| 释义 |
ˈskittishness
[f. as prec. + -ness.]
The quality of being skittish, in various senses.
1607Markham Caval. ii. (1617) 12 Skittishness or fearefulness proceedeth..either from nature, youth, custome, or imperfectness of sight. 1692D'Urfey's Marriage-Hater Match'd A iij, The Skittishness of Miss Margery, and the freakishness of Berenice. 1721Steele Const. Lover iii. i, Then, Phillis, consider how I must be reveng'd..of all your skittishness, shy looks, and at best but coy compliances. 1778F. Burney Lett. 5 July, He would fain have discovered the reason of my skittishness. 1863N. Hawthorne Our Old Home 134 Something akin to feminine skittishness. 1874M. Collins Transmigr. I. vi. 110 The old roan plodded along, his skittishness quite lost.
transf.1871Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue iv. 183 Young sprigs of language have a levity and skittishness which render them unworthy of literature. |