絶え間ない
解説 Definition
途切れることなく続く；絶え間なく。常に続いている状態や行動を表します。
Incessant means continuing without stopping or with very few breaks. It is often used for things that become annoying or tiring, such as noise, rain, or complaints. The word is stronger and more formal than simply saying constant.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
incessant は cease「やむ」を知っていると覚えやすい語です。in- が付いて「やまない」→「絶え間ない」。ceaseless に近いですが、incessant は音・雨・質問・苦情など、止まってほしいものが続く場面でよく使われ、うるささやわずらわしさをにじませやすいのがポイント。incessant rain, incessant noise, incessant complaints のような固まりで覚えると定着します。constant は単に一定、continuous は中断なく続く、incessant は“ひっきりなし”という反復感が強いです。
If you know "cease," you already have the key. "Incessant" means "not ceasing," so picture something that will not stop. It is often used with annoying things like incessant rain, noise, or complaints, and that feeling helps the word stick.
例文
The incessant rain made it impossible to go outside.
その絶え間ない雨のため外に出ることができませんでした。
Her incessant complaining began to annoy everyone in the office.
彼女が絶えず不平を言うので、職場のみんなはいら立ち始めました。
The incessant noise from the construction site kept me awake all night.
工事現場からの絶え間ない騒音で私は一晩中眠れませんでした。
incessant の類義語・関連語
incessant の語源・成り立ち Etymology
incessant は古フランス語経由で後期ラテン語 incessans にさかのぼり、in-「〜でない」+ cessare「やめる」から成ります。直訳すると「やむことのない」で、意味は語源どおりです。関連語は cease、cessation です。
"Incessant" comes through Old French from Late Latin incessans. It is built from in-, meaning "not," and cessare, meaning "to stop" or "cease." So the original sense was simply "not stopping," which is still the meaning today. Related words include "cease" and "cessation."
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