| 释义 |
▪ I. trait|treɪ, treɪt|
Also 6 traite, 7 traict.
[a. F. trait, in obs. F. traict, tret, draught, stroke, touch, line = Pr. trait feature:—L. tractus drawing, draught: see tract n.3
The pronunciation |treɪ|, after mod. French, in the 19th c. considered in England the correct one, is becoming less general; in U.S. |treɪt| is the established one.]
†1. ‘Shot’ of any kind, missiles; orig. arrows. Obs. rare.
c1477Caxton Jason 112 Shoting on them arowes & other trait [F. tirerent sur eulx saietes et aultre trait].
†2. A drawing out; protraction; = tract n.3 1. Obs. rare.
1545in Leadam Crt. of Requests (Selden) 169 Then..tapper [= to appear] for heryng of the matter without any further traite of tyme.
†3. That which is drawn; a line, streak, stripe. Sc. Obs. rare.
1561Inv. Roy. Wardr. (1815) 133 Item ane claith of estate of fresit claith of gold and traitis of violet silk partit equalie with violet velvot. [Cf. below Drauchtis of violett silk partit equalie with violett velvot.]
4. a. A stroke made with pen or pencil; a short line; a touch (in a picture).
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. i. (Arb.) 150 The skilfull painters [chief praise] is in the good conueyance of his coulours and shadowing traits of his pensill. 1601Holland Pliny xxxv. xi. II. 550 In these [unfinished paintings] a man may (as it were) see what traicts and lineaments remaine to bee done. 1756J. Kennedy Curios. Wilton Ho. (1786) 45 The Traits are most beautiful, and the Sculpture of the very best Ages. 1823J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 141 The copy..is correct to a trait.
fig.1860Westcott Introd. Study Gosp. vi. (1881) 340 The picture which he draws can be completed by traits taken from the other Evangelists. 1863M. Howitt F. Bremer's Greece I. vi. 160 Let me now sketch some traits from that grand vision.
†b. Something penned; a line, passage, or piece of writing. Obs.
1572Abp. Parker Corr. (Parker Soc.) 414 In reading some words thereof..ye may think he hath mine information, but before God that trait was only of himself.
5. A line or lineament of the face; a feature.
1773Life N. Frowde 52 The ten Thousand lovely Traits, that dwelt in every Feature of her radiant Face. 1809Med. Jrnl. XXI. 329 The latter inherits the general exterior resemblance of his father, or even his shape, characteristic traits, looks, or voice. 1821Shelley Let. 15 Aug., Her face is somewhat altered. The traits have become more delicate. 1860Emerson Cond. Life, Behaviour Wks. (Bohn) II. 385 A man finds room in the few square inches of the face for the traits of all his ancestors.
6. a. A particular feature of mind or character; a distinguishing quality; a characteristic; spec. of a culture or social group. Also attrib.
1752H. Walpole Lett. to Mann 28 Oct., A most sensible trait of the King. 1797Monthly Mag. III. 494 That love of order, which is a remarkable trait in his character. 1803Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. p. ccxxxi, A very excellent young man, and has all the traits for making an excellent seaman and naval officer. 1807W. Irving Salmag. iii. (1824) 38 Who have no national trait about them but their language. 1859Wraxall tr. R. Houdin xviii. 258 A pleasing trait of English manners and customs. 1897Gen. H. Porter in Century Mag. Sept. 744/1 Sheridan now began to exhibit those traits which always made him a tower of strength. 1916Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. Mar. 656 In maize culture as practiced by American farmers we have a fine example of a borrowed culture trait. Ibid. 659 The colonists took over all the essential parts of the trait-complex. 1936R. Linton Study of Man xvi. 280 During this [trial] period both the new trait and the old trait or traits with which it is competing become Alternatives within the total culture complex. Ibid. xxii. 397 Every trait is intimately associated with some other trait or traits to form a larger functional unit commonly known as a trait complex. 1947G. Murphy Personality xxi. 506 Most of the trait names that are used represent general action tendencies; and as soon as they are applied to oneself, or..to others, they stimulate a trait psychology in their user. 1976A. Haley Roots vii. 21 Kunta would always turn and walk away, thus displaying the dignity and self-command that his mother had taught him were the proudest traits of the Mandinka tribe. 1977R. Holland Self & Social Context v. 165 Trait models of professions attempt to list the characteristics of professional activity..as though some essential quality will be revealed by describing and comparing the many examples.
b. Of a thing.
1864Bowen Logic i. (1870) 7 The Concept refers to all the things whose common or similar attributes or traits it conceives. 1865Livingstone Zambesi xxiv. 496 This trait was confined to the cool highlands. 1869H. F. Tozer Highl. Turkey II. 269 The character of the tales has been altered.., yet..the original traits have..been preserved. 1871Jowett Plato I. 254 Some lesser traits of the dialogue may be noted.
c. A ‘touch’ of some quality. Now rare.
1815W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 56 note, A poem..wherein are to be found many traits of exuberant genius. 1830Moore Byron I. 328 A trait of pathos or high feeling, in comedy, has a peculiar charm. 1835Ure Phil. Manuf. 343 Many traits of almost parental kindness on the part of the masters.
7. A stroke:
†a. of skill or cunning. double trait, a stroke of double dealing. Obs.
a1625in Gutch Coll. Cur. I. 187 You deal with a Nation that hath playd more double Traits..than all the World beside.
b. of wit, sarcasm, pleasantry.
1704Swift T. Tub Ded., Embellished with traits of wit so poignant and so apposite. 1781H. Walpole Let. to H. S. Conway 16 Sept., In Voltaire's letters are some bitter traits on the King of Prussia. 1859Tennyson Elaine 320 When he fell From talk of war to traits of pleasantry.
▪ II. trait, traitee
obs. ff. treat v., treaty. |