| 释义 |
adept, a. and n.|əˈdɛpt, ˈædɛpt|
[ad. L. adept-us having attained, f. pple. of adipisci to attain, acquire; f. ad to, at + ap- to get.]
A. adj. Completely versed (in); thoroughly proficient; well-skilled.
a1691Boyle (J.) If there be really such adept philosophers as we are told of. 1755T. H. Croker Ariosto's Orl. Furioso xviii. clxxiv. I. 297 Where the learned Alpheus slept..Physician, in astrology adept. 1782Cowper Hope 350 Beaus adept in ev'rything profound, Die of disdain. 1861L. L. Noble After Icebergs 325 Scarecrows—a peculiar walk of art, in which the painter..became sufficiently adept to frighten..the little creatures that pulled up the corn.
B. n. [In med.L. adeptus was used subst. and assumed by alchemists that professed to have attained the great secret. In Eng. the L. form was at first used, with pl. adepti.] Hence, ‘He that is completely skilled in all the secrets of his art.’ J. One that has attained to proficiency in anything.
1663Butler Hudibras i. i. 546 In Rosicrucian lore as learned, As he that Vere adeptus earned. 1665in Phil. Trans. I. 112 The several processes of the reputed Adepti. 1685Lond. Gaz. mmlxxii/4 Four Books..concerning the secrets of the Adepts. 1704T. Hearne Duct. Hist. (ed. 3) I. 401 Unintelligible to all but Adepti. 1785Reid Intell. Powers ii. viii. 271 Queens became adepts in Des Cartes' philosophy. 1831Scott Kenilw. xviii. (1853) 193 Varney heard the adept's door shut and carefully bolted. 1863Burton Book Hunter 124 The greatest adepts abandoning the effort in despair.
Hence aˈdeptly adv., in an adept manner; skilfully, adroitly.
1954Funk & Wagnalls New Pract. Stand. Dict. I. 17/2. 1973 Latin Amer. 25 Dec. VII. 52. 414/1 Caamaño's guerrilla invasion..which Balaguer used most adeptly to exploit divisions among his opponents. 1984N.Y. Times 4 Nov. xxi. 27/4 These seniors still play their games vigorously and adeptly. |