| 释义 |
▪ I. ley|liː, leɪ|
[Var. lea n.1]
The supposed line of a prehistoric track in a straight line usually from hilltop to hilltop with identifying points such as ponds, mounds, etc., marking its route (see also quot. 1932).
1922A. Watkins Early Brit. Trackways 12 The sighting line was called the ley or lay. Ibid. 13 Previous writers, treating, say, of Roman or of mediæval roads, not knowing of the existence of the ley, assume that they are speaking of original primary structures, when they are only describing a route evolved from a number of the leys I describe. 1925― Old Straight Track 220 When you get a good ley on the map, go over it in the field, and fragments and traces of the trackways may be found, always in straight lines. 1932D. Maxwell Detective in Surrey v. 86 A ley..is an invisible and imaginary line, drawn from one point in the landscape to another, mathematically straight... The key positions..are points where two or more leys cross... The crossing places..would be places of meeting. 1971It 2–16 June 24/4 The leys..interlaced over the whole country. 1974Bookseller 26 Jan. 192 (Advt.), Alfred Watkins' theory about leys which connect ancient sites.
Add: Also ley line; hence ley-liner, a believer in ley lines. (Further examples.)
1972N. Saunders Alternative London (ed. 3) xv. 140 The magazine about ley lines, plus lots of information about megalithic sites etc. in Britain. 1981A. Burl Rites of Gods 3 Before concluding that this was a Golden Age in these islands, as ley-liners would have us believe. Ibid. 8 The illusory ley-lines that entice their believers farther and farther from the realities of prehistoric existence. 1991Here's Health Jan. 65/3 (Advt.), Lighthouse on Ley Lines offers unique setting for Relaxation, Floating & B&B.
▪ II. ley
obs. form of lay, lee n., lye; var. lea2. |