bawdry

bawdry — 名詞

1. behaviour that violates traditional moral rules about sex, considered improper o

1.名詞C2
釋義

不貞；淫亂

違反道德規範的性行為

behaviour that violates traditional moral rules about sex, considered improper or sinful in many older religious and social codes.

例句

Puritan court records show that charges of bawdry were brought against both men and women.

清教徒法庭的紀錄顯示，有許多男女被指控犯下淫亂罪。

charges of bawdry — legal context

Greta's grandmother said any hint of bawdry could destroy a young woman's reputation.

Greta 的祖母說，任何一絲淫亂的跡象都足以毀掉一個年輕女人的名聲。

同義詞
  • lechery

    emphasises the lustful desire rather than the act itself

  • debauchery

    suggests excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, not only sexual

  • unchastity

    more neutral and formal; the closest direct synonym

反義詞
  • chastity

    the direct opposite — the state of refraining from prohibited sexual activity

  • purity

    broader term covering moral and spiritual innocence

文法句型

uncountable noun

用法筆記

This sense is now considered archaic. The word appears mainly in historical or literary discussions of morality, religion, or law from earlier centuries.

常見錯誤

❌The novel was full of bawdry jokes.
✅The novel was full of bawdy jokes.
💡'Bawdry' is a noun; the adjective form is 'bawdy'.
❌He spoke bawdry to her.
✅He made crude comments to her.
💡'Bawdry' is a noun (the type of speech), not an adverb.

2. language or writing that is sexually explicit, rude, or offensive in a coarse wa

2.名詞C2
釋義

猥褻言語

粗俗下流的色情言論

language or writing that is sexually explicit, rude, or offensive in a coarse way — often used to describe jokes, stories, or songs with a vulgar sexual theme.

例句

The old sailor's stories were full of bawdry that made the crew shift uncomfortably.

老水手的故事充滿了猥褻言語，讓船員們坐立不安。

Antonia was surprised to find so much bawdry in a book about philosophy.

Antonia 很驚訝在一本哲學書裡看到這麼多猥褻言語。

同義詞
  • obscenity

    broader term covering any offensive/vulgar material, not only sexual

  • smut

    informal; suggests material considered morally offensive, often in media

  • ribaldry

    emphasises the humorous or playful side of vulgar talk

反義詞
  • decency

    appropriate, proper speech that respects social standards

  • propriety

    conformity to socially correct speech and behaviour

文法句型

uncountable noun

用法筆記

Also considered archaic, though the adjective 'bawdy' (as in 'bawdy humour') still appears occasionally in modern English. 'Bawdry' itself is very rare in contemporary speech and writing.

常見錯誤

❌He told a bawdry joke at the dinner table.
✅He told a bawdy joke at the dinner table.
💡'Bawdry' is a noun meaning the content itself; 'bawdy' is the adjective describing the joke.