| 释义 |
Spartan, n. and a.|ˈspɑːtən|
Also 5 Spert-, Spartane, 7 Sparton.
[ad. L. Spartān-us, f. Sparta (Gr. σπάρτα, σπάρτη), the capital of the ancient Doric state of Laconia in the Peloponnesus.]
A. n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Sparta; a Laconian or Lacedæmonian.
Coverdale (1535) has Sparcians in 1 Macc. xii, xiv.
c1425Wyntoun Cron. iv. 825 Þe Spertanys wiþe outtyn chas Þar fais wyncust in þat plasse. 1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 127 Ionathas renewede frendeschippe after that with the Romanes and Spartanes. 1718Pope Iliad xv. 680 The fiery Spartan..Warms the bold son of Nestor in his cause. 1770Langhorne Plutarch, Pyrrhus III. 99 He was neither loved nor trusted by the Spartans. 1836Thirlwall Greece xv. II. 264 The Persians would not treat them less like brothers than the Spartans. 1845Maurice Mor. Philos. in Encycl. Metrop. II. 570/1 Terse sentences, such as the Spartan delighted in.
2. One who resembles the ancient Spartans in character.
1810Crabbe Borough xviii. 194 Here nature's outrage serves no cause to aid; The ill is felt, but not the Spartan made.
B. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to Sparta or its inhabitants; Laconian, Lacedæmonian.
1582Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 28 In weed eke in visage lyke a Spartan virgin in armour. c1611Chapman Iliad iii. 271 Paris and the Spartan King. 1625Milton Death Fair Infant 26 Young Hyacinth the pride of Spartan land. 1667― P.L. x. 674 The Spartan Twins [Castor and Pollux]. 1743Francis tr. Hor., Odes ii. xi. 32 With her flowing Tresses ty'd, Careless like a Spartan Bride. 1770Langhorne Plutarch I. 144 They asked not of them..troops, but only a Spartan general. 1835T. Mitchell Acharn. of Aristoph. 120 note, A word of Spartan origin. 1847Tennyson Princ. ii. 263 Why should I not play The Spartan Mother with emotion?
b. Spartan dog, etc., a kind of bloodhound. Also fig.
1590Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 124 My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kinde. 1604― Oth. v. ii. 361 Oh Sparton Dogge: More fell then Anguish, Hunger, or the Sea. 1697Dryden æneid iv. 187 The force Of Spartan dogs, and swift Massylian horse.
c. Spartan stone, ? Peloponnesian marble.
a1700Evelyn Diary June 1645, Adorn'd with porphyrie, ophit, and Spartan stone.
2. Characteristic or typical of Sparta, its inhabitants, or their customs; esp. distinguished by simplicity, frugality, courage, or brevity of speech. (Cf. laconic a. 2.)
1644Milton Areop. (Arb.) 36 To..mollifie the Spartan surlinesse with his smooth songs and odes. 1711Steele Spect. No. 6 ⁋6 The Athenians being suddenly touched with a Sense of the Spartan Virtue. 1770Langhorne Plutarch, Agis V. 124 He kept close to the Spartan simplicity. 1781Cowper Expost. 542 If some Spartan soul a doubt express'd. 1847Helps Friends in C. i. iii. 41 A man who could bear personal distress of any kind with Spartan indifference. 1885Times (weekly ed.) 25 Sept. 14/4 The fare is Spartan in its extreme frugality. 1886Ruskin Præterita i. vii. 227 These Spartan brevities of epistle.
Hence ˈSpartanhood, Spartan character or qualities; Sparˈtanic a. = Spartan a. 2; ˈSpartanism, discipline, principles, or methods resembling those of Sparta; ˈSpartanize v., trans. to render Spartan-like; to imbue with Spartan characteristics; intr. to act like a Spartan; ˈSpartanlike, adv. like a Spartan, bravely; adj. resembling (that of) the Spartans; ˈSpartanly adv., in a Spartan manner; with great endurance, etc.
1880R. Broughton Second Th. I. i. v. 67 She bears it with senseless *Spartanhood for as long as endurance is possible.
1882J. Walker Jaunt to Auld Reekie 167 His grace's phiz *Spartanic vigour shows.
1880Daily Tel. 19 Feb., A mock-heroic and spurious *Spartanism. 1884Athenæum 19 July 79/3 The hardy but squalid Spartanism of our older public schools.
1849Ainsw. Mag. Dec. 531 Custom and fate may have *Spartanised the feelings of young ladies in garrison. 1875Browning Aristoph. Apol. 124 He Spartanizes, argues, fasts and prates, Denies the plainest rules of life. 1883Ld. Lytton Life, Lett., etc. Lytton I. 102 He had high notions of discipline and prerogative, and wished to Spartanise his household.
1838Thirlwall Greece IV. xxxvi. 413 Pisander..fell, *Spartan⁓like, sword in hand. 1900Daily News 20 Jan. 6/7 A quiet, sorrowful, but Spartanlike resignation.
1890Pall Mall G. 15 May 3/1 Hunters have told me how *Spartanly he will take the months of temperate discipline imposed by a hunting expedition. |