| 释义 |
ˈmagic ˈlantern
[transl. of mod.L. lāterna magica: cf. F. lanterne magique (also, † lanterne vive), G. zauberlaterne.
De Chales Curs. Math. 1674 II. 655, 665, says that in 1665 ‘a learned Dane’ exhibited at Lyons a contrivance ‘sub nomine Laternæ magicæ’, which his description shows to be identical with the instrument now so called. The common statement that the magic lantern is described by Kircher Ars Magna Lucis et Umbræ (1646) appears to be incorrect.]
An optical instrument by means of which a magnified image of a picture on glass is thrown upon a white screen or wall in a darkened room. Also fig.
1696Phillips s.v. Lanthorn, A Magic Lanthorn, a certain small Optical Macheen, that shews by a gloomy Light upon a white Wall, Spectres and Monsters so hideous, that he who knows not the Secret, believes it to be perform'd by Magick Art. 1753Smollett Ct. Fathom (1784) 172/2 The travelling Savoyards who stroll about Europe, amusing ignorant people with the effects of a magick-lanthorn. 1775Morning Chron. 29 May 1 (Advt.), At Marylebone Gardens, To-morrow..will be presented The Modern Magic Lantern..being an attempt at a Sketch of the Times in a variety of Caricaturas. 1840C. Fox Jrnl. 21 July (1972) 100 We are all shadows in the magic lanthorn of Time. 1894Engineer 23 Nov., The first to make magic lanterns in this country was Philip Carpenter, about 1808. 1933S. Spender Poems 28 Where magic-lantern faces skew for greeting.
attrib.1784J. Barry in Lect. Paint. v. (1848) 183 That appearance of magic-lanthorn-like..contrivance which sometimes offends in the works of Rembrandt. 1802M. Edgeworth in A. J. C. Hare Life I. 105 Push on the magic-lanthorn slide. 1817Keats Wks. (1889) III. 4 To him they are mere magic-lantern horrors. 1874W. Cory Lett. & Jrnls. (1897) 368 The jerky magic-lantern-slide manner of introducing scenes.
Hence ˈmagic-ˈlanternist, one who gives an exhibition with a magic lantern; magic-lantern v., to exhibit as in a magic lantern.
1859Athenæum 12 Feb. 219 That devil, whom the monks magic-lanterned till he grew so large as to be [etc.]. 1891S. Mostyn Curatica 165 After the tea they were handed over to a Punch, a Magic Lanternist, and a Conjuror. 1935W. Empson Poems 29 All those large dreams by which men long live well Are magic-lanterned on the smoke of hell. |