| 释义 |
▪ I. peri|ˈpɪərɪ|
[mod. ad. (cf. Fr. péri) Pers. părī or pĕrī, in Pehlevi parīk evil genius, malevolent elf or sprite, Avestan (Zend) pairikā one of several beautiful but malevolent female demons employed by Ahriman to bring comets and eclipses, prevent rain, cause failure of crops and dearth, etc.; in mod. Persian, poetically represented as a beautiful or graceful being (cf. fairy in Eng.); hence such combinations as parī-rū ‘fairy-faced’, parī-paykar ‘fairy-formed’, etc. (But the word has no etymological connexion with fairy.)]
In Persian Mythology, one of a race of superhuman beings, originally represented as of evil or malevolent character, but subsequently as good genii, fairies, or angels, endowed with grace and beauty. Hence transf. ‘a fair one’.
1777–80Richardson Persian Dict. Diss. p. xxxv, Those beings, who inhabited the globe immediately before the creation of man, they call Peris and Dives... The Peris are described as beautiful and benevolent; and though guilty of errors which had offended Omnipotence, they are supposed, in consequence of their penitence, still to enjoy distinguished marks of divine favour. Ibid. xxxvi, The Peris and Dives are supposed to be formed of the element of fire... Perfume is the only food of the Peris. 1786tr. Beckford's Vathek (1868) 64 Are the Peries come down from their spheres? 1813Byron Br. Abydos i. v, My Peri! Ever welcome here! 1817Moore Lalla R., Paradise & Peri, One morn a Peri at the gate Of Eden stood disconsolate. 1889C. C. R. Up for Season 240 Peers, peasants, peris of opera and play, Lords, ladies, and louts.
▪ II. peri
obs. form of perai, South American fish. |