| 释义 |
Newtonian, a. and n.|njuːˈtəʊnɪən|
[f. the name of Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) + -ian.]
A. adj.
1. Devised, discovered, or suggested, by Newton; pertaining to, or arising from, the theory of the universe propounded by Newton.
1713Derham Phys.-Theol. ii. v. (1754) 52 The Pressure of the Atmosphere, and the Newtonian Attraction. 1778W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric., Observ. 146 The Philosophy of the Weather may happily be rendered as obvious as the Newtonian Principles. 1830Lyell Princ. Geol. i. iii. I. 40 For which reason they objected to the Newtonian theory of gravitation. a1866J. Grote Exam. Utilit. Phil. xxi. (1870) 343 The grand simplicity of the Newtonian discoveries.
2. Resembling, characteristic of, accepting the views of, Newton.
1742Young Nt. Th. (1751) 338 Ye searching, ye Newtonian angels! tell, Where your great Master's orb? 1762–9Falconer Shipwr. i. 827 Borne on Newtonian wing, through air she flies. 1823Gentl. Mag. XCIII. i. 628 From these data the Newtonian philosophers have drawn conclusions [etc.]. 1871Morley Condorcet in Crit. Misc. Ser. i. (1878) 87 Men of Newtonian capacity.
3. Of telescopes, their parts, etc.: Of the kind devised by Newton.
1761Dunn in Phil. Trans. LII. 184 A Newtonian reflecting telescope, six feet in length. 1794G. Adams Nat. & Exp. Philos. II. xxii. 471 A reflecting telescope was produced to the world of the Newtonian construction. 1831Brewster Optics xlii. 353 The Newtonian telescope, which may be regarded as an improvement upon the Gregorian one. 1872Proctor Ess. Astron. i. 4 An excellent Newtonian reflector.
B. n.
1. A follower of Newton; one who accepts the Newtonian system.
1741tr. D'Argens' Chinese Lett. xvii. 117 The Newtonian having said, That Descartes was an Ignoramus, the Disciple of that Philosopher reply'd in a Passion, You lie. 1813Shelley Q. Mab Notes, Poet. Wks. (1891) 52/2 The consistent Newtonian is necessarily an atheist. 1833Tracts for Times No. 11. 5 The knowledge of which does not bind us to be Newtonians, or Aristotelians.
2. A Newtonian telescope or reflector.
1877G. F. Chambers Astron. (ed. 3) 661 Awkwardness of reflectors (that is to say Newtonians, which virtually are the only ones in use).
Hence Newˈtonianism, the Newtonian system.
1890Athenæum 19 July 92/2 [Mercier] declared Newtonianism to be the ‘most absurd scientific extravagance that has ever issued from the human imagination’. |