late 15c., "transgression, crime; irregularity," from Old French enormité "extravagance, atrocity, heinous sin," from Latin enormitatem (nominative enormitas) "hugeness, vastness; irregularity," from enormis "irregular, huge" (see enormous). Meaning "extreme wickedness" in English attested from 1560s. The notion is of that which surpasses the endurable limits of order, right, decency. Sense of "hugeness" (1765 in English) is etymological but to prevent misunderstanding probably best avoided in favor of enormousness, though this, too, originally meant "immeasurable wickedness" (1718) and didn't start to mean "hugeness" until c. 1800.
雙語例句
1. I was numbed by the enormity of the responsibility.
責任之大讓我驚慌失措。
來自柯林斯例句
2. He was anxious about the enormity of the task ahead.
他為眼前任務(wù)的艱巨性而擔憂。
來自柯林斯例句
3. the enormity of the task
任務(wù)的艱巨性
來自《權(quán)威詞典》
4. It's difficult to grasp the sheer enormity of the tragedy.
很難確切知道這場悲劇的嚴重程度.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
5. Her words brought home the enormity of what was happening.