| 释义 |
ˈtime-ˌkeeper, timekeeper
1. a. An instrument for registering the passage of time; a timepiece; formerly, a specially constructed timepiece for scientific use, a chronometer.
1686Molyneux Scioth. Telesc. Title-p., For Regulating and Adjusting Curious Pendulum-Watches and other Time-Keepers. 1764Chron. in Ann. Reg. 99/2 Mr. Harrison's new invented time-keeper. 1776Cook Voy. Pacific Ocean i. i. (1784) I. 4 The Board, likewise, put into our possession the same watch, or time-keeper, which I had carried out in my last voyage, and had performed its part so well. 1878Huxley Physiogr. 7 True noon does not always coincide with 12 o'clock as indicated by an ordinary timekeeper.
transf.1868Lockyer Guillemin's Heavens (ed. 3) 6 According to the happy expression of Humboldt, they make of the Universe an eternal timekeeper.
b. Applied to an almanac. nonce-use.
1778F. Burney Evelina lxxviii, It would make me quite melancholy to have such a time-keeper in my pocket.
2. One who notes, measures, or records time; spec.
a. one who is employed in keeping account of workmen's hours of labour;
b. one who beats time in music;
c. one who marks the time occupied by a race, the rounds in a pugilistic encounter, etc.
1795Southey Lett. fr. Spain (1808) I. 294 The time⁓keeper..then turned up an hour-glass. 1829P. Egan Boxiana 2nd Ser. II. 128 Maurice..repeated the signal for fighting. Randall was the time⁓keeper. 1851Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 356/1, I went to a firm..at Beckenham, near Croydon, as working time-keeper, or foreman. 1879‘E. Garrett’ House by Works II. 185 A post as timekeeper at some great engineering works. 1896[see corner n.1 13 d]. 1903Daily Chron. 28 Nov. 5/2 The Duke of Wellington called [Sir Thomas McDougall] Brisbane the ‘timekeeper of the Army’. 1950Sport 7–11 Apr. 7/1 Did the timekeeper and second..want to catch the early train home?
3. With qualifying word: A person or thing that keeps (good or bad) time.
1899P. W. Hasluck Clock Jobber's Handbk. 2 Being very cheap..and fair time-keepers, American clocks are exceedingly popular. Mod. He is a good executant, but a bad time-keeper.
Hence ˈtimeˌkeepership, the position or office of a time-keeper. So ˈtime-ˌkeeping n., the keeping of time; adj. that keeps time (in various senses of the phrase: see time n. 56.)
1816P. Hervé Beauties Paris I. 211 No swing of the shoulders from side to side with graceless timekeeping. 1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mech. 522 This degree of time-keeping cannot reasonably be expected from any other clock. 1887Pall Mall G. 16 Sept. 11/1 The need existed for a timekeeping watch at a low price. 1891Wheeling 25 Feb. 414/3 The Timekeepership of the London Centre. 1895Daily News 20 Apr. 2/1 The right of the employer to make reasonable regulations for time-keeping. |