| 释义 |
major-domo|ˈmeɪdʒəˈdəʊməʊ|
Forms: 6 maiordome, -domo, mayordome, 7 mayordomo, (7 major-dome, mayordom), 7– major domo.
[ad. Sp. mayordomo, It. maggiordomo (whence F. majordome), ad. med.L. mājor domūs ‘chief of the house’ (mājor subst. use of mājor greater, major a.; domūs gen. of domus house), the title of the highest official of the royal household under the Merovingians, commonly rendered ‘mayor of the palace’ (see mayor).]
a. In early use, the chief official of an Italian or Spanish princely household, often discharging some of the functions of a minister of state. Subsequently applied also (in accordance with later It. and Sp. use) to the head servant of a wealthy household in foreign countries, and in more or less playful use to an English house-steward or butler.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. iv. (Arb.) 20 How was it possible that Homer..should so exactly set foorth..as some great Princes maiordome..the order..of royal bankets [etc.]? Ibid. 158 Maior-domo: in truth this word is borrowed of the Spaniard and Italian, and therefore new and not vsuall, but to them that are acquainted with the affaires of Court... A man might haue said in steade of Maior-domo..the right English word (Lord Steward). 1598Barret Theor. Warres Gloss. 251 Mayordome, is with the Italian and Spaniard, the steward of a house; but in war he is the steward and Guardian of the munition for warre. c1645Howell Lett. iii. viii. (1650) 50 He is Mayor⁓domo Lord steward to the Infante Cardinall. Ibid. iii. xv. 60 As one to be his Mayordom (his Steward), another to be Master of the Horse. 1674Govt. Tongue viii. §11 Whose designs are so humble, as not to aspire above a major-domo, or some such domestic preferment. 1692Lond. Gaz. No. 2820/3 The Marquis de la Puebla, Major-Dome to the King of Spain. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 253 He and his major-domo would go along with me. 1814Scott Wav. ix, The major-domo, for such he was, and indisputably the second officer of state in the barony,..laid down his spade. [1823Byron Juan x. lxx, His Maggior Duomo, a smart, subtle Greek. 1845Darwin Voy. Nat. xii. 255 The mayor⁓domo of the Hacienda was good enough to give me a guide.] 1855Motley Dutch Rep. (1861) II. 260 His Major-domo had previously been permitted to furnish his master's table with provisions dressed by his own cook. [1876N. Amer. Rev. CXXIII. 45 A king, averse to marriage, commanded his maggiordomo to remain single.]
¶b. In etymological sense ‘chief of the house’.
1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Pref., [Mankind] were forced to divide their dwellings, and this they did by families especially, the great Father being the Major domo to all his minors. Ibid. ii. vii. 34 God was the Major domo, the Master of those assemblies. a1716South 12 Serm. (1727) VI. 340 Let him have nothing to do with any House or Family (tho' never so great and so much in Power) where the Devil is Major Domo and governs all.
c. U.S. In south-western states, an overseer on a farm or ranch; also, the water-master or official in charge of irrigation in New Mexico.
1834in Calif. Hist. Soc. Q. (1929) VIII. 228 Four ranchos, each one made up of an Indian village, a house for the mayordomo directing it, [etc.]. 1836D. B. Edward Hist. Texas ix. 291 Having thus glanced at the Major domo, we shall take a peek at his Locum tenens. 1902F. H. Newell Irrigation in U.S. 107 He is usually known as the ‘water master’ or ‘ditch-rider’; or, in Spanish-speaking communities as majordomo. 1910J. Hart Vigilante Girl xiv. 195 Arthur's chair was taken to the portal, where they found the major-domo and a group of vaqueros waiting. 1948P. Johnston Lost & Living Cities Calif. Gold Rush p. ii, The precious metal was found..by Francisco López, majordomo of San Gabriel Mission, in Placerita Canyon.
Hence ˈmajor-ˈdomoship, the office of major-domo.
1772Nugent tr. Hist. Friar Gerund I. 87 When the uncle of the house served any majordomoship [Sp. servia alguna mayordomia]. 1889Pall Mall G. 30 Jan. 6/1 A successor to whom he could hand over the Imperial Major-domoship. |