lowly
/ˈləʊli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈləʊli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlō-lē/ (ame, mw)
lowly — 形容詞
- lowlypositive
- lowliercomparative
- lowliestsuperlative
1. near the bottom of a social or job ranking, so other people treat you as not ver
卑微的
社會或職位地位低下、不受重視的
near the bottom of a social or job ranking, so other people treat you as not very important.
Mei started as a lowly kitchen helper before she opened her own bakery.
Mei 一開始只是個卑微的廚房幫手，後來才開了自己的烘焙坊。
a lowly + job noun for someone at the bottom of a workplace
The factory owner barely spoke to the lowly workers on the night shift.
工廠老闆幾乎不跟夜班那些卑微的工人說話。
Even Eve, a lowly office clerk, could see the monthly numbers did not add up.
就連身為卑微辦公室文員的 Eve，都看得出每月的數字對不起來。
Christopher rose from a lowly farmhand to manager of three large farms.
Christopher 從一個卑微的農場工人，一路升到三座大農場的經理。
Brian was a lowly soldier who could never question the strict captain's orders.
Brian 是個卑微的士兵，永遠不能質疑那位嚴厲上尉的命令。
- high-ranking
near the top of an organisation
- exalted
formal; held in very high honour
文法句型
a lowly + noun
be lowly
用法筆記
Almost always placed before a noun naming a job, rank, or role (a lowly clerk, a lowly soldier). Often paired with 'even' or a 'rose from … to …' frame to stress how far below others the person sits.
常見錯誤
lowly — 副詞
1. in a modest, gentle way that puts yourself below other people rather than acting
謙卑地
態度謙遜、不自傲地
in a modest, gentle way that puts yourself below other people rather than acting proud.
Antonia bowed lowly before the old queen and waited to be told to rise.
Antonia 在老王后面前謙卑地鞠躬，等著對方要她起身。
verb of respect + lowly to show a humble gesture
The young monk spoke lowly of his own work and praised his teachers instead.
那位年輕僧人謙卑地談起自己的作品，反而稱讚他的老師們。
speak lowly of oneself for modest self-description
Samir knelt lowly at the church door and thanked the strangers who had fed him.
Samir 謙卑地跪在教堂門口，感謝那些餵飽他的陌生人。
Yael carried herself lowly among the villagers, never boasting about her riches.
Yael 在村民之間總是謙卑自持，從不炫耀自己的財富。
- proudly
showing confidence or self-importance
文法句型
verb + lowly
用法筆記
Distinguish from adverb sense 2 (physical position) and sense 3 (quiet volume): this sense is about a humble attitude, so it pairs with verbs of behaviour like 'bow', 'speak', or 'carry oneself'. Rare and literary in modern English; 'humbly' is the everyday choice.
常見錯誤
2. close to the ground, or at a small height, level, or amount.
低低地
接近地面、高度或程度很低地
close to the ground, or at a small height, level, or amount.
The heavy grey clouds hung lowly over the harbour all morning.
整個早上，厚重的灰雲都低低地壓在港口上空。
hang lowly for something close to the ground
Zola set the lantern lowly on the floor so the sleeping baby would not wake.
Zola 把提燈低低地放在地上，免得吵醒熟睡的寶寶。
The old apple branches drooped lowly until they almost touched the wet grass.
老蘋果樹的枝條低低地垂著，幾乎碰到了濕草地。
Smoke from the campfire drifted lowly across the dark valley floor.
營火的煙低低地飄過漆黑的谷底。
文法句型
verb + lowly
用法筆記
Only sense that describes physical height or level rather than attitude (sense 1) or volume (sense 3); it answers 'how close to the ground?'. Very rare today — modern English prefers the adverb 'low' (the clouds hung low).
常見錯誤
3. in a soft, quiet voice or sound that is hard to hear from far away.
輕聲地
聲音柔和細小、遠處難以聽見地
in a soft, quiet voice or sound that is hard to hear from far away.
Élise sang lowly to the baby until his eyes finally closed.
Élise 輕聲地對著寶寶唱歌，直到他終於閉上眼睛。
sing lowly for a soft, quiet voice
The two farmers spoke lowly so the sleeping dogs would not stir.
兩個農夫輕聲地說話，免得吵醒睡著的狗。
speak lowly to keep a sound quiet and hidden
Karim hummed lowly as he packed the last boxes into the moving van.
Karim 一邊輕聲地哼著歌，一邊把最後幾箱東西搬上搬家貨車。
The wind moaned lowly through the broken windows of the empty house.
風輕聲地穿過那棟空屋破掉的窗戶，低聲嗚咽。
- loudly
with a lot of sound, easy to hear
文法句型
verb + lowly
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (humble attitude) and sense 2 (physical height): this sense answers 'how loud?', so it pairs with sound verbs like 'sing', 'speak', or 'hum'. Rare and poetic; modern English says 'softly' or 'quietly'.