| 释义 |
petitadj.n. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French petit. Etymology: In early use < Anglo-Norman and Middle French petit (feminine petite ; French petit ) not yet fully grown, young (of human beings) (end of the 10th cent. in Old French), small, of small size, little (c1100), insignificant, trifling (c1100, first used of troops), inferior with regard to social or economic status (c1130–40), in Anglo-Norman also in legal use (end of the 13th cent. or earlier), ultimately of imitative origin; compare post-classical Latin pititus (775 in the place name Pitito-villare ), Old Occitan, Occitan petit (c1100 or earlier), Catalan petit (c1100), Italian †petitto (14th cent. or earlier; 13th cent. or earlier as petetto , piteto , pitetto ; early 15th cent. or earlier as petito ), and also (with different suffixation) post-classical Latin pitinnus (in Christian inscriptions), pitullus (6th cent.). A suggestion of a Celtic origin for the Romance word ( < the Celtic base of piece n.) is now generally rejected. Compare petty adj., which shows parallel borrowing of a form more closely reflecting French pronunciation in the 14th cent. (with the final consonant silent in the masculine form except before a following vowel).In later use chiefly in legal uses (see sense A. 2b); with occasionally modern uses of petit in sense A. 1 (compare quots. 1854, 1989, 1995 at sense A. 1α. ) compare earlier petite adj. 1a, 2, and also the numerous words beginning with petit or petite which are recorded here as separate headwords. Attested much earlier as a surname, probably directly reflecting the Anglo-Norman word:1086 Domesday Bk. (1783) I. f. 50v/2 [Phillimore: Hants. 69. 53] Alvric petit. In petit bag n. at Compounds 1 (compare Petty Bag n.) after Anglo-Norman petite bagge (1367–8 or earlier in this sense):1367–8 in C. M. Woolgar Househ. Accts. Medieval Eng. (1992) II. 591 A sire William Bustal clierc del petite bagge xx s. In petit canon n. at Compounds 1 after Anglo-Norman petit chanoun (1346–7 or earlier). In petit cape n. at Compounds 2 after Anglo-Norman petit cape (c1290 or earlier):c1290 Britton (1865) II. iii. i. §4. 4 A respouns par le graunt Cape et par le petit. [transl. To answer by the great and little Cape.] In petit custom n. at Compounds 1 (compare petty custom n.) after Anglo-Norman petite costume (1369 or earlier). In petit sergeanty n. at Compounds 1 after Anglo-Norman petite serjauntie (c1290 or earlier). In petit sessions n. at Compounds 1 apparently after Anglo-Norman petite assise (c1290 or earlier). In petit treason n. at Compounds 1 (compare petty treason n. at petty adj. and n. Compounds 1b) after Anglo-Norman petit treysoun (c1290 or earlier). Sense B. 1 is apparently not paralleled in French until later (1548 in Middle French in sense ‘young child’), though compare earlier Middle French, French petit denoting a young animal (c1400 or earlier). In early use often pronounced /ˈpɛtɪt/ (compare e.g. quot. c1390 at sense A. 1α. ); so also in the surname Pettit (also Pettitt , Pettet , Petit , Petyt , Pittet ). In the β (and γ) forms final -e does not correspond specifically to uses in which the French feminine form would be expected (compare petite adj. for later borrowing specifically of the French feminine form). N.E.D. (1905) records an obsolete pronunciation of (†pe·tit) /ˈpɛtɪt/, and also the non-naturalized pronunciation (pəti) /pəti/. A. adj.the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] the world > relative properties > number > plurality > fewness > [adjective] α. c1390 Cato's Distichs (Vernon) in F. J. Furnivall (1901) ii. 562 Here endet petyt Caton. a1399 in W. G. Benham (1907) 7 (MED) Un Lyne Cable, Graunt iiij d., and peter [read petit] ij d. 1420 in F. J. Furnivall (1882) 46 (MED) i petit brase morter. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich (1904) I. l. 186 (MED) A word of anger spak he thore..and be-took the devel al the remnaunt, That him be-lefte, petyt & graunt. 1530 in N. H. Nicolas (1827) 52 Itm the xvij daye paied to petit John and his fellawe in Rewarde by the king comaundement iiij li. 1538 (1957) I. 259 To tua lychtis in the pittit lairdner. 1569 T. Norton sig. Diij The number is great agaynste you, infinitely exceedyng your petit multitude. 1665 M. Nedham 193 That sort of petit Animals. 1671 F. Philipps 356 Which declared the number of his Servants not to be small, petit, or inconsiderable. 1854 H. Miller xv. 310 A really handsome man,..with..an erect though somewhat petit figure. 1989 No. 118. 66 Dwarfish Joe can't be her beau And even Andy, neatly sweet although He is, is just a petit gigolo. 1995 Spring 40/1 There was a petit salmon steak served with a confit of tomatoes, herbs sprinkled with guanciale. 2. Of minor or lesser importance. the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > [adjective] the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > of little worth c1390 (a1376) W. Langland (Vernon) (1867) A. viii. 60 (MED) His pardoun In purgatorie is petit [v.r. litel], I trouwe, Þat eny Meede of mene Men for Motynge receyueþ. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. 242 (MED) Pouerte nis but a petit [v.r. pety] þinge, appereth nouȝt to his naule. c1475 Prov. Wisdom (Rawl.) 36 in (1893) 90 244 (MED) A fayre vertew is gwode suffrance; A fowle vyce is petite [v.r. pouert] veniawnce. 1554 in J. Strype (1721) III. xvi. 139 It was not meet..that the Bishop [Bonner] should debase himself to such petit Functions of Preaching. 1565 J. Jewel iii. 182 I passe by other petite faultes. 1599 F. Thynne (1875) 65 But in these and suche petit matters, I will not nowe longe insiste. 1610 R. Abbot 25 By a petite reason [margin absurda ratiuncula] of Pelagius he was driuen to speake absurdly thereof. a1637 B. Jonson Under-woods lxxiv. ix. 177 in (1640) III In all her petite actions, so devote. 1691 A. Wood (1817) III. 1203 In translating..and other petite employments. a1716 R. South (1717) V. 492 Their grand Subject was Truth, and consequently above all these petit Arts, and poor Additions. 1744 R. North & M. North 234 His Name..confined to a petit cycle in some musty Genealogy. 1759 W. H. Dilworth 99 [His] taste..was turned entirely towards the grand; he hated everything petit. the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > on a small scale 1442 [see petit custom n. at Compounds 1]. 1530 xlviii. f. cxxviv To scoure the see of pyrattes and petyte robbers of the see. 1588 W. Lambarde (new ed.) iv. xx. 619 To deliuer the gaoles of..idle poor folkes, petite theeues, and some others. 1598 R. Wilbraham (1902) 20 At Norwich his Lordship enveyghed against multiplicitie of sutes of vexation for petit trespasses because the grounds lie in common. 1676 C. Molloy iv. 416 But in case of Petit Treason, Murder, Fellony, &c. if he prays his Trial per medietatem Linguae, the Court ought to grant it. 1746 26 No Person shall be convicted, or suffer for High or Petit Treason, unless a Prosecution is begun. 1836 J. F. Davis I. vi. 230 For a slave to kill his master, is punished with lingering death, as petit treason. 1897 Oct. 365 In it [sc. manor court of Teignmouth] were anciently tried all petit cases relating to the inhabitants. 1979 B. A. Freitas Illegal Aliens in O. Davies 311 Human beings..would regard the behavior as criminal (petit cannibalism) when practiced on people. the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > on a small scale a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Rawl.) (1974) 68 (MED) The petyte hope restith not vpon these thynges here byneþe, but oonely make waye towarde the soueraigne goodes above. 1576 W. Lambarde 14 Kent was then diuided into foure petite Kingdomes. 1641 P. Heylyn 12 Those inferiour and petite Kings, being, in tract of time worne out. a1661 T. Fuller (1662) Heref. 35 Milfred (a petit Prince of that Country). 1722 J. Richardson 273 The Stiff, Petit Style of Painting, the Remnant of Gothicism. 1724 W. Nicolson in H. Ellis (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 335 All our pedlers and petit merchants are confederating..against the currency of them. 1998 77 85 The vast majority of these heroes were local people, including family and friends—the subjects of petit narratives rather than grand narratives. †B. n.society > education > learning > learner > one attending school > [noun] > schoolboy > young or junior c1451 J. Capgrave (1910) 64 (MED) First was he a maystir of lernyng to þe smale petites, swech as lerne to rede, spelle, and synge. 1460–70 in T. Wright (1841) 166 (MED) [The boys..were known as] petytis, vocati Apeseyes and Song. 1531 T. Elyot iii. xxiv. sig. hiv Some..be as who sayeth petites, & unethe lettred. a1535 T. More (1553) i. xix. sig. E.iiiiv A teacher of children, (or as they call such one in the grammer schooles) an vsher, or a maister of the petites. 1691 A. Gavin 19 They..count them [sc. classes] backward; for that which receives the Petits at first, is called the seventh Classis. the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > domestic pigeon > [noun] > other types 1725 R. Bradley at Pigeon Many sorts of Pigeons, such as Carriers,..Barbs, Petits, owls, spots [etc.]. Compounds (in many cases an earlier form or variant of a collocation formed petty, esp. in legal contexts: see petty adj. and n. Compounds 1b or petty headwords). C1. 1418 in J. H. Fisher et al. (1984) 91 Sir Nichol Wynbush clerc of our petit bagge. 1658 E. Phillips at Petit bag Clerks of the Petit bag, three officers of Chancery who record the return of all inquisitions out of every Shire,..each record being put in a petit or little leather bag. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > illegal payment or exaction > [adjective] > of nature of bribe > bribing 1634 J. Canne iii. 143 The petitbribing Sumner, rideth foorth laden with Excommunications. 1661 D. Loftus 4 All other the Dignitaries, Prebendaries, Canons, Petit Canons, Vicars Choralls, and Choristers of the said two Churches, attended in their formalities then and there. 1748 (ed. 4) III. 130 One Dean, and seven Prebendaries, besides Petit-canons, Singing-men, and Choristers. 1548 in (1890) II. 160 Every captain to give yearely ijs; every petit-captein xijd. 1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 97/2 in R. Holinshed I Holland, petite captaine to Salisbury. 1553 c. 21 No Tinker, Pedler, or petit Chapman shall wander about from the Towne..but such as shall be licenced by two Justices of Peace. 1569 B. Randolph in H. Ellis (1824) 1st Ser. II. 255 The highe Constable of the saide Cytie and Lyberties taking with hym suche nomber of petit constables and others as to his discression sholde seme mete. 1607 J. Cowell sig. Ddd3/2 Præpositus villæ, is vsed some-times for the Constable of a town, or petit Constable... It is used sometime for a Reeve. 1688 Toleration Act in D. Neal (1855) II. 484/2 The office of high-constable, or petit constable, church-warden, overseer of the poor, or any other parochial or ward office. 1933 R. G. Stone 39 The town was governed by thirteen officers, two Burgesses, six assistants, a high constable, a treasurer, an assessor, a town clerk, and a petit constable. 1442 V. 63/1 The sum of v m Marcs yerely growyng and commyng in..Southampton of your grete Customes and petit Customes there. 1482 VI. 200/1 Of oure petite Custume in oure Port of London. 1540–1 in J. D. Marwick (1871) II. 103 For his petit customes of viij lastis hering and ane half. 1585 C. Fetherston tr. J. Calvin viii. 13 This man, whom the Samaritans counted a petit God. 1695 in (1724) 84 No Grand Juror shall be compelled to serve more than One Year in Three; nor any Petit Juror more than One Court within the Compass of a Year. 1823 J. F. Cooper II. xiv. 195 On his way to hear and to decide the disputes of his neighbours as a petit juror. 1998 55 518 Savery..became a diligent community servant, progressing from hog reeve, to petit juror at the Inferior Court of General Sessions. 2001 9 Jan. 25/1 Grand jurors, like petit jurors, are perfectly at liberty to accept truthful and accurate testimony and to disregard..demonstrably inaccurate testimony. 1494 c. 21 If any of the petit Jury toke..any some of money..after any suche corrupcion by the Graund Jury founden, etc. 1533 T. More ii. xvi. f. lxxxiiiv Yf it appere vnto the graund iury in theyr conscyence, that the petyt iury wylfully of some corrupte mynde regarded not the wytnessys. 1863 H. Cox ii. ix. 517 Where an information is filed..it must be tried by a special or petit jury. 1996 82 1569/2 Even the petit juries of trials were jettisoned in most magistrates' cases in exchange for quicker resolution. 2004 127 17/2 [A fund] to provide full or partial wage replacement..to jurors who serve more than 10 days on civil and criminal petit juries. 1588 W. Lambarde (rev. ed.) ii. vii. 275 All manner of theft, whether it were robberie it self, or great or petite Larcenie. 1633 T. Nash 193 Larcenie [is] said to be committed by the Imperiall Lawes, when the thing feloniously taken away, amounts to the value of 5.s, and by the Lawes of England, when it amounts to the value of xij.d. Petit Larcenie [is] when the thing stolne amounts not vnto those values. 1752 A. McDouall II. 287 Those that are in default till the exigent in treason, felony, or petit larceny, tho' they render themselves to justice, forfeit their chattels. 1951 cx. 261 If such subsequent conviction is for petit larceny, molesting a school child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, or an offense involving lewd or lascivious conduct. 1992 20 Jan. 27/5 Filmer..was charged with petit larceny and underage possession of an alcoholic beverage. a1513 H. Bradshaw (1521) ii. xxii. sig. r.vv Many helde their landes..By tenure grand seriant[e]..Some by petit seriant. 1523 J. Fitzherbert xi. f. 12 And all these tenauntes maye holde their landes by dyuers tenures..as by..graunt sergentie, petyte sergentie, franke almoyne. 1528–30 tr. T. Littleton (new ed.) f. xiiiv Tenure by Petyte Sergeaunty. 1875 K. E. Digby i. 39 When land was held of the king not by military service, but under the obligation to render some small thing ‘belonging to war’..this was called tenure by petit serjeanty. 1959 Earl Jowitt & C. Walsh II. 1616/1 The Laws of Property Act, 1922, s. 136, provides that the services incident to grand and petit serjeanty are preserved. 1442 V. 43/1 Ther is ones a yere a gret Cession holden..and also a petit Cession..in which petit Cessions the said Justice and Lieutenaunt..have power to receyve..all maner of Appelles. 1656 T. Blount Statutes is also used in our vulgar talk, for the petit Sessions, which are yearly kept for the disposing of Servants in service, by the Statutes of 1, and 5 Eliz. cap. 4. 1823 29 Dec. 2/7 At the petit sessions at Knaresborough..considerable sympathy was excited in the case of a poor woman named Susannah Bruce. 1996 (Nexis) 21 June 25 The police withheld the taking of any statement until the arrival of Justice Harold Nembhard, a local magistrate of the Petit Sessions Court. the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > treachery or treason > [noun] > against a subject society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > treason > offences related to treason society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun] > treason > petty 1605 A. Winthrop (1925) 83 Mistres Anne Browne was condemned of petite treason for procuring one Peter Gouldinge to murder her husband Mr. Browne. 1763 4 273 Mary Head,..who was convicted at Chester assizes of petit treason, in killing her husband..was burnt. 1828 c. 31 §2 Every Offence, which before a Commencement of this Act would have amounted to Petit Treason, shall be deemed to be Murder only. 1997 84 839 The Founders eliminated the crime of petit treason from the new constitutions of the Republic. C2. 1562 in (1940) 55 594 (table) Petit cape, dower. 1641 (new ed.) at Cape Grand Cape lyeth before apparance, and petit Cape after..By the grand Cape the tenant is summoned to answer to the default, and over to the demandant: Petit Cape summoneth the tenant to answer to the default onely. 1883 (ed. 7) 123/2 The cape ad valentiam was a species of grand cape, and cape parvum, or petit cape..summoning the tenant to answer the default only. c1425 tr. J. Arderne (Sloane 6) (1910) 32 (MED) Petite morel is called in fflaundres ‘Naghtstach’. c1450 Med. Recipes (BL Add. 33996) in F. Heinrich (1896) 85 (MED) Take groundeswele, lemke, chiken mete, daysyes, reubarbe, petit morel, & herbe benet. 1765 C. Johnstone III. i. xx. 124 I need not describe to you the situation of a petit officer. 1824 31 Dec. 3/3 Misfortune weighs equally upon the head of petit-officer or private, and the General. 1923 in (1974) 40 73 Persecutions, brow-beating and bulldozing by petit officers, who profit by arrests, is the cause of much dissatisfaction among negro labor in various localities. 1992 (Nexis) 16 Oct. 122 Joined U.S. Navy 12/12/41–11/5/46, Petit Officer First Class. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  adj.n.c1390 |
