| 释义 |
Minervan. Origin: From a proper name. Etymons: proper name Minerva, Menerva. Etymology: < classical Latin Minerva, earlier Menerva, the name of a Roman goddess (see below), also used metonymically to denote a person's natural capacity or intelligence (see sense 2a), probably < Etruscan Menerva (attested on inscriptions from the 9th century b.c.). Compare Middle French, French minerve (1564 in sense ‘intelligence’, 1812 in sense 3). N.E.D. (1906) gives the more traditional derivation < the Indo-European base of Sanskrit manas mind, ancient Greek μένος courage, fury (the base of mind n.1), comparing Sanskrit manasvin wise, skilful, Manasvinī name of female divinities. Modern classical scholarship, however, generally favours the theory of an Etruscan origin. In phrase in spite of Minerva (see sense 1b), after classical Latin invitā Minervā invita Minerva phr. 1. the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [noun] > Minerva or Pallas OE Ælfric Homily: De Falsis Diis (Corpus Cambr. 178) in J. C. Pope (1968) II. 683 Se Iouis..on hys swustor gewifode; seo wæs gehaten Iuno... Heora dohtra wæron Minerua and Uenus. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. 1120 A Sacrifice unto Minerve. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 276v Here [sc. goats'] bytynge is most destruccioun of olyue for with likkynge þay makeþ þe olyue bareyne. And for þis cause þay were nought y-offred to þe goddesse Minerua. c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer 932 Feynynge the hors offered unto Mynerve, Thourgh which that many a Troyan moste sterve. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 262 He callit hir his deir mynerfe. ?1504 S. Hawes sig. bb.ii A noble vyrgyn there dyde her serue That fyrst made harnes called Mynerue. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus f. 342v Minerva was thought the patronesse of al witte. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. vi. 164 For Feature, laming The Shrine of Venus, or straight-pight Minerua . View more context for this quotation 1678 R. Cudworth tr. Plato in i. iv. 401 The Peplum or Veil of Minerva, which in the Panathenaicks is with great pomp and ceremony brought into the Acropolis. 1717 A. Pope tr. Homer III. x. 322 In sign she favour'd their Intent, A long-wing'd Heron great Minerva sent. 1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer III. xiii. Observ. 285 Here he introduces Minerva to let Ulysses into the knowledge of his country. 1753 Suppl. at Calathus The calathus or work-basket of Minerva, is no less celebrated among the poets, than her distaff. 1835 C. Thirlwall I. iii. 67 The goddess Athené, whom, with the Romans, we name Minerva. 1855 R. C. Singleton tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil I. 72 Minerva too, Creatress of the olive. 1895 J. K. Bangs ix. 122 Phidias..seized a wooden toothpick, and with it modelled a beautiful head of Minerva out of the pat [of butter] that stood upon the small plate at his side. 1920 L. Hart College on Broadway in (1986) 16/1 On high Olympus, mighty Jove all-powerful Once asked Minerva, ‘Where's your holy shrine on earth?’ 1989 M. Gimbutas i. vi. 59 There was a goddess named Sulis..equated with Minerva in Roman Britain. the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > unwilling [phrase] 1589 G. Puttenham iii. xxv. 256 That which he doth by long meditation rather then by a suddaine inspiration,..(and as they are woont to say) in spite of Nature or Minerua. 1638 F. Junius 333 In spight (as the common saying is) of Minerva, that is, our nature not giving way to it. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > of gods or goddesses 1802 C. Wilmot (1920) 126 We have..been driving about the streets amongst Venus's, Apollos,..Muses, Nereides, Minervas. 1837 38 The Minerva of the Parthenon, also by Phidias, wrought in ivory and gold, the noblest example of the toreutic art. 1873 A. Trollope II. xxxvi. 129 She seemed hardly to trouble herself to talk—and as for laughing, flirting, or giggling, one might as well expect such levity from a marble Minerva. 1905 E. Wharton i. ix. 174 The ormolu clock surmounted by a helmeted Minerva, which throned on the chimney-piece between two malachite vases. 1991 (Nexis) 16 Oct. c1 Posters of the age—some of them promoting, through profiles of heroes and helmeted Minervas, some of them condemning..compete for your attention. 2. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > [noun] 1600 N. Breton sig. E2v Oh, that..his eyes [were], not ouergazed, In Mineruas excellences.] 1601 B. Jonson iii. v. sig. F4v But now, see what your proper Genius can performe alone, without adiection of any other Minerua . View more context for this quotation ?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer (new ed.) xiii. 199 Then, the Strand They strew'd with all the goods he had, bestow'd By the renown'd Phæacians; since he show'd So much Minerua. 1661 J. Glanvill xiv. 135 Self-love engageth us for any thing, that is a Minerva of our own. 1685 tr. B. Gracián y Morales 178 Every one then ought to labour to know his Destiny, and to try his Minerva. 1844 R. W. Emerson 2nd Ser. ii. 79 Fortune, Minerva, Muse, Holy Ghost,—these are quaint names, too narrow to cover this unbounded substance. 1603 J. Florio in tr. M. de Montaigne i. Ep. Ded. sig. A2 I..serve but as Vulcan, to hatchet this Minerva from that Iupiters bigge braine. 1629 P. Massinger Ep. Ded. sig. A2v I euer held it the most perfit birth of my Minerua. a1734 R. North (1740) iii. vi. §26. 442 The Thing itself [is] no better than a Minerva of his own fertile Brain. 1750 Bp. W. Warburton (1809) 47 Where was the Genius loci of the school when this disaster happened! Perhaps in the office of Diana when her Temple was a burning, gone a midwifing to some Minerva of the brain. 1989 M. Robinson i. 113 There was, as I have said, a Minerva fully armed, growing within the squamous limits of Booth's undertaking. the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > beautiful thing or person > beautiful person > beautiful woman > woman of stately beauty 1782 F. Burney I. ii. iii. 187 A Minerva, not stately nor austere,..ran up to Cecilia. 1827 C. M. Sedgwick iv. 66 All ye youthful Minervas, who hide with an impenetrable shield of wisdom and dignity, the natural workings of your hearts! 1859 A. J. Mumby 28 Jan. (1972) 18 Are not the fishwomen of Boulogne better than all the Minervas of Yankeedom? 1877 C. Reade iii Ashmead..chuckled internally at the idea of this Minerva giving change in a café. 1992 (Nexis) 7 Mar. a8 Militant men..collapsed before the array of feminine genius on the platform, where the Minervas of the movement sat dominant and determined. 1999 (Nexis) 30 Nov. 64 A slim young thing in leather glides languidly into the seat across from me... Can't I enjoy one solitary bus ride in this glamorous city infested by Aphrodites, Minervas and Psyches? 4. society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > narrative or story > novel > [noun] > romantic novel 1844 7 268/1 A New Patent Mechanical Novel Writer—adapted to all styles, and all subjects; pointed, pathetic, historic, silver-fork, and Minerva. society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > [noun] > platen 1883 11 Oct. 3/4 (advt.) Printers.—Youth Wanted, accustomed to Minerva. 1901 26 Aug. 3/5 The cap ferrules of the Minerva's tubes were found to be partially choked from ‘bird-nesting’. Compounds 1865 Feb. 251/2 We play with metaphors, hesitating to characterize this latest Minerva-birth. 1888 C. T. Jacobi 83 Minerva machine, a small platen jobbing machine—the original Cropper machine. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.OE |
