| 释义 |
debonair, -bonnaire, a. (n.)|ˌdɛbəˈnɛə(r)|
Forms: 3–4 debonere, 4 -eir(e, -ure, 4–5 -ar, 4–6 -er, -ayr(e, 6 Sc. -are, 4– debonaire, 5– debonair, (7–9 debonnaire, 8–9 debonnair).
[a. OF. debonaire, prop. a phrase de bonne aire (11th c.) of good disposition. Very common in ME., but obsolescent from the 16th c., and now a literary archaism, often assimilated in spelling to mod.F. débonnaire.]
A. adj.
†a. Of gentle disposition, mild, meek; gracious, kindly; courteous, affable (obs.);
b. Pleasant and affable in outward manner or address; often in mod. quots. connoting gaiety of heart.
a1225Ancr. R. 186 Auh þet debonere child hwon hit is ibeaten, ȝif þe ueder hat hit, cusseð þe ȝerd. 1297R. Glouc. (1724) 167 So large he was & so hende, & al so de bonere. Ibid. 374 To hem, þat wolde hys wylle do, debonere he was & mylde. c1374Chaucer Boeth. i. v. 22 Zepherus þe deboneire wynde. c1385― L.G.W. 276 So good, so faire, so debonayre. 1375Barbour Bruce i. 362 Wyss, curtaiss, and deboner. 1382Wyclif Ecclus. v. 13 Be thou debonere to here the wrd of God. c1430Lydg. Chichev. & Bycorne, Pacient wyfes debonayre, Whiche to her husbondes be nat contrayre. 1545T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde Prol. (1634) 6 By honest, sober, debonnaire and gentle manners. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 23 Was neuer Prince so meeke and debonaire. 1685Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 216 He was a prince of many virtues, and many great imperfections: debonaire, easy of access. 1707Collier Refl. Ridic. 379 He has too debonair and free a Deportment with the Women. 1782Cowper Table T. 236 The Frenchman, easy, debonair, and brisk. 1812M. Edgeworth Vivian ii, In spite of his gay and debonair manner, he looked old. 1843Lytton Last of Barons i. vi, She became so vivacious, so debonnair, so charming. 1847Disraeli Tancred ii. xvi, A carriage a degree too debonair for his years.
B. n.
†1. [the adj. used absol.] Gracious being or person. Obs.
c1366Chaucer A.B.C. 6 Help and releeue thou mihti debonayre. 1393Gower Conf. III. 192 Trajan the worthy debonaire, By whom that Rome stood governed.
†2. Graciousness of manner; = debonairty.
1697Evelyn Numism. ix 305 A serious Majesty attemper'd with such strokes of Debonaire, as won Love and Reverence. 1748Richardson Clarissa Wks. 1883 IV. 185 Shall my vanity extend only to personals, such as the gracefulness of dress, my debonnaire, and my assurance. |