nimble
英 ['n?mb(?)l]
美 ['n?mbl]
助記提示
1. PIE root *nem- "divide, distribute, allot; take" (cf. Greek nemein "deal out," nemesis "just indignation," Latin numerus "number") => nim- "take, grasp, seize" => OE: niman "take, grasp, seize".
2. nim- "take, grasp, seize" + -le => -ble (see limb, 類比變形) => nimble "quick to grasp".
3. => agile, light-footed.
4. 同源詞：nim, numb, nimble.
5. 5. numb => nimble. 為什么能從 numb 推導出 nimble 的含義呢？因為他們兩是同源詞，也就是說這兩兄弟是同一個爹生的，numb 的本義是“被抓住、被抱住”，因為人一但被抓住、被抱住后就動彈不得了，所以由此就引申為了“麻木”之意。nimble 的本義也就是“抓、抱”之意，只是拓展成了“快速地抓、抱(quick to grasp)”，當然只有很敏捷才會“快速地抓住”啊，所以就引申為“敏捷的、靈敏的、敏感的、機智的”之意。-le (diminutive suffix, frequentative suffix, 也許暗含表達了一種小巧靈活之意)。
6. 諧音“靈吧” --- 靈活吧，靈巧吧！
7. 諧音“凌波” --- 凌波微步 --- 想一想段譽練成凌波微步后，逃跑起來是不是很靈巧、敏捷啊！讓敵人想打打不著，想追追不上。
中文詞源
nimble 靈活的，敏捷的來自PIE*nem,分開，分配，拿，帶，詞源同number,numb.引申詞義靈活的，敏捷的。
英文詞源
- nimble (adj.)
- "agile, light-footed," c. 1300, nemel, from Old English n?mel "quick to grasp" (attested but once), related to niman "to take," from Proto-Germanic *neman (cognates: Old Saxon, Old Dutch, Gothic niman, Old Norse nema, Old Frisian nima, German nehmen "to take"), from PIE root *nem- "to divide, distribute, allot," also "to take" (cognates: Greek nemein "to deal out," nemesis "just indignation," Latin numerus "number," Lithuanian nuoma "rent, interest," Middle Irish nos "custom, usage"). With excrescent -b- from c. 1500 (compare limb (n.1)). Related: Nimbleness. In 17c., English had nimblechaps "talkative fellow."
雙語例句
- 1. He was a nimble-footed boy of ten.
- 他是個步伐敏捷的10歲男孩。
來自柯林斯例句
- 2. You need nimble fingers for that job.
- 干這活需要手指靈巧。
來自《權威詞典》
- 3. He has a nimble tongue.
- 他能說會道.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
- 4. He is a nimble and versatile wit.
- 他是一個機敏而又多才多藝的才子.
來自《現代漢英綜合大詞典》
- 5. Val, who was light and nimble on her feet, learnt to dance the tango.
- 腳步輕盈靈活的瓦爾學會了跳探戈舞。
來自柯林斯例句