| 释义 |
gladiator|ˈglædɪeɪtə(r)|
[a. L. gladiātor, f. gladiaus sword.]
1. Hist. Among the ancient Romans, one who fought with a sword or other weapon at public shows; usually a slave or captive trained for the purpose.
Gladiator is employed by Cicero as a term of abuse; cf. quot. 1541.
1541Paynel Catiline xviii. 31 b, If I had demed it best..to put Catiline to deth, I wolde not haue giuen this gladiatour one houre space to liue. 1598R. Barckley Felic. Man v. 447 This man dreamed..that when the Gladiators or Fencers exercised their arte at Syracusa..he should be slaine by one Retiarius. 1608D. T. Ess. Pol. & Mor. 72 The Gladiator thinkes it a disgrace, to see himselfe compos'd with one..inferiour to himselfe. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. iv. (1676) 172/1 Amphitheatres..wherein they [Romans] had several delightsome shews to exhilarate the people; Gladiators, combats of men with themselves, etc. 1741Middleton Cicero I. vi. 452 The Tribun Cato was perpetually inveighing against keeping Gladiators. 1772Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) I. 219 The barbarous exhibition of gladiators. 1816Keatinge Trav. (1817) I. 12 note, Something is requisite beyond the skill of the mere gladiator, to conduct war itself. 1818Byron Ch. Har. iv. cxl. 1869Lecky Europ. Mor. II. i. 39 The Christians steadily refused to admit any professional gladiator to baptism.
fig.a1668Denham Progr. Learning 193 Then whilst his Foe each Gladiator foyls, The Atheist, looking on, enjoys the spoyls. 1751Earl of Orrery Remarks Swift (1752) 40 Not so Dr. Swift; he appears like a masterly gladiator. He wields the sword of party with ease, justness and dexterity. 1841–4Emerson Ess., Politics Wks. (Bohn) I. 244 The gladiators in the lists of power feel..the presence of worth. 1864Burton Scot Abr. I. v. 265 Intellectual gladiators, each trying his strength against the rest. 1884Chr. World 23 Oct. 805/2 Mr. Chamberlain has..figured..prominently as a Ministerial gladiator.
†2. A professional swordsman or fencer. Obs.
1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. iv. (1676) 174/1 For that cause, Playes..Gladiators, Tumblers, Jugglers, etc., and all that crew is admitted. 1712Steele Spect. No. 449 ⁋7 [cf. No. 436] There is a Mystery among the Gladiators which has escaped your Spectatorial Penetration. 1733Epitaph in St. Michael's churchyard, Coventry, John Parkes..a Gladiator by Profession, who after Having fought 359 battles in the principal parts of Europe..at length quitted the stage [etc.]. 1769Junius Lett. (1772) I. xxiii. 166 His own honour would have forbidden him from mixing his private pleasures or conversation with jockeys, gamesters, blasphemers, gladiators, or buffoons.
3. attrib. and Comb., as gladiator fight; gladiator-like adv.
1818Byron Ch. Har. iv. xciv, The new race of unborn slaves, who..rather than be free, Bleed gladiator-like. 1846H. Torrens Mil. Lit. & Hist. I. 109 Their gladiator fights..offer sufficient proof of the sanguinary nature of the people. |