| 释义 |
avocation|ævəʊˈkeɪʃən|
[ad. L. āvocātiōn-em, n. of action f. āvocāre: see avocate and -ation. In sense 5 f. avocate v. 2, and = OF. avocation, ad. L. advocātiōn-em: see advocation.]
I. (= L. āvocātio.)
1. The calling away or withdrawal (of a person) from an employment; diversion of the thoughts. arch. or Obs.
a1617Hieron Wks. 1634 II. 271 The many auocations and withdrawments from good which they are sure to meet with. 1642Jer. Taylor Episc. (1647) 363 Which could by no meanes make recompense for the least avocation of them from their Church imployment. c1645Howell Lett. vi. 11, I could be larger, but for a sudden auocation to business. 1758Gray in Poems (1775) 270 Try, by every method of avocation and amusement, whether you cannot..get the better of that dejection.
2. The condition of being called away, or having one's attention diverted; distraction.
a1646Twisse in Mede's Wks. iv. lxx. 846 The care whereof is apt to cause avocation and disturbance in that Unum necessarium. 1768Blackstone Comm. I. 26 Too long an avocation from their private concerns and amusements. 1844S. R. Maitland Dark Ages 327 He devoted himself, with less avocation, to prayer.
3. That which has the effect of calling away or withdrawing one from an occupation. Hence, A minor or less important occupation, a by-work (πάρεργον).
1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. ix. 281 Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations. 1752Johnson Rambl. No. 194 ⁋11 He..appears to hear me, but is soon rescued from the lecture by more pleasing avocations. 1794Godwin Cal. Williams 203 Upon some avocation, however, a noise I believe in the passage, the turnkey went. 1879Furnivall Rep. New Shaks. Soc. 9 If its editor's new vocation (school-mastering) had left him time for the avocation of finishing his task for us.
4. But as, in many cases, the business which called away was one of equal or greater importance (see quot. in a., where avocation is rightly used), the new meaning was improperly foisted upon the word: Ordinary employment, usual occupation, vocation, calling.
a.1660Boyle New Exp. Phys.-Mech. Proem 19 The onely [experiments] wherewith my Avocations will allow me to entertain your Lordship in this Letter. 1794Sullivan View Nat. II, In the hurry of avocations for the necessities of life, little was the time he could apply to abstract speculations. 1804Wellington in Gurwood Disp. III. 557 Prevented by other avocations of extensive national importance, from a residence in Mysore. 1840Macaulay Ranke, Ess. (1854) II. 552/2 Found, even in the midst of his most pressing avocations, time for private prayer.
b.1761New Comp. Fest. & Fasts xxxvi. §2. 353 When a universal weakness and decay enfeebles us from even the common avocations of life. 1815Moore Lalla R. (1824) 337 Poetry was by no means his proper avocation. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. ii. 280 My avocation is in London city. 1858Buckle Civiliz. (1873) II. viii. 498 War and religion were the only two avocations worthy of being followed.
II. (= L. advocātio.)
5. The calling of a cause or action before itself by a superior court; = advocation 2.
1529Dr. Bennet To Wolsey in Burnet Hist. Ref. (1679) I. Rec. 80 His Holiness may..the more boldly deny Avocations to the Cæsareans. 1683Burnet Hist. Ref. Abr. 49 The Queen's Agents pressed hard for an Avocation. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. II. ix. 312 His unjust avocation of the cause to Rome. |