| 释义 |
oracular, a.|ɒˈrækjʊlə(r)|
[f. L. ōrācul-um oracle + -ar. (L. had a rare ōrāculāri-us, the Eng. repr. of which would be *oraculary.)]
1. Of or pertaining to an oracle; that is the seat or medium of an oracle, or of direct divine communications.
1678Phillips (ed. 4), Oracular, belonging to, or having the authority of an Oracle. 1742Young Nt. Th. ix. 1044 The breast-plate of the true High-priest, Ardent with gems oracular, that give, In points of highest moment, right response. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. I. 254 Its guardian Deity, whose orgies were there celebrated; and whose shrine was oracular. 1781Cowper Truth 389 Once the blest residence of truth divine,..Where, in his own oracular abode, Dwelt visibly the light-creating God. 1853Felton Fam. Lett. xxxvi. (1865) 282 An hour more brought us in sight of Delphi,—one of the richest oracular sites in the world. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits, Stonehenge Wks. (Bohn) II. 126 The fable that the ship Argo was loquacious and oracular.
2. Of the nature of an oracle, or of an inspired, divinely authoritative, or infallible utterance.
1631R. Brathwait Whimzies 20 The vulgar doe admire him, holding his novels oracular. 1664H. More Myst. Iniq. 206 He has left some Oracular Records wherein a man may read..the State and Condition of the Church. 1702S. Parker tr. Cicero's De Finibus ii. 137 He had stamp'd it upon your minds for an Oracular Truth, that nothing after Death can have any effect upon us. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xix. IV. 353 Whatever he said or wrote was considered as oracular by his disciples.
b. Resembling the ancient oracles in the mystery, ambiguity, or sententiousness of their answers.
1736Bolingbroke Patriot. (1749) 240 Such expressions were often used,..and I believe these oracular speeches were interpreted, as oracles used to be, according as every man's inclinations led him. 1845James A. Neil ii, He opened his lips, with an oracular shake of the head. 1845Disraeli Sybil v. x, ‘The deuce!’ said the Dandy, who did not clearly comprehend the bent of the observation of his much pondering..friend, but was touched by its oracular terseness.
c. Of mysterious portent; ominous, portentous.
1820Byron Mar. Fal. iv. ii. 182 Where swings the sullen huge oracular bell, Which never knells but for a princely death. 1820Shelley Œdipus ii. ii. 64 These prodigies are oracular, and show The presence of the unseen Deity.
3. Of a person: That delivers oracular responses; transf. that speaks or writes in the character or manner of an oracle.
1821D. Stewart Dissert. Progr. Philos. ii. v. 352 In his [Dr. Law's] original speculations, he is weak, paradoxical, and oracular. 1829Lytton Devereux i. xi, Morton, you are quite oracular. 1863W. Phillips Speeches xiv. 299 The oracular press lays down the law. 1865Grote Plato II. xxi. 11 Like prophets and oracular ministers.
4. Delivered, uttered, or decreed by an oracle.
1820Shelley Hymn to Mercury lxxx, Understood..by thee the mystery Of all oracular fates. 1863M. Howitt F. Bremer's Greece II. xvi. 157 Some oracular replies show great political wisdom. 1873Symonds Grk. Poets vii. 190 When Oedipus slays his father, he does so in contempt of oracular warnings. 1876Swinburne Erechtheus 55 For the note Rings as of death oracular to thy sons.
Hence oˈracularness, oracularity.
1717in Bailey II. 1886 American XII. 189 Their oracularness is merely an opinion. 1891Illustr. Lond. News Christm. No. 2/3 ‘He's sure to wear a big beard’..said Amos Gunn, with Metropolitan oracularness. |