释义 |
promptuary, n. (a.) Now rare.|ˈprɒm(p)tjuːərɪ| [As n. ad. late L. promptuāri-um a store-room, repository; cf. F. promptuaire a manual; as adj. ad. L. promptuāri-us ready for distribution, f. promptus n. (see prompt n.).] A. n. 1. A place where supplies, etc., are kept in readiness for use; a storehouse, a repository; the source whence anything is derived.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 399 Ȝiffenge that londe as a promptuary of alle hollesomme thynges. 1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 7, I doubt not to call hir sacred breast the promptuarie, the receptacle, or storehouse of all true virtue and godlines. 1695Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth i. (1723) 52 The Matter is self restored to its original Fund and Promptuary, the Earth. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1862) I. xvii. 96 The earth, the common promptuary that supplies subsistence to men, animals, and vegetables. 1977‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon xi. 222 He looked..like a gorilla at large in an unguarded banana promptuary. 2. Applied to a handbook or note-book containing a summary or digest of information, etc.
1577Fulke Answ. True Christian 108 There be also..Promptuaries of lyes, Festiuals of lyes, and other infinite bookes of lyes. 1672Baxter Life Alleine i. (1838) 19 Such a promptuary for any one that hath not leisure to peruse..the philosophers themselves. 1706tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. 16th C. II. v. 157 A Moral Promptuary upon the Gospels. 1855(title) Promptuary of matter for preaching..suitable for retreats, for sermons on Sundays, and other occasions. †B. adj. in promptuary art, the art of collecting information for future use. Obs.
1640G. Watts tr. Bacon's Adv. Learn. v. iii. 238 To procure this ready Provision for discourse,..Arguments may be before hand framed, and stored up, about such things as are frequently incident, and come into disceptation; and this we call promptuarie Art, or Preparation. |