| 释义 |
posternn.adj. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Partly a borrowing from French. Etymons: Latin posterna; French posterne. Etymology: < post-classical Latin posterna (from c1100 in British sources) and its probable etymon Anglo-Norman and Old French posterne (Middle French, French poterne ) concealed exit from a fortified building (c1140 in Old French), back door (13th cent. in Anglo-Norman; earlier in sense ‘small door’ as a gloss in Rashi (end of the 11th cent.)), alteration (perhaps after classical Latin internus intern adj., externus extern adj.) of posterle back door, back way (although this is apparently first attested later: 13th cent.) < post-classical Latin posterula back way (4th cent. in Ammianus), small back door or gate (6th cent.; also as posterla (12th cent.)) < classical Latin posterus later, next (see postero- comb. form) + -ula -ula suffix. Compare Old Occitan, Occitan posterla (c1300), Italian postierla (a1348).The β and γ forms are apparently not paralleled in the Romance languages or Latin. Apparently attested earlier in a surname, although it is unclear whether this is to be interpreted as reflecting the Middle English or the Anglo-Norman word: Johannes de la Posterne (1242–3). With the figurative uses in sense A. 2 perhaps compare Middle French passer la poterne d'amour to begin to love (a person) (end of the 15th cent. or earlier). With sense A. 3 compare posterior n.; this sense and the use as adjective are apparently not paralleled in the Romance languages or Latin. A. n. 1. the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > opening which may be passed through > gate or gateway > side- or back-gate c1300 St. Agatha (Laud) 98 in C. Horstmann (1887) 196 He him-seolf a-scapede a-wey bi one poasterne stilleliche. c1330 (Auch.) (1914) 583 (MED) At a postern þai wenten out. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) Dan. xiii. 18 Thei closiden the doris of the gardeyn and wenten out by a postern. c1400 (?a1300) (Laud) (1952) 4584 (MED) Darrie þerwhiles stale away By a posterne [v.r. postorne], a pryue way. c1450 Siege Troy (Rawl.) in (1913) 130 278 (MED) There were also many smale posternes with planchettes if nede were to issue oute. a1513 H. Bradshaw (1521) ii.xvi. sig. n.iv Closed at euery ende with a sure postron. a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece (1858) II. 524 At ane postrum, quhairof rycht few tuke cuir, The kingis cors rycht quyetlie tha buir. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 438 Your Followers I will..by twoes, and threes, at seuerall Posternes, Cleare them o' th' Citie. View more context for this quotation 1689 R. Milward 12 The other Doors were but Posterns. 1738 (ed. 2) II. 198 The King's Palace..there are two great Wings built..and a large Port Cocher at the Entrance, with a Postern. 1828 J. Elmes 21 The gate..is in 3 divisions, a carriage way and 2 posterns for foot-passengers divided by stone piers. 1874 J. R. Green ii. §7. 98 She escaped in white robes by a postern. 1921 E. L. White i. viii. 134 He seemed to see me looking at him, opened the postern, stepped through it. 1990 A. N. Wilson (BNC) Lewis let Tolkien out by the little postern on Magdalen Bridge. society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > gate > [noun] > sallyport society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > tunnel 1704 J. Harris I Postern, in Fortification, is a false Door usually made in the Angle of the Flank, and of the Curtain, or near the Orillon for private Sallies. 1819 W. Scott II. xv. 290 In the outwork was a sally-port corresponding to the postern of the castle. 1879 (new ed.) IV. 138/2 When such a tunnel serves as the means of access to the ditch and outworks, it is called a postern. 1963 (Ordnance Surv.) (ed. 4) 65 Several Cornish forts..have a fogou which acts as a kind of narrow postern giving access to the ditch from inside the defences. 2003 (Nexis) 29 Oct. c1 At the base of one tower, a postern or secret staircase has been constructed in case Guyot has to flee any persecutors. the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > means of escape the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > [noun] > approach society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, passage, or means of access to a place > [noun] > obscure c1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Tiber.) 22682 (MED) A Smale posterne I may pace And thorough thykke and thynne trace. 1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin ii. i. 661/1 Nowe hee began with Iesus Christe, to the ende that he might be a posterne [Fr. patron general] for vs all. 1597 W. Shakespeare v. v. 17 It is as hard to come, as for a Cammell To threed the posterne of a small needles eie. View more context for this quotation a1618 W. Raleigh (1628) 29 For this Maxime hath no posterne, Potestas humana radicatur voluntatibus hominum. 1642 T. Fuller iii. xxv. 229 Others..not going through the porch of humane Arts, but entring into Divinity at the postern, have made good Preachers. a1682 Sir T. Browne (1690) 11 So closely shut up..as not to find some Escape by a Postern of Recipiscency. 1742 E. Young 11 Thro' the dark Postern of Time long elaps'd, Led softly, by the stillness of the Night. 1831 W. Hamilton in June 421 Does dispensation afford a postern of escape? 1937 A. Christie (title) Postern of Fate. 1986 R. Dunlop 142 When the present has latched its postern behind my tremulous stay. the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [noun] > back part or rear 1611 in T. Coryate (2nd title page) Then in the Posterne of them looke, and thou shalt find the Posthume Poems of the Authors Father. 1631 B. Jonson Divell is Asse v. vi. 15 in II Cast care at thy posternes; and firke i' thy fetters. 1719 ‘J. Gay’ 48 From the Regions of his Postern, Drop'd something Saffron-Dye excelling, Yet sweet as Musk, or Civet, Smelling. 1725 155 There fell upon her Postern, which was all naked, a Shower of Stripes as thick as Hail. B. adj. ( attributive). the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > opening which may be passed through > gate or gateway > side- or back-gate society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > types of door > [noun] > other types of door a1375 (c1350) (1867) 2166 (MED) Þe beres..passeden out priueli at þe posterne gate. c1410 (c1350) (Harl. 7334) 589 (MED) Atte posterne gate Gamelyn out went. a1449 in S. A. Moore (1871) ii. 88 The which dore of the towre wt the other v. postern doris..ofte tymes have be repayred. a1500 (?a1425) (Harl.) (1889) 1855 (MED) In at a preuy posterne gate By nyght she stale in. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More sig. Hiii A posternne doore on the backsyde into the gardyne. a1600 R. Hooker (1648) vi. 81 By this postern gate commeth in the whole mark of Papall Indulgences. 1607 E. Ford xv. 117 Hee came to a postern gate which he opened, and after hee was out, shut the same fast againe. 1668 Duchess of Newcastle Presence 108 in Understanding commands the Guard, will keep the Postern-door, and Peace governs the Fort, so as no Gamester can enter. 1720 J. Strype (rev. ed.) I. i. iv. 15/1 Just South, going down divers Stone Steps, is the excellent Postern Spring, with an Iron Bowl and Chain fastened to catch the Water. 1794 A. Radcliffe II. xii. 472 He..told her, that, if she would repair, on the following night, when the Signor was retired to rest, to the postern-gate of the castle, she should, perhaps, see Madame Montoni. 1813 W. Scott v. 254 Wilfrid half led, and half he bore, Matilda to the postern door. 1886 R. Willis & J. W. Clark III. 283 A large gateway-arch flanked by a postern-arch. 1938 E. Goudge (1998) viii. 193 A postern gate led them through the city wall into Merton College. 1973 N. Montsarrat 174 He entered the Palazzo through the postern gate. 1993 M. Clynes 203 We crept down into the hall, through the kitchen and out by a small postern door. the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [adjective] the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > [adjective] > accomplished by stealth 1648 R. Herrick sig. Q6 A Postern-bribe tooke, or a Forked-Fee. 1663 J. Birkenhead 6 Yet these inferiour postern Teachers have intoxicated England. 1683 W. Cave 92 The Bowels, and all the Intestina..issued out of the Postern passage. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.adj.c1300 |
