释义 |
lithe I. \ˈlīth, ˈlīth\ adjective (-er/-est) Etymology: Middle English lithe, lith, from Old English līthe mild, gentle; akin to Old Saxon līthi mild, gentle, Old High German lindi, Latin lentus flexible, slow, Welsh llathr bright, smooth, Sanskrit latā vine, liana; basic meaning: flexible 1. chiefly Scotland : mild and soothing : gentle, serene < sang the mass with lithe devotion — Bruce Marshall > 2. a. : agile and lissome : easily flexed : supple, resilient < lithe dancing girls > < saw the lithe mechanic's body … flex like a drawn bow — Waldo Frank > < the long palette knife, with its thin blade of lithe steel — Oscar Wilde > b. : characterized by effortless grace < charming and lithe in writing — Times Literary Supplement > Synonyms: see supple II. \ˈlīth\ transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) dialect : to make thick (as broth) III. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English lithen, from Old Norse hlȳtha; akin to Old English hlȳdan to make a noise, shout, Old Frisian hlēda to make a noise, shout, Old High German hlūten to make a noise, Old English hlūd loud — more at loud archaic : listen, hear IV. noun (-s) Etymology: perhaps alteration of lewth Scotland : a sheltered place : shelter |