| 词组 | parlous |
| 释义 | parlous That this old adjective, both a synonym and a derivative of perilous, has experienced a resurrection in the 20th century is a development noted with varying degrees of disapproval by Fowler 1926, Krapp 1927, and Evans 1957. By and large, the critics regard the word as an archaic affectation. It continues in fairly common use, however, occurring most frequently as a modifier of state and times: • ... such being the parlous state of my nursery culture —Robert Craft, Stravinsky, 1972 • ... reflected the league's parlous state —Clive Gammon, Sports Illustrated, 5 Oct. 1981 • ... seem unaware of the parlous state of the world economy —Paul Lewis, N.Y. Times Book Rev., 26 Dec. 1982 • But these were parlous times —John Brooks, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 1973 • ... appropriate for these parlous economic times — Phyllis Feldkamp, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sept. 1979 • Yes, these are parlous times on Publishers Row — Ray Walters, N.Y. Times Book Rev., 18 July 1982 Its use with other nouns is less common, but not rare: • Each one of these parlous, impatient maneuvers — Roger Angell, New Yorker, 10 May 1982 • ... the parlous pursuit of independence —Edward Boyer, Fortune, 5 Sept. 1983 • ... as the world became decidedly more unstable and parlous —R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., American Spectator, October 1984 parson Copperud 1970, 1980 is displeased with dictionaries because they do not reflect the opinion of Evans 1957 that in the U.S. the word parson is humorous or archaic and of Bernstein 1965 that it is provincial. This body of opinion seems to have been in circulation since Vizetelly 1906; he considered that parson detracted from the dignity of the office. Vizetelly may have had in mind the common use of parson in the writings of 19th century American humorists. But dictionaries can't depend on a single area of usage for their treatment of a word. Dictionaries have to take into account such uses as these—not humorous, not rustic, not archaic, not provincial, not contemptuous: • Bob Richards, the "pole-vaulting parson," has been awarded the Sullivan Trophy for 1951 —My Weekly Reader, 22 Feb. 1952 • And how, some too-often-exhorted parson is bound to ask, is all this to be done while pastor and church are expected to carry on a year-long, rounded program long ago laid down by the denomination? — Christian Century, 28 Oct. 1953 • The son of an impecunious Episcopal parson, he went to work at the age of fourteen —E. J. Kahn, Jr., New Yorker, 10 May 1952 Humorous use still exists too: • India was always the parson among nations. • "Oh, oh!" all the other nations would say when they saw India coming down the street. "Hide the guns under the table and get rid of the loaded dice. Here comes India." —Russell Baker, N.Y. Times Mag., 9 June 1974 |
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