| 释义 |
matter of fact, n. and a.|ˌmætərəvˈfækt|
[See matter n.1 16, 21 and fact n. 6.]
A. n.
a. Law. That portion of a subject of judicial inquiry which is concerned with the truth or falsehood of alleged facts; a particular question or issue that is of this nature: opposed to matter of law.
b. What pertains to the sphere of fact as opposed to opinion, probability, or inference; also, something which is of the nature of a fact. Phrases, as a matter of fact, in matter of fact: in point of fact, really.
1581E. Campion in Confer. ii. (1584) M b, He speaketh of a matter of fact. 1594Hooker Eccl. Pol. ii. vii. §2 If it be admitted that in matter of fact there is some credite to be giuen to the testimonie of man, but not in matter of opinion and iudgement. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. iv. §9 It is either a beleefe of Historie (as the Lawyers speeke, matter of fact:) or else of matter of art and opinion. 1621H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 112 The House to consider of the matter of facte. 1661Evelyn Diary 1 Oct., He then commanded me to draw up the matter of fact happening at the bloudy encounter. 1690Locke Hum. Und. iv. xvi. (1695) 380 Some particular Existence, or, as it is usually termed, matter of fact, which falling under Observation, is capable of humane Testimony. 1709Addison Tatler No. 122 ⁋1 It is true in Matter of Fact, I was present at the ingenious Entertainment. 1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. II. xxxiii. 9 The Story was really true Matter of Fact. 1730A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 289 The Matter of Fact is, that..the two Gates..will undoubtedly be found wider. 1739Hume Hum. Nat. i. iii. §7 (1888) 94 All reasonings from causes or effects terminate in conclusions, concerning matter of fact; that is, concerning the existence of objects or of their qualities. 1776― My own Life, This is a matter of fact which is easily cleared and ascertained. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §119, I have strictly adhered to matter of fact. 1816–60Whately Comm.-pl. Bk. (1864) 131 By a matter of fact is meant something which might conceivably be submitted to the senses, and about which it is supposed there could not be any disagreement among persons who should be present and to whose senses it should be presented. 1842J. H. Newman Eccl. Mirac. (1843) 56 There exists, in matter of fact, that very connection..between Ecclesiastical and Scripture miracles. 1849Grote Greece ii. lxvii. (1862) VI. 38 note, Great numbers of Aristophanic jests have been transcribed as serious matter-of-fact. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. II. lii. 311 They did not receive, as matter of fact, the good government which they desired. 1889J. K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat 283 As a matter of fact, you are quite right. I did catch it.
B. attrib. passing into adj. (Usually written with hyphens.) Pertaining to, having regard to, or depending upon actual fact as distinguished from what is speculative or fanciful; unimaginative, prosaic.
1712Steele Spect. No. 521 ⁋1, I contemn the Men given to Narration under the Appellation of a Matter of Fact Man. 1787Burns Let. 15 Jan., Wks. (Globe) 323 To write him a mere matter-of-fact affair, like a merchant's order. 1856Stanley Sinai & Pal. i. 67 The scene is not impressive in itself,—that at Suez especially is matter-of-fact in the highest degree. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) II. 277 The more Callicles is irritated, the more provoking and matter of fact does Socrates become. 1887R. N. Carey Uncle Max xi. (1887) 84 [She] bade her drink her tea before it got cold, in a sensible matter-of-fact way.
absol.1870Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. (1873) 125 Its oscillations between the ideal and the matter-of-fact.
Hence ˌmatter-of-ˈfactism, the principle or practice of regarding or relying upon matter of fact only; so ˌmatter-of-ˈfactist, one who regards matter of fact only; ˌmatter-of-ˈfactly adv., in a matter-of-fact manner; ˌmatter-of-ˈfactness, matter-of-fact quality or character.
1860S. S. Hennell Thoughts in Aid of Faith 195 Hard *matter-of-fact-ism. a1866J. Grote Exam. Utilit. Phil. xviii. (1870) 283 Positivism and matter-of-factism, that is, the refusal to take account of any thing else in things except that they are.
1833New Monthly Mag. XXXIX. 165 The *matter-of-factists will put down as your sober opinion..the ἐπεα πτεροεντα inspired by the festivity of the hour. 1865J. Grote Explor. Philos. i. 80 Thorough positivists..or, I may say, matter-of-factists.
1873R. Broughton Nancy I. 47 ‘You mean us, I suppose’, I answered *matter-of-factly.
1816J. W. Croker in C. Papers 28 Nov. (1884), [The] success..I attribute altogether..to the *matter-of-factness, with which it is written. 1879W. Knight Stud. Philos. & Lit. 291 The infelicities..in Wordsworth's style..its sinking from ideality into matter-of-factness. |