| 释义 |
ad feminam, adv. and a. Of an argument, statement, or action.
Brit. |ˌad ˈfɛmɪnam|, U.S. |ˌæd ˈfɛmənəm|
[‹ classical Latin ad to + fēminam, accusative singular of fēmina woman (see feminine adj.), after ad hominem adv. and adj., where this is (erroneously or facetiously) interpreted as a gender-specific term requiring a feminine analogue.]
A. adv. On the basis of or with respect to qualities, interests, or circumstances specific to a particular woman, rather than a general principle (in later use esp. as a means of discrediting the woman concerned).
Earliest modifying a preceding noun, as argument ad feminam.
[1857W. Chandless Visit to Salt Lake 259 Some places are unsuitable for the real argumentum ad feminam.] 1874M. B. Field Memories of Many Men & Some Women v. 83 This argument ad hominem, or rather ad feminam, if she accepted the premises, was..quite as likely to affect favorably the royal mind as that addressed to her regard for the public interests of her country. 1907Albany Law Jrnl. Sept. 285/1 It was certainly a judgment ad hominem, or, rather, ad feminam, which the Texas Court of Civil Appeals delivered recently in a suit against a railroad for the unlawful expulsion of a female passenger. 1946J. Laird Philos. Incursions into Eng. Lit. x. 203 He is arguing ad feminam with a superstitious woman. 1972Village Voice (N.Y.) 1 June 80/2 (poem) I am sorry to report the attack is ad feminam from our old friend ed hoagland. 2002Historian Winter 8/3 The claim that the public grief was ad feminam and a tribute to the special qualities of her late Majesty, may be countered by the obvious point, that the public reaction was no greater than the response..to the death of the Princess of Wales.
B. adj. That addresses the characteristics or qualities of a specific woman rather than her argument or position, esp. as a means of discrediting her.
1970Brit. Jrnl. Sociol. 21 115/1 Some doubtful ad hominem (or in this case ad feminam) arguments. 1978Hecate Feb. 21 For what such ad feminam observations are worth, Dorothy Hewett described Prichard as ‘eternally feminine’. 1990Raritan Spring 144, I have left to the side his numerous ad feminam remarks. 2004Rhetoric Soc. Q. 34 101 (note) Even though I mount a serious critique of McKoski's work here, I hope my remarks will not be read as an ad feminam argument. |