| 释义 |
bencher|ˈbɛnʃə(r)|
[f. bench n. + -er1.]
1. One who sits on a bench (or thwart); one who frequents the benches of a tavern.
1534Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) D d viij, If the pyllers bee of syluer, and benches of golde, and though the benchers be kynges. 1598B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iv. i, O, the benchers phrase: pauca verba. 1858Hawthorne Fr. & It. Jrnls. II. 286 The benchers joke with the women passing by. 1860Hughes Tom Brown Oxf. xiii, Old companions, θρανίται, benchers (of the gallant eight-oar).
2. One who officially sits on a bench; a magistrate, judge, assessor, senator, member of the Sanhedrim, alderman, etc. arch.
1571Damon & P. in Hazl. Dodsl. IV. 17 Of parasites and sycophants you are a grave bencher. 1607Shakes. Cor. ii. i. 91 A necessary Bencher in the Capitoll. 1612Bp. Hall Contempl. N.T. iv. xxx, The grave benchers of Ierusalem..Rabbies of Israel. a1693Ashmole Antiq. Berks (1723) III. 58 Ten of them Aldermen or chief Benchers.
3. spec. One of the senior members of the Inns of Court, who form for each Inn a self-elective body, managing its affairs, and possessing the privilege of ‘calling to the bar.’
1582Act 5 Eliz. i. §5 As well Utter-Barresters as Benchers. 1691Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 311 He was made successively Barrester, utter Barrester, Bencher and Reader. 1711Addison Spect. No. 21 ⁋4 Benchers of the several Inns of Court, who seem to be Dignitaries of the Law. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 774 The benchers of the Inner Temple could bear the scandal..no longer. |