| 释义 |
Fabian, a. and n.|ˈfeɪbɪən|
[ad. L. Fabiānus of or belonging to a Fabius or to the Fabian gens.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to the Roman gens Fabia.
1740J. Dyer Ruins of Rome 23 Who has not heard the Fabian Heroes sung? 1842Macaulay Battle Lake Regillus xvii, Tall Caeso was the bravest man Of the brave Fabian race.
2. a. Pertaining to, or after the manner of, Q. Fabius Maximus, surnamed Cunctator (‘Delayer’) from the tactics which he employed against Hannibal in the Second Punic War, and which consisted in avoiding a battle, and weakening the enemy by cutting off supplies and by continual skirmishing.
1777Publ. Colonial Soc. Mass. (1906) VIII. 277, I know the comments that some people will make on our Fabian conduct. 1808J. Barlow Columb. v. 826 In vain sage Washington..Plays round his foes with more than Fabian skill. 1843Tait's Mag. Oct. 615/2 The Fabian policy to which Sir Robert Peel has tied himself up. 1849Ld. Houghton in Life (1891) I. x. 433 The Fabian Duke succeeded in checking his zeal. 1965New Statesman 9 Apr. 579/1 His [sc. Lincoln's] fabian tactics.
b. Fabian Society: a society founded in 1884, consisting of Socialists who advocate a ‘Fabian’ policy as opposed to immediate attempts at revolutionary action. Hence Fabian principles, etc.
1884E. Nesbit Let. Mar. (1933) v. 63 The Fabian Society takes up a good deal of my thoughts just now. 1908G. B. Shaw Fabian Essays in Socialism p. iii, Since 1889 The Socialist movement has been completely transformed ..and the result..may fairly be described as Fabian Socialism. 1915A. Huxley Let. Oct. (1969) 79 A sort of magnified Fabian society state, organised even further than at present. 1959B. & R. North tr. Duverger's Pol. Parties (ed. 2) p. xxxi, The activity of the Fabian Society in the creation of the Labour party illustrates the influence of philosophical societies.
B. n.
†1. flaunting Fabian: see quot. 1598.[Perh. originally a transl. of L. licens Fabius, used by Propertius with reference to the Fabian priests of Pan, and the licence permitted them at the Lupercalia.] 1598Florio, Brauazzo, a swashbuckler, a swaggrer, a cutter, a quareller, a roister, a flaunting fabian. Ibid., Sfoggiatore, a riotous, lauish, flauting fabian, a carelesse fellow, an vnthrift. 1599Nashe Lenten Stuffe 46 Of all fishes the flanting Fabian or Palmerin of England..is Cadwallader Herring.
2. A member of the ‘Fabian Society’, or one who sympathizes with its opinions.
1884E. Nesbit Let. ?Feb. (1933) v. 63, I do think the Fabians are quite the nicest set of people I ever knew. 1891Athenæum 21 Feb. 242/3 The first essay..on ‘The Impracticability of Socialism,’ will hardly win souls away from the Fabians. |