| 释义 |
single-handed, a.
[f. single a. 19.]
1. a. Of actions: Carried on or performed by one person, ship, etc., alone or unaided, or by one person on each side.
1709Brit. Apollo No 18. 2/2 Q. D. and T. play at single handed whisk. 1818Scott Rob Roy xxxix, Rashleigh..maintained a desperate and single-handed conflict with the leader of the band. 1824Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. (1863) 129, I shall never forget one single-handed course of our good friend's favourite little bitch Helen. 1840Marryat Poor Jack xlvii, They had two single-handed encounters. 1881Encycl. Brit. XII. 808/2 Despite the single-handed exertions of Lieutenant..Edwardes.
b. Adapted for using with one hand.
1834Medwin Angler in Wales I. 172 Do you use a single or double-handed rod?
c. = single-hand a. 1.
1886Field 30 Jan. 140/1, I should not advise any topmast for a single-handed sailing boat.
2. a. Working alone or unassisted; without the aid, help, or support of others; by one's self; unaided, unsupported. Also passing into adv.
1768Ann. Reg. i. 57 Many journeymen weavers, distinguished by the names of single-handed weavers. 1815Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 249 We have beaten them single-handed at sea. 1840Thirlwall Greece lv. VII. 100 Rome, single-handed, could not long have withstood such an army. 1877Creighton Age of Elizabeth v. i, He was surrounded by an atmosphere of suspicion, and..stood single-handed. 1900J. Slocum Sailing Alone around World xxi. 272 On the 4th of June, 1898, the Spray cleared from the United States consulate, and her license to sail single-handed, even round the world, was returned to her for the last time. 1939G. B. Shaw Geneva i. 4, I have to do it singlehanded too: I havnt even an office boy to help me. 1970G. M. Fraser General danced at Dawn 144 Lance-Corporal Michael O'Leary, who took on crowds of Germans singlehanded.
b. Using one hand only.
1844H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 511 A single-handed sower makes a bout to sow a ridge.
c. Having only one hand or workman.
1847in Webster. [Hence in recent Dicts.]
Hence single-ˈhandedly adv., -ˈhandedness.
1882J. W. Ebsworth Roxb. Ball. IV. Introd. p. x, He hopes to press on vigorously and single-handedly, to the speedy completion of the entire work. 1899Westm. Gaz. 18 May 2/1 Singlehandedness among menservants is the last resource of the incompetent. 1964Duckett's Reg. Mar. 41/2 America's most famous Franciscan, who almost singlehandedly Christianised America's Pacific Coast. 1979N.Y. Rev. Bks. 25 Oct. 10/1 Barbara Underwood..boasts that she single⁓handedly made one quarter of a million dollars for the cult. |