small insectivorous mammal, Old English screawa "shrew-mouse," unknown outside English, and "the absence of evidence for the word between the OE. period and the 16th c is remarkable" [OED]. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *skraw-, from PIE *skreu- "to cut; cutting tool" (see shred (n.)), in reference to the shrew's pointed snout. Alternative Old English word for it was scirfemus, from sceorfan "to gnaw."
The meaning "peevish, malignant, clamorous, spiteful, vexatious, turbulent woman" [Johnson] is late 14c., from earlier sense of "spiteful person" (male or female), mid-13c., traditionally said to derive from some supposed malignant influence of the animal, which was once believed to have a venomous bite and was held in superstitious dread (compare beshrew). Paired with sheep from 1560s as the contrasting types of wives.
shrew 英文释义
1. a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman
2. small mouselike mammal with a long snout; related to moles
shrew 双语例句
1. He found himself married to a vulgar shrew.
他发现自己跟一个俗不可耐的悍妇结了婚.
来自辞典例句
2. North American shrew with tail less than half its body length.
北美洲鼩鼱,尾巴比其身体的一半还短.
来自互联网
3. The shrew stands at the door and keeps shouting abuse.
那个泼妇站在门口,不停地嫚骂.
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4. The nice girl he had married grew into a shrew.
那个本来挺和蔼的女孩结婚后成为了一个泼妇.
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5. Every man can rule a shrew but he who has her.
泼妇人人都能制服,只有她的丈夫例外.
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shrew 实用场景例句
He found himself married a vulgar shrew.
他发现自己跟一个“俗不可耐”的悍妇结了婚.
期刊摘选
North American shrew with tail less than half its body length.
北美洲鼩鼱,尾巴比其身体的一半还短.
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People called her shrew.
人们叫她泼妇.
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You're nothing but a shrew!
祢就是一嗰粗鲁的泼妇!
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The shrew stands at the door and keeps shouting abuse.
那个泼妇站在门口,不停地嫚骂.
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She is a shrew.
她是个泼妇.
期刊摘选
Choose a couple from The Taming of the Shrew or Don Quixote to discuss.
