| 词组 | epitome |
| 释义 | epitome The best-known sense of epitome is "a typical or ideal example," "embodiment." A few usage writers mention that epitome can be used of something bad as well as something good; this is true. • He was the epitome of the ruthless business titan — S. N. Behrman, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 1951 • ... can be the epitome of evil —Southern Living, April 1972 Even when used with the intended meaning "embodiment," epitome can sometimes be interpreted as meaning "acme," "high point." • To me it [a country store] seemed the epitome of plenty and luxury —Delia Lutes, The Country Kitchen, 1936 • Such rides are my earliest recollection. They remain in memory as the epitome of happiness —Frank Swinnerton, Tokefield Papers, 1949 • ... those jobs at IBM and Chase Manhattan many ... view as the epitome of success —Stephen V. Roberts, Commonweal, 30 Jan. 1970 Harper 1985 and others advise against using epitome to mean "acme." The problem with sentences such as these last three examples is that there is no certain way to tell from the context whether the intended meaning is "embodiment" or "acme." In fact, we currently lack any clear-cut evidence that epitome is intentionally used to mean "acme" (for instance, in a sentence such as "that hit play was the epitome of her career"), and so we have not recognized this aspect of meaning as a distinct sense in our dictionaries. Such a sense, however, may be developing. |
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