| 释义 |
▪ I. alphabet, n.|ˈælfəbɪt|
[ad. L. alphabētum (Tertull.), f. Alpha, Beta = ἄλϕα, βῆτα, the first two Greek letters taken as a name for the whole, as in our ‘ABC.’ Cf. Fr. alphabet (not in Cotgr. 1611).]
1. a. The set of letters used in writing the Greek language; extended to those used by the Romans; and thence to any set of characters representing the simple sounds used in a language or in speech generally.
1580Baret Alv. A., This common vsuall order in our Alphabet or crosrowe. 1611Cotgr., (R.) Touching the French abece, for alphabet I will not call it, according to the vulgar error, that word being peculiar only to the Greek tongue [not in ed. 1632]. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 141 ⁋8 The lexicographer at last finds the conclusion of his alphabet. 1781Cowper Convers. 11 As alphabets in ivory employ, Hour after hour, the yet unlettered boy. 1857Max Müller Chips (1880) I. x. 261 The Chinese alphabet was never intended to represent the sound of words.
†b. in alphabet: in alphabetical order. Obs.
1699Garth Dispens. i. 5 Here Phyals in nice discipline are set, There Gally-pots are rang'd in Alphabet.
c. A series of symbols used to represent an alphabet (sometimes including numerals), differing from it in the form of the symbols or in their order.
1838N.Y. Observer 3 Feb. 18/6 The Electro-Magnetic Telegraph..can..furnish the copy, ready for the hands of any printer who understands the telegraphic alphabet. 1852E. Highton Electric Telegraph 63 The following represents Professor Morse's alphabet, composed..of long and short marks. 1939[see polyalphabetic adj. s.v. poly- 1]. 1974Encycl. Brit. Macropædia V. 326/1 The Gronsfeld cipher is identical with a Vigenère system with direct standard alphabets, except that only the first ten alphabets are used in conjunction with a numerical key.
d. Computing. (See quot. 1962.)
1962Gloss. Terms Automatic Data Processing (B.S.I.) 15 Alphabet (character set, character repertoire), an agreed set of representations..from which selections are made to denote and distinguish data... For example, an alphabet may include the numerals 0 to 9, the letters A to Z, a space, specified punctuation marks and functional characters. 1973H. Hellerman Digital Computer System Princ. (ed. 2) ii. 25 The alphabet of APL, showing all its atomic symbols as they appear on the terminal keyboard, is illustrated. 1984J. Scriven Working Electron ii. 58 (heading) Defining your own alphabet.
e. attrib.
1513W. de Worde (title) The Flores of Ovide..with theyr Englysshe..and Two alphabete Tables. 1636Cogan Haven Health (ed. 2) The Table containing the principall points of the whole booke in Alphabet order.
f. Special Comb. alphabet book, a book for teaching the alphabet; alphabet soup, a clear soup containing pieces of paste or biscuit shaped like letters of the alphabet.
1922Joyce Ulysses 49 One of the alphabet books you were going to write.
1907Black Cat June 15 Alphabet soup—that thin, clear soup, with little noodle or cracker letters in it.
2. fig. The key to any study or branch of knowledge; the first rudiments.
1588Shakes. Tit. A. iii. ii. 44, I (of these) will wrest an Alphabet, And, by still practice, learne to know thy meaning. a1652J. Smith Sel. Disc. iv. 101 Our senses..first taught us the alphabet of this learning. 1837Whewell Induct. Sc. I. i. i. 27 The alphabet in which nature writes her answers to such inquiries.
†3. An index in alphabetical order. Obs.
1552Huloet, Alphabet of a boke, Elenchus. 1578Bible (Genev.) Pref., These two Alphabets of directions..in maner of a briefe Concordance. 1666Pepys Diary 25 Dec., Reducing the names of all my books to an alphabet. 1825Bro. Jonathan II. 159 Where's the alphabet? Find Harwood.
4. fig. A long or complete series.
1592Nashe P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 8 b, Small beere, that wold make a man..runne through an Alphabet of faces. 1600Holland Livy xxii. vii. 436 i, An alphabet of faces [varios vultus]. 1727Pope Dunc. iv. 217 While tow'ring o'er the Alphabet like Saul. 1923G. B. Shaw in Nation 10 Feb. 715/1 The soldiers would have to be inoculated with a whole alphabet of microbes.
▪ II. alphabet, v.|ˈælfəbɪt|
[f. the n.; cf. to index.]
‘To range in the order of the alphabet.’ J.
c1700Pepys Mem. in Catal. Bks. Geog. & Hydrogr., To collect and alphabet the particulars. 1848[See alphabeted]. [In regular use with Librarians, etc., in U.S.] |