1540s, "abrasion, a scraping," from Latin attritionem (nominative attritio), literally "a rubbing against," noun of action from past participle stem of atterere "to wear, rub away," figuratively "to destroy, waste," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + terere "to rub" (see throw (v.)). The earliest sense in English is from Scholastic theology (late 14c.), "sorrow for sin merely out of fear of punishment," a minor irritation, and thus less than contrition. The sense of "wearing down of military strength" is a World War I coinage (1914). Figurative use by 1930.
雙語例句
1. It was a war of attrition .
這是一場消耗戰(zhàn)。
來自《權威詞典》
2. They're trying to stop the attrition of their rights.
他們正竭力制止他們的權利的削減.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
3. The long war of attrition exhausted the strength of both countries.
這場長期的消耗戰(zhàn)耗盡了兩國的力量.
來自《現(xiàn)代漢英綜合大詞典》
4. The rebels have declared a ceasefire in their war of attrition against the government.
在與政府的消耗戰(zhàn)中，反叛者宣布?；?。
來自柯林斯例句
5. The company plans to cut a quarter of its workforce over six years through natural attrition and fewer hirings.