| 释义 |
Ptolemaic, a. and n.|tɒləˈmeɪɪk|
[f. Gr. Πτολεµαῖ-ος (L. Ptolemæus) Ptolemy + -ic.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to Ptolemy, a celebrated astronomer who lived at Alexandria in the second century a.d.
Ptolemaic system or Ptolemaic theory: the astronomical system or theory elaborated by Ptolemy in his Μαθηµατικὴ σύνταξις (cf. almagest), in which the relative motions of the sun, moon, and planets were explained to take place around the earth, which was supposed to be stationary; it was, with modifications, the accepted theory till the time of Copernicus and Kepler.
1674Boyle Excell. Theol. i. v. 209 After the Ptolemaick number and order of the planets had past uncontradicted for very many ages. 1712Addison Spect. No. 345 ⁋3 The chief Points in the Ptolemaic and Copernican Hypothesis are described with great Conciseness and Perspicuity. 1886Symonds Renaiss. It. (1898) VII. ix. 45 The doctrine of the Sphere..embraced the exposition of Ptolemaic astronomy.
2. Of or pertaining to the Ptolemies, the Macedonian Greek rulers of ancient Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great to Cleopatra.
1771Raper in Phil. Trans. LXI. 484 The Ptolemaic gold coins in the Pembroke collection. 1875P. Le P. Renouf Egypt. Gram. 65 Those of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. 1904R. C. Jebb Bacchylides (Proc. Brit. Acad.) 1 The MS. is a fine uncial, with traits of the Ptolemaic type.
B. n. An adherent of the Ptolemaic theory (see A. 1); a Ptolemaist.
1751Hume Ess. xii. (ed. 2) 251 A Copernican or Ptolemaic, who supports each his different System of Astronomy. 1906Hibbert Jrnl. Apr. 594 There are left a few Ptolemaics who believe that the earth is the centre of the heavenly host.
Hence (all in reference to A. 1) † Ptoleˈmaical a. = A. 1; † Ptoleˈmaid a., resembling the arrangement of spheres, etc. in the Ptolemaic theory; Ptoleˈmaism, the Ptolemaic principle; Ptoleˈmaist, one who holds the Ptolemaic theory.
1653H. More Antid. Ath. ii. ii. (1712) 40 The same Argument urged from the *Ptolemaical Hypothesis.
1649G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. V, cclxxxiii, To involve the Stade Within his Sphære; a Structure *Ptolomaid.
1874Masson Milton (1877) I. 48 The *Ptolemaism of Milton's astronomical scheme.
1878N. Amer. Rev. CXXVI. 163 Until the Copernicans have convinced the *Ptolemaists. |