| 释义 |
betoken, v.|bɪˈtəʊk(ə)n|
Forms: 2–3 bitacnien, bitocnen, 3 Orm. bitacnenn, 3–4 be-, bi-, bytaken(en, -in(en, 3–6 be-, bi-, bytoken(e, 3 -on(e, 4–5 -yn(e), 4 bytokne, betocne, 6 Sc. betakin, -taikin (? betoke), 4– betoken.
[Early ME. bitacnien, later bitok(e)nen, prob. OE. *betácnian, not recorded (but cf. OHG. bizeichanôn mod.Ger. bezeichnen, Du. beteekenen), f. bi-, be- + tácnian to signify, f. tácn token.]
†1. trans. To signify, mean; to denote, express in words. Obs.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 79 Ierusalem bitacneð griþes sihþe. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 17 Ich wille..segge ou þe crede word after word, and þarmid hwat elch word bitocneð. 1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. ii. 11 Or in other langage or wordes betokenynge the same sentence. 1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1333 When men intend to betoken the exceeding huge greatnesse of Rome, they terme it the triumphant Rome. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. vi. (1627) 68 When two Substantives come together, betokening divers things.
†b. absol. Obs.
1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iii. 232 Many that bost themselues to be Christians..tremble at euery mention of it [death], as of a thing betokening vnluckely and vnhappy. 1674N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 200 World, may betoken plurally or indefinitely.
†2. To be a type or emblem of; to typify, symbolize. (Sometimes with obj. clause.) Obs.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 89 Þet lomb bitacnede cristes þrowunge. a1300Cursor M. 41 Þis ilke tre Bytakens man..Þis fruit bitakens alle oure dedis Both gode and ille. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xx. 118 The paume..bytokneþ trewely..The holy gost of heuene. c1440Gesta Rom. 71 Þe rook..betokenyth okerers and false merchauntz. 1534More On the Passion i. Wks. 1331/2 Thys excellente high sacrament..betokeneth also manyfold merueilous mysteries. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 867 In the Cloud a Bow..Betok'ning peace from God and Cov'nant new.
3. To be a token, sign, or omen of; to give promise of, augur, presage.
c1205Lay. 16008 What bitacnieð þa draken þe þene dune makeden. a1300Cursor M. 4598 Þas oþer seuen nede nett Bitakens seuen yer of hunger. c1460Towneley Myst. 124 Yond starne betokyns..The byrthe of a prynce. 1592Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 453 Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken'd Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field. 1635Swan Spec. M. v. §2 (1643) 125 They betoken rain and moist weather. 1853Kane Grinnell Exp. xxix. (1856) 249 Everything betokened a crisis.
4. To give evidence of, point to, indicate, show.
1486Bk. St. Alban's A viij b, And much it betokynis hardenes. 1602Shakes. Ham. v. i. 242 This doth betoken The Coarse they follow did with disperate hand Fore do it owne life. 1814Cary Dante's Inf. vii. 114 All naked, and with looks Betokening rage. 1863Hawthorne Old Home (1879) 302 As he talked..he betokened in many ways a fine..sensibility. 1871Macduff Mem. Patmos iv. 44 This symbolic number further betokens, that the epistolary addresses were designed as a directory of perpetual obligation.
b. With of. To give indication.
1793Holcroft Lavater's Physiog. xl. 203 As weak hair betokens of fear, so does strong hair courage.
†5. Used by Wyclif in the sense of ‘set a mark upon’ (L. signare), and ‘presage, predict, prophesy.’
1382Wyclif Isa. Prol., And thoȝ..he betocne [v.r. betokeneth] the aȝeencomyng of the puple in to Iewerie. ― John vi. 27 God the fadir bitokenede or markede him [Vulg. signavit]. |