| 释义 |
deponent, a. and n.|dɪˈpəʊnənt|
[ad. L. dēpōnent-em, pr. pple. of depōnĕre (see prec.), spec. used by the late L. grammarians as in sense 1.]
A. adj. Gram. Of verbs: Passive or middle in form but active in meaning: originally a term of Latin Grammar.
Both form and meaning were originally reflexive (e.g. utor I serve myself, fruor I delight myself, proficiscor I put myself forward, etc.), as in the Middle Voice in Greek; as, however, in ordinary verbs the reflexive form had become a passive in Latin, these verbs were erroneously regarded as having laid aside or dropped a passive meaning, whence the name. In reality, what was laid aside, or lost sight of, was the reflexive sense.
1528Tindale Obed. Chr. Man (1573) 130 [He] maketh a verbe passive of a verbe deponent. 1669Milton Accedence Wks. (1847) 467/1 Of verbs deponent come participles both of the active and passive form. 1859Donaldson Grk. Gram. §433 A deponent verb is one which though exclusively passive or middle in its inflexions, has so entirely deponed or laid aside its original meaning, that it is used in all respects like a transitive or neuter verb of the active form. 1871Goodwin Grk. Gram. (1882) 80 Deponent verbs are those which have no active voice, but are used in the middle or passive forms with an active sense.
B. n.
1. A deponent verb.
1530Palsgr. Introd. 34 All such verbes as be used in the latin tong, lyke neuters or deponentes. 1612Brinsley Pos. Parts (1669) 36 Are Deponents and Commons declined like Passives? c1790Cowper Comment. on P.L. ii. 506 Wks. (1837) XV. 320 The verb dissolve in the common use of it is either active or passive, and we should say, either that the council dissolved itself, or that it was dissolved; but Milton here uses it as a deponent. 1871Goodwin Grk. Gram. (1892) 91 Deponents generally have the aorist and future of the middle form.
2. One who deposes or makes a deposition under oath; one who gives written testimony to be used as evidence in a court of justice or for other purpose.
1548Hall Chron. Hen. VIII, an. 6 (R.), The sayde deponent sayeth, that on Saturdaye..he toke the charge of the pryson. 1621H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 141 The said Jarvis Unwoon told this deponent he would pull this deponent's flesh from his jawes if he wold not be conformable to theire wills. 1713Swift Poems, Cadenus & V. 68 Witness ready to attest..That ev'ry article was true; Nor further those deponents knew. 1803Wellington in Gurw. Desp. II. 493 These depositions do not contain one word of truth, excepting that the deponents deserted from the service. 1878Lecky Eng. in 18th C. II. vi. 165 Dean Jones himself was the deponent. |