| 释义 |
sonsy, a. Orig. Sc., Ir., and north. dial.|ˈsonsɪ|
Also 6 sonse, 7– sonsie, 9 sonzy; 8– soncy, 9 soncie; 9 saunsey, -cy.
[f. sonse.
The opposite term is donsy donsie a. (f. *donse, ad. Gael. donas bad luck, misfortune).]
1. Bringing luck or good fortune; lucky, fortunate.
1533Bellenden Livy i. xiv. (S.T.S.) I. 80 Þis wounder apperit be þe Erne,..discending fra þe maist sonsy parte of hevin, on þe left hand. 1536― Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 16 To give them the more esperance of permanent and sonse weird. 1575St. Andrews Kirk-Sess. Reg. (1889) 416 Pay desyrit hir gude-man to pas to the coles witht Dauid Robertson, becaus he was ane sonsy man. 1597Jas. I Daemonologie iii. ii. 65 Some were so blinded, as to beleeue that their house was all the sonsier, as they called it, that such spirites resorted there. 1633Orkney Witch Trial in Abbotsford Club Miscell. 152 The said Marrion..said that scho had ane sonsie hand. 1681Aberd. Sess. Min. in W. Ross Aberdour & Inchcolme xi. (1885) 332 She said that Elspeth was ‘not sonsie’. 1721Kelly Sc. Prov. Introd., It is no Sonsie to meet a bare Foot in the Morning. 1726in Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 212 They say the river is not sonsy nor yet the loch. 1824Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 384 A bean podd, that holds five beans, and a pea podd, which contains nine peas, are considered to be sonsy. 1880Antrim & Down Gloss. 95 It's not sonsy to do that.
Comb.1684Renwick Serm. v. (1776) 72 It is never a sonsy-like manifestation that makes proud.
b. Sound, sensible; shrewd. rare.
a1689Cleland Poems (1697) 105 It is a good old sonsie saying, That little wit makes meikle straying. 1720Ramsay Wealth 15 Sonsy sauls wha first contriv'd the way, With project deep our charges to defray.
2. Having a thriving, agreeable, or attractive appearance; plump, buxom, comely and pleasant; comfortable-looking, etc.
The various shades of meaning are fully illustrated in the Eng. Dial. Dict.
a. Of women or girls.
1725Ramsay Gentle Sheph. iii. ii, I've twa sonsy lasses, young and fair. 1786Burns Inventory 54 My sonsie, smirking, dear-bought Bess. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxix, Is she a pretty girl?..her sister does not get beyond a good comely sonsy lass. 1865Cornh. Mag. Mar. 298 A sonsy, blond-haired young Flemish maiden sat there. 1876Mrs. Whitney Sights & Ins. II. ii. 356 Mother and three daughters, all so fair and sonsy and merry together.
transf.1830Galt Lawrie T. vii. iv. (1849) 320 Her neck and all about her is of that sonsy comeliness which is most to the taste of a man of my age.
b. Of the face.
1786Burns Twa Dogs 31 His honest, sonsie, baws'nt face Ay gat him friends in ilka place. 1855[J. D. Burn] Beggar Boy (1859) 125 The amiability of his mind was happily reflected in his broad soncy face. 1863Trollope Rachel Ray I. 253, I love to look on a young fellow with a sonsy face.
c. Of things.
1816Scott Antiq. v, A weel-favoured, sonsy, decent periwig. 1870Gd. Words Feb. 133/2 The men are dressed..in a warm blouse and trousers of sonsy grey homespun. 1891V. C. Cotes Two Girls on a Barge 140 The long wide streets and the sonsy air of the place.
3. Of animals: Tractable, manageable.
1786Burns Auld Farmer's Salut. Mare v, Ye ne'er was donsie; But hamely, tawie, quiet an' cannie, An' unco sonsie. 1808Jamieson s.v., A sonsie horse, one that is peaceable. |