| 释义 |
polemic, a. and n.|pəʊˈlɛmɪk|
[ad. Gr. πολεµικός, f. πόλεµος war. So F. polémique (a 1630).]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to controversy; controversial, disputatious.
1641R. Brooke Eng. Episc. i. iii. 10 All truthes, Polemicke, positive,..are of neere consanguinity. 1642Sir E. Dering Sp. on Relig. xvi. 86 Wee may bee alway sure in all Polemicke learning, to have some men of valour. 1654H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 182 The master peece of Polemique Divinity of all extant. 1715M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. 129 On several such like Polemick occasions. 1866Felton Anc. & Mod. Gr. II. ii. vi. 373 To wrangle upon senseless questions of polemic theology. 1872Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 33 They displayed far less polemic bitterness.
B. n.
1. A controversial argument or discussion; argumentation against some opinion, doctrine, etc.; aggressive controversy; in pl. the practice of this, esp. as a method of conducting theological controversy: opposed to irenics.
1638Drummond of Hawthornden Irene Wks. (1711) 172 Unhappy we, amidst our many and diverse contentions, furious polemicks, endless variances,..debates and quarrels! 1706Phillips, Polemicks, Disputations, Treatises, or Discourses about controversial Points. c1800H. K. White Lett. (1837) 201 Religious polemics..have seldom formed a part of my studies. 1847Hamilton Let. to De Morgan 40 My confessed dislike of the polemic. 1879Farrar St. Paul II. 247 In his most impassioned polemic he always unites a perfect conciliatoriness of tone with an absolute rigidity of statement. 1892Montefiore Hibbert Lect. iii. 128 A direct polemic against idols starts from the prophets of the eighth century, and more especially from Hosea.
†b. (See quot.) Obs. rare—0.
1656Blount Glossogr., Polemicks, verses treating of war, or treatises of war, or strifes; disputations.
2. One who writes or argues in opposition to another; a controversialist; esp. in theology.
a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 217 They did..like Polemics of the Post pronounce The same thing to be true and false at once. 1716M. Davies Athen. Brit. III. Diss. Drama 22 He dy'd a real Polemick, if not a Martyr for the Church. 1825Thirlwall Crit. Ess. p. cxxxvii. note, An orthodox polemic in Tertullian's time. 1886Athenæum 21 Aug. 239/1 The divines of James I.'s court were all casuists and polemics. |