gaunt
Meaning: Extremely thin and bony in appearance, especially as a result of illness, hunger, or prolonged suffering.
Gaunt carries strongly negative connotations, suggesting that thinness has been caused by deprivation or distress rather than choice. It is commonly applied to faces and figures, and extends to landscapes and buildings that appear bleak and stark. 'Gaunt features' and 'gaunt figure' are standard collocations in literary and journalistic prose.
Examples
- The prisoners emerged from the camp as gaunt figures, barely recognisable to their families. 囚犯们从营地走出时已是骨瘦如柴,家人几乎认不出来。Los prisioneros emergieron del campo como figuras esqueléticas, apenas reconocibles para sus familias.収容者たちは骨と皮ばかりの姿で収容所から出てきたが、家族にはほとんど見分けがつかなかった。수용자들은 뼈만 앙상하게 남은 모습으로 수용소에서 나왔고, 가족들조차 거의 알아볼 수 없었다.
- His gaunt face told the story of months of gruelling treatment more eloquently than any words. 他憔悴的面容比任何言语都更有力地诉说着数月艰苦治疗的故事。Su rostro demacrado narraba la historia de meses de agotador tratamiento con más elocuencia que cualquier palabra.彼のやつれた顔は、何か月にもわたる過酷な治療の物語を、どんな言葉よりも雄弁に語っていた。그의 수척한 얼굴은 몇 달간의 혹독한 치료 이야기를 어떤 말보다도 웅변적으로 전하고 있었다.
- The gaunt ruins of the abbey stood silhouetted against the winter sky. 修道院荒凉的废墟在冬日的天空下投下了暗淡的剪影。Las desoladas ruinas de la abadía se recortaban contra el cielo invernal.修道院の荒涼とした廃墟が、冬の空を背景にシルエットとなって立っていた。수도원의 황량한 폐허가 겨울 하늘을 배경으로 실루엣을 이루며 서 있었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: literary, media, general
Tone: negative
Origin & History
Of uncertain origin, possibly from Scandinavian — compare Norwegian gand (thin stick) or Swedish dialect gant (thin person). First recorded in English in the 15th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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