| 释义 |
fos·sil
I. \ˈfäsəl also ˈfȯs- sometimes -(ˌ)sil\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Latin fossilis, adjective, dug up
1. archaic : a rock, mineral, or other substance dug out of the earth
2. : any remains, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of past geological ages that has been preserved in the earth's crust
< the tangible evidences of paleobotany are fossils — W.C.Darrah >
3.
a. : a person whose views are outmoded : one whose interests are in the past
< one of the fossils of the old abolition party — N.H. Patriot & State Gazette >
b. : something that has become rigidly fixed
< aesthetic theories are filled with fossils of antiquated psychologies — John Dewey >
4.
a. : a word or sense once in common use but now obsolete except in certain idioms and phrases (as fro in to and fro)
b. : a linguistic form no longer productive but preserved in certain words (as the prefix a in aloft, away)
II. adjective
Etymology: Latin fossilis dug up, from fossus (past participle of fodere to dig) + -ilis -ile — more at bed
: having the characteristics of a fossil: as
a. : extracted from the earth
< the main sources of concentrated energy available to man were the fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas — E.V.Murphree >
b. : preserved in an identifiable and commonly more or less mineralized or petrified form through geologic ages
c. : dead to change or progress : rigidly fixed : antiquated |