【英语学习】【WOTD】cap-a-pie 释义/词源/示例

本文链接：https://blog.csdn.net/qq_43401808/article/details/88376402

本文探讨了中世纪骑士的术语'cap-a-pie'，意为从头到脚全副武装。这个词源自16世纪的Middle French，现在常用于比喻意义上，如对批评的全副武装。文章还讨论了其可能衍生的短语'apple-pie order'。

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文章目录

Podcast
cap-a-pie *adv.* [kap-uh-PEE]
Definition
Did You Know?
Examples
Reference
- Medieval Knight

Podcast

cap-a-pie postcast

cap-a-pie adv. [kap-uh-PEE]

全身地；完全地

Definition

: from head to foot
：从头到脚地；全身地，完全地；

Did You Know?

Think of a medieval knight riding off to battle completely encased (from head to foot, as it were) in armor. Knights thus outfitted were said to be “armed cap-a-pie.” The term cap-a-pie (or cap-à-pie), which has been used in English since at least the 16th century, descends from the Middle French phrase de cap a pé, meaning “from head to foot.” Nowadays, it is generally extended to more figurative armor, as in “armed cap-a-pie against criticism.” Cap-a-pie has also been credited with parenting another English phrase. Some people think the expression “apple-pie order,” meaning “prefect order,” may have originated as a corruption of “cap-a-pie order.” The evidence for that theory is far from orderly, however, and it must be regarded as speculative.

词源词根演化：cap-à-pie --> cap-a-pie

想象一下，中世纪的骑士全副武装地（从头到脚都包在盔甲里）向战场出发。这种穿着的骑士被称为“armed cap-a-pie，从头到脚全副武装”。自从16世纪起，cap-a-pie（或cap-à-pie）就在英语中使用了，意思是“从头到脚”。不过现在更多的用于表示“比喻意义上的盔甲”，例如“armed cap-a-pie against criticism，对于批评满副盔甲”。cap-a-pie还被认为是另一个英语短语的源头。一些人认为apple-pie order，意思是“整整齐齐”，可能起源于cap-a-pie的恶用。但是这个理论的证据却十分不完善，只能当作是一种推测。

注：medieval：中世纪；outfit：v. 装备

Examples

The birthday girl — dressed cap-a-pie as a princess, from tiara to sequined slippers — waited excitedly for her guess to arrive.
过生日的那个小女孩，全身上下都打扮成了公主模样，从头上的公主王冠，到脚上金光闪闪的鞋子，激动地等待客人的到来。

注：tiara：公主的王冠；sequined：衣物上装饰用的小金属片

tiara	sequined slippers

“When they all appear at the elegant ball for the Prince of Wales, the men’s outfits outshine the women’s and the villain of the story, the French fanatic Chauvelin, cap-a-pie in ominous black, makes a striking contrast.”
— Marie D. Galyean, The Boise (Idaho) Weekly, 9 Aug. 2006

当他们出现在威尔士王子的豪华舞会上时，男人们的着装盖过了女人们的，故事中的反派角色，法国的极端分子Chauvelin，从头到脚身着不详的黑色，形成了一种强烈的对比。

注：ball：舞会；outfit：着装；outshine：优于，亮过；villain：反派，坏人，恶棍；fanatic：狂热分子，极端分子，盲信者；ominous：不祥的，预兆的；