| 释义 |
Smithsonian, a. (and n.)|smɪθˈsəʊnɪən|
[f. the name of James L. M. Smithson (1765–1829), British chemist and mineralogist, who endowed the Institution, + -ian.]
1. a. Of or pertaining to Smithson. Freq. in Smithsonian Institution (incorrectly Smithsonian Institute), an educational and research centre which nowadays administers numerous museums, galleries, etc., founded in 1846 in Washington, D.C. Hence, of or pertaining to the Institution.
1826J. Smithson Will 23 Oct. in Smithsonian Misc. Coll. (1901) XLII. 6, I then bequeath the whole of my property, subject to the Annuity..to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 1840Niles' Reg. 7 Mar. 11/3 Mr. Adams rose..to make a report from the select committee on the Smithsonian bequest. 1892J. C. Duval Young Explorers xiii. 180, I believe he sent them subsequently to the Smithsonian Institute. 1946Nature 7 Sept. 329/1 Study of precise solar–terrestrial relationships has been a major Smithsonian activity for many years. 1984Jrnl. Field Archaeol. XI. 341/1 A repository..has been established at the Conservation Analytical Laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution.
b. absol. as n. the Smithsonian, the Smithsonian Institution.
1879W. J. Rhees Smithsonian Inst. p. viii, The Smithsonian is not a Government Institution. a1936Kipling Something of Myself (1937) v. 123 The Smithsonian, specially on the ethnological side, was a pleasant place to browse in. 1983L. Taylor Mourning Dress vi. 132 The Smithsonian's second example is a shoulder cape of deepest mourning.
2. Designating an agreement concerning the restoration of fixed parities between the major world currencies concluded in December 1971 between the members of the International Monetary Fund, at the Smithsonian; also, of or pertaining to this. Econ. Hist.
1972Economist 1 July 14/2 Our opening comment on the Smithsonian agreement of December 18th last was that..we doubted if it would last for six months. 1978N.Y. Times 30 Mar. d1/6 The yen..was repegged at the Smithsonian rate of 308 to the dollar in December 1971. 1986Times 3 Jan. 16/1 Sterling had started the year by..recovering to just over 78 on the Smithsonian index. 1989Encycl. Brit. XXI. 852/1 The Smithsonian Agreement proved to be only a temporary solution to the international currency crisis. |