| 释义 |
ˈolive-ˈbranch
1. a. lit. A branch of an olive-tree.
a1300Cursor M. 1904 An oliue branche in moth sco broght. 1535Coverdale Ps. cxxvii[i]. 3 Thy children like the olyue braunches rounde aboute thy table. [So in ‘Great Bible’ 1539, and Bk. of Com. Prayer.] 1611Bible Neh. viii. 15 Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive-branches. 1838Thirlwall Greece II. 294 They returned and spread their olive branches before the shrine.
b. As an emblem of peace; hence fig. anything offered in token of peace or goodwill. Also variously, in allusion to Gen. viii. 11.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 11446 Twelue messegers til hym were sent..Wyþ olyue braunches in handes born. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. vi. 34 To whom the Heau'ns in thy Natiuitie, Adiudg'd an Oliue Branch, and Lawrell Crowne. 1622Bacon Hen. VII 85 Yet did he make that Warre rather with an Olive-branch, then a Laurel-branch in his Hand more desiring Peace then Victorie. 1796Burke Regic. Peace iii. Wks. VIII. 307 Our dove-like ambassador with the olive-branch in his beak. 1837Marryat Perc. Keene iii, My mother..had first tendered the olive branch, which had been accepted. 1856R. Glisan Jrnl. Army Life (1874) xxiv. 324 The troops..moved up Rogue River..with the olive branch in one hand, and the sword in the other. 1936Wodehouse Laughing Gas v. 60 He read his National Geographic Magazine. I read mine. And for some minutes matters proceeded along these lines. Then I thought to myself: ‘Oh, well, dash it,’ and decided to extend the olive branch. 1975B. Garfield Hopscotch xxvii. 283 Abandoning the manuscript..could be an olive branch: Kendig's..assurance he was quitting.
2. usually pl. (in allusion to Ps. cxxviii. 3 (4): see sense 1, quot. 1535). Children. (Now humorous.)
1677Baker in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) II. 27 Having a just equal number of chargeable olive-branches. 1733C'tess Granville Let. to Swift in Mrs. Delany's Lett. I. 422 My son, my daughter, and all our olive-branches salute you most tenderly. 1796Jane Austen Pride & Prej. (1870) II. xxiv. 310 The rest of his letter is only about..his expectation of a young olive-branch. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. xiv, The wife and olive branches of one Mr. Kenwigs. |