| 释义 |
masterpiece|ˈmɑːstəpiːs|
[f. master n.1 + piece n.
Prob. after Du. meesterstuk or G. meisterstück, which occurs much earlier, and primarily denoted the piece of work by which a craftsman gained from his guild the recognized rank of ‘master’. Cf. the following examples (in the former of which the Du. word appears in an adapted form):—
1579Aberdeen Reg. (Spalding Cl.) II. 34 Quhill the person creven to be admittit free of his craft first compone with the said deinis of gild..the maisterstik of the person to be admittit being exhibit. 1658A. Fox tr. Wurtz' Surg. i. ix. 37 Taylors..suffer none to set up his Trade, unless he have made first his Master-piece (orig. sein Meisterstück).]
1. a. A production of art or skill surpassing in excellence all others by the same hand; also, in wider sense, a production of masterly skill; a consummate example of some department of art or skill, or of some particular kind of excellence.
In early use, often applied to man as the ‘masterpiece’ of God or Nature.
1610Markham (title) Markhams Master-peece. Or, What doth a Horse-man lacke. 1615Crooke Body of Man 60 Beeing now to dissolue this goodly frame of Nature, and to take in pieces this Maisterpiece. 1617Janua Ling. To Prince, This maisterpeece of curious schollership. 1635Quarles Embl. ii. vi. (1718) 87 Man is heav'n's Master-piece. 1711Addison Spect. No. 253 ⁋5 A very fine Poem, I mean The Art of Criticism, which..is a Master-piece in its kind. 1749Fielding Tom Jones xvi. viii, This is indeed a master⁓piece of assurance. 1756–7Keysler's Trav. (1760) III. 268 A crucifixion, by Guido Rheni, which is extremely admired as a real master-piece. 1790F. Burney Diary Oct., One letter I have from him [Dr. Johnson] that is a master⁓piece of elegance and kindness united. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 5 The master-pieces of Sophocles, of Demosthenes, and of Plato. Ibid. ii. 259 Speeches which..were remembered as master-pieces of reasoning, of wit, and of eloquence. 1871L. Stephen Playgr. Eur. ix. (1894) 203 Some masterpiece in painting. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xvii. 54 It was the master-piece of William's policy of outward legality. 1940Burlington Mag. Sept. 93/2 Who could have ordered a cabinet made in this, apparently, needlessly expensive way? I think the only solution is that it must have been made as a ‘master-piece’, a test of workmanship to gain admission to a trade guild. 1951Oxf. Jun. Encycl. VII. 143/2 The apprentice..was also at times required to provide a sample of his work, or ‘masterpiece’. 1965Listener 11 Nov. 761/1 The Mud Bath was another young man's ‘masterpiece’ (I am using the word ‘masterpiece’ in its original sense—as a test of a young painter's professional skill).
†b. A person's greatest achievement; an action of masterly ability. Obs.
1605B. Jonson Volpone v. i, Here, we must rest; this is our maister-peice; We cannot thinke to goe beyond this. 1605Shakes. Macb. ii. iii. 71 Confusion now has made his Master-peece. 1634W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. 209 It is expedient to shew a Master-peece of state, to give reputation to the present current of affaires. 1702Eng. Theophrast. 113 'Tis a court master-piece to draw chestnuts out of the fire with other People's fingers. a1715Burnet Own Time (1724) I. 254 It was certainly the master-piece of King Charles's life: And, if he had stuck to it, it would have been both the strength and the glory of his reign.
c. colloq. A person, thing, or action to be admired for being remarkable, singular, etc.
1906Kipling Puck of Pook's Hill 249 Ah, he was a masterpiece!..he never winked an eyelid. 1933W. S. Maugham Sheppey i. 20 It was a masterpiece the way I kidded him. 1963N. Marsh Dead Water (1964) vii. 178 She spotted it [sc. sex] everywhere... She was a masterpiece. Ibid. viii. 223 He'm a masterpiece for holding his liquor.
†2. The most important feature, or the chief excellence, of a person or thing. Obs.
1612Davies Why Ireland, etc. 282 This is the Maister⁓piece, and most excellent part, of the worke of Reformation. 1641R. Brooke Eng. Episc. 72 Wee come to Ordination;..This is the main and Master-piece of all Episcopacy. 1644Milton Educ. Wks. 1738 I. 140 What Decorum is, which is the grand master-piece to observe. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. iii. §81 His learning in the law being his master⁓piece. Ibid. viii. §9 Beating up of quarters was his master⁓piece. 1697G. Dallas Syst. Styles iii. Ep. Ded., Experience, (the great Master-peice of Humane Things).
3. The original or main piece. rare—1.
1825E. Hewlett Cottage Comforts i. 4 Their clothes were so patched, that it was hard to tell which was the master-piece. |