英语单词词源词典 e

1、 HYPERLINK /index.php?term=%27em em M.E., now taken as an abbreviation of HYPERLINK /index.php?term=them them, but originally a form of hem, dative and accusative of the third person plural pronoun. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-ectomy -ectomy surgical removal, from Gk. -ektomia a cutting out of, from

2、ektemnein to cut out, from ek out + temnein to cut. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-ed -ed pp. suffix of weak verbs, from O.E. -ed, -ad, -od (leveled to -ed in M.E.), from P.Gmc. *-do-, from PIE *-to- (cf. Gk. -tos, L. -tus). Originally fully pronounced, as still in beloved (which, with blessed, accursed

3、, and a few others retains the full pronunciation through liturgical readings). In 16c.-18c. often written -t when so pronounced (usually after a consonant or short vowel), and still so where a long vowel in the stem is short in the pp. (crept, slept, etc.). In some older words both forms exist, wit

4、h different shades of meaning, cf. gilded/gilt, burned/burnt. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-emia -emia medical suffix, condition of the blood, from comb. form of Gk. haima (gen. haimatos) blood, possibly from PIE base *sai- thick liquid. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-ence -ence suffix attached to verbs to

5、 form nouns of process or fact (convergence from converge), or of state or quality (absence from absent); from O.Fr. -ance, from L. -entia/-antia (from -ent- participle stem + -ia suffix forming nouns of condition or quality). The L. variants -entia and -antia were mostly leveled to -ance in O.Fr.,

6、but words borrowed later by Eng. directly from L. sometimes kept their L. vowels (diligence, absence), and others have since c.1500 been re-spelled to conform with L., causing much irregularity (attendance, but superintendence, etc.). HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-ent -ent suffix forming adjectives fro

7、m nouns or verbs, from Fr. -ent, from L. -entem, pp. ending of verbs in -ere/-ire. O.Fr. changed many to -ant but after c.1500 some in Eng. were changed back to what was supposed to be correct L. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-ese -ese suffix from O.Fr. -eis (modern Fr. -ois, -ais), from V.L., from L. -

8、ensem belonging to or originating in. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-ess -ess fem. suffix, from Fr. -esse, from L.L. -issa, from Gk. -issa (cognate with O.E. fem. agent suffix -icge); rare in classical Gk., but more common later, in diakonissa deaconess and other Church terms picked up by Latin. HYPERLI

9、NK /index.php?term=-etic -etic suffix meaning pertaining to, from Gk. -etikos, adj. suffix for nouns ending in -esis. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=-ette -ette dim. formation, from O.Fr. -ette (fem.), used indiscriminately in O.Fr. with masc. form -et. As a general rule, older words borrowed from Fr. ha

10、ve -et in Eng., while ones taken in since 17c. have -ette. In use with native words since 20c., especially among persons who coin new product names, who tend to give it a sense of imitation. Also in words like sermonette, which, OED remarks, can scarcely be said to be in good use, though often met w

11、ith in newspapers. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=e-mail e-mail 1982, short for electronic mail. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=E.+coli E. coli bacteria inhabiting the gut of man and animals, short for Escherichia coli, from Ger. physician Theodor Escherich (1857-1911) + L. gen. of colon colon. HYPERLINK /ind

12、ex.php?term=E.T.A. E.T.A. abbreviation of estimated time (of) arrival, first attested 1939. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ea ea the usual O.E. word for river, running water; still in use in Lancashire. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=each each O.E. lc ever alike, from a ever + gelic alike. Similar compounds a

13、re found in other Gmc. languages (cf. Du. elk, O.Fris. ellik). Originally used as we now use HYPERLINK /index.php?term=every every (which is a compound of each) or all; modern use is by infl. of L. quisque. Modern spelling appeared late 1500s. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eager eager 1297, from O.Fr. a

14、igre, from V.L. *acrus, from L. acer (gen. acris) keen, sharp (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=acrid acrid). The Eng. word kept an alternate meaning of pungent, sharp-edged till 19c. (e.g. Shakespeares The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, in Richard II). HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eagle eagle c.135

15、0, from O.Fr. egle, from O.Prov. aigla, from L. aquila black eagle, fem. of aquilus dark colored (bird). The native term was erne. Golf score sense is first recorded 1922. The figurative eagle-eyed is attested from 1601. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Eames Eames 1946, type of modern office chair, named

16、for U.S. architect and designer Charles Eames (1907-78). HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ear ear (1) organ of hearing, O.E. eare, from P.Gmc. *auzon (cf. Dan. re, Ger. Ohr, Goth. auso), from PIE *aus- with a sense of perception (cf. Gk. aus, L. auris, Lith. ausis, O.C.S. ucho, O.Ir. au ear, Avestan usi th

17、e two ears). The belief that itching or burning ears means someone is talking about you is mentioned in Plinys Natural History (77 C.E.). Until at least the 1880s, even some medical men still believed piercing the ear lobes improved ones eyesight. Meaning handle of a pitcher is c.1440. Ear-wax is fr

18、om 1398. Earshot is first recorded 1607. To be wet behind the ears naive is implied from 1914. Phrase walls have ears attested from 1620. Earful a piece of ones mind is from 1917; ear-bash (v.) is Australian slang (1944) for to talk inordinately (to someone). HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ear ear (2) gr

19、ain part of corn, from O.E. ear (W.Saxon), her (Northumbrian) spike, ear of grain, from P.Gmc. *akhaz (gen. *akhizaz), from PIE base *ak- sharp, pointed (cf. L. acus husk of corn; see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=acrid acrid). HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earl earl O.E. eorl nobleman, warrior (contrasted

20、with ceorl churl), from P.Gmc. *erlo-z, of uncertain origin. In Anglo-Saxon poetry, a warrior, a brave man; in later O.E., a Danish under-king (equivalent of O.N. jarl), then one of the viceroys under the Danish dynasty in England. After 1066 adopted as the equivalent of L. comes (see HYPERLINK /ind

21、ex.php?term=count count (n.). Earldom is from c.1123. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=early early O.E. rlice, from r soon, ere (from P.Gmc. *airiz, from PIE *ayer- day, morning) + -lice -ly, adverbial suffix. The early bird of the proverb is from 1670s. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earmark earmark 1523, from

22、 HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ear ear (1) + HYPERLINK /index.php?term=mark mark (1). Originally a cut or mark in the ear of sheep and cattle, serving as a sign of ownership; first recorded 1577 in figurative sense. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earn earn O.E. earnian get a reward for labor, from W.Gmc. *az

23、nojanan, from *aznu work, labor (cf. O.H.G. aran, Ger. Ernte harvest, Goth. asans harvest, summer, O.N. nn work in the field). Related to O.E. esne serf. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earnest earnest O.E. eornoste (adj.) from a noun eornost passion, zeal (surviving only in the phrase in earnest), from P

24、.Gmc. *ern vigor, briskness (cf. O.H.G. arnust struggle, Goth. arniba safely, O.N. jarna fight, combat) The proper name Ernest (lit. resolute) is from the same root. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earring earring O.E. earhring, from ear + hring (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ring ring (n.). Now including

25、 any sort of ornament in the ear; the pendants were originally ear-drops (1720). The two groups which had formerly a near monopoly on male earrings were Gypsies and sailors. Both has the usual traditions about eyesight see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ear ear (1), but it was also said that sailors earr

26、ings would save them from drowning, while others argued that should a sailor be drowned and washed up on some foreign shore, his gold earrings would pay for a proper Christian burial. Dictionary of English Folklore HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earth earth O.E. eore ground, soil, dry land, also used (al

27、ong with middangeard) for the (material) world (as opposed to the heavens or the underworld), from P.Gmc. *ertho (cf. O.N. jr, M.Du. eerde, O.H.G. erda, Goth. aira), from PIE base *er-. The earth considered as a planet was so called from c.1400. Earthy in the fig. sense of coarse, unrefined is from

28、1594. Earthworm first attested 1591. Earthwork is from 1633. Earthlight apparently coined 1833 by British astronomer John Herschel. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earth-mother earth-mother 1904, folkloric spirit of the earth, conceived as sensual, maternal; a transl. of Ger. erdmutter. HYPERLINK /index.p

29、hp?term=earthling earthling O.E. eyrling plowman (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earth earth); the sense of inhabitant of the earth is from 1593. Earthman was originally (1860) a demon who lives in the earth; science fiction sense of inhabitant of the planet Earth first attested 1949 in writing of Ro

30、bert Heinlein. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earthquake earthquake c.1280, as eorthequakynge, from HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earth earth + HYPERLINK /index.php?term=quake quake. O.E. had eordin in this sense. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=earwig earwig (Forficula auricularia), O.E. earwicga, from eare (see

31、HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ear ear (1) + wicga beetle, worm, probably related to wiggle. So called from the ancient and widespread (but false) belief that the garden pest went into peoples ears. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ease ease c.1225, from O.Fr. aise comfort, pleasure, of unknown origin, despite

32、attempts to link it to various L. verbs. The earliest senses in Fr. appear to be 1. elbow-room (from an 11th century Hebrew-French glossary) and 2. opportunity. This led Sophus Bugge to suggest an origin in V.L. asa, a shortened form of L. ansa handle, which could be used in the figurative sense of

33、opportunity, occasion, as well as being a possible synonym for elbow, since L. ansatus furnished with handles also was used to mean having the arms akimbo. OED editors report this theory, and write, This is not very satisfactory, but it does not appear that any equally plausible alternative has yet

34、been proposed. The verb meaning to give ease is from 1340; the sense of to relax ones efforts is from 1863. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=easel easel 1596, from Du. ezel easel, originally ass, from M.Du. esel, from L. asinus ass (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ass ass (1); the comparison being of loading

35、 a burden on a donkey and propping up a painting or canvas on a wooden stand. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=easement easement c.1386, from O.Fr. aisement ease, from aisier to ease, from aise (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ease ease). The meaning legal right or privilege of using something not ones own i

36、s from 1463. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=east east O.E. east, from P.Gmc. *aus-to-, *austra- east, toward the sunrise (cf. Du. oost, Ger. Ost, O.N. austr from the east), from PIE *aus- dawn (cf. Skt. ushas dawn, Gk. aurion morning, O.Ir. usah, Lith. auszra dawn, L. aurora dawn, auster south), lit. to

37、shine. The east is the direction in which dawn breaks. For shift in sense in L., see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Australia Australia. Meaning the eastern part of the world (from Europe) is from c.1300. Cold War use of East for communist states first recorded 1951. Natives of eastern Germany and the Ba

38、ltics were known as easterlings 16c.-18c. The east wind in Biblical Palestine was scorching and destructive (cf. Ezek. xvii.10); in New England it is bleak, wet, unhealthful. East End of London so called from 1846; East Side of Manhattan so called from 1882; Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia so

39、 called from 1624. East Indies (India and Southeast Asia) so called 1598 to distinguish them from the West Indies. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Easter Easter O.E. Eastre (Northumbrian Eostre), from P.Gmc. *Austron, a goddess of fertility and sunrise whose feast was celebrated at the spring equinox, fro

40、m *austra-, from PIE *aus- to shine (especially of the dawn). Bede says Anglo-Saxon Christians adopted her name and many of the celebratory practices for their Mass of Christs resurrection. Ultimately related to east. Almost all neighboring languages use a variant of L. Pasche to name this holiday.

41、Easter Island so called because it was discovered by Europeans on Easter Sunday, 1722. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Eastlake Eastlake style of furniture, 1878, often a mere debased Gothic, but at its best inspired by Eng. designer Charles Locke Eastlake (1836-1906) and his book Hints on Household Taste

42、. I find American tradesmen continually advertising what they are pleased to call Eastlake furniture, with the production of which I have had nothing whatever to do, and for the taste of which I should be very sorry to be considered responsible C.L. Eastlake, 1878 HYPERLINK /index.php?term=easy easy

43、 c.1200, at ease, from O.Fr. aisie, pp. of aisier to put at ease, from aise (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ease ease). Sense of not difficult to deal with is c.1340; of conditions, comfortable, c.1380. The concept of not difficult was expressed in O.E. and early M.E. by eae (adv.), iee (adj.), appar

44、ently common W.Gmc., but of disputed origin. Easy-chair is from 1707; easy-going is from 1649, originally of horses. Easy Street first printed 1901 in Pecks Red-Headed Boy. Easy rider (1912) was U.S. black slang for sexually satisfying lover. The easy listening radio format is from 1965, defined by

45、William Safire (in 1986) as, the music of the 60s played in the 80s with the style of the 40s. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eat eat O.E. etan (class V strong verb; past tense t, pp. eten), from P.Gmc. *etanan (cf. O.N. eta, Goth. itan, Ger. essen), from PIE base *ed- to eat (see HYPERLINK /index.php?te

46、rm=edible edible). Transf. sense of slow, gradual corrosion or destruction is from 1555. Meaning to preoccupy, engross (as in whats eating you?) first recorded 1893. Slang sexual sense of do cunnilingus on is first recorded 1927. Eat out dine away from home is from 1933; eatery restaurant is from 19

47、01; eats (n.) food is considered colloquial, but it was present in O.E. The slang phrase to eat ones words is from 1571; to eat ones heart out is from 1596; for eat ones hat, see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=hat hat. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eau eau Fr. for water, in various combinations such as eau d

48、e vie brandy (1748), lit. water of life; eau de toilette (1907). For eau de Cologne see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=cologne cologne. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eave eave late O.E., from S.W. Midlands dial. eovese (sing.), from O.E. efes edge of a roof, from P.Gmc. *ubaswa-/*ubiswa (cf. O.H.G. obasa por

49、ch, hall, roof, Goth. ubizwa porch, Ger. oben above), from the root of HYPERLINK /index.php?term=over over. Treated as plural and new singular form eave emerged c.1580. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eavesdropper eavesdropper 1487, from O.E. yfesdrype place around a house where the rainwater drips off th

50、e roof, from HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eave eave (q.v.) + drip. Technically, one who stands at walls or windows to overhear whats going on inside. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ebb ebb O.E. ebba, perhaps from P.Gmc. *abjon, from *ab-, from PIE base *apo- off, away (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=apo apo-

51、). Figurative sense of decline, decay is c.1400. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Ebenezer Ebenezer male proper name, sometimes also the name of a Protestant chapel or meeting house, from name of a stone raised by Samuel to commemorate a victory over the Philistines at Mizpeh (I Sam. vii.12), from Heb. ebh

52、en ezar stone of help, from ebhen stone + ezer help. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Ebionite Ebionite 1650, sect (1c.-2c.) that held Jesus was a mere man and Christians were still bound by Mosaic Law, from L. ebonita, from Heb. ebyon poor. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Eblis Eblis prince of the fallen angels

53、 in Arabic mythology and religion, from Arabic Iblis. Klein thinks this may be Gk. diablos, passed through Syriac where the first syllable was mistaken for the Syr. gen. particle di and dropped. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Ebonics Ebonics African-American vernacular English, 1975, as title of a book b

54、y R.L. Williams, a blend of HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ebony ebony and HYPERLINK /index.php?term=phonics phonics. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ebony ebony 1597, from hebenyf (1384), M.E. misreading L. hebenius of ebony, from Gk. ebenios, from ebenos ebony, probably from Egyp. hbnj or another Sem. source

55、. Fig. use to suggest intense blackness is from 1623. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ebriety ebriety state or habit of being intoxicated, 1582, from L. ebrietatem, from ebrius drunk. The opposite of sobriety. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ebullient ebullient 1599, boiling, from L. ebullientem, prp. of ebulli

56、re to spout out, burst out, from ex- out + bullire to bubble (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=boil boil (v.). Figurative sense of enthusiastic is first recorded 1664. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Ecce+homo Ecce homo L., lit. behold the man (John xix.5). HYPERLINK /index.php?term=eccentric eccentric 1398

57、as a term in Ptolemaic astronomy, from M.L. eccentricus, from Gk. ekkentros out of the center (as opposed to concentric), from ek out + kentron center (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=center center). Figurative sense of odd, whimsical (adj.) first recorded 1685. Noun meaning person with such qualities

58、 first attested 1832. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes c.1300, name given to one of the O.T. books, traditionally ascribed to Solomon, from Gk. ekklesiastes (see HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ecclesiastic ecclesiastic), to render Heb. qoheleth one who addresses an assembly, from qahal

59、 assembly. The title is technically the designation of the speaker, but that word throughout is usually rendered into Eng. as The Preacher. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ecclesiastic ecclesiastic 1483, from L.L. ecclesiasticus, from Gk. ekklesiastikos of the (ancient Athenian) assembly, later, of the ch

60、urch, from ekklesiastes speaker in an assembly or church, preacher, from ekkalein to call out. HYPERLINK /index.php?term=ecdysiast ecdysiast H.L. Menckens invented proper word for strip-tease artist, 1940, from Gk. ekdysis a stripping or casting off (used scientifically with ref. to serpents sheddin