| 释义 |
demonstrative, a. and n.|dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv|
In 5 -if.
[a. F. démonstratif, -ive (14th c. in Hatzf.), ad. L. dēmonstrātīv-us, f. ppl. stem of L. dēmonstrāre: see -ive.]
1. Having the function or quality of clearly showing, exhibiting, or indicating; making evident; illustrative.
demonstrative legacy: see quot. 1892.
1530Palsgr. 309/2 Demonstratyfe, demonstratif. 1551T. Wilson Logike (1580) 27 b, A demonstrative, or shewyng reduction. 1616R. Waller in Lismore Papers (1887) Ser. ii. II. 19 Some demonstrative token proportionable to the large favor wherwithall you haue vouchsafed to giue me. a1700Dryden (J.), Painting is necessary to all other arts, because of the need which they have of demonstrative figures, which often give more light to the understanding than the clearest discourses. 1892L. Goodeve Mod. Law of Real Prop. 394 A demonstrative legacy is one which is in its nature a general legacy, but is directed by the testator to be paid out of a particular fund.
2. Rhet. Setting forth or describing with praise or censure.
1553T. Wilson Rhet. 6 b, The oracion demonstratiue standeth either in praise or dispraise of some one man, or of some one thyng. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. Epit. A, An epistle demonstrative consisteth in these two points, namely, commendation and dispraise. a1677Barrow Pope's Suprem. (1687) 72 Eloquent men do never more exceed in their indulgence to fancy, than in the demonstrative kind..in their commendations of persons. 1783H. Blair Rhetoric xxvii. II. 46 The chief subjects of Demonstrative Eloquence, were Panegyrics, Invectives, Gratulatory and Funeral Orations.
3. Gram. Serving to point out or indicate the particular thing referred to: applied esp. to certain adjectives (often used pronominally) having this function.
demonstrative root: a linguistic root which appears to have had no other signification than that of pointing to a near or remote object, as the t- in Sanskrit tat, tadā, Gr. τό, τότε, L. tam, tunc, or its Teutonic representative þ, th, in the, then, there.
1520Whitinton Vulg. (1527) 5 b, Whan a nowne demonstrative is referred to ye hole sentence folowynge. 1530Palsgr. Introd. 29 Pronownes demonstratyves they have but thre il, le and on or len. 1668Wilkins Real Char. iii. ii. §3. 305 As this or that man or book..in these cases the Pronouns are commonly called Demonstrative. 1835J. Marcet Mary's Gram. ii. ix. 250 When we use the demonstrative pronoun, it seems as if we were pointing our finger to show the things we were speaking of. 1865Tylor Early Hist. Man. iv. 61 The demonstrative roots, a small class of independent radicals. 1892Davidson Heb. Gram. (ed. 10) 81 The letter n, having demonstrative force, is often inserted.
4. That shows or makes manifest the truth or existence of anything; serving as conclusive evidence.
c1386Chaucer Sompn. T. 564 Ye shul seen..By preeue which that is demonstratif, That equally the soun of it wol wende..vn-to the spokes ende. 1570–6Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 301 The vertue of holy water (in putting the Divell to flight) was confirmed at Motindene by a demonstrative argument. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. iii. (1739) 5 The first of which is cried down by many demonstrative instances. 1691Ray Creation (1714) 18 A demonstrative proof..of the fecundity of His wisdom and Power. 1807G. Chalmers Caledonia I. i. iv. 117 These military works..are equally demonstrative of their skill, and creditable to their perseverance. 1855Ess. Intuit. Mor. ii. 43 Another point..demonstrative of God's providence.
5. That serves to demonstrate logically; belonging to logical demonstration.
1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 124 Galyen..in hys youth he desired greetly to knowe the science demonstratiue. 1581Mulcaster Positions xli. (1887) 244 Logicke, for her demonstratiue part, plaieth the Grammer to the Mathematicalles. 1624N. De Lawne tr. Du Moulin's Logick 163 A demonstrative Syllogisme as that which prooveth that the attribute of the conclusion is truely attributed unto the subject. 1736Butler Anal. Introd. Wks. (1874) I. 1 Probable evidence is essentially distinguished from demonstrative by this, that it admits of degrees. 1864Bowen Logic ii. 34 Logic, as it proceeds from axiomatic principles,..is a purely demonstrative science.
6. Characterized or produced by demonstration; evident or provable by demonstration.
1612T. Wilson Chr. Dict., To bee infallibly assured of a thing, by demonstratiue certainety. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 188 'Tis demonstrative that salt waters have much more heat than fresh waters have. 1798Malthus Popul. (1878) 295 It is a demonstrative truth. 1863Mrs. C. Clarke Shaks. Char. iv. 106 We have passed into an age of practicality and demonstrative knowledge.
7. Given to, or characterized by, outward exhibition or expression (of the feelings, etc.).
1819Metropolis III. 252 No fulsomeness of public and demonstrative tenderness, on his part, ever puts me to the blush. 1832Examiner 241/2 The middle party in the House have been sufficiently demonstrative of their purposes. 1863Mrs. C. Clarke Shaks. Char. v. 124 The demonstrative gratitude of his heart. 1872Darwin Emotions xi. 265 Englishmen are much less demonstrative than the men of most other European nations.
8. That teaches a science by the exhibition and description of examples or experiments. rare. Cf. demonstrator 2.
1814Philos. Mag. XLIV. 305 (title) Demonstrative Course of Lectures on Drs. Gall and Spurzheim's Physiognomonical System.
B. n. Gram. A demonstrative adjective or pronoun.
1530Palsgr. 75 Demonstratives simple is only ce. 1591Percivall Sp. Dict. B iv a, Of pronounes..some are called demonstratiues, because they shew a thing not spoken of before. 1833McHenry Span. Gram. 42 Possessives and demonstratives are used in Spanish both as adjectives and as pronouns. 1875R. Morris Eng. Gram. (1877) 114 The Demonstratives are the, that, this, such, so, same, yon. |