| 释义 |
fortnight|ˈfɔːtnaɪt|
Forms: 3 furten-, 3–5 fourte-, (5 fourtee-, fowerte-), 4–5 fourten-, fowrt(e-, 5–7 fo(u)rth-, 6 fourt-, (fortk-), 6– fort-: see night.
[Contracted form of OE. féowertýne niht fourteen nights. Cf. sennight. For the ancient Germanic method of reckoning by nights see Tacitus Germania xi.]
1. A period of fourteen nights; two weeks.
a1000Laws of Ina §55 Oþ ðæt feowertyne niht ofer Eastron. c1275Lay. 25675 Nou his folle fourteniht [c 1205 feowertene niht] þat he hire haueþ i-holde forþ riht. 13..Guy Warw. (A.) 4236 Al a fourten niȝt sike he lay. c1440Generydes 5342 It passith not a fourthnyght sithe it was. 1530Palsgr. Introd. 20 It is but a senyghtes labour, or, at the moste, a fourtnyghtes. 1639Hamilton Papers (Camden) 81, I shall make ane end of uhuat I can do in on fortnighte. c1720Prior Case Stated 8 It wanted a fortnight to Bartlemew-fair. 1879Froude Cæsar viii. 69 During the brief fortnight of his seventh consulship.
b. this day, Monday, † Monday was (a), etc. fortnight: a fortnight from (this day, etc.).
1389in Eng. Gilds (1870) 71 Y⊇ tridde shal been y⊇ sunday fowrtenytz aftere hestern. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. ii, I..haue remembraunce of your promyse that ye haue made with me to doo bataille with me this day fourtenyght. 1605Nottingham Rec. IV. 278 To be payd..10 li. this day fort⁓night. 1712Steele Spect. No. 533 ⁋2 On Monday was fortnight it was my misfortune to come to London.
†2. attrib.; occas. quasi-adj. = fortnightly.
1549Latimer 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 120 There was thre wekes sessions at newgate, and fourthnyghte Sessions at the Marshialshy. 1563Child Marriages (E.E.T.S.) 59 At the fortnight end, he maried her not, but [etc.]. |