英语词源词典 mx

-machy。
suffixmeaning"battle,war,contest/fromGk.-makhia,frommakhe"battle,fight/trelatedtomakhesthaintofight/*ofunknownorigin.
combiningformmeaning"divinationbymeansof/fromO.Fr.-mancie,fromL.L.-mantia,fromGk.manteia“oracle,divination,“frommantis"er,prophet,soothsayer/*relatedtomania"madness,frenzy”(emania).
1950,U.S.militaryacronymforMobileArmySurgicalHospital.
M.D.®
1755,abbreviationofL.Medicin史Doctor“doctorofmedicine.nM.F.N.®
acronymofmostfavorednation,attestedfrom1942.
acronymofmissinginaction,attestedfrom1946.
1823,childishorcolloquialshorteningofmamma.
mafam。
1668,colloquialshorteningofmadam(q.v.).Formerlytheordinaryrespectfulformofaddresstoamarriedwoman;laterrestrictedtothequeen,royalprincess,orbyrvantstotheirmistress.
Mabel。
becautheislandwasformerlythicklywooded,fromL.materia"wood,matter"(ematter).
MadelineO
fem.propername,fromFr.Magdalene(q.v.).Thetypeofsmall,richcake(whichloomedlargeinthelifeofProust)issocalledfromnameofMadeleinePaulmier,19c.Fr.pastrycook.
145。,“unmarriedFrenchwoman/1fromFr.madameile(edaml),lit.“youngmistress.nMadisonAvenue。
nvaluesandbusinessofadvertisingandpublicrelations/11955,fromthestreetinManhattan,laidoutc.1836andnamedforU.S.PresidentJamesMadison.Theconcentrationofadvertisingagenciesthereemstodatefromthe1940s.
madonna■
1584,"Italianlady/fromIt.madonna,fromO.It.madonna(It.miadonna)“mylady,”fromma"my"+donna"lady."Senof"pictureorstatueoftheVirginMary“isfrom1644.
madras■
1833,inallusiontotheformerIndianstateofMadras,fromwhichthistypeofbright-coloredmuslinclothwaxported.
madrasah。
Islamiccollege,1622,fromArabicmadrasah,lit."aplaceofstudy/1fromloc.prefixma-+stemofdarasa"hereadrepeatedly,hestudied/madrigalO
“shortlovepoemjalso"part-songforthreeormorevoices/11588,fromIt.(Venetian)madregal“simple,ingenuous/1fromL.L.matricalisninvented,typeofmapprojection,1669,inventedbyFlem.geographerGerhardKremer(1512-94),whoLatinizedhissurname,whichlit.means''dealer,“asMercator.Hefirstudthistypeofmapprojectionin1568.
Mercedes-Benz■
1886,namedbyitsAustrianmanufacturerEmilJellinikforhisdaughter,Mercedes.Thefem.propernameisfromSp・,abbrev.ofMariadelasMercedes"MaryoftheMercies/frompl.ofmerced"mercy,grace,"fromL.mercedem(nom.merces),emercy.
mercenary(n.)。
c.1386,“onewhoworksonlyforhire/1fromL.mercenarius"onewhodoesanythingforpay,"lit."hired,paid,“frommerces(gen.mercedis)"pay,reward,wages/1frommerx(emarket).Theadj.isrecordedfrom1532.
mercer.
c.1123,"dealerintextile,nfromFr.mercier''trader,"fromV.L.^merciarius,fromL.merx(emarket).
merchandi.
c.1290,“commoditiesofcommerce/fromAnglo-Fr.marchaundi,frommarchaunt(emerchant).Theverbisrecordedfrom1382.
merchant■
c.1200,fromAnglo-Fr.marchaunt(O.Fr.marcheant,Fr.marchand),fromV.L.^mercatantem(nom.^mercatans)nabuyer/prp.of^mercatare,freq,ofL.mercari"totrade”(emarket).
Mercia■
Anglo-SaxonkingdomoftheMidlands,LatinizedfromO.E.Mierce"menoftheMarches,nfrommearc(emarch(nJ).
mercurial/139。,"pertainingtotheplanetMercury"(eMercury).Meaning"sprightly,volatile,quick"(1593)isfromsuppodqualitiesofthobornundertheplanetMercury,probablypartiallybyassociationwithquicksilver.
MercuryOc.1150,fromL.Mercurius"Mercury/1theRomangod,originallyagodoftradesmenandthieves,frommerx"merchandi;"orperhapsfromEtruscanandinfl.bymerx.LaterhewasassociatedwithGk.Hermes.TheplanetclosttothesunsocalledinclassicalL.(c.1386inEng.).Senofnsilver-whitemetal,quicksilver"isfirstrecordedc.1386,whenelementswerecommonlyassociatedalchemicallywiththeplanets.Thisoneprobablysoassociatedforitsmobility.
mercy。
c.1175,"God'sforgivenessofhiscreatures*offens/*fromO.Fr.mercit,merci"reward,gift,kindness/*fromL.mercedem(nom.merces)"reward,wages,hire"(inV.L."favor,pity"),frommerx(gen.mercis)“wares,merchandi.HInChurchL.(6c.)appliedtotheheavenlyrewardofthowhoshowkindnesstothehelpless.Meaning"dispositiontoforgiveorshowcompassion"isattestedfromc.1225.Asaninterjection,attestedfromc.1240.InFr.largelysuperdedbymiricordeexceptasawordofthanks.Seatofmercy"goldencoveringoftheArkoftheCovenant0(1530)isTyndale'sloan-translationofLuther'sgnadenstuhl,aninexactrenderingofHeb.kapporeth,lit.npropitiatory.Hmerd。
“dung,“1477,fromFr.merde,fromL.merda"dung,"ofunknownorigin.
mere(adj.)。
c.1400,''unmixed,''fromO.Fr.mier"pure,entire,"fromL.merusnunmixed,pure,bare/*udofwine,probablyoriginallynclear,bright/1fromPIE^mer-ntogleam,glimmer,sparkle11(cf.O.E.amerian"topurify/*O.Ir.emer"notclear/Skt.maricih"ray,beam,”Gk.marmareinntogleam,glimmer").Originalnofnnothinglessthan,absolute"(1536,nowonlyinvestigessuchasmerefolly)existedforcenturiesalongsideoppositenof“nothingmorethan"(1581,e.g.ameredream).
mere(n.)O.E.merena,lake,pool,pond,"fromP.Gmc.^mari(cf.O.N.marr,O.S.meri"a/Du.meer"lake,"O.H.G.mari,Ger.Meer“a,”Goth,marei“a,"mari-saiws"lake"),fromPIE^mori-/^mari"a”(cf.L.mare,O.C.S.morje,Rus.more,Lith.mares,O.Ir.muir,Welshmor"a,"GaulishAre-morici“peoplelivingnearthea").
meretricious1626,fromL.meretricius"oforpertainingtoprostitutes/1frommeretrix(gen.meretricis)''prostitute,"lit."womanwhoearnsmoney/frommerere,mereri"toearn,gain”(emerit).
merganr
merganr
typeofduck,1752,fromMod.L.(1555),fromL.mergus''waterfowl,diver,nfrommergere"todip,immer0(emerge)+anr"goo”(egoo).
merge。
1636,ntoplungeorsinkinJfromL.mergerentodip,immer/1probablyrhotacizedfrom^mezgo,andcognatewithSkt.majjati“divesunder/1Lith.mazgojuntowash."Legalnofnabsorptionofanestate,contract,etc.intoanother"isfrom1726.Merger(n.)inthebusinessnfirstrecorded1889;notcommonuntilc.1926.
meridian。
c・138o,''noon;'fromO.Fr.meridien,fromL.meridianus"ofnoon,southern/1frommeridies"noon,south,nfrommeridie"atnoon,"alteredbydissimilationfrompre-L.^medieidie,loc.ofmedius"mid-''+dies''day''(ediurnal).Cartographicnfirstrecorded1391.
meringue
meringue
1706,fromFr.meringue,ofunknownorigin.
merino"fine-woolbreedofsheepJ1781,fromSp.,possiblyfromAr.Merini,aBerberfamilyortribeofsheepfarmersinnorthwestAfricawhoanimalswereimportedintoSpain14C.-15C.toimprovelocalbreeds.OrfromL.majorinus,frommajor"greaterJeitherinref.tosizeoftheanimalsorfromSp.derivativemerino(n.)“overerofcattlepastures,"alsoatitleofjudicialofficers.
merism。
nsynecdocheinwhichtotalityixpresdbycontrastingparts11(e.g.highandlow,youngandold),1894,fromMod.L.merismus,fromGk.merismos"dividing,partition/1frommerizein"todivide/*frommeros"part.”merit(n.)。
C.1300,fromO.Fr.merite,fromL.meritum“dert,reward,merit/*neut.ofmeritus,pp.ofmerere,meririntoearn,derve,acquire,gain,“fromPIEba^(s)mer-ntoallot,assign"(cf.Gk.meros"part,lotJmoira"share,fateJmoros"fate,destiny,doom/Hittitemarkntodivide11asacrifice).Theverbmeaning"tobeentitledtonisfrom1526.L.meritare,freq,ofmereri,meant"toearn(money),torveasasoldier."Merit-mongerwasincommonu16c.-17c.inanroughlyof"do-gooder."Meritocracycoined1958byMichaelYoungandudintitleofhisbook,nTheRioftheMeritocracy.rtmeritorious.
1432,fromL.meritorius"thatforwhichmoneyispaid,thatbywhichmoneyiarned,"frommeritus,pp.ofmerere(emerit(〃.))・merkin
"femalepudenda,"1535,apparentlyavariantofmalkin(q.v.)initsnof"mop."Meaningnartificialvaginaor1counterfeithairforawoman'sprivyparts*"isattestedfrom1617.Accordingto"TheOxfordCompaniontotheBody,"thecustomofwearingmerkinsdatesfromc.1450,wasassociatedwithprostitutes,andwastodisguieitherpubichairshavedofftoexterminatebodyliceorevidenceofvenerealdia.
nThisputastrangeWhiminhisHead;whichwas,togetthehairycircleof[aprostituted]Merkin....Thishedry!dwell,andcomb'dout,andthenreturn*dtotheCardinall,tellinghim,hehadbroughtSt.Peter'sBeard.M[AlexanderSmith,"ACompleteHistoryoftheLivesandRobberiesofthemostnotoriousHighwaymen/1714]
merlin。
''small,strongEuropeanfalcon/10.1325,fromAnglo-Fr.merilun,anapheticformofO.Fr.esmerillon(Fr.emerillon),fromFrank."smiril(cf.O.H.G.smerlo,Ger.Schmerl“merlin").Sp.esmerejort,It.smeriglioalsoareGmc.loan-words.
Merlin。
sorcererandsoothsayerinArthurianlegends,fromO.Fr.formofWelshMyrddhin,probablyfromO.Celt.^Mori-dunon,lit.nofthea-hill,nfrom*morznan+dunom"hilL”merlon■
“solidpartofabattlement/11704,fromFr.merlon,fromIt.merlone,aug.ofmerlo''battlement,"perhapsacontractionofmergola,dim.ofL.mergaeHtwo-prongedpitchfork."
mermaid
0.1386,mermayde,lit."maidofthea,“fromM.E.mere"a,lake”(emere(n.))+maid(q.v.).O.E.hadequivalentmerewif(ewife).Tail-lessinnorthernEurope;thefishyformisamedievalinfluencefromclassicalsirens.Afavoritesignoftavernssinceatleast1428.Mermanisalaterformation(1601).
Merovingian.
1694,fromFr.Merovingien,fromM.L.Merovingi,“descendantsofMeroveus,1"(mythical?)ancestorofthelineofFrank.kingsinGaul(c.500-752)beginningwithClovis;thenameisaLatinizationofO.H.G.Mar-wig“famed-fight''+Gmc.patronymicsuffix-ing.
merry。
O.E.myrige"pleasing,agreeable/fromP.Gmc.^murgyaz,whichprobablyoriginallymeant"short-lasting"(cf.O.H.G.murg"short/1Goth,gamaurgjan
"toshorten"),fromPIE^mrghu-(cf.Gk.brakhys,L.brevis“short,''ebrief(adj.)).Connectionto"pleasure"islikelyvianotionof,makingtimefly"(cf.Ger.Kurzweil"pastime,nlit."ashorttime;"O.N.skemta“toamu/fromskamt,neut.ofskammr“short").TheonlyexactcognateformeaningoutsideEng.wasinM.Du.(cf.M.Du.mergelyc"joyful"、Forvowelevolution,ebury.
"Botvchonenlewewoldewerefyf,bemopemyryer.H[c.1300]
ThewordhadmuchwidernsinM.E.,e・g・"pleasant-sounding”(ofanimalvoices),"fine”(ofweather),"handsome”(ofdress),npleasant-tastingn(ofherbs).Merry-makingisattestedfrom1714;merry-manncompanionorfollowerofaknight,outlaw,etc."isattestedfromc.1386.Thefirstrecordofmerry-go-roundisfrom1729.Merry-bout"anincidentofxualintercour"waslowslangfrom1780.Merry-begot"illegitimate"(adj.),nbastardn(n.)isfrom1785.MerrieEngland(nowfrequentlysatiricalorironic)is14c.meriingland,originallyinabroadernof"bountiful,prosperous.0MerryMondaywas16c.termfor“theMondaybeforeShroveTuesday”(MardiGras).
MerryWidow
1907,fromtheEng.titleofFranzLehar'soperetta"DieLustigeWitwef,(1905)."TheLustyWidow"wouldhavebeenmoreliteral,butwouldhavegiventhewrongimpressioninEng.Meaningnatypeofwide-brimmedhat”(popularizedintheplay)isattestedfrom1908.
merry-andrew■
"abuffoon;azany;ajack-pudding”[Johnson],originally"mountebank'sassistant/11673,frommerry+masc.propernameAndrew,butthereisnocertainidentificationwithanindividual.
mesa
"hightableland,"1759,fromSp.mesa,lit."table,“fromL.mensa"table”(cf.Rum.masa,O.Fr.moi"table").
mesalliance
"marriagewithapersonoflowersocialposition,"1782,fromFr.mesalliance,frompejorativeprefixmes-(fromL.mis-)+alliance.
mescal.
1702,“plantofthegenusAgave,11foundindertsofMexicoandsouthwesternU.S.,esp.theAmericanaloe,ormagueyplant,fromMex.Sp.,fromNahuatl(Aztec)mexcalli"fermenteddrinkmadefromagave/1frommetlnagave"+ixcalli"stew."Meaning“intoxicatingliquorfromfermentedjuiceoftheagave”isattestedfrom1828.Alsothenameofasmalldertcactus(peyote)foundinnorthernMexicoandsouthernTexas.
mescali