| 释义 |
kindergarten|ˈkɪndəˌgɑːt(ə)n|
[a. Ger. Kindergarten, lit. ‘children's garden’.]
1. A school for the instruction of young children according to a method devised by Friedrich Froebel (1782–1852), for developing the intelligence of children by interesting object-lessons, exercises with toys, games, singing, etc. Also attrib. and fig.
The word was coined by Froebel in German in 1840: ‘Entwurf..eines Kinder-Gartens’ 1 May 1840 in Kindergarten-Briefe (1887) 132.
(‘Johannes Ronge..took refuge in England in 1850, and, with the assistance of his wife, established at his house a kinder-garten.’ Allibone Dict. Authors.)
1852Motley Corr. (1889) I. v. 145 Mary has not yet found a school. We have sent her to a kindergarten. 1854Rep. to Governor of Connecticut in Encycl. Brit. XIV. 80 The first kindergarten was opened at Blankenburg, near Rudolstadt, in 1840. 1855Ronge (title) Practical Guide to the English Kinder Garten. 1869Macm. Mag. July 221/1 Singing a few Kinder Garten songs with movements in unison. 1874H. Hoffmann Kindergarten Toys 31 Having become well acquainted with the first Six Gifts of the Kindergarten, children will be fitted to proceed to the more advanced Kindergarten Amusements. 1878N. Amer. Rev. CXXVI. 370 Such as would be of use in a Kindergarten. 1890W. James Princ. Psychol. I. xi. 443 In kindergarten instruction one of the exercises is to make the children see how many features they can point out in such an object as a flower or a stuffed bird. 1926T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars xxxiv. 195 We kindergarten soldiers were beginning our art of war in the atmosphere of the twentieth century. Ibid. lxxxiii. 442 They refused to learn from me..and I could not be bothered to set up a kindergarten of the imagination for their benefit. 1942Tee Emm (Air Ministry) II. 148 We can still do with a few more chaps..but be fit, because this ain't no kindergarten. 1945E. Waugh Brideshead Revisited ii. i. 207 The painted panels of the walls were like kindergarten work in flat, drab colours. 1961Facts about Korea (Pyongyang, N. Korea) 156 For the working women and their children, a great number of creches and kindergartens are established in factories. 1968Harrods Christmas Catal. 22/1 A kindergarten toy which is lots of fun.
2. transf. The nickname given to a group of young men with imperialist ideals who were recruited by Alfred, Lord Milner (1854–1925), High Commissioner of South Africa, to aid with reconstruction work after the South African war of 1899–1902. Freq. Milner's kindergarten.
1902Cape Times 12 Sept. 6/10 Lord Milner described the nature of the government that was to be set up, which was a Council. He (Mr. Merriman) wondered what sort of rag-tag and bob-tail they would have got to sit on that Council... What did he expect to set up? A sort of kindergarten of young Balliol men—laughter—to govern this great country. 1913W. B. Worsfold Reconstruction New Colonies I. x. 259 Mr Curtis was one of the most flagrant examples of Lord Milner's ‘kindergarten’. 1958Spectator 22 Aug. 244/3 The ideas of Milner and his dedicated ‘kindergarten’ about the treatment of the African. 1958Listener 6 Nov. 739/3 Those were the days when the group of Englishmen who helped to bring order out of chaos and to prepare the way for the future came to be nicknamed Lord Milner's ‘kindergarten’. 1971Oxf. Hist. S. Afr. II. vii. 331 Locally he appointed young Oxford graduates—‘Milner's kindergarten’—to the administrative positions. Ibid. 346 To Selborne and the members of the Kindergarten..unification was desirable.
Hence ˈkinderˈgarten, -ˈgartenize vbs., to employ the kindergarten method; ˈkinderˌgartener (-gärtner), a kindergarten teacher; also, a pupil at a kindergarten; ˈkinderˌgartenism, the kindergarten system.
1872Daily News 1 Aug., You have been reading that article on Kinder Gartenism. [1881Fitch Lect. Teaching 198 Your thorough going Kindergärtner.] 1889Jrnl. Educ. 1 Aug. 410/2 A band of kindergarteners who teach them the rudiments of education. 1893J. Strong New Era xv. 340 There is..no sectarian way of kindergartening. 1919G. A. Miller Prowling about Panama ix. 129 (caption) Happy kindergartners, Panama. 1937D. Aldis Time at her Heels v. 103 The procession would end with the kindergarteners, looking very bustling and important as they hurried towards the little red chairs reserved for them. 1967Boston Sunday Herald 26 Mar. i. 35/7 There will be no school sessions for currently enrolled kindergarteners on that day. 1973Jrnl. Genetic Psychol. CXXII. 255 Eighty children, 40 kindergarteners and 40 third-graders.
▸ Chiefly N. Amer. and Austral. A grade or year preceding first grade in a primary school, typically meeting for shorter hours than the higher grades and intended to prepare children for full-time schooling.
1899Nebraska State Jrnl. 5 Sept 5/5 Clinton School..has the following grades: Kindergarten, first, second, third,..seventh and eighth grades. 1951W. S. Elsbree & H. J. McNally Elementary School Admin. & Supervision xviii. 447 Kindergarten and first-grade teachers have such obvious needs for storage of blocks, easels, paints, and other materials commonly used in the primary grades. 2005Mercury (Hobart) (Nexis) 19 Aug. Work done in grade 10 bears no relationship to work done in kindergarten. |