| 释义 |
jabberwock|ˈdʒæbəwɒk|
The name of the fabulous monster in Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky. Hence in allusive and extended uses, esp. ‘incoherent or nonsensical expression’. So ˈjabberwocky, invented language, meaningless language, nonsensical behaviour; also as adj., nonsensical, meaningless, topsy-turvy. Also ˈjabberwock(y) v. intr., to write, speak, etc., in jabberwocky style.
1871‘L. Carroll’ Through Looking-Glass i. 22 The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood. 1902J. Buchan Watcher by Threshold iii. 38 It was the strangest jumble of vowels and consonants I had ever met... It was some maniac talking Jabberwock to himself. 1908Daily Chron. 10 Apr. 4/7 Those exceptional modern folk who write with equal ease in the ordinary left-to-right manner and in ‘Jabberwocky’ fashion..right to left. 1917[see Christmas-tree 2]. 1926Glasgow Herald 7 Oct. 5 From ‘Jabberwocky’ it is but a short step to the old-fashioned nursery-rhyme. 1931E. Wilson Axel's Castle vi. 227 The dreaming mind does not usually speak—and when it does, it is more likely to express itself in the looking-glass language of ‘Jabberwocky’ than in anything resembling ordinary speech. 1939Times 25 Feb. 15/5 It is all very Jabberwocky, and so far the writers of the movement [surrealism] have the advantage of the artists. 1953H. Miller Plexus (1963) ii. 57 Realizing in a short time that I was not in the least interested in all this jabberwocky, and thinking of Mona waiting for me to lunch with her, I suddenly interrupted him. 1959Listener 29 Jan. 226/1 His [sc. Skelton's] tendency to jabberwock (like Pound or Eliot, Skelton was a polylingual versifier). 1963Guardian 22 July 5/5 He jabberwockied, pulling furiously at his ear-lobe as he talked. 1964A. Swinson Six Minutes to Sunset vi. 126 Sometimes, to confuse the issue,..he would indulge in his own subtle form of jabberwocky. 1970J. Fleming Young Man, I think you're Dying xii. 164 He was going to wear her down, intimidate her, tame and train her to obey, and a whole lot of other jabberwocky which he couldn't..remember now. 1972Collector's Guide Aug. 12/1 (Advt.), Worcester first period teapot stand ‘Jabberwocky pattern’. |