| 释义 |
▪ I. paragraph, n.|ˈpærəgrɑːf, -æ-|
Also 6–7 -graff(e.
[a. F. paragraphe (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.) = It. paragrafo, ad. late L. paragraph-us, a. Gr. παράγραϕος orig. a short horizontal stroke drawn below the beginning of a line in which a break in the sense occurs (see Kenyon Palæogr. 27); also = παραγραϕή, a passage so marked; f. παρα- by the side + -γραϕος written.]
1. A symbol or character (now usually ¶ or ⁋) formerly used to mark the commencement of a new section or part of a narrative or discourse; now, sometimes introducing an editorial obiter dictum or protest, and sometimes as a reference to a marginal note or foot-note.
Its original use is common in Middle English MSS. (where the form is often a red or blue {para2}, {fatpara} or {para3}, {para4}). It was retained by the early printers, and remains in the Bible of 1611 (but only as far as Acts xx), no doubt because every verse begins a new line, so that the method of indicating a paragraph by ‘indenting’ (as done by Tindale, Coverdale, and the Revisers of 1881–5) was not available.
1538Elyot Dict., Paragraphus, & paragraphum, a paragrafe. 1565Cooper Thesaurus Introd. *iv, Which he may find out by this Paragraffe {para5}. 1623Cockeram, Paragraph, a note set in the margent of a booke, to obserue and marke the differing discourses therein. 1691Miege Eng. Gram. (ed. 2) 126 Formerly..they used this Figure ¶ termed a Pilcrow, and by the Printers, Paragraph. 1824L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 412 A Paragraph ¶ denotes the beginning of a new subject, or a sentence not connected with the foregoing. This character is chiefly used in the Old, and in the New Testaments. 1824J. Johnson Typogr. II. iii. 52 At present, paragraphs are seen only in Bibles.
2. a. A distinct passage or section of a discourse, chapter, or book, dealing with a particular point of the subject, the words of a distinct speaker, etc., whether consisting of one sentence or of a number of sentences that are more closely connected with each other than with what stands before and after. Such a passage was at first usually indicated by the mark described above; but afterwards, as now, by beginning on a new line, which is indented or set back by the space of an ‘em-quad’, and ends without running on to the next passage; hence, in reference to typography or manuscript, a paragraph is a portion of the text between two such breaks; but, in a less technical sense, it is sometimes applied to any passage which, from its nature, might or ought to be so indicated in writing or printing.
1525tr. Jerome of Brunswick's Surg. T vj/1 In the xxv chapytre..in the seconde paragraphe. 1545R. Ascham Toxoph. i. (Arb.) 78, I call that by bookes and chapiters, whyche the greke booke deuideth by chapiters and paragraphes. 1664H. More Myst. Iniq. 470 [He] tells us the best way..in a Paragraph worthy to be written in letters of Gold, toward the end of the first part of the Homily. 1705R. Cromwell in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1898) XIII. 122 This short paragraph hath a deal of matter in it. 1706Phillips, Paragraph, a Portion of Matter in a Discourse or Treatise, contained between two Breaks, i.e. which begins with a new Line, and ends where the Line breaks off. 1830D'Israeli Chas. I, III. vi. 103 A chronicle which contracts many an important event into a single paragraph. 1863M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Vict. (1878) I. ii. 17 The letter..was written in sharp and decisive paragraphs, and in a neat firm hand.
b. A distinct article or section of a law or legal document, usually numbered.
1552Huloet, Paragraffe or sence in lawe wrytten, or opinion written before a sentence in lawe. 1736Bolingbroke Patriot. (1749) 84 Our obligation to submit to the civil law is a principal paragraph in the natural law. 1813Wellington Let. to Earl Bathurst 3 July in Gurw. Desp. X. 507, I beg your Lordship's particular attention..to the 13th paragraph of the instructions. 1883Rules Supr. Crt. xxxviii. vii, Every affidavit shall be..divided into paragraphs, and every paragraph shall be numbered consecutively, and as nearly as may be shall be confined to a distinct portion of the subject.
c. transf. A distinct passage or section in a musical composition.
1959Listener 16 July 114/2 The opening paragraph of the Fifth Symphony..takes the old-type dirge..as its model. 1975Gramophone Sept. 466/3 In the slow movements and the cadenzas he shows himself to be capable of shaping long paragraphs with real discrimination. 1977Listener 12 May 628/3 The opening..is one of the most difficult in the symphonic repertory..creating a tension from which the big first paragraph must be felt to spring.
3. A short passage, notice, or article in a newspaper or journal, without a heading, or having only a side heading; an item of news.
The paragraphs here are quite independent and unconnected with each other, but they constitute collectively a summary of local or general news or gossip, or of ‘notes’ on some special subject or department.
1769Burke Corr. (1844) I. 212 He [the newsprinter] has made a flaming paragraph of it. 1780Newgate Cal. V. 202 The writer.. inserted various paragraphs in the news-papers in favour of the unfortunate men. 1833H. Martineau Loom & Lugger ii. v. 79 Handing the newspaper to his sister and pointing out a paragraph. 1882C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xi. 78 The Morning Post..made a name for itself by its fresh and sparkling paragraphs of Court and fashionable gossip. 1902Besant Five Years' Tryst 95 Next day there was a paragraph in the London papers [etc.].
4. In Ice-skating, used attrib. and absol. with reference to the manner in which various figures are performed in competitions.
1930T. D. Richardson Mod. Figure Skating xx. 184 Let me give a few suggestions of figures requiring the utmost technique; rockers and counters in eight form; three rocker three, and three counter three in paragraph form, i.e. making an eight formed figure. 1948― Compl. Figure Skater ix. 79 (caption) The first of the ‘paragraph’ figures—one foot eight forward. 1952E. Jones Elements Figure Skating (ed. 2) vi. 127 The complete paragraph consists in order of a half-circle on the right outside edge, a full circle on the right inside edge, then a take-off on to the left foot, a half-circle on the left inside edge and finally a full circle on the left outside edge..this means describing three circles,..all in exact line with one another, all of equal size and symmetrically constructed. 1959T. D. Richardson Girls' Bk. Skating iv. 57 All you have to do..is to apply your knowledge of the components when putting figures into paragraph form. 1967Daily Tel. 1 Mar. 12/6 The powerful East German later narrowed the gap with her more consistent second tracing, the backward paragraph three. 1973Times 7 Feb. 15/8 On the second figure, the paragraph⁓loop, he was beaten.
5. attrib. and Comb. paragraph mark = paragraph n. 1.
1769Middlesex Jrnl. 14–16 Sept. 4/4 A paragraph writer shall kill you the stoutest man in the kingdom for his sixpence, and bring him to life again for another. 1798Wolcott (P. Pindar) Tales of Hoy Wks. 1812 IV. 418 The Prince of Paragraph-makers, The Nabob of News. 1813Hazlitt Pol. Ess. (1819) 9 Disposing of their government at the will of every paragraph-monger. 1855N. & Q. 29 Dec. 521/2 The old paragraph mark, ¶ , he [sc. Bilderdijk] considers to be the Roman P. 1881Daily News 22 Mar. 6/4 [He] explained that paragraph advertisements were advertisements appearing in the body of the paper amongst the news. 1956H. Williamson Methods Bk. Design ix. 119 If indention is not used, the typographer will have to find some other means of indicating the start of a new paragraph, such as a drop initial or a paragraph mark—¶ .
▪ II. paragraph, v.|ˈpærəgrɑːf, -æ-|
[f. prec. n.]
†1. trans. To sign, to initial; = paraph v. 2. Obs.
1601J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 90 Giuen..at Praghe..Subscribed Rudolph, Paragraphed I. D. W. Freymondt. 1652Evelyn St. France Misc. Writ. (1805) 68 [They] deliver them [reports] to the Greffier or Clerk, by whom they are to be allowed, that is, Paragraphed in parchment.
2. a. To mention in a paragraph; to write a newspaper paragraph or short notice about. Also absol.
1764Foote Patron iii. Wks. 1799 I. 359, I will paragraph you in every newspaper. 1774Westm. Mag. II. 489 We'll paragraph and puff. 1777Sheridan Sch. Scand. i. ii, I am sneered at by all my acquaintance, and paragraphed in the newspapers. 1827Examiner 749/2 The newspapers had already begun to paragraph him as a ‘Nonpareil’. 1880Daily Tel. 11 Nov., No one was more paragraphed and puffed.
†b. To treat of (a matter) in a paragraph. Obs.
1774R. Gough Let. in Nichols Lit. Anecd. 18th c. (1814) VIII. 611 What..the menial tribe would paragraph to the newspapers.
c. With extension expressing the result achieved.
1815in Southey Life A. Bell (1844) III. 573 For very little money you may be paragraphed up to the episcopal throne. 1828Examiner 658/1 His enemies..squibbed, and paragraphed, and taradiddled him to death. 1830Ibid. 610/2 The Politician must be quacked, paragraphed, clubbed, and coteried into notoriety.
3. To divide into or arrange in paragraphs. (Chiefly in pass.) Also fig. Cf. punctuate v. 3 b.
1799C. Winter in W. Jay Life (1843) 27 The whole is so injudiciously paragraphed, and so wretchedly unconnected. 1885Athenæum 14 Nov. 635/2 This..contains H.M. inspectors' reports..classified, paragraphed, and summarized. 1909H. G. Wells Ann Veronica ix. 168 Ramage looked at her, and then fell into deep reflection as the waiter came to paragraph their talk again. 1959Vogue Dec. 91 A soft dress in pure silk is scoop-necked and paragraphed with a lightly tying belt. |