rancour
Meaning: Bitter, deep-seated resentment or ill will that persists over time. Stronger and more enduring than ordinary anger or annoyance.
Rancour implies a settled, festering hostility rather than a momentary flare of temper. It suggests grievances that have been nursed over months or years and may have become defining features of a relationship or situation. The word is common in political journalism, historical writing, and literary analysis, where it describes feuds, factional divisions, and personal vendettas. It collocates with 'without,' 'bitter,' and 'deep,' and the phrase 'without rancour' is a notable set expression meaning graciously or without ill feeling.
Examples
- The leadership contest was conducted without rancour, and the losing candidate promptly pledged her support to the winner. 领导权争夺在没有怨恨的情况下进行,落败的候选人立即宣布支持获胜者。La contienda por el liderazgo se llevó a cabo sin rencor, y la candidata derrotada ofreció de inmediato su apoyo a la ganadora.党首選は遺恨なく行われ、敗れた候補者はただちに勝者への支持を表明した。당대표 경선은 원한 없이 치러졌으며, 패배한 후보는 즉시 승자에 대한 지지를 표명했다.
- Decades of rancour between the two families had poisoned relations in the village beyond any hope of reconciliation. 两家人之间数十年的积怨已经毒化了村庄的关系,毫无和解的希望。Décadas de rencor entre las dos familias habían envenenado las relaciones en el pueblo sin esperanza alguna de reconciliación.二つの家族の間の数十年にわたる怨恨は、村の人間関係を和解の望みもないほど毒していた。두 가문 사이의 수십 년에 걸친 원한은 마을의 인간관계를 화해의 희망조차 없을 정도로 망가뜨렸다.
- The memoir was written with surprising little rancour, given the author's bitter experience of political betrayal. 考虑到作者在政治背叛中的痛苦经历,这本回忆录以出人意料地少的怨恨写成。Las memorias estaban escritas con sorprendentemente poco rencor, teniendo en cuenta la amarga experiencia de traición política que sufrió la autora.政治的裏切りの辛い経験を考えると、その回顧録は驚くほど恨みのない筆致で書かれていた。정치적 배신의 쓰라린 경험을 생각하면, 그 회고록은 놀라울 정도로 원한 없이 쓰여 있었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: journalism, literary
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Old French rancor, from late Latin rancor (rancidness, grudge), from Latin rancere (to stink, to be rotten). The spelling 'rancour' reflects standard British English convention.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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