释义 |
▪ I. squint, n.|skwɪnt| [f. squint a. or v.] 1. a. A permanent tendency in the eye to look obliquely or askant; defective coincidence of the optic axes; strabismus.
a1652Brome Queenes Exch. ii. i, The dulnesse of the Eye, which here shews deadly But for a little squint it has. 1712–3Swift Jrnl. to Stella 8 Feb., He has favoured her squint admirably; and you know I love a cast in the eye. 1764Reid Inquiry vi. §15 In the retinæ of those who have an involuntary squint. Ibid., In those who have no squint. 1815Scott Guy M. xxxiii, A stout bandy-legged fellow, with..a most portentous squint of the left eye. 1839Thackeray Fatal Boots Jan., Nurse says that, when he is older, he will get rid of his squint. 1879G. C. Harlan Eyesight ii. 30 The operation for squint, or ‘cross eye’, consists in weakening the overacting muscle by cutting it. fig.1687Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, A disingenious Squint, that looks with an evil eye upon every Thing. 1875Galaxy Apr. 560 Still, sometimes we manage to see things without a party squint, especially after election. b. Path. With distinguishing terms.
1842Penny Cycl. XXII. 396/2 Inward Squint, or Strabismus convergens. Ibid., Outward Squint, or Strabismus divergens. 1867Chambers's Encycl. IX. 69/1 The squint is said to be convergent when the eye or eyes are directed towards the nose, and divergent when they are directed towards the temple, and is termed single or double according as one eye or both are displaced. 1872T. Bryant Man. Pract. Surg. (1884) I. 409 Ordinary convergent or ‘concomitant’ squint has to be distinguished from..‘paralytic’ squint. 1884Encycl. Brit. XVII. 786/1 In periodic squint glasses to correct the hypermetropia ought to be given. 1887Brit. Med. Jrnl. 23 Apr. 874/2 He had a well-marked external squint of the left eye. Ibid., There was a slight internal squint. c. attrib. in squint-scissors (used in operating for strabismus).
1879St. George's Hosp. Rep. IX. 492 The mass was..so tough as to resist the insertion of the point of an ordinary pair of squint-scissors. d. Radar. Lack of alignment between the axis of a transmitting aerial and the direction of maximum radiation, deliberately introduced in some systems. Freq. attrib.
1947L. N. Ridenour Radar Syst. Engin. vi. 197 ‘Squint’, which results from improper installation or trimming of antennas, has the same operational effect as crabbing of the aircraft in a cross-wind. 1969Barton & Ward Handbk. Radar Measurement ii. 31 The fall-off in energy ratio restricts the practical squint angles to about half the individual beamwidth. 1969C. A. Wiley in Kayton & Fried Avionics Navigation Syst. viii. 370 (caption) Squint-mode window display. 2. A directing of the eyes obliquely; a sidelong look or glance; a hasty or casual look; a peep.
1673[R. Leigh] Transp. Reh. 14 Lacys best Grimaces were never so Artificial as the Squints of a Humiliation Saint. 1736Swift Propos. Regul. Quadrille Wks. 1846 II. 131 To give damages for all opprobrious language, and especially for all hints, squints, innuendoes, leers, and shrugs. 1824Lady Granville Lett. (1894) I. 245 He hopes to have another squint at me before I go. 1861Dickens Gt. Expect. xxxii, I have been down the road taking a squint at the scene of action. 1894G. M. Fenn In Alpine Valley I. 223 Better get back to him as soon as you've had your squint round. 3. An inclination or tendency towards some particular object; a drift or leaning; a covert aim.
1736West Let. in Gray's Poems (1775) 15 The prophecy has certainly a squint that way. 1891Eggleston Faith Doctor iv. 43 He lost interest even in the dinner parties, with a business squint, that he had been so fond of giving. 1895Funk's Stand. Dict. s.v., A squint towards radicalism. 4. An oblique or perverse bent or tendency.
1774E. Carter Lett. 30 May (1809) IV. 112 Wit is a squint of the understanding which is mighty apt to set things in a wrong place. 1840Hare Vict. Faith (1847) 45 This warping bent, this squint of our understandings. 5. a. Arch. = hagioscope.
1839[see hagioscope]. 1850Parker Gloss. Archit. (ed. 5) I. 442 There seems to be no good or ancient authority for the name of squint applied to these openings, but it has been long in use. 1879J. C. Cox Ch. of Derbysh. IV. 21 At the east end of the south aisle is a genuine squint. attrib.1881S. R. Macphail Relig. Ho. Pluscardyn xix. 165 The squint window opening into the Lady's Chapel. b. transf. (See quot.)
1891Science Gossip XXVII. 39 We placed ourselves at squints, or peeping-holes, formed by thrusting short sticks through the reed fence. ▪ II. squint, a.|skwɪnt| [f. squint adv., or by inference from squint-eyed a.] 1. Of eyes: Looking obliquely; having a cast or squint; affected with strabismus. Now rare. In early quots. freq. implying envy or malice.
1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. Aug. 129 Heardgrome, I feare me, thou haue a squint eye. [Gloss, partiall iudgement.] 1590Greene Mourn. Garm. (1616) 68 Zoilus with his squint eyes will finde fault with the shape. 1601Holland Pliny I. 161 He was syrnamed already Strabo, for his squint eyes. 1602How to Choose a Good Wife D 4, Gold can make limping Vulcan walke vpright, Make squint eyes looke strait. 1658R. Creshald Legacy 15 The Survey and malevolent Aspect of some Squint and Blood-shot Eye. 1775Adair Amer. Ind. 437 Hired speakers, who use their squint eyes and forked tongues like the chieftains of the snakes. 1903C. Lumholtz Unknown Mexico I. 245 Squint-eyes also afford them much amusement. b. fig. (with eye = ‘look, regard’, and usually hyphened).
1623Fletcher Rule a Wife iii, The pleasure I shall live in and the freedom Without the squint-eye of the law upon me. 1638Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 85 He beholds..his inferiors with a squint and supercilious eye of scorne and tyranny. 1715J. Chappelow Rt. way Rich (1717) 142 Now and then casting a squint-eye upon his money-bags. 1901Westm. Gaz. 11 Dec. 9/2, I..hope to end my days without having used the squint-eye of prejudice in examining any fact whatever. 2. a. Of looks: Characterized by oblique vision.
1611Cotgr. s.v. Gar, Vn regard à gar, a squint looke. 1626tr. Boccalini's New-Found Politicke 71 Her looke is squint, with which wishly beholding one, she fixedly looketh vpon another. 1714R. Smith Poems of Controversy (1853) 38 Thy squaint [sic] looks makes thee miss the mark. 1808Jamieson, Gley, a squint look. b. fig. Of suspicion. poet. In last quot. passing into next.
1634Milton Comus 413 My nature is That I encline to hope, rather then fear, And gladly banish squint suspicion. 1744Thomson Tancred & Sigismunda v. i, Henceforth, noble Osmond,..honour more my truth, Nor mark me with an eye of squint suspicion. 1784Colman Prose on Sev. Occas. (1787) III. 250 While squint Suspicion holds her treacherous lamp. c. Of persons: Squinting, squint-eyed.
1643Trapp Comm. Gen. xxix. 17 Leah was tender-eyed), Purblinde or squint, as one interprets it. †3. Indirect. Obs.
1619J. Dyke Counterpoyson, etc. (1620) 50 Out of a squint respect to your owne gaine. 1654Whitlock Zootomia 370 To cleare ourselves of these Squint Aspects in our Services of Heaven, is a Perfection too Seraphicall for Earth. 1681Relig. Clerici 56 Though 'tis not much to the purpose,..yet you may perceive it bears some squint relation to this discourse. 4. a. Characterized by obliquity of action.
c1610Donne Let. to C'tess of Bedford Wks. 1912 I. 189 As although a squint left-handedness Be ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand. b. Oblique; slanting.
1703in E. Henderson Ann. Dunfermline (1879) 374 One squint cutt on one of the hinder legs. 1724Sir W. Hope Vind. Art Self-defence 131 The slop or squint motion of your arm near to the body. 1852Burn Naval & Mil. Techn. Dict. ii. s.v., Squint-quoin, encognure oblique. 1858Skyring's Builders' Prices 66 Squint quoins, per foot run. 5. squint-minded, having a perverse or depraved mind.
1653Urquhart Rabelais ii. xxxiv. 220 You and I both are farre more worthy of pardon, then a great rabble of squint-minded fellowes, dissembling and counterfeit Saints. ▪ III. squint, adv. rare. [Aphetic for asquint adv.] With a squint; obliquely, askant. Also in comb. squint-looker.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. vi. (Tollem. MS.), Naþeles not euery squyntloker seþ so, þey his yen ben uneuen. 1621–31Laud Serm. (1847) 198 If ‘justice and judgment’ roll this eye aside,..they begin to look squint, and in part leave God. ▪ IV. squint, v.|skwɪnt| [Aphetically f. asquint adv. Cf. prec. and squint a.] 1. a. intr. To have the axes of the eyes not coincident, so that one or both habitually look obliquely; to be affected with strabismus.
1611Cotgr., Louscher, to squint, sken, or looke askew. 1677Wycherley Pl. Dealer ii. i, Can any one be call'd beautiful that squints? 1709Steele Tatler No. 5 ⁋2 It is certainly a Mistake..to draw..Love, as a blind Boy; for his real Character is, a little Thief that squints. 1764Reid Inquiry vi. §15 Of those who squint, the far greater part have no distinct vision with one eye. 1808Med. Jrnl. XIX. 314 The reason why those persons who squint, generally turn the weak eye towards the nose. 1852Thackeray Esmond i. vii, My lady's own waiting-woman squinted, and was marked with the smallpox. 1881H. Smart Race for Wife ii, I heard one hideous old woman confide..that you squinted. transf.1829Chapters Phys. Sci. 335 In this experiment the fingers may in a manner be said to squint. b. Of the eyes.
1836Marryat Japhet vi, One of his assistants had only one eye, the other squinted horribly. 1862Borrow Wila Wales xxxiii, His eyes were grey and looked rather as if they squinted. 2. a. To look with the eyes differently directed; to glance obliquely or in other than the direct line of vision; also, to glance hastily or casually, to peep.
1610G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. ii. xxvii, He..ever, as he crept, would squint aside, Lest him, perhaps, some Furie had espide. 1640Brome Asparagus Gard. iii. iv. 159 He gets a crick in his neck oft-times with squinting up at Windowes and Belconies. 1707J. Stevens tr. Quevedo's Com. Wks. (1709) 89 He drew near,..squinting upon the bundle. 1727Swift Further Acc. E. Curll Wks. 1751 III. i. 157 Some turning away their heads..; others squinting with a leer that shewed at once fear and indignation. 1802E. Parsons Myst. Visit IV. 38 Squinting at Sir William with no little disdain. 1849Cupples Green Hand xi. (1856) 107 Well, we squints up the hatchway, and see'd a young midshipman a-standing with his back to us. 1892Photogr. Ann II. 41 Without having to squint at the ground glass with your nose nearly touching it. fig.1622Hakewill David's Vow iii. 103 Hee could not at once intend two such distant objects; hee might glance, or squint upon both: but directly fix his eyes upon both hee could not. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 106 This we do by the power we have over our ideas to overlook, or, as it were, squint upon some, and hold others in a steadier view. b. fig. To have a private eye to something. Const. at or upon.
1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xxv. 233 Pity but his eyes were out that squints at his own ends in doing Gods work. 1692Southerne Fatal Marriage i. i, That has a face of good nature, but it squints with both eyes upon your own interest. 1782Cowper To Rev. Wm. Bull 12 Not meaning..His pleasure, or his good alone, But squinting partly at my own. c. fig. To glance at, on, or upon (a person or thing) with dislike or disapproval, or by means of some covert allusion, hint, or suggestion. (a)1652Benlowes Theoph. x. xlix. 185 He hates Superiors,..And on his Fellows squints, that are in joynt Command. 1654Whitlock Zootomia 429 They will come to a bad Market too, in Times that squint on Ingenious Labours. 1706Drake's Secr. Mem. Earl of Leicester Pref., [He] does not in the least squint upon the Earl as guilty of the fact. (b)a1732Gay Fables ii. iv, In prudence, too, you think my rhymes Should never squint at courtiers' crimes. 1742Fielding J. Andrews iii. x, I hope you have a better opinion of my taste than to apprehend that I squinted at yourself. 1779Lovell in J. Adams Wks. (1854) IX. 481 R. H. Lee with H. Laurens are squinted at as two monsters..who pursue points in which the Southern States have no interest. 1894Birrell Ess. ix. 99 The dramatists he squinted at were worse than they had any need to be. 3. fig. To have a side or covert reference, implication, bearing, or aim; to refer or bear indirectly; to incline or tend. Const. with toward(s, that (or this) way, or at.
1599Nashe Lenten Stuff Wks. (Grosart) V. 243 There is a foule fault in the print escapt, that curstly squinteth and leereth that way. 1624Mountagu New Gagg 58 What neede I produce authority of Fathers?.. Name me but one that squinteth that way, ‘nedum’ that saith it positiuely. 1644Bulwer Chiron. 62 The Rubriques of the Romish Rites, which seeme a little to squint this way, prescribe three formes of Benediction. 1716M. Davies Athen. Brit. III. 54 There be some short Passages in the holy Fathers, that seem to squint towards some of the Articles of Popery. 1768Woman of Honor II. 54 Happened to drop something that squinted towards a reproach to his Lordship. 1895Funk's Stand. Dict. s.v., The document squints toward treason. 1898Daily News 26 Feb. 5/5 The President is prepared to veto any clap-trap measure which squints at war. 1902J. F. Rusling European Days & Ways 343 A goodly Wesleyan chapel,..not ambitious to be called a church yet, but squinting that way. 4. To move or branch off in an oblique direction.
1721Wodrow Hist. Suff. Ch. Scot. (1830) II. 30/2 Dalziel sends out a party of about fifty horse to squint along the edge of the hill, and attack their left wing. 1799Kirwan Geol. Ess. 288 That the vein in the inferior stratum of lime⁓stone..squints 4 or five yards from the superior vein. 5. a. trans. To give a permanent or temporary cast to (the eye); to cause to look asquint or obliquely.
1605Shakes. Lear iii. iv. 22 The foule Flibbertigibbet..giues the Web and the Pin, squints the eye, and makes the Hare-lippe. 1637Heywood Pleas. Dial. xiii. Wks. 1874 VI. 226 Let him but use An unsway'd eye, not squinted with affections. 1852R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour xxxiii, Our friend..was now squinting his eyes inside out with anger. fig.1622Bacon Hen. VII (1876) 166 Perkin..marched to Taunton; beginning already to squint one eye upon the crown, and another upon the sanctuary. b. To cast or direct (a look, etc.) in a sidelong manner.
1631Chapman Cæsar & Pompey iv. v, What wild looks Are squinted at me from men's mere suspicions That I am wild myself. 1748Thomson Cast. Indol. i. xv, On others' ways they never squint a frown, Nor heed what haps in hamlet or in town. 6. a. To divert obliquely.
1789J. Pilkington Derbyshire I. 58 In the language of the miners these veins are squinted 4 or 5 yards northwardly from their former direction, that is, they have departed so much from their perpendicular range. b. To cross (a surface) obliquely.
1844Queen Victoria Jrnl. 21 Sept. in D. Duff Victoria in Highlands (1968) i. 58 We then began our descent, ‘squinting’ the hill, the ponies going as safely..as possible. 1884― More Leaves 97 We first went along the road and then on the heather ‘squinting’ the hill. |