| 释义 |
sinecure, n. and a.|ˈsaɪnɪkjʊə(r), ˈsɪn-|
Also 7 sine cura, 7–8 sine-cura, sine cure, sine-cure.
[ad. L. sine cūrā in the phrase beneficium sine cūrā (see def.), from sine without, cūrā abl. sing. of cūra care. F. sinécure is from Eng. In Scotland and America, and hence generally, the first vowel is freq. pronounced short.]
1. An ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls.
α1662Bagshaw in Acc. Baxter's Suspension 45, I hope the Bishop will be so Charitable as to provide a Sine-Cura for him. 1676Degge Parson's Counsellor (1681) 197 Parsonages, Vicarages and Sine Cura's. 1706Phillips (ed. 6), Sine-Cura, or Sine-cure, a Benefice without Cure of Souls.
β1672Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 8 He can not have deserved less than a Prebend for his first Book, a Sine-cure for his second. 1700Dryden Fables, Charac. Good Parson 71 The publick fair..Where bishopricks and sine cures are sold. 1748Lind Lett. Rel. Navy (1757) III. 131 The Island has..a chaplain; but for some years past it has been made a Sine Cure. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. 386 When the clerk so presented is distinct from the vicar, the rectory thus vested in him becomes what is called a sine cure; because he hath no cure of souls. 1850H. Martineau Hist. Peace v. iv. (1877) III. 241 This act abolished many ecclesiastical sinecures. 1862Goulburn Pers. Relig. iv. iv. (1873) 278 The spirit of the age is to..hate and abolish sinecures.
†b. An income derived from such a benefice.
1700T. Brown tr. Fresny's Amusem. iii. Wks. 1709 III. i. 22 The Residentiary's Stalls, whose Owners made a Sine Cure of 400 l. per Annum.
2. Any office or position which has no work or duties attached to it, esp. one which yields some stipend or emolument.
1676Wycherley Pl. Dealer v. i, Well, a Widow, I see, is a kind of a sine cure. 1705Hearne Collect. 26 Nov., He..makes y⊇ Place in a manner a sine-cure; as most other Publick Readers do. 1766Entick London IV. 368 The magistracy of the city of London have adopted this ward only as a sine cure for the senior alderman. 1800Colquhoun Comm. Thames viii. 272 Many of the best institutions moulder into Sinecures. 1841Miall in Nonconf. I. 553 If all men were under the influence of religion government would be a sinecure. 1885‘E. Garrett’ At Any Cost vi, Grace's duties were never oppressive, but on Sunday they were a sinecure.
3. attrib. or as adj.
a. Of the nature of a sinecure; involving no duties or work.
1761Ld. Barrington in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 432, I never could myself understand the difference between a Pension and a Sinecure Place. 1791T. Newte Tour Eng. & Scot. 360 It was not Mr. Pultney's intention to erect a sine⁓cure place. 1810Bentham Packing (1821) 61 By means of sine-cures in general, and judicial sine-cure offices in particular. 1861A. Beresford-Hope Eng. Cathedr. 19th C. 277, I must strongly plead for the simultaneous creation of a chapter however sinecure for the present. 1868J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. I. 22 Royal blood seems to have been thought ample excuse for a complete sinecure life. 1889Gretton Memory's Harkback 158 Martinsthorpe, a sinecure living, which consists of one ancient house and some half dozen occupants.
b. Holding or enjoying a sinecure.
1812L. Hunt in Examiner 12 Oct. 643/1 The Courtiers, the Sinecure-men,..who grow rich from what empties our pockets. 1844Stephen Comm. Laws Eng. ii. i. III. 76 A sinecure rector, or rector without cure of souls. 1871M. Collins Marq. & Merch. II. v. 128 The little sinecure governess came face to face with her master.
Hence ˈsinecure v. trans., to appoint to, place in, a sinecure (Ogilvie Suppl. 1855); also ˈsinecured ppl. a.
1832Lincoln Herald 20 Nov. 4/3 Mr. Brougham, the Lord Chancellor's sinecured brother. |