| 释义 |
country-dance|ˈkʌntrɪ-ˈdɑːns, -æ-|
[f. country + dance, lit. a dance of the country. On its introduction into France the name was perverted to contre-danse, which has been erroneously assumed to be the original form: see contre-dance.]
a. A dance practised by country-people, usually in the open air.
b. esp. a generic name for all English dances of rural or native origin (already in 17th c. contrasted with French dances); specifically, applied to dances in which an indefinite number of couples stand up face to face in two long lines, as in the well-known Sir Roger de Coverley.
1579E. K. Gloss. Spenser's Sheph. Cal. June 27 Haydeguies, A country daunce or rownd. 1597Morley Introd. Mus. 181 The courant hath twice so much in a straine, as the English country daunce. 1611Cotgr., Cordace, a kind of countrey daunce. 1649G. Daniel Trinarch., Rich II, ciii, Peasants..can advance At best, noe higher then a Countrey Dance. 1650Weldon Crt. K. James 134 Because they could not learn the French Dances so soon as to be in gay Clothes, Country Dances must be in the garb of the Court. 1711Steele Spect. No. 2 ⁋1 Sir Roger de Coverley. His Great Grand-father was Inventor of that famous Country-Dance which is called after him. 1755Johnson, Hornpipe, a country dance, danced commonly to a horn. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop viii, Country-dances being low, were utterly proscribed. 1842Queen Victoria Journ. Life Highlands (1868) 36 We danced one country-dance—I with Lord Willoughby—and Albert with Lady Carington. 1857Hughes Tom Brown ii. viii, A merry country dance was going on..and new couples joined in every minute, till there were a hundred of them going down the middle and up again.
fig.1730Fielding Tom Thumb ii. iv, A country-dance of joy is in your face.
Hence country-dance v. (nonce-wd.), country-ˈdancer, country-ˈdancing vbl. n.
1711Budgell Spect. No. 67 ⁋6, I was very much pleased..with that Part..which he called French Dancing..After this Part was over, they began a Diversion which they call Country Dancing. Ibid. ⁋16 As for Country Dancing..as [it] is the particular Invention of our own Country..I would not Discountenance it. 1741H. Walpole Lett. H. Mann 2 Nov., I country-danced till four. 1751Eliza Heywood Betsy Thoughtless III. 39 She..also gave him an invitation to 'squire her to a country-dancing. 1798Jane Austen Northang. Abb. (1833) I. x. 56 The cotillions were over, the country-dancing began. a1852T. Moore Country Dance & Quad. v. 20 Here..I..spite of some few dandy lancers, Who vainly try to preach Quadrille—See nought but true-blue country-dancers. |