小词详解 | demur

小词详解 | demur
demur 英 [dɪˈmɜː(r)] 美 [dɪˈmɜːr]
外刊例句

  • He even briefly considered running for political office, though ultimately demurred. Old habits die hard.
    他甚至一度考虑竞选公职,不过最终还是打了退堂鼓。本性难移啊。
    ——《经济学人》
  • If I demur, I land in the chapter about how sad it is that our kids are so overstressed.
    如果我提出异议,我们就开始感叹,现在的孩子压力太大,真是可怜。
    ——《纽约时报》

基本释义

[verb] raise doubts or objections or show reluctance
[动词] 提出疑问、异议或表现不情愿

深入解读

Demur 源自拉丁语 demorari (徘徊、闲荡、逗留),原本也指“逗留、停留、拖延”,到了17世纪20年代开始在法律领域表示“抗辩、表示异议”,强调暂时承认对方诉讼的事实,但否认其有权获得法律赔偿,比如:

  • 特殊抗辩事由
    the special demurring reasons

然后到了17世纪30年代, demur 又从法律用词延伸为一个较为正式的通用单词,指“反对、提出异议”或“有所怀疑、犹豫、顾忌、不情愿”,比如:

  • 她开始表示反对,但最终还是同意了。
    At first she demurred, but then finally agreed.
  • 他对卷入这种可疑行为有顾忌。
    He demurred from being involved in such questionable practices.

用作名词时, demur 自然表示“反对、异议、迟疑、犹豫、顾虑、不愿”,常见搭配为 without demur (毫无异议、毫不犹豫),比如:

  • 毫无异议地接受批评
    accept the criticism without demur
  • 她毫不犹豫地这样做了。
    She did so without demur.

名著用例

After some delay and demur, the door grudgingly turned on its hinges a very little way, and allowed Mr. Jerry Cruncher to squeeze himself into court.
在一阵耽误和踌躇之后,那门很不情愿地开了一条缝,让杰瑞·克朗彻挤进了法庭。

出自英国作家查尔斯·狄更斯(Charles Dickens)所著的长篇历史小说《双城记》(A Tale of Two Cities)。该小说以法国大革命为背景,情节感人肺腑,是世界文学经典名著之一。其主要思想是为了爱而自我牺牲,书名中的“双城”指的是巴黎与伦敦。

同近义词

  • object: say something to express one's disapproval of or disagreement with something
  • cavil: make petty or unnecessary objections
  • dissent: hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed