| 释义 |
protagonist|prəʊˈtægənɪst|
[ad. Gr. πρωταγωνιστ-ης an actor who plays the first part, f. πρῶτος first + ἀγωνιστής one who contends for a prize, a combatant, an actor, f. ἀγωνίζεσθαι: see agonize. So F. protagoniste (1835 in Dict. Acad.).]
1. The chief personage in a drama; hence, the principal character in the plot of a story, etc. Also pl., the leading characters in a play, story, contest, etc.
Fowler's classification of the plural as an absurd use (Dict. Modern English Usage p. 471; maintained in Sir E. Gowers' second edition, p. 489) may be challenged on the grounds that derivation from Greek πρῶτος first, does not preclude a plural form, and limitation to the singular is strictly relevant only in the context of ancient Greek drama.
1671Dryden Even. Love Pref., Ess. (ed. Ker) I. 141 'Tis charg'd upon me that I make debauch'd Persons..my protagonists, or the chief persons of the drama. 1770Baretti Journ. fr. Lond. to Genoa III. 27 The Devil in..Spanish plays..is generally the protagonist of those in which he is introduced. 1857Birch Anc. Pottery (1858) I. 321 The earth-shaker Poseidon, the sea god, appears as a subordinate in many scenes, and as a protagonist in others. 1950G. B. Shaw Shakes versus Shav 135 Living actors have to learn that they too must be invisible while the protagonists are conversing, and therefore must not move a muscle nor change their expression. 1952Sunday Times 6 July 4/8 The soliloquy is a special problem on the screen but in ‘Julius Caesar’ there are only two of them, both short. Mr. Mankiewicz has told me that he hopes to use an intimate technique, giving importance above all to the characters of the protagonists. 1962L. Auchinloss in I. Howe Edith Wharton 35 The change..comes with the infiltration of the other protagonists of the drama, the Spraggs, the Wellington Boys, the Gormers, [etc.].
2. A leading personage in any contest; a prominent supporter or champion of any cause. Also pl., the most prominent or most important individuals in a situation or course of events.
1839–52Bailey Festus xxxv. (ed. 5) 554 Thou the Divine Protagonist of time, The everlasting sacrifice. a1859De Quincey Conversat. Wks. 1860 XIV. 169 The great talker—the protagonist—of the evening. 1877Morley Crit. Misc. Ser. ii. 53 If social equity is not a chimera, Marie Antoinette was the protagonist of the most..execrable of causes. 1930D. L. Sayers Strong Poison viii. 109 I'm getting a certain amount of light on the central figures in the problem—what journalists like to call the protagonists. 1976Times 29 Oct. 1/1 Strong opposition to more cuts in public expenditure were voiced at a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday. The protagonists were Mr Crosland..Mr Shore..and Mr Benn.
¶3. [Through confusion of sense 2 with pro-1 5 a.] A proponent, advocate, or supporter (of a cause, idea, etc.).
In this use the notion of ‘a leading personage’ is not implied. In some contexts there is ambiguity between this sense and sense 2.
1935Hansard Commons 4 June 1718/2 My right hon. Friend the Member for Epping and others on the right have come out in this House as the protagonists of self-determination. 1935A. P. Herbert What a Word! iv. 99, I heard with horror..that the word ‘protagonist’ is being used as if it were pro-tagonist—one who is for something, and opposed to ant-agonist, one who is against it. 1952Times 2 Apr. 5/4 As a protagonist, in and out of Parliament and especially in the county of Sussex of the fullest use of land for food production, I feel impelled to reply to my friend Miss Nancy Price's letter..and to defend the town council of Worthing. 1961L. R. Klein et al. Econometric Model of U.K. iv. 122 Professor Robbins, a firm protagonist of the importance of the influence of demand over the period. 1972Observer 15 Oct. 39/6 In practical terms, I wish I thought that, in 1975, we shall read..alongside protagonist, not just ‘also: proponent’ but ‘also, improperly: proponent’. 1974BSI News Sept. 12/3 Over the last few years the relative merits of the pascal and the bar have been discussed interminably... Protagonists of the pascal do not think its magnitude of any relevance to its choice. 1975Times Lit. Suppl. 22 Aug. 939/2 Kōkan was..an unabashed protagonist of the technical superiority of Western civilization. 1979Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts CXXVII. 334/2 A protagonist of and expert on the Added Value concept.
Hence ¶ proˈtagonism rare, the defence or advocacy of a cause, idea, etc.
1909N.Y. Even. Post 27 Nov. 6 The principal character..is gradually drawn into a protagonism of common sense, candour, and progress. 1937Mind XLVI. 511 This method, the validity of which depends upon the progressive series of experiments developed in the Phenomenology, is dramatic; it requires the experimenter to be protean in his factitious protagonism. |