| 释义 |
abthain, abthane|ˈæbθeɪn|
[An Eng. or rather Lowland Sc. formation on med.L. abthania, for Gaelic Abdhaine, abbacy or abbotrick, abbatia, variously written in the charters Abthen, Abthein, Abbathain, Abbethayne. The meaning of Abthania being lost, it was supposed to be some ancient dignity, for the holder of which the imaginary title of Abthanus was invented by Fordun (Scotochron. iv. xxxix.), and explained by him from a false etymology as Father (abbas) or Superior of the Thanes. Thenceforward the imaginary Abthane flourished in Scottish History, till the recent explanation of the word by Dr. W. F. Skene in Historians of Scotland IV, Fordun II. 413.]
1. Erroneous use: a ‘Superior Thane.’
1535Stewart Cron. Scotl. II. 620 Duncane his oy succeidit to his ring, His dochteris sone..Quhilk weddit wes with the Abthan of Dow. 1614Selden Titles of Honor 285 Som interpret their Thane by..Steward; and deliuer that the chief Steward of Scotland was called Abthan. 1872Skene transl. Fordun iv. xxxix, Abthane is the superior of the Thanes, or their lord under the king.
2. Correct use: an abbacy (of the early Scottish church).
1872Skene Fordun II. 413 In the Chartulary of Arbroath we have a grant of the ‘Ecclesia Sancta Mariae de veteri Munros, cum terra ejusdem ecclesiae, quae Scotice Abthen vocatur,’ and in the confirmation by William the Lion it is called ‘terra Abbatiae de Munros.’ These notices are sufficient to show that the word Abthain was the equivalent Scottice of Abbatia.
¶ If a representative of Gael. abdhaine, abthaine, med.L. abthania, is retained as a special term for ‘the territory of those churches called Monasteria, which were founded by the Columban clergy’ in ancient Celtic Scotland, the best form would be Abthany, as distinct from the equivocal Abthane and his supposed jurisdiction Abthanry or Abthanage. |