| 释义 |
▪ I. satire, n.|ˈsætaɪə(r)|
Also 6–8 satyre, 7–8 satyr, 8 satir.
[a. F. satire (= Sp. sátira, Pg., It. satira, G. satire), or directly ad. L. satira, later form of satura, in early use a discursive composition in verse treating of a variety of subjects, in classical use a poem in which prevalent follies or vices are assailed with ridicule or with serious denunciation. The word is a specific application of satura medley; this general sense appears in the phrase per saturam in the lump, indiscriminately; according to the grammarians this is elliptical for lanx satura (lit. ‘full dish’: lanx dish, satura, fem. of satur full, related to satis enough), which is alleged to have been used for a dish containing various kinds of fruit, and for food composed of many different ingredients.
Formerly often confused or associated with satyr (see esp. sense 4), from the common notion (found already in some ancient grammarians) that L. satira was derived from the Gr. σάτυρος satyr, in allusion to the chorus of satyrs which gave its name to the Greek ‘satyric’ drama. The words satire and satyr were probably at one time pronounced alike, as the derivatives satiric and satyric are still; and the common use of y and i as interchangeable symbols in the 16th and 17th c. still further contributed to the confusion.]
I.
1. A poem, or in modern use sometimes a prose composition, in which prevailing vices or follies are held up to ridicule. Sometimes, less correctly, applied to a composition in verse or prose intended to ridicule a particular person or class of persons, a lampoon.
Also used Hist. as the rendering of L. satura in its preclassical sense of a poetic ‘medley’: see the etymological note above.
1509Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) I. 134 Therfore in this satyre suche wyll I repreue. 1566Drant (title) A Medicinable Morall, that is, the two Bookes of Horace his Satyres, Englyshed. 1595Lodge (title) A Fig for Momus: Containing Pleasant varietie, included in Satyres, Eclogues, and Epistles. 1605Camden Rem., Rythmes (1623) 309 The Exchequer officers were extortors in the time of King Henry the fourth, otherwise Henry Bell..would neuer haue written a riming long Satyr against them. 1672Sir T. Browne Let. Friend §33 Impotent Satyrs write Satyrs against Lust [1682 ― Chr. Mor. i. §33 upon Lust]. 1711Steele Spect. No. 88 ⁋2 This honest Gentleman, who is so desirous that I should write a Satyr upon Grooms, has a great deal of Reason for his Resentment. 1756J. Warton Ess. Pope (1782) I. iv. 254 The Rape of the Lock, is the best Satire extant. 1841Elphinstone Hist. Ind. II. 251 They had the merit of introducing satires on manners and domestic life into Asia. 1878Dowden Stud. Lit. 278 A great proportion of the book [Middlemarch] is only not a satire because with the word satire we are accustomed to associate the idea of exaggeration and malicious purpose.
†b. transf. A satirical utterance; a speech or saying in ridicule of some person or thing. Obs.
1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xxi. 210 Speaking constant satyrs to the disgrace of others. 1678R. L'Estrange Seneca's Mor., Epist. ii. (1696) 467 The Poor Man wants many things, but the Covetous Man wants All. Can any Flesh forbear being delighted with This saying, though a Satyr against his own Vice?
c. fig. A thing, fact, or circumstance that has the effect of making some person or thing ridiculous.
1693Norris Pract. Disc. (1698) IV. 11 Religion has no advantage from the Commendations of those whose Lives are a constant Satyr upon it. 1770Junius' Lett. xxxviii. (1788) 207 Their very names are a satire upon all government. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair lvii, You..whose rank may be an ancestor's accident, whose prosperity is very likely a satire. 1863B. Taylor H. Thurston i. 15 Seth was an awkward, ungainly person, whose clothes were a continual satire on his professional skill.
2. a. The species of literature constituted by satires; satirical composition.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xiii. (Arb.) 46 The said auncient Poets vsed for that purpose [of reproving the people], three kinds of poems reprehensiue, to wit, the Satyre, the Comedie, and the Tragedie. 1659Gentl. Calling iv. xiii. 404 If any shall think this character partakes of the satyr, I shall beseech him to compare it with the true state. a1661B. Holyday Juvenal Pref. (1673) 2 According to the ancient use and law of Satyre, it should be nearer the Comedy, then the Tragedy, not declaiming against Vice, but jeering at it. 1682Lenten Prol. 36 in Third Coll. Poems (1689) 26/1 Baye's crown'd Muse, by Sovereign Right of Satyre, Without desert, can dub a man a Traitor. 1693Dryden Juvenal Ded. (1697) 35 Thus..I..have prov'd, I hope, from the best Critiques, that the Roman Satire was not borrow'd from thence [Greece], but of their own Manufacture. 1728Young Love Fame i. 1 My verse is satire; Dorset, lend your ear, And patronise a muse you cannot fear. 1841Elphinstone Hist. Ind. I. 295, I have seen no specimen of Hindú satire. 1845H. Thompson in Encycl. Metrop. X. 391/2 Lucilius is asserted by Horace to have been the founder of the New Satire. 1880Goldw. Smith in Atlantic Monthly Feb. 199 There are different kinds of satire: the epicurean, which laughs at mankind,..the stoical, which indignantly lashes mankind,..the cynical, which hates and despises mankind.
b. The employment, in speaking or writing, of sarcasm, irony, ridicule, etc. in exposing, denouncing, deriding, or ridiculing vice, folly, indecorum, abuses, or evils of any kind.
c1675? Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Follies Men of Age 6 Nothing helps more than Satyr to amend Ill manners, or is trulier Virtues Friend. 1699Bentley Phal. ii. 31 His Animadversions have other faults besides Satyr and Abuse. 1705Addison Italy, Caprea 265 This..is therefore interpreted by many as a hidden Piece of Satyr. 1724R. Welton Chr. Faith & Pract. 359 Those Pharisees, whom our Blessed Saviour, with the utmost satyre, and indignation, call'd painted sepulchres. 1736Butler Anal. ii. vii, The Mythological [Writing], and the Satyrical where the Satyr is, to a certain Degree, concealed. 1816‘Quiz’ Grand Master iv. 75 Disgraceful too, to human nature,—Unworthy even, of his satire. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxxi, Rothsay thought he discovered a smile upon his countenance; and to be the subject of this man's satire, gave him no ordinary degree of pain. 1847Tennyson Princess ii. 445 And often came Melissa hitting all we saw with shafts Of gentle satire, kin to charity, That harm'd not. 1877Mrs. Oliphant Yng. Musgrave I. 10 Even now there would be a tone of satire in her voice when she noted the late marriage of one or another of her old adorers.
c. fig. Effect in making ridiculous. (Cf. 1 c.)
1848Thackeray Van. Fair xxiv, Some few score of years afterwards, when all the parties represented are grown old, what bitter satire there is in those flaunting childish family portraits.
d. personified.
1820Shelley Fragm. Satire on Sat. 17 If Satire's scourge could wake the slumbering hounds Of Conscience, or erase the deeper wounds, The leprous scars of callous Infamy. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. ix. viii. (1864) V. 380 Satire began to aim its contemptuous sarcasms at the pope and the papal power. 1870Swinburne Ess. & Stud. (1875) 252 Satire in earlier times had changed her rags for robes. Juvenal had clothed with fire, and Dryden with majesty, that wandering and bastard Muse.
3. Satirical temper, disposition to use ‘satire’.
1829Lytton Devereux i. iv, The kindness of his temper so softened the satire of mine.
† II. 4. A satirical person, satirist. Obs.[Perh. to be regarded as a misuse of ] 1596Harington Ulysses upon Ajax E 1 b, Harke in thine eare, Misacmos is a Satire, a quipping fellow. 1628Shirley Witty Fair One i. iii. (1633) B 3 b, Prethee Satyre chuse another walke, and leaue vs to inioy this. a1629T. Goffe Courageous Turk ii. iii. (1632) D 2 b, Poore men may love, and none their wils correct: But all turne Satyres of a Kings affect. 1640Shirley Hum. Courtier i. i. B j b, We may As well condemne our fathers, and declaime 'Gainst them for our begetting, come Orseollo, Desist to be a Satire. 1656Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. ii. xxxii. (1674) 182 It being..forbidden to play the Satyre, gallant men who saw things..committed, which ought publickly to be declaimed against, were forc'd to see, and to say nothing. 1709Pope Ess. Crit. 592 Leave dang'rous truths to unsuccessful Satires, And flattery to fulsome Dedicators.
fig.c1600Shakes. Sonn. c, Rise resty Muse, my loues sweet face suruay, If time haue any wrincle grauen there, If any, be a Satire to decay, And make times spoiles dispised euery where.
III. 5. attrib. and Comb.
1553T. Wilson Rhet. 24 b, The whiche thyng appereth plaine by the Satyre Poete. 1687Dryden Hind & P. iii. 1187 Frontless and Satyr-proof he scow'rs the streets. 1691Satyr agst. French 2 The Town, alas, is now grown Satyr⁓proof.
▪ II. satire, v.|ˈsætaɪə(r)|
[f. the n.]
trans. = satirize v. 2 a.
1905S. Joyce in Lett. J. Joyce (1966) II. 104 He doesn't think the critics will approve, or the people satired. 1961in Amer. Speech XXXVI. 138 Hawthorne in his story ‘Earth Holocaust’ satires Emerson's idea of books.
▪ III. satire
obs. form of satyr. |