| 释义 |
Cyprian, a. and n.|ˈsɪprɪən|
Also 7 Ciprian.
[f. L. Cyprius of Cyprus + -an. In F. cyprien.]
A. adj.
1. Belonging to Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean, famous in ancient times for the worship of Aphrodite or Venus.
1627Massinger Gt. Dk. Florence v. ii, By all the vows which lovers offer at The Cyprian goddess' altars. c1673Roxb. Ball. VI. 112 A stranger unto Love am I..The Ciprian Boy shall not destroy My freedome and my Reason.
2. transf. Licentious, lewd; in 18–19th c. applied to prostitutes.
1599Marston Sco. Villanie i. iii. 184 Consuming all the yeare In Cyprian dalliance. 1782Wolcott (P. Pindar) Ode to R.A's. ix. Wks. I. 35 A Damsel of the Cyprian class. 1859Sat. Rev. VIII. 71/1 The Cyprian patrol which occupies our streets in force every night.
B. n. An inhabitant or native of Cyprus, a Cypriote; hence transf. A licentious or profligate person; in later use spec. a prostitute.
1598Marston Pygmal. ii. 145 See how he paceth like a Ciprian. 1819J. H. Vaux Mem. I. 72 A very interesting young Cyprian whom I..attended to her apartments. 1829Sun 17 Sept. 4/4 A cyprian of the lowest grade. 1843tr. Custine's Empire of Czar III. 84 The expenses of these poor cyprians were not diminished in the same proportion as their gains. |