| 释义 |
Polynesian, a. and n.|pɒlɪˈniːʃ(ɪ)ən, -sɪən, -ʒ(ɪ)ən, -zɪən|
[f. Polynesia + -an; cf. F. polynésien.]
a. adj. Belonging to Polynesia.
1812W. Marsden Gram. Malayan Lang. p. xxii, The Polynesian or general East-insular language..does not include those spoken by the description of people termed Papūa and Samang. 1820J. Crawfurd Hist. Indian Archipelago II. v. v. 93 The Sanskrit language exists indeed embodied in writing, while the Polynesian language can be traced only as it is scattered over a thousand living dialects. 1828Webster, Polynesian, pertaining to Polynesia. 1863J. C. Patteson Let. 8 Aug. in C. M. Yonge Life J. C. Patteson (1874) II. ix. 69 One might almost get together all the disjecta membra, and reconstruct the original Polynesian tongue. 1874Trollope Harry Heathcote iv. 89 A gang of Polynesian labourers..from the South Sea Islands. 1876Bancroft Hist. U.S. II. xxxviii. 458 The possibility of an early communication between South America and the Polynesian world. 1899Ella in Jrnl. Anthrop. Inst. XXIX. 158 Tongues of mixed Polynesian and Melanesian origin. 1901Chambers's Jrnl. May 343/1 With me was a young Polynesian half⁓caste named Alan, about twenty-two years of age. 1931R. Campbell Georgiad iii. 52 The huge jaws of Polynesian clams. 1960T. & L. Davis Makutu i. i. 13 It had to be a Polynesian island. 1978B. Priestley Island Emperor iii. 26 ‘My great-grandfather used to eat men...’ He seemed rather ashamed..talking about the darker side of the Polynesian past.
b. n. A native or inhabitant of Polynesia, a South Sea islander. Also, the language of Polynesia.
1812W. Marsden Gram. Malayan Lang. p. xviii, This language..may be conveniently termed the Polynesian, and distinguished..into the Hither (frequently termed the East insular language) and the Further Polynesian. 1820J. Crawfurd Hist. Indian Archipelago II. v. v. 84 All agree in borrowing from the same source—from the great Polynesian. 1842M. Russell Polynesia i. 33 The Indo-Americans and Polynesians are one people. 1874Trollope Harry Heathcote iv. 91 Picky was one of the Polynesians, who at once started on his errand. 1901Chambers's Jrnl. Dec. 799/2 His eyesight, like that of all Polynesians, was better than that of any white man. 1923A. L. Kroeber Anthropol. v. 121 Articles..recur in Semitic, in Polynesian, and in several groups of American languages. 1960T. & L. Davis Makutu i. iii. 43 Family relationships are important among the Polynesians and families are large. 1962[see Moriori]. 1976‘M. Delving’ China Expert i. 16 He had several times been mistaken for a Japanese or a Polynesian. |