| 释义 |
table-talk|ˈteɪb(ə)lˌtɔːk|
Talk at table; familiar conversation at meals.
In a general sense including ordinary conversation or gossip at the dinner-table; but now usually applied to the social conversation of famous men or of intellectual circles, esp. as reproduced in literary form; cf. the Colloquia Mensalia of Luther, first publ. 1567, Engl. transl. 1652, 1846.
a1569A. Kingsmill Godly Advise (1580) 11 Suche verelie is the Table-talk emongst the Gentiles the gentlemen. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. iii. v. 93 Ies. Nay, let me praise you while I haue a stomacke? Lor. No pray thee, let it serue for table talke. 1608Bp. Hall Char. Virtues & V., Busiebodie Wks. (1627) 188 Himselfe begins table-talke of his neighbour at anothers boord; to whom he bears the first newes, and adiures him to conceale the reporter. 1811Sir G. Jackson Diaries & Lett. (1873) I. 192 This little episode..started some table talk.
1689(title) Table-Talk: being the Discourses of John Selden Esq.; or his Sence of Various Matters of Weight and High Consequence. 1791Boswell Johnson Introd. (1831) I. 55 The small portion which we have of the table-talk and other anecdotes of our celebrated writers. 1838–9Hallam Hist. Lit. IV. iv. vii. §31. 314 One group has acquired the distinctive name of Ana; the reported conversation, the table⁓talk of the learned. 1846(title) The Table Talk of Martin Luther, translated and edited by W. Hazlitt.
b. transf. A subject for table-talk; a theme for general conversation.
1579–80North Plutarch 775 Antonius commanded him at the Table to tell him what wind brought him thither, he answered, That it was no Table-talk, and that he would tell him to morrow morning fasting. 1781Cowper Table Talk 151 To be the Table Talk of clubs up stairs.
c. attrib.
1581Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 29 Not speaking (table talke fashion..) words as they chanceably fall from the mouth. 1614Jackson Creed iii. xviii. §2 Acquainted with none but table-talke Diuinity.
So ˈtable-talker, one who talks or converses at table; esp. a person of high conversational powers.
1846Worcester, Table-talker, one who converses at table. Month. Rev. 1880Q. Rev. Jan. 101 He was the best of table-talkers. |