释义 |
slipperiness|ˈslɪpərɪnɪs| Also 6 slippri-, 7 slypperi-, sliperi-, 8 slipperyness. [f. slippery a. + -ness.] 1. The quality or condition of being slippery, in literal senses: a. Of substances, or of objects in respect of their surface. Formerly common of food liable to produce laxity of the bowels, or of the latter in a relaxed state.
1562Turner Baths 8 b, The slipperines of the stomack, whych maketh that it can not well holde any meat. 1620Venner Via Recta vii. 115 They must be taken, by reason of the moysture and slipperinesse of their substance, before meat. 1699Salmon Bate's Dispens. (1713) 614/2 It is a slippery thing, and cleanses and smooths the Passages from the Reins by its slipperiness. 1733Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. ii. (1734) 128 Few..can bear the Slipperiness, and violent Cholicks and Gripes, which it brings on. 1753Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Muræna, The manner in which its slipperyness makes it roll about, and escape the catcher. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits, Literature, The Englishman..takes hold of things by the right end, and there is no slipperiness in his grasp. 1859Hdbk. Turning 25 A little chalk..will give it a firmer hold, and prevent the slipperiness. b. Of the ground or other footing. Also in fig. context.
1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 111 Scarce able to stand by reason of the slipperinesse of the bloud there shed vpon the pauement. 1674tr. Scheffer's Lapland 86 That neither mice nor wild beasts could be able to climb up for slipperiness. 1743Lond. & C. Brewer iii. (ed. 2) 186 The great Danger that attends such a wooden Floor in its Slipperiness when wetted. 1754Washington Lett. Writ. 1889 I. 127 A season in which horses cannot travel over the mountains on account of..slipperiness of the roads. 1836Lady Granville Lett. (1894) 29 Dec., For years there has not been seen here such snow and slipperiness. 1860W. White All round Wrekin 369 With the steepness and slipperiness of the turf from dry weather. 1872Times 23 Oct., The slipperiness of the political ground upon which they have been trying to keep their footing. 2. a. Inclination to babble or talk. rare.
1589Nashe Martin Marprelate Wks. (Grosart) I. 93 It is thought that one Pope or other, mistrusting the slipprines of my tounge, blest me into a stone to stoppe my mouth. 1674Govt. Tongue 108 We do not only fall by the slipperiness of our tongues, but we deliberately discipline and train them to mischief. b. The quality of being unreliable, shifty, insincere, or deceitful.
1656J. Trapp Expos. Ephes. iv. 25 Shall we not abhor sleights and slipperiness in contracts and covenants? 1667J. Flavel Saint Indeed (1754) 145 It is the slipperiness of our hearts, in reference to the world, that causes so many slips in our lives. 1681H. More Expos. Dan. Pref. p. xc, Our wantonness and slipperiness in matters of Doctrine. 1818Bentham Ch. Eng. Catech. Exam. 260 So prudential an indeterminateness and slipperiness. 1863Sat. Rev. 606/1 They are conscious of illusion and slipperiness, of a sort of imposture. 1897Mrs. Oliphant W. Blackwood II. xxi. 357 Politicians..coming to shake their heads over the slipperiness of Peel. 3. a. Instability, uncertainty.
a1618Raleigh Rem. (1661) 119 The gliding slipperinesse, and running streams of our uncertain life. 1621Donne Serm. lxx. 710 To note the Slipperinesse of our times. 1656W. Dugard tr. Comenius' Gate Lat. Unl. 187 Although by reason of the slipperiness of things our circumspection somtimes disappointeth us. 1781Cowper Lett. 21 Aug., I experience as you do, the slipperiness of the present hour and the rapidity with which time escapes me. b. Aptness to slip or go wrong.
1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 7 Young men for the slipperines of their age, need the benefit of good example. c. Liability to be forgetful.
1665Hooke Microgr. Pref., The slipperiness or delusion of our Memory. a1708Beveridge Thes. Theol. (1711) II. 231 Slipperiness in our memories; forgetting God's goodness to us. |