shrunken
UK/ˈʃrʌŋkən/US/ˈʃrʌŋkən/
释义
adj.
收缩的，皱缩的；萎缩的
词源
概述
Shrunken 是动词 shrink 的过去分词形式，直接用作形容词。其词根可追溯至古英语 scrincan，原指身体因寒冷、恐惧或疾病而“蜷缩、皱缩”。后缀 -en 是古英语中构成形容词的常见手段，赋予“因收缩而导致的状态”之意。整个词生动描绘了物体体积减小或表面起皱的形态，词义由物理收缩自然延伸至经济、价值等抽象领域的萎缩。
例句
“She held out a shrunken sweater that had been washed in hot water.”
她拿出一件用热水洗过而缩水的毛衣。
“The old man's face was shrunken and pale after his long illness.”
久病之后，这位老人的脸庞消瘦而苍白。
“The company's shrunken profits forced them to reconsider their strategy.”
公司利润萎缩，迫使他们重新考虑战略。