| 释义 |
correspondence|kɒrɪˈspɒndəns|
[ad. med.L. *correspondēntia, f. correspondēre: see correspond v. and -ence. In F. correspondance, 14th c.]
1. a. The action or fact of corresponding, or answering to each other in fitness or mutual adaptation; congruity, harmony, agreement. Also said of the relation of one of the corresponding things.
1413Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle iv. xxvi. (1483) 71 Somme maneor of correspondence or relacion must nedes ben bytwene the two that ben y lyke. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxx. §4 They are in their times and seasons continued with the most exquisite correspondence. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 9 Considering..the sutable correspondence of the parts of the context. 1729Butler Serm. iii. Wks. 1874 II. 37 The correspondence of actions to the nature of the agent renders them natural. 1772Sir J. Reynolds Disc. v. (1876) 374 Perfect correspondence..between the subjects which he chose and his manner of treating them. 1809–10Coleridge Friend (1865) 23 By verbal truth we mean..the correspondence of a given fact to given words. 1860Pusey Min. Proph. 343 Micah vi. 14 The correspondence of the punishment with the sin shall shew that it is not by chance.
b. Math. A relation between two sets in which each element of one set is associated with a constant number (a′) of elements of the second, and each element of the second set is associated with a constant number (a) of elements of the first.
Where a and a′ are both 1, it is called a one-to-one correspondence (see also one 33).
1866Cayley in Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. I. vii. 1 If two points of a unicursal curve have an (a, a′) correspondence, the number of united points is = a + a′. 1882Sylvester Coll. Math. Papers (1912) IV. 24 The theorem of one-to-one and class-to-class correspondence between partitions of n into uneven and its partitions into unequal parts. Ibid. 38 There is thus a one-to-one correspondence, and consequently equality of content between the two systems of partitions. 1906Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. VII. 393 We thus establish a correspondence between points in the space y, and planes in the space x. 1941Birkhoff & MacLane Surv. Mod. Algebra xii. 344 The number of many-one correspondences of the class S to a subclass of T. Ibid., Any such correspondence x → y is determined by a function y = f (x) which defines for each argument x in S a value y in T. 1949Semple & Roth Introd. Algebraic Geom. iv. 58 The equation..determines an (m, n) correspondence between the variables x and y, such that to any x there correspond n value..of y, while to any y there correspond similarly m values..of x. 1959A. G. Oettinger in R. A. Brower On Translation 257 Frequent one-to-many correspondences between Russian and English words create..one of the most perplexing problems of automatic translation. 1962M. P. Crosland Hist. Stud. Lang. Chem. v. i. 294 In an ideal nomenclature of a science there is obviously a one-to-one correspondence between names and the things named.
2. a. Relation of agreement, similarity, or analogy.
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. §4 Light..hath a relation and correspondence in..corporal things to knowledge in..incorporal things. 1672Cave Prim. Chr. i. vi. (1673) 135 The form..of their Churches was..oblong to keep the better correspondence with the fashion of a ship. 1729Butler Serm. i. Wks. 1874 II. 11 There is such a correspondence between the inward sensations of one man and those of another. 1869Gladstone Juv. Mundi iii. 101 The most striking correspondence is that Arès with Mars, both used to signify war itself. 1880Nature XXI. 212 The special interest of this planet [Mars] arising from its supposed close correspondence with the earth.
b. Doctrine of Correspondences: the tenet of Swedenborg, that every natural object symbolizes or corresponds to some spiritual fact or principle which is, as it were, its archetype or prototype, and that the Scriptures were written in harmony with these correspondences.
1860J. Gardner Faiths of World II. 881/2 The doctrine of Correspondences..is the central idea of Swedenborg's system. 1876J. G. Wilkinson Hum. Sc. & Div. Rev. 76 Now correspondences, according to which the Word of God is written, are equations between the spiritual and the natural worlds.
†3. Concordant or sympathetic response. Obs.
1530–1Act 22 Hen. VIII, c. 15 The..beneuolent myndes of his saied subiectes..toward his highnesse..by correspondence of gratitude to theym to be requited. 1615G. Sandys Trav. Ded., A thankfull correspondence of affection and duty. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. Serm. on Mount ⁋3 To answer the importunity of our lusts, not by a denyall but by a correspondence and satisfaction. 1680Ld. Falkland Life Edw. II in Harl. Misc., Being now a king and a sovereign, he expects a correspondence of the same nature.
†4. Relation between persons or communities; usually qualified as good, friendly, fair, ill, etc. Obs. (Very common in 17th c.)
1599Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 52 Preferments to enterteine them with in good content and correspondence. 1622–62Heylin Cosmogr. iii. (1673) 166/2 There were so good Correspondences betwixt the Nations, that, etc. 1672Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 33 Our ill correspondence with the French Protestants. 1714Swift Pres. State Affairs, One step towards cultivating a fair correspondence with the power in possession. 1835I. Taylor Spirit. Despotism iii. 110 The natural alliance..between Church and State..had given way to such a correspondence as belongs to a truce between enemies.
†5.
a. Intercourse, communication (between persons). Obs. exc. as in 6.
1603B. Jonson Sejanus iv. v, He holds That correspondence..with all that are Neere about Caesar, as no thought can passe Without his knowledge. 1655–60Stanley Hist. Philos (1701) 5/2 The Phœnicians, with whom the Græcians had a very ancient correspondence. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. 28 Apr., This amiable maiden has actually commenced a flirting correspondence with an Irish baronet of sixty-five. 1786Burns Ep. Yng. Friend x, A correspondence fix'd wi' Heaven Is sure a noble anchor.
†b. Often, intercourse or communications of a secret or illicit nature. Obs.
1639Massinger Unnat. Combat. i. i, If Your father..Held not or correspondence, or connived At his proceedings. 1697Congreve Mourning Bride iv. i, Concerning Osmyn and his correspondence With them who first began the mutiny. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VI. xv. xviii. 308 Their impious correspondence with the devil. 1760–72tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) I. 334 To..prevent the Indians..from..carrying on any clandestine correspondence with those whom his arms had not reached.
†c. Commercial intercourse; business relations.
1605B. Jonson Volpone iv. i, To serue the State of Venice with red herrings..from Roterdam, Where I haue correspondence. 1769De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. I. 374 Exeter drives a very great Correspondence with Holland. 1798W. Hutton Autobiog. 20, I wished to fix a correspondence for what I wanted, without purchasing at second hand.
†d. Religious or ecclesiastical connexion. Also concr. A connexion, communion. Obs.
1642Jer. Taylor Episc. xxxii. (1647) 192, I had rather speake a truth in sincerity, then erre with a glorious correspondence. 1649Bp. Hall Cases Consc. iv. ix, An Institution..kept both by all the Churches of the Roman-Correspondence, and by all the Reformed.
†e. Sexual intercourse. Obs.
1698Froger Voy. 14 Fasting and abstaining from correspondence with their Wives.
† f. Of things: Physical communication. Obs.
1698J. Crull Muscovy 49 The Caspian Sea..has no communication or correspondence with any other Sea. 1700Rycaut Hist. Turks v. iii. 166 A secret Passage, by which the wet and moorish Ground kept a Correspondence with the Ditch.
g. fig. Of persons and things: Vital, practical, or active communication.
1608Hakewill Van. Eye 93 The braine (with which the eie holdes a maruelous correspondence). 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. ii. (1840) 46 The wise Men of the East..maintained a correspondence with the stars. 1742Young Nt. Th. vi. 81 How short our correspondence with the sun! 1821Lamb Elia, Old Benchers, Sun-dials..holding correspondence with the fountain of light. 1883H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spir. W. v. (1884) 147 In biological language he is said..to be ‘in correspondence with his environment’..that is to say, in active and vital connection with them, influencing them possibly, but especially being influenced by them.
6. a. Intercourse or communication by letters.
1644Milton Educ. (1738) 135 Not to mention the learned correspondence which you hold in foreign parts. 1741Middleton Cicero (ed. 3) II. vi. 66 Cicero, with whom he held a correspondence of Letters. 1781Cowper Lett. 25 Aug., Letter for letter is the law of all correspondence. 1810Scott Let. 18 Mar. in Lockhart, The risks of sentimental correspondence. 1875Helps Organ. Daily Life Ess. 146 As education advances..there will be more correspondence by letters. a1893Mod. Newsp., This correspondence must now cease.
b. The letters that pass between correspondents; also, letters contributed to a newspaper or journal (cf. correspondent B.4 b).
1771Smollett Humph. Cl. Introd., Printing the private correspondence of persons still living. 1847Emerson Repr. Men, Montaigne Wks. (Bohn) I. 336 The correspondence of Pope and Swift. 1868G. Duff Pol. Surv. 30 The Times correspondence from Hungary. 1891Post Office Guide Apr. 33 Railway Sub-offices (i.e. offices which receive their correspondence direct from a Travelling Post Office).
7. attrib.: correspondence card, a blank card intended for use as notepaper; correspondence class, course, a class or course conducted by correspondence; correspondence clerk, a clerk who deals with the correspondence of a business house; correspondence college, school, a college or school which instructs by means of correspondence; correspondence principle Physics, a principle connecting classical with quantum physics (see quots.); correspondence theory Philos., the theory that the definition, or the criterion, of truth is that true propositions correspond to the facts (opp. coherence theory); also correspondence-notion.
1892G. Saintsbury in Macmillan's Mag. June 107 There are great temptations not to write letters. Telegrams, postcards, *correspondence-cards, letter-cards,—all of these things the truly good and wise detest. 1907Yesterday's Shopping (1969) 333/2 Black bordered correspondence cards and envelopes. 1933A. Selwyn Printing for Amateurs vi. 65 Correspondence Cards are 4½ × 3½, and Post Cards 5½ × 3½. 1970L. Evans Lett. Walter Pater p. xliii, White correspondence cards, approximately 11·5 by 9·2 cm, with rectangular (instead of the usual rounded) corners.
1876Monthly Packet Feb. 6 The number of pupils who join these *correspondence classes increases regularly. 1885Chambers's Jrnl. 610/1 The Correspondence Class is intended for the extension of skilled teaching to any woman within reach of the post.
1906Dicksee & Blain Office Organis. 8 *Correspondence clerks should have a good knowledge of shorthand.
1911W. Owen Let. 18 June (1967) 75 Studying with a *Corresp. College at the same time. 1931W. Holtby Poor Caroline vi. 232, I know your correspondence college is rotten.
1902World's Work IV. 2524 He subscribes to a *correspondence course. 1925S. Lewis Martin Arrowsmith xxii. §1, The editor of the magazine which told clerks how to become Goethes and Stonewall Jacksons by studying correspondence-courses. 1929Encycl. Brit. VI. 468/1 In 1921 the U.S. department of war established 342 correspondence courses in military tactics for reserve officers. 1946Wodehouse Money in Bank xxviii. 245 ‘Was I very haughty?’ ‘Cleopatra could have taken your correspondence course.’
1906H. H. Joachim Nature of Truth i. 7 A certain conception of truth is implied or expressed, which I shall call the ‘*correspondence-notion’ of truth.
1922N. Bohr Theory of Spectra ii. iii. 50 The *correspondence principle suggests that the radiation emitted by the perturbed atom must exhibit circular polarization. 1928A. S. Eddington Nat. Physical World ix. 195 The classical laws are the limit to which the quantum laws tend when states of very high quantum number are concerned. This is the famous Correspondence Principle enunciated by Bohr. 1935― New Pathways iv. 77 The classical laws of mechanics and electro-magnetism..are simply the limiting form assumed by the formulae of quantum theory... This connection is known as Bohr's Correspondence Principle. 1964in R. G. Colodny Frontiers Sci. & Philos. vi. 253 The field theories have started moving away from the correspondence principle.
1889Christian Lit. Mag. I. 91 The Chautauqua School gives a certificate.., and so very properly may any *correspondence school. 1929Encycl. Brit. VI. 468/2 The correspondence school movement is rapidly reaching a recognized stage of permanency. 1933Wodehouse Mulliner Nights v. 157 A strange elation filled Sacheverell Mulliner's bosom as he left the offices of the Correspondence School.
1902Baldwin Dict. Philos. II. 720/1 The fundamental difficulty with a ‘*correspondence theory’ is this: it assumes a reality with which that which claims to be true may be compared. 1940B. Russell Inquiry xvi. 232 In this case, the correspondence-theory of truth holds simpliciter. |