
lapsed
词源
源自拉丁语 'lapsus'(滑倒、失误),通过古法语 'laps' 进入英语,最初指时间流逝或从标准/信仰中偏离。
adjective
❶ 指因未及时续费、更新或履行义务而失效的状态,常用于会员资格、保单等正式协议。
“My gym membership has lapsed because I forgot to renew it.”
(我的健身房会员资格因忘记续费而失效了。)
“The insurance policy will become lapsed if you miss two payments.”
(如果错过两次付款,这份保险单就会失效。)
❶ 形容因时间推移或缺乏坚持而中断的习惯、信仰或承诺。
“He was a lapsed vegetarian who started eating meat again.”
(他是个中断素食习惯后又开始吃肉的人。)
“As a lapsed musician, she hadn't touched the piano in years.”
(作为放弃音乐的人,她已多年没碰钢琴了。)
verb
❶ 指权利、协议等因未履行必要手续而自动终止的过程。
“His driver's license lapsed while he was abroad.”
(他的驾照在他出国期间失效了。)
“The contract will lapse if neither party renews it.”
(如果双方都不续约,合同将自动终止。)
❶ 表示时间流逝或逐渐消逝的状态。
“Years had lapsed since their last meeting.”
(自他们上次见面已过去多年。)
“A moment lapsed before she responded to the question.”
(她停顿了片刻才回答这个问题。)
常见短语
lapsed into silence — 形容谈话或讨论突然停止,陷入沉默的状态。
“After the awkward question, the room lapsed into silence.”
(那个尴尬的问题之后,房间陷入了沉默。)
lapsed Catholic — 特指受洗后不再定期参加宗教活动的天主教徒,但仍可能保持文化认同。
“Though a lapsed Catholic, he still celebrates Christmas with family.”
(尽管不再虔诚,他仍会与家人共度圣诞节。)