| 释义 |
cavort, v. orig. U.S.|kəˈvɔːt|
[Etymology uncertain. Bartlett says, a corruption of curvet.
The Slang Dict. 1874 has ‘Cavaulting, in vulgar phrase equivalent to ‘horsing’; Lingua Franca cavolta. From this comes the Americanism ‘cavorting’ running or riding around in a heedless or purposeless manner’. But these statements require verification. Webster (Suppl.) conjectures Sp. cavar to dig, excavate, paw as a horse; which has nothing to recommend it.]
intr. To curvet, prance, caper about, frisk, bound: said of a horse, or rider, and hence transf.
1794W. B. Grove Let. 2 Apr. in Papers of J. Steele (1924) I. 106 The Hon. J–e ‘cauvauted’, don't laugh at the expression, it suits the idea I meant to convey. 1829Virginia Lit. Museum 16 Dec. 419 Cavault or Cavort, ranting, highflying.—West. 1830Illinois Monthly Mag. 71 The most amusing individuals..were cavorting... Cavorting..expresses the conduct of an individual who fancies himself the smartest and best man in the world. 1834W. G. Simms Guy Rivers 283 You were then cavorting about her in great style. a1848Major Jones's Courtsh. 41 (Bartlett) A whole gang..came ridin' up, and reinin' in, and prancin' and cavortin'. ― Georgia Scenes ibid., On horseback..he cavorted most magnanimously. 1843–4Haliburton Sam Slick Eng. xv. (Hoppe) Old Clay in a pastur'..snortin', cavortin', attitudinizin' of himself. 1873Bailey Life in Danbury 58 For one whole hour you have been cavorting around on that bed. Ibid. 110 A snapping and cracking, and general cavorting of hemlock timber, new shingles, window glass. 1883B. Harte Carq. Woods i. 9 Cavorting round this yer spot for the last half-hour. 1895Punch 30 Mar. 147/3 Yet 'twere no lark, To see the trees cavorting round the Park. 1933Catholic Truth July 149/2 Learned dons and scientists..cavorting about like cows in clover. |