| 释义 |
ˈlove-feast
1. Eccl. Antiq. Used as a rendering of Gr. ἀγάπη, Eccl. Latin agape. Among the early Christians, a meal partaken of, in token of brotherly love, by the members of the church; app. originally in connexion with the eucharistic celebration.
1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Agape, a loue, banquet [? read loue banquet], or feaste that was vsed in the Primitiue Churche. 1610T. Godwin Moses & Aaron i. 20 Their Love-feasts,..now antiquated thorowout Christendome. 1737Waterland Eucharist 29 In the Apostolical Times, the Love-Feast and the Eucharist, tho' distinct, went together. 1881N.T. (R.V.) 2 Pet. ii. 13 Revelling in their love-feasts while they feast with you. 1902Expositor Aug. 126 In 2 Peter the feasts are Christian love-feasts.
2. Among Methodists, and some other modern sects, a religious service held at intervals in imitation of the Agape of the early church.
Its special features are the partaking of a simple meal (usually only of bread and water), and the relation of religious experiences by various members of the congregation.
1738Wesley Wks. (1872) I. 93 That on the Sunday seven-night following be a general love-feast. 1761― Jrnl. 19 July, The very design of a Love-feast is a free and familiar conversation. 1807–8W. Irving Salmag. (1824) 144 She..was frequent in her attendance at love-feasts. 1870[see Ebenezer 1]. 188219th Cent. Nov. 740 They who turn aside to attend a Ranters' Love-feast..must be wrong in the head. 1909F. B. Calhoun Miss Minerva 96 She was always on hand at the Love Feast and the Missionary Rally. 1922G. Edwards From Crow-scaring to Westminster iii. 35 One form of [Primitive Methodist] service was called a ‘love-feast’ at which small pieces of bread were taken round with water.
3. Transferred to other gatherings.
1876Solano Republican (Suisun, Calif.) 24 Aug. 2/1 A regular old-fashioned Democratic love-feast was engaged in by the many-scarred war-horses of the party. 1893Nation (N.Y.) 19 Jan. 44/1 On the evening of inauguration day the Populists held a ‘love-feast’. 1943K. Tennant Ride on Stranger iii. 28 Aunt Edith beamed over the love-feast. 1948Minneapolis Star 17 Sept. 1/3 Senator Joseph H. Ball and Gov. Luther Youngdahl had a sort of love feast at the capitol Thursday. 1973‘S. Harvester’ Corner of Playground i. v. 47 Several of their customs had Egyptian overtones, including a ‘love-feast’..close to the Pharaonic agapes.
Hence love-feaster, one who participates in a love-feast.
1749–51G. Lavington Enthus. Meth. & Papists (1820) 298 She was the mother of the Agapetae, or love-feasters. |