| 释义 |
‖ ex pede Herculem, phr.|ɛks pɛdiː ˈhɜːrkjʊlɛm|
[L., ‘Hercules from his foot’.]
Inferring the whole of something from some small or insignificant part of it, as Pythagoras is said to have calculated the height of Hercules from an estimate of the size of his foot.
1665R. Head Eng. Rogue sig. Aaa 6ro, I perceived she was endued with ingenuity, by the quaintness of her expressions, Ex pede Herculem. a1734R. North Examen (1740) i. ii. 102 But ex pede Herculem. They, that let so much be seen, had notable Reserves however couched. 1881W. D. Hay 300 Years Hence p. vii, From it he may glean some knowledge of Professor Meister's character: ex pede Herculem. 1936Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Oct. 805/2 Ex pede Herculem; these changes may not seem serious except to connoisseurs of English prose rhythm. 1953W. V. Quine From Logical Point of View iii. 63 The finished lexicon is a case..of ex pede Herculem... In projecting Hercules from the foot we risk error. |