| 释义 |
ˈprayer-bead
[f. prayer1 + bead n.]
1. One of the beads of a rosary. Also gen., one of a string of beads used in prayer.
1630tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. iii. 110 Her prayer beades hanging at her girdle. 1852Rock Ch. of Fathers III. x. 403 Jewel-studded chains, [and] prayer-beads of precious stones. 1975R. P. Jhabvala Heat & Dust 61 The white sadhu..had all his possessions with him—a bundle, an umbrella, prayer-beads, and a begging bowl. 1976‘M. Delving’ China Expert iv. 47 He wore a string of Tibetan prayer beads around his neck. 1979E. Bercovici Wolf Trap 145 Cotton pointed to the beads. ‘What are those?’ he asked pleasantly. ‘Prayer beads,’ the man answered, holding the strand out, trying to smile. ‘Arab beads.’
2. A seed of the plant Abrus precatorius: see quot. 1861, and jequirity.
1861Bentley Man. Bot. 528 Abrus precatorius.—The seeds are used as beads, for making rosaries, necklaces, &c., hence their common name of prayer-beads. 1866in Treas. Bot. 1887C. A. Moloney Forestry W. Afr. 316 Crabs' Eyes, Jequerity, Prayer Beads, Jumble Beads. |