| 释义 |
wean
I. \ˈwēn\ transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English wenen, from Old English wenian to accustom, wean; akin to Old High German giwennen to accustom, Old Norse venja, Old English wụnian to dwell, be used to — more at wont
1. : to accustom (a child or other young animal) to loss of mother's milk : cause to cease to depend on the mother for nourishment; also : to accustom (young animals) to get along without some special comfort
< wean chicks from the hover >
2. : to detach or alienate the affections of from some object of desire : reconcile to the deprivation or loss of something
< the troubles of age were intended … to wean us gradually from our fondness of life — Jonathan Swift >
< low prices of movies may have weaned large sections of the public away from the legitimate theater — Donald Messenger >
< weaned my young soul from yearning after thine — Emily Brontë >
Synonyms: see estrange
II. noun
(-s)
Etymology: contraction of wee ane wee one, from wee + ane
dialect Britain : infant, child |