precipice
英 ['pres?p?s]
美 ['pr?s?p?s]
助記提示
1. pre- "before, forth" + cipit- => precipit- => precipic- (進入法語后的音變變體) + -e => precipice.
2. 本義為：頭向前、朝前傾斜。很顯然這就是頂部朝前傾斜，頂部向前突出，這就很像懸崖的樣子了，所以由此就引申為：懸崖，峭壁。又由此引申為被逼到懸崖邊上的那種危險情況。
中文詞源
precipice 懸崖pre-,在前，-cip,頭，詞源同cap,captain.即頭在前，一頭栽下，引申詞義陡坡，陡崖，懸崖等。
英文詞源
- precipice
- precipice: [16] The etymological notion underlying precipice is of falling ‘headlong’. It comes via French précipice from Latin praecipitium ‘headlong fall, steep place’. This was derived from praecipitāre ‘throw headlong’ (source of English precipitate [16] and precipitous [17]), a verb based on the adjective praeceps ‘headlong, steep’. This in turn was a compound formed from the prefix prae- ‘in front’ and caput ‘head’ (source of English capital, captain, etc).
=> capital, captain, chief - precipice (n.)
- "steep face of rock," 1630s, from Middle French précipice, from Latin praecipitium "a steep place," literally "a fall or leap," from praeceps (genitive praecipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from prae "before, forth" (see pre-) + caput "head" (see head (n.)). Earlier in English as a verb (1590s) meaning "fall to great depth."
雙語例句
- 1. The hut hung half over the edge of the precipice.
- 那間小屋有一半懸在峭壁邊上.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
- 2. They were perilously close to the edge of the precipice.
- 他們離懸崖邊很近,十分危險.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
- 3. A slight carelessness on this precipice could cost a man his life.
- 在這懸崖上稍一疏忽,就會使人喪生.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
- 4. Watching him climb up the precipice, everybody was breathless with anxiety.
- 看著他往懸崖上爬, 大家都捏一把汗.
來自《現代漢英綜合大詞典》
- 5. The climber fell down a precipice.
- 爬山者跌下了懸崖.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》