| 释义 |
Druid, n. (a.)|ˈdruːɪd|
Also 6–7 Druide, 7 Druyd.
[a. F. druide (1512 in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. *druida, ? druis, found only in pl., druidæ, druides, in Gr. δρυΐδαι; a. OCeltic dental-stem druid-, whence OIr. drui, dat. and acc. druid, pl. druad, mod.Ir. and Gael. draoi (draoidh, druidh, gen. druadh) magician, sorcerer, Welsh dryw (also derwydd, perh. not the same word). As to the ulterior etymology, see Holder, Alt.-Celt. Sprachschatz s.v.]
1. One of an order of men among the ancient Celts of Gaul and Britain, who, according to Cæsar were priests or religious ministers and teachers, but who figure in native Irish and Welsh legend as magicians, sorcerers, soothsayers, and the like. (The English use follows the Latin sources, whence it was derived, rather than native Celtic usage.) In early use always in plural.
1563Golding Cæsar vi. (1565) 155 The Druides are occupied about holy things: they haue the dooing of publicke and priuate sacrifices, and do interprete and discusse matters of Religion. 1598R. Barckley Felic. Man (1631) 167 A woman..that was a Soothsayer of them which were called Druides. 1602Hist. Eng. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 439 The Druyds, lifting up their hands towards heaven, filled the air with cries and curses. 1685Stillingfl. Orig. Brit. ii. 8 The last Age hath discovered a famous Urn of one Chyndonax, Chief of the Druids. 1728Young Love Fame iii. Wks. (1757) 101 Like an old Druid from his hollow oak. 1782Cowper Table T. 503 Every hallowed druid was a bard. 1862Ecclesiologist XXIII. 279 Curious beads of coloured glass commonly called ‘Druids' beads'. 1892Gardiner Stud. Hist. Eng. 14 In Mona was a sacred place of the Druids.
2. Hence in some modern applications.
a. A priest, religious minister, chaplain.
b. A philosophic bard or poet.
1710Addison Tatler No. 255 ⁋3 Even the Christmas Pye..is often forbidden to the Druid of the Family. c1748Collins On Death Thomson i, In yonder grave a Druid lies. 1760Jortin Erasm. II. 94 Who have endeavored to serve the public in a way not agreeable to certain Druids.
c. The appellation of some officers of the Welsh Gorsedd.
1884Pall Mall G. 20 Feb. 3 Not only was Dr. Price the arch-druid loudly cheered..but [etc.].
d. United Ancient Order of Druids, a secret benefit society founded in London in 1781, and having now numerous lodges called groves in the United Kingdom, America, the Colonies, etc.
3. attrib. or as adj. Of or belonging to the Druids, Druidic.
Druid stone, Druid sandstone, the stone of which Stonehenge is constructed, grey-weather.
1670Milton Hist. Eng. ii. Wks. (1851) 31 If lastly the Druid learning honour'd so much among them, were at first taught them out of Britain. 1776Wesley Jrnl. 1 Sept., Druid altars of enormous size. 1777Warton Poems 17 (Jod.), Here Poesy..In druid songs her solemn spirit breath'd. 1848Lytton Harold i. i, Grey Druid stones gleaming through the dawn. 1871Phillips Geol. Oxford xvii. 446 In this way perhaps we may account for the ‘Druid’ sandstones, or ‘Grey Weathers’, or ‘Sarsen stones’ which lie in such abundance about Ashdown..and between Marlborough and Avebury. |