| 释义 |
Mezzofanti|mɛdzəʊˈfæntɪ|
The name of Giuseppe Mezzofanti (1774–1849), an Italian cardinal who was master of more than fifty languages, used to denote a person of exceptional linguistic ability. Hence mezzoˈfantic a.
1872G. M. Hopkins Let. 3 Dec. (1956) 238 We have a half-English half-Italian young sucking Mezzofanti among us who could have written in seven languages to my knowledge. 1904A. Vambéry Story my Struggles I. i. 88 The high-flown announcements of my mezzofantic perfections remained without the slightest result. 1939Joyce Finnegans Wake ii. 260 Long Livius Lane, mid Mezzofanti Mall. 1972Times Lit. Suppl. 30 June 752/5 Misspellings are legion and mezzofantic in scope. |