| 释义 |
chrysalis|ˈkrɪsəlɪs|
Pl. chrysalides |krɪˈsælɪdiːz| or chrysalises |ˈkrɪsəlɪsɪz|; but chrysalids is often substituted; cf. orchids.
[a. L. chrȳsallis, chrȳsalis, a. Gr. χρῡσαλλίς ‘the gold-coloured sheath of butterflies’, deriv. of χρῡσ-ός gold: cf. θρυαλλίς rush-wick, f. θρύον a rush. The etymological form has -allis, but this is quite neglected in the mod. langs.]
1. The state into which the larva of most insects passes before becoming an imago or perfect insect. In this state the insect is inactive and takes no food, and is wrapped in a hard sheath or case.
1658J. Rowland Moufet's Theat. Ins. Ep. Ded., Trans⁓mutations..of Catterpillers..into Chrysallides (that shine as if leaves of gold were laid upon them). 1670Phil. Trans. V. 2078 The Chrysalis or Aurelia..which shews no parts at all of the Animal to come. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 353 When the butterfly dies, we see no chrysalis left behind. 1826Kirby & Sp. Entomol. IV. 555 Having several Chrysalises suspended to a piece of paper. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. I. 172 A people from whom the forms and habits by which they had moved for centuries were falling like the shell of a chrysalis. 1874Lubbock Orig. & Met. Ins. i. 11 When full-grown, the grubs..turn into chrysalides.
2. fig. (esp. as: the shell or case whence the perfect insect bursts.)
1791Burns Wks. 73 Men who..must..like the caterpillar, labour a whole lifetime before they reached the wished-for height, there to roost, a stupid chrysalis. 1824Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. (1863) 234 She is in the real transition state, just emerging from the chrysalis. 1850Tennyson In Mem. lxxxii. From state to state the spirit walks; And these are but the shatter'd stalks, Or ruin'd chrysalis of one.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1828Stark Elem. Nat. Hist. II. 368 Preparatory to undergoing their change into the chrysalis state, they construct a cocoon. 1855Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 455 To get rid of walls and roofs and all the chrysalis case of humanity. 1885H. C. McCook Tenants Old Farm 74 In the following spring the chrysalis-skin bursts open.
Hence ˈchrysalism, ˈchrysalize v., nonce-wds. [Irregularly formed: see chrysaline.]
1833Hook Parson's Dau. (1847) 145 Having cast his skin, and burst from the chrysalism of a commander on half-pay into the splendid butterflyism of a barony. 1827Carlyle Germ. Rom. III. 229 Should the Parson ever chrysalise himself into an author. 1837Blackw. Mag. 237 The hairy caterpillar chrysaliseth not. |