| 释义 |
▪ I. smothering, vbl. n.|ˈsmʌðərɪŋ|
[f. smother v.]
a. The action of the verb, in various senses.
1602W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 83 If any Judge..shall partially demeane himself in the smothering of that fault. 1624Sanderson Serm. I. 241 All vain boasting of the gifts of God..is a kind of smothering of the receipt. 1857Toulmin Smith Parish 382 Any attempt to shut this out..is but a smothering of the inquiry. 1950N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. July 5/2 It is undesirable to have yards on a very steep slope, as the danger of smothering, particularly with lambs in a large yard, is greatly increased. 1956G. Bowen Wool Away! (ed. 2) iv. 47 The ‘sheepo’ must keep an eye on them for smothering, the first sign of which is sheep jumping up in the pen.
b. attrib., as smothering-hole, smothering-pan, smothering-process.
1648Hexham ii, Een demp-kuyl, a smothering-hole. Ibid., Een Smoor-panne, a Smoothering-pan. 1834Brit. Husb. I. 376 The smothering process..cannot be so perfectly accomplished.
▪ II. smothering, ppl. a.|ˈsmʌðərɪŋ|
[f. smother v. + -ing2.]
That smothers, in various senses.
1. a. Of smoke, etc.: Stifling, suffocating.
a1200St. Marher. 9 In his ihurnd heauet..þreaste smeorðrinde smoke ut, smeeche forcuðest. 1401Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 54 Ther rose smotheryng smoke, and brese therinne. Ibid., The smorthering smoke is ȝour dymme doctrine. c1475Partenay 3303 The smoky fume smorthering so was, The Abbay it toke. 1575Churchyard Chippes M vj b, A second hell For smothryng smoke, for shot and fiery flame. 1725Pope Odyss. xiv. 340 The whirling ship is..all in clouds of smoth'ring sulphur lost. 1831Scott Cast. Dang. xvii, Free from the smothering atmosphere which had before oppressed her like that of a charnel-house. 1863Princess Alice Mem. (1884) 57 We went..to see the different machines at work, in a crowd close round us and a smothering heat.
b. Smouldering; burning slowly.
1563Foxe A. & M. 1048/1 Greene woode, and other smotheryng rather then burnyng fewel. 1621G. Sandys Ovid's Met. viii. (1626) 167 Who stird abroad the glowing coles, that lay In smothering ashes. 1635Quarles Embl. ii. xiv, What fenny trash maintaines the smoth'ring fires Of his desires! 1681J. Flavel Method Grace x. 229 Let not your troubles lye like a secret smothering fire always in your own breasts.
2. Covering (or suppressing) completely and overwhelmingly. Also fig.
1586Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. iii. i, The spring is hindred by your smoothering host. 1591Horsey Trav. (Hakl.) 257 The innocent bloud spilt in that smotheringe tyme of tiranie. 1805R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. I. 370 If ground can be covered with such smothering crops of the fallow kind. 1851Trench Poems (1862) 19 As from beneath the smothering earth The seed strives upward to a birth. 1899Rodway Guiana Wilds 113 Fire..covered with green leaves; unable to escape from its smothering burden.
3. Characterized by suffocation from smoke, etc.
1864Daily Telegr. 30 Aug., The Tennessee..surrendered,..[with] her crew in an exhausted and smothering condition.
Hence ˈsmotheringly adv.
1778Exmoor Gloss., Smuggle, to hug violently, smotheringly. 1857Chamb. Jrnl. VIII. 71 Two little arms tight round her neck, smotheringly expressing a wealth of love. |