 Either that thou hast shed blood causelesse. 1671Milton Samson 701 [They] causeless suffering The punishment of dissolute days. |