| 释义 |
faerie, faery, n. (a.) arch.|ˈfɛərɪ, ˈfeɪərɪ|
[A variant of fairy; it prob. existed in ME. (cf. OF. faerie), but its first known appearance is as employed arch. by Spenser (usually as trisyllable). In present usage, it is practically a distinct word, adopted either to express Spenser's peculiar modification of the sense, or to exclude various unpoetical or undignified associations connected with the current form fairy.]
1. The realm or world of the fays or fairies; fairyland, fairydom (cf. fairy n. 1). Usually, the imaginary world depicted in Spenser's Faery Queene, the personages of which have little or no resemblance to the ‘fairies’ of popular belief.
1590Spenser F.Q. ii. Introd. i, None that breatheth living aire does know Where is that happy land of Faery. 1818Shelley Rev. Islam Ded. i, Some victor Knight of Faëry. 1835Willis Pencillings II. xlix. 80 A grass so verdant..that it seems the very floor of faëry. 1870Morris Earthly Par. I. ii. 554 Men dreaded there to see The uncouth things of faërie.
†2. = fairy n. 2. Obs.
1612Drayton Poly-olb. iv. 307 The feasts that vnder⁓ground the Faërie did him make.
†3. = fairy n. 4. Obs.
1590Spenser F.Q. i. iv. 15 The stout Faerie..Thought all their glorie vaine. 1591― Tears of Muses 31 The..light⁓foote Faeries. 1634Milton Comus 436 No goblin or swart faery of the mine, Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity.
4. attrib. passing into adj. (never in predicative use), with sense: Of or belonging to ‘faerie’, resembling fairyland, beautiful and unsubstantial, visionary, unreal. Also Comb., as faery-land, faerie-tale; faery-fair, faerie-frail adjs.
1590Spenser (title), The Faerie Queene. Ibid. i. Introd. ii, Lay forth..The antique rolles..Of Faerie knights. Ibid. ii. Introd. iv, Of faery lond yet if he more inquyre By certein signes..He may it find. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. vi. 20 To night at Hernes-Oke..Must my sweet Nan present the Faerie-Queene. 1652Brome Joviall Crew iv. Wks. 1873 III. 417 A House..built upon Faery-Ground. 1667Milton P.L. i. 781 Faerie Elves Whose Midnight Revels..some belated Peasant sees. 1804Wordsw. To the Cuckoo viii, The Earth..Again appears to be An unsubstantial faery place. 1820Keats St. Agnes viii, Hoodwink'd with faery fancy. 1839Hallam Hist. Lit. v. ii. §89 The legends of Faeryland. 1868Ld. Houghton Select. fr. Wks. 174 So faery-frail, so faery-fair. 1890R. Bridges Shorter Poems iii. v, To taste the faery cheer Of spirits in a dream. |