| 释义 |
▪ I. apology, n.|əˈpɒlədʒɪ|
[(? a. Fr. apologie), ad. L. apologia (apologia), a. Gr. ἀπολογία defence, a speech in defence, f. ἀπό away, off + -λογία speaking.]
Const. (of obs.) for.
1. The pleading off from a charge or imputation, whether expressed, implied, or only conceived as possible; defence of a person, or vindication of an institution, etc., from accusation or aspersion.
1533More (title) Apologie of Syr Thomas More, Knyght; made by him, after he had geuen ouer the Office of Lord Chancellor of Englande. 1589F. Trigge (title) An Apologie or Defence of our Dayes. 1650Baxter Saints' Rest i. v. (1662) 56 Now they shall both by Apology be maintained just. 1754Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. iv. 165 And before the same great Court of Areopagites Paul made his Apology. 1796Bp. Watson (title) An Apology for the Bible. 1850J. H. Newman Difficult. Anglic. 4 Apologies for various of the great doctrines of the faith.
2. Less formally: Justification, explanation, or excuse, of an incident or course of action.
1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 142 His enter and exit shall bee strangling a Snake; and I will haue an Apologie for that purpose. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 249 The consequence of those measures will be the best apology for my conduct. 1824Dibdin Libr. Comp. 58, I make no apology to the readers for the subjoined extract. 1855Prescott Philip II, I. iii. vi. 385 To furnish an apology for his close confinement, a story was got up of an attempt to escape.
3. An explanation offered to a person affected by one's action that no offence was intended, coupled with the expression of regret for any that may have been given; or, a frank acknowledgement of the offence with expression of regret for it, by way of reparation.
1594Shakes. Rich. III, iii. vii. 104 My Lord, there needes no such Apologie. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 854 In her face excuse Came Prologue, and Apologie to prompt. 1692Ray Disc. Pref. 14, I have in this Edition removed one Subject of Apology. 1754Chatham Lett. iv. 21 If you are forced to desire further information..do it with proper apologies for the trouble you give. 1848L. Hunt Jar of Honey x. 136 After many apologies for the liberty he was taking.
4. Something which, as it were, merely appears to apologize for the absence of what ought to have been there; a poor substitute.
1754Connoisseur No. 25 Waistcoats edged with a narrow cord, which serves as an apology for lace. 1858C. Mathews in Life (1879) I. 1, Gibbon, the historian, was said to have had no nose at all, only an apology for one. 1874Forster Dickens 120 To swallow a hasty apology for a dinner.
¶ Obsolete form of apologue, q.v.
▪ II. † aˈpology, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec. n.]
To apologize.
1633Heywood Eng. Trav. iii. 55 Thus much let me for him Apoligie. 1671J. Webster (in Webster) For which he can not well apology. |