| 释义 |
master-key
A key that will open a number of different locks, each of which has its own key that will not open any of the rest. Also fig.
1576J. Dee Gen. & Rare Mem. (1577) 8 This Pety Nauy Royall is thought to be the onely Maister Key wherewith to open all Locks. 1686Plot Staffordsh. 376 The Keys shall neither of them open each others lock, yet one Master-key shall open them all. 1748Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 352 A Master-key for unlocking the Mysteries in the Constitution of natural Bodies. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxiii, Janet..had a master-key which opened the postern-door. 1821Hazlitt Table-Talk I. xvi. 376 Affectation is the master-key to both. 1872O. W. Holmes Poet Breakf.-t. ix. (1885) 233 These same yellow disks are the master-keys that let one in. 1882Encycl. Brit. XIV. 748/2 The owner..may have one master-key that will open them all. a1930D. H. Lawrence Phoenix II (1968) 101 And he, she knew to her anguish and mortification, he was still the master-key to almost all life, for her. 1934Planning II. xl. 2 Self-government for industry may prove to be the master key to many of our..problems. |