| 释义 |
pristine, a.|ˈprɪstiːn, ˈprɪstɪn|
Also 6–7 pristin.
[ad. L. pristin-us former, previous, early, original, primitive (f. stem pris-, as in prisc-us, prī(s)m-us: for suffix cf. cras-tinus, diu-tin-us). So OF. pristin.]
1. Of or pertaining to the earliest period or state; original, former; primitive, ancient. (Now usually commendatory.)
1534Anne Boleyn in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 46 Restored to his pristine fredome. 1569Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 10 To reduce the saidis partiis to thair pristine amytie. 1625Purchas Pilgrims ii. 1213 An expedition..for recoverie of their pristine possession. 1696Prior To King, Disc. Conspir. 75 Hence then, close Ambush and perfidious War, Down to your pristin Seats of Night repair. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 31 You speak and prophesy like a sage of some pristine æra. 1782Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. i. 151 To restore it to its pristine purity. 1841D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 126 The translators..have happily preserved for us the pristine simplicity of our Saxon-English. 1849Murchison Siluria xx. 500 The extent of pristine shores. 1873Symonds Grk. Poets ii. 53 Empedocles believed in a pristine state of happiness.
2. In various transf. and extended senses: having its original condition; unmarred, unspoilt. Of a natural object, physical feature, or the like: unspoilt by human interference, untouched; virginal, pure. Of a manufactured object: spotless, pure in colour; fresh, good as new. Hence, in weakened sense: brand-new, newly-made. orig. U.S.
These transferred uses, though now increasingly common, are regarded with disfavour by many educated speakers.
1923W. Stevens Harmonium 59 The responsive man, Planting his pristine cores in Florida, Should prick thereof. 1940W. Faulkner Hamlet iii. i. 180 The furious cold rain..galloped on in tearful and golden laughter across the glittering and pristine earth. Ibid. iv. i. 298 This time the Justice raised one hand, in its enormous pristine cuff, toward her. 1942― Go down, Moses 166 He felt the old lift of the heart, as pristine as ever, as on the first day. 1951Everywoman May 68/2 (Advt.), Has a slim waist, full skirt and a pristine white detachable collar. 1955Bull. Atomic Sci. Apr. 119/2 The endeavor to retain the pristine secrecy of atomic energy information. 1967S. Attanasio tr. Hohendorf's Life & Times of Goethe 44 Christiane was a short, attractive brunette, with a pristine mouth and round cheeks. 1974BP Shield Internat. Oct. 28/4 The value of Lake Sibaya as a pristine system cannot be overemphasised. 1975Times 11 Aug. 4/5 Gone the cluttered spike, the chatter of teleprinters; his habitat now is the pristine, air-conditioned new building on the Barbican promenade of Lazard Brothers. 1976Milton Keynes Express 25 June 44/1 (Advt.), The quality of the coachwork can only be described as in pristine condition. 1977Gramophone May 1725/2 (Advt.), All records and tapes obtained through DLR, including budget labels, are factory fresh, unconditionally guaranteed, pristine products.
Hence ˈpristinely adv.
1899Westm. Gaz. 16 May 2/3 This indignant Tory thinks that what would be pristinely beautiful as Dollis Hill would be newly ugly as Gladstone Park. 1972Bookseller 3 June 2456/2 Roughly half the books mentioned are not published within that week. It is only the populars who insist on having something pristinely fresh, published that day. 1975F. King Needle ix. 48 A Bentley like that one, though it would be a shame to damage and stain something so pristinely beautiful. |