| 释义 |
golden age
[tr. L. aurea ætas; see golden a. 7 and age n. 11.]
The first and best age of the world, in which, according to the Greek and Roman poets, mankind lived in a state of ideal prosperity and happiness, free from all trouble or crime. (Cf. Hesiod Wks. & Days 108, Ovid Met. 1. 89.) Hence, the period in which a nation, etc., is at its highest state of prosperity, or in which some department of human activity is at its acme of excellence.
Often applied to the finest period of Lat. literature (Cicero to Ovid), in contrast to the ‘silver age’ which succeeded.
1555Eden Decades iii. viii. 134 As wee reade of them whiche in oulde tyme lyued in the golden age. 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 168, I would with such perfection gouerne Sir: T' Excell the Golden Age. 1685Dryden Albion & Albanus Pref., Those first times, which Poets call the Golden Age. 1700― Fables Pref., With Ovid ended the golden age of the Roman tongue. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. v. §25 In the golden age (as the Italians call it) of Leo the Tenth. 1869Lecky Europ. Mor. II. i. 44 The golden age of Roman law was..Pagan. 1875Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xv. 299 The thirteenth century is the golden age of English churchmanship.
Hence euphemistically golden-ˈager U.S., an old person.
1961Front Page Detective 25 June 68 A discriminating clientele of golden-agers. 1963in Post & Times-Star (Cincinnati) 9 Oct. 23. 1970 New Yorker 15 Aug. 57/1 There are no euphemisms in Dutch for being old—no ‘senior citizen’, no ‘golden-ager’. 1970H. Waugh Finish me Off (1971) 135 Frank bought himself a drink in the bar..while watching the golden agers gossip in the lounge area.
▸ euphem. (orig. N. Amer.). Old age. Freq. attrib. or with the.
1946Walla Walla (Washington) Union-Bull. 25 Apr. 8/1 A gathering of the Golden Age club, an organization of persons 65 years old or more. 1978Gettysburg (Pa.) Times 12 Sept. 6/6 A young person is going to reach the golden age too, if he or she lives long enough. 1996Record (Bergen County, New Jersey) (Nexis) 24 Apr. f15 [They] picked up awards as outstanding supporting actor, and proved that life's most memorable work can be done in one's golden age. 2005N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 2 Sept. The party's proposed golden age card will..offer a subsidy for health care for over-65s, fare discounts and lower line costs for phone, power and gas. |