tidy: [13] Tidy originally meant ‘timely, seasonable’ (it was a derivative of tide, in the now superannuated sense ‘time, season’). It early on evolved metaphorically to ‘goodlooking’, and hence ‘good’, but the modern sense ‘neat’ did not emerge until the 18th century. Titivate [19] may have been based on tidy. => tide, titivate
tidy (v.)
"to make neat, set in order," 1821, from tidy (adj.). Related: Tidied; tidying.
tidy (adj.)
mid-13c., "in good condition, healthy," probably originally "in season, timely, opportune, excellent" (though this sense is not attested until mid-14c.), from tide (n.) in the sense of "season, time" + -y (2). Of persons, "of neat and orderly habits," from 1706. Similar formation in Old High German zitig, German zeitig, Dutch tijdig, Danish tidig "timely," Old English tidlic "temporal," also "timely, seasonable."
实用例句
1. I'll do your garden, I'll keep that tidy for you.
我会帮你弄弄花园,帮你保持它的整洁。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Except for the remarkably tidy kitchen, the place was a mess.
除了厨房特别干净外,这地方一片狼藉。
来自柯林斯例句
3. "Make the punishment fit the crime." How neat and tidy it sounded.
“罪罚相当”,这听起来多么简洁。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The large log basket can be used to tidy toys away.