| 单词 |
perfunctory |
| 释义 |
perfunctory, a.|pəˈfʌnktərɪ|
[ad. late jurid. L. perfunctōri-us ‘done in a careless or superficial manner, slight, careless, negligent’, lit. ‘characteristic of one whose aim is to get through or get rid of a matter’, f. perfunctor, agent-n. from perfungī to perform, discharge, go through, get done with, get rid of: see -ory.]
1. Of a thing: Done merely for the sake of getting through the duty; done as a piece of routine, or for form's sake only, and so without interest or zeal; formal, mechanical; superficial, trivial.
1581[implied in perfunctorily]. 1593G. Harvey Pierce's Super. in Archaica (1815) II. 206 It is little of value..that can be performed in such perfunctory pamphlets on either side. 1655Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. (1701) 120 Alexander had not been great, if Xenophon had not said, even the perfunctory actions of valiant Persons ought to be recorded. 1690Boyle Chr. Virtuoso i. 16 Divine Artifice..not to be discovered by the perfunctory looks of Oscitant or Unskilful Beholders. 1829Southey Sir T. More II. 101 Attendance at divine service, at times when the service is merely perfunctory. 1885J. Payn Talk of Town I. 254 [He] just glanced at the two documents in a perfunctory manner.
b. Of a person: Acting merely by way of duty; official; formal; lacking personal interest or zeal.
1600W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 141 None but such as will be Iesuiticall wholly, and not perfunctory, may find any fauour there. 1644Milton Areop. (Arb.) 58 The presumptuous rashnesse of a perfunctory licencer. 1701Norris Ideal World i. v. 323 How many perfunctory inquirers there are that carelessly interrogate this Divine oracle. 1870Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 267 How little that perfunctory person dreamed of what was going on under his nose.
†2. Stated in formal terms, or with official formality. Obs. rare—1.
1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. §104 A formal, and perfunctory Message should be sent to his Majesty, whereby they thought a Treaty would be enter'd upon. |
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