| 释义 |
superman|ˈs(j)uːpəmæn|
[f. super- 6 + man n.1, transl. G. übermensch (F. W. Nietzsche, German philosopher, 1844–1900). Cf. F. surhomme (Lichtenberger, 1901), occas. superhomme. Overman and (occas.) beyond-man have been used.]
1. An ideal superior man conceived by Nietzsche as being evolved from the normal human type; loosely, a man of extraordinary power or ability; a superior being. Also transf. and allusively.
1903G. B. Shaw Man & Superman 196 We have been driven to Proletarian Democracy by the failure of all the alternative systems; for these depended on the existence of Supermen acting as despots or oligarchs; and not only were these Supermen not always or even often forthcoming at the right moment and in an eligible social position, but when they were forthcoming they could not..impose superhumanity on those whom they governed. 1903Speaker 17 Oct. 61/1 It is possible by breeding, by education, by social reconstruction, that the Superman may be attained. 1904G. S. Hall Adolescence I. 47 Relatively..man is now in a recent epoch,..in which a new story has been added to his nature, so that he is now a super-man to his ancient forebears. 1907Westm. Gaz. 20 Mar. 2/1 Christ is now the Spiritual super-man, who has anticipated humanity and reached the goal of its spiritual evolution. 1912C. Sarolea Anglo-German Problem i. 59 Like Nietzsche, the modern German believes that the world must be ruled by a superman, and that he is the super-man. 1925H. V. Morton Heart of London 110 Above the kneeling priests is the Pharaoh, that ancient superman. 1942R.A.F. Jrnl. 13 June 15 They are neither freaks nor super-men. Ibid. 18 The stories told in the newspapers to emphasise the superman qualities which the Commandos deny possessing. 1959Koestler Sleepwalkers v. ii. 471 Both considered themselves supermen and started on a basis of mutual adulation. 1969G. Jackson Let. 28 Dec. in Soledad Brother (1971) 179 How could there be a benevolent superman controlling a world like this.
2. (With capital initial.) The name of an invincible hero with superhuman powers, including that of flight, introduced in an American comic strip (1938). Also transf. and allusively.
1938Action Comics June 1 So was created..Superman! champion of the oppressed, the physical marvel who had sworn to devote his existence to helping those in need! 1940Time 26 Feb. 44/3 Last week Superman took to the air in earnest, as a three-a-week serial. 1942H. Haycraft Murder for Pleasure ix. 191 Converting Strangeway's wife Georgia into what Miriam Allen de Ford calls ‘a sort of female Superman’. 1958Times Lit. Suppl. 1 Apr. p. xx/4 The impression remains of a sense of values associated with ‘Superman’ and American comics. 1968S. Ellin Valentine Estate iii. iv. 142 ‘How the hell did he come to miss me?’.. ‘You're Superman,’ the first man answered. ‘Bullets bounce off you.’ 1976Survey Winter 1 The..New York Times..in the past presented Henry Kissinger as a species of diplomatic superman. 1977New Scientist 14 Apr. 59/3 Schlesinger..is riding high at present—pictured in a superman suit on a recent Time magazine cover. 1980F. Weldon Puffball 77 ‘Now it's our turn.’ ‘I don't want it to be,’ she said, as if he, like Superman, could turn the world the other way.
Hence ˈsupermanhood; also ˈsupermanism, the doctrine of the superman; ˈsupermanly a. [cf. manly a. 2], having the qualities of, or befitting, the or a superman; whence supermanliness.
1905Chesterton Heretics 85 If the Superman..is merely more supermanly [than other men], they may be quite indifferent to him. 1907Marett Threshold Relig., Is Taboo a Negative Magic? (1914) 97 Lest they be blasted by the superman's supermanliness. 1910Dublin Rev. Oct. 344 Human nature..is likely to remain still exactly the same. Those who believe it to be travelling towards moral supermanhood have obviously not studied it. 1916Sir J. Yoxall in 19th Cent. Sept. 467 Perhaps he [sc. Nietzsche] got some adumbration of Supermanism in that way. 1924W. J. Locke Coming of Amos xix. 254 My vanity was pricked by what seemed to be her lack of confidence in my supermanhood. 1964Punch 1 Apr. 507/3 Convincingly exciting, despite hero's slight leaning towards supermanhood. |