OpenEtymology

expensive-looking

UKɪkˈspensɪv lʊkɪŋUSɪkˈspensɪv lʊkɪŋ

Meaning

1adj.

看起来昂贵的;外观奢华的

Structure

word structure
1
昂贵的
+
2
looking
外观

Usage

She carried an expensive-looking leather handbag.

她拿着一个看起来价格不菲的皮革手提包。

The hotel lobby was decorated with expensive-looking marble floors.

酒店大堂铺着外观奢华的大理石地板。

Despite being a replica, the watch was surprisingly expensive-looking.

尽管是仿制品,这块手表的外观却惊人地显昂贵。

Etymology

该复合词由形容词 expensive 和现在分词 looking 组合而成,字面意为"具有昂贵外观的"。expensive 本身源自拉丁语动词 expendere(称重,支付),引申为需付出高昂代价的特性;looking 则保留古英语中与视觉相关的核心含义。两者结合自然形成"通过视觉感知传递昂贵质感"的现代语义,生动体现外观与价值的关联性。

Analysis

Structure
expensive-looking=expensive昂贵的+looking外观

• expensive:源自拉丁语 expendere(花费,称重),经中古英语和盎格鲁-法语演化,表示"高成本的"

• looking:源自古英语 lōcian(看,注视),保留原始含义指"外观或表象"

词源溯源:该复合词由形容词 expensive 和现在分词 looking 组合而成,字面意为"具有昂贵外观的"。expensive 本身源自拉丁语动词 expendere(称重,支付),引申为需付出高昂代价的特性;looking 则保留古英语中与视觉相关的核心含义。两者结合自然形成"通过视觉感知传递昂贵质感"的现代语义,生动体现外观与价值的关联性。

Expensive-looking Meaning, Examples & Word Origin | OpenEtymology