| 释义 |
Mephistopheles|mɛfɪˈstɒfɪliːz|
Also 6–7 Mephas-, Mephis-, Mephostophilis, Mephas-, Mephes-, Mephostophilus, 7 Mephistophilus, Mephostophiles; 9 in shortened form Mephisto.
[Appears first in the Ger. Faustbuch 1587 as Mephostophiles; of unknown origin. The now current form Mephistopheles, and the abbreviation Mephisto, come from Goethe's Faust.]
The name of the evil spirit to whom Faust (in the German legend) was represented to have sold his soul. Hence applied allusively to persons (in the 17th c. with reference to the character presented in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, in recent use to that presented by Goethe).
[c1590Marlowe Faustus (1604) B 1 b, How pliant is this Mephastophilis? Ibid., Enter Mephostophilis. Ibid. B 4 Mephastophilus.] 1598Shakes. Merry W. i. i. 132 Pist. How now, Mephostophilus. 1598–9B. Jonson Case is Alter'd ii. iv, Thou art not lunatike, art thou? and thou bee'st auoide Mephostophiles. 1620Melton Astrol. 8 There came running down the stayres..(the little Mephistophiles) his Boy demanding with whom I would speake. 1624Fletcher Wife for a Month v. ii, A Mephestophilus, such as thou art. 1629Massinger Picture v. iii, You know How to resolue your selfe what my intents are, By the help of Mephostophiles [i.e. Baptista]. 1818Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 201 That Mephistopheles of diplomacy, Talleyrand. 1903Westm. Gaz. 22 Aug. 2/1 It changes them mostly into Machiavels and Mephistopheleses.
Hence Mephistopheˈlean, Mephistoˈphelian, Mephistoˈphelic, Mephistopheˈlistic (rare), adjs., pertaining to or resembling Mephistopheles or his actions.
1837Fraser's Mag. XVI. 92 We have heard some ascribe a Mephistophelistic spirit to Mr. Carlyle. 1851H. Melville Whale xxxi. 154 He carries an everlasting Mephistophelean grin on his face. 1853Geo. Eliot in Cross Life (1885) I. 307, I am very hard and Mephistophelian just now. 1873Leland Egypt. Sketch-bk. 102 The Mephistophelic who quiz all that they cannot compass. 1887F. Francis Jun. Saddle & Mocassin 209 These Apaches..were handsome, too, in a Mephistophelean style. 1888J. Martineau Study Relig. I. i. iv. 135 The very same Mephistophilean [sic] agility. |