| 释义 |
invitation|ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən|
[ad. L. invītātiōn-em, n. of action from invītāre to invite. Cf. F. invitation (1593 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. a. The action of inviting or requesting to come, attend, or take part in something.
1611Cotgr., Invitation, an inuitation, or inuiting. 1615J. Stephens Satyr. Ess. 353 The invitation of guests, provision of meate,..and his nuptiall garments. 1657R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 10 We saw him..at his own house, by his own invitation. 1711Swift Jrnl. to Stella in Lett. (1767) III. 171 Dr. Gastrel and I dined, by invitation, with the dean of Carlisle. 1859Thackeray Virgin. vii, Those officers who came..on her son's invitation.
b. The spoken or written form in which a person is invited.
1615J. Stephens Satyr. Ess. 368 She makes every new inhabitant pay the tribute of an invitation, before she speakes well of him. 1648Cromwell Let. 9 Oct. in Carlyle, I received an invitation from the Committee of Estates to come to Edinburgh. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. II. 19 The invitations of a master are scarcely to be distinguished from commands. 1864J. Walker Faithf. Ministry 200 The feast is waiting: the invitations are out.
c. In the Anglican Communion Office, the exhortation immediately preceding the Confession, beginning ‘Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins’.
1883F. E. Warren in Prayer-bk. Comm. (S.P.C.K.) 106 The Invitation, Confession, Absolution, and Comfortable Words are a..distinguishing feature of the present Anglican Liturgy.
†d. An entertainment to which one is invited. Obs. rare.
1682T. Flatman Heraclitus Ridens (1713) II. No. 57. 108 Two chief Magistrates..being merry at an Invitation, fell to Dancing.
2. fig.
a. The presenting of attractions or inducements to come or advance; an instance of this; attraction; inducement.
1598Shakes. Merry W. i. iii. 50, I spie entertainment in her: shee discourses: shee carues: she giues the leere of inuitation. 1654Whitlock Zootomia 561 This terrible of all terribles [death], as Aristotle calleth it, hath more of Invitation in it [than affrightment]. 1673Temple Obs. Unit. Prov. Wks. 1731 I. 62 The two first Invitations of People into this Country, were the Strength of their Towns, and Nature of their Government.
b. Bridge. (See quot. 1964.)
1928A. E. M. Foster Auction Bridge for All i. i. 22 There still lurks amongst a number of players the notion that a bid of a minor suit by their partner is what they call ‘an invitation to a No Trumper’. Again and again I have heard said: ‘I responded to your invitation, partner.’ 1958Listener 23 Oct. 669/3 With his excellent controls it is easy for West to accept the slam invitation. 1964Official Encycl. Bridge 265/1 Invitation, a bid which encourages the bidder's partner to continue to game or slam, but gives him the option of passing if he has no reserve values in terms of high-card strength or distribution.
3. attrib., as invitation-card, invitation list, etc.; invitation-dinner, -performance, one attended only by those who receive invitations.
1808Wolcott (P. Pindar) Ep. Mrs. Clarke Wks. 1812 V. 398 For invitation-dinners soon grow slack. 1819Metropolis I. 265 An invitation-card for a dinner party. c1855in M. Johnson Amer. Advertising, 1800–1900 (1960), Invitation notices, and every arrangment for funerals personally attended to with correctness and dispatch. 1899Daily News 25 May 9/1 The invitation performance was an immense success. 1902A. Bennett Grand Babylon Hotel vi. 71 The invitation-list..contained no reference to any such person. 1931A. E. M. Foster Auction Bridge made Clear 124 An original bid of Two of a suit is by them reserved as a ‘Demand’ or ‘Invitation’ bid. That is, a demand or invitation to partner to show his quick tricks. Ibid. 125 Z has..a hand of over seven tricks but under eleven—the ‘Invitation Area’... Z bid ‘Two Hearts’ as an ‘Invitation’. 1968Radio Times 28 Nov. 27/1 Invitation concert... Recorded before an invited audience. |