| 释义 |
ca·su·al
I. \ˈkazhəwəl also -zhəl\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English casuel, casual, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French casuel, from Late Latin casualis, from Latin casus fall, chance — more at case
1.
a. : subject to or produced as a result of chance
< where casual fire had wasted woods — John Milton >
: without design : not resulting from plan
< not merely casual but a part of one great plan >
b. : occuring, appearing, or singled out by chance or without calculated intent
< seek help from casual passers-by >
: without specific motivation, special interest, or constant purpose
< an unusual ability to interest casual students — John Gillin >
< most comment, whether casual or deliberate — Felix Frankfurter >
c. : without foresight, plan, or method : not considered : haphazard
< information collected by casual methods and in their spare time >
2.
a. : occurring, encountered, acting, or performed without regularity or at random : occasional
< casual kindnesses >
< exhausted firemen were getting casual soup and sleep on the floors — Christopher Morley >
b. Britain
(1) : of the class of poor persons receiving occasional relief as distinguished from those receiving regular relief or being permanent inmates of workhouses
< the casual poor >
(2) : of or for those poor persons or vagrants who are not residents of the place where they receive public aid or work — see casual ward
c. of a workman : having no steady employment but engaged for irregular periods especially at an hourly or daily rate and at jobs requiring little training
3. obsolete : subject to accident : uncertain, precarious
< the body is frail and casual >
4.
a. : feeling or showing little concern or interest : not giving close attention : indifferent, nonchalant
< tried to look casual … but it was the handsomest house he had ever entered — Sinclair Lewis >
b.
(1) : without ceremony or formality : unstudied, informal
< referring to dear friends by their Christian names in a casual and familiar way — Havelock Ellis >
: free from constraint : not showing effort or strain : natural, easy
< a difficult feat performed with casual mastery >
(2) : suited by simplicity, comfort, and informality or design for everyday wear or use or for any occasion other than formal
< a casual coat for town or country wear >
c. : of little interest, concern, or importance : without significance : unimportant
< subjects homely, slight, and casual — E.J.Banfield >
Synonyms: see accidental, random
II. noun
(-s)
1.
a. : a casual or migratory worker
b. Britain : vagrant; especially : one who receives relief in a casual ward
2. : an officer or enlisted man who is awaiting assignment or who is awaiting transportation to his unit
3. : an article of dress for casual wear
4. : an essay written in a familiar often humorous style |