
age
词源
源自中古英语 'age', 古法语 'aage', 最终来自拉丁语 'aetas'(意为'时间、时期、生命时期')。
noun
❶ 指人或事物存在的时间长度,通常以年为单位计算。用于描述生命阶段(如童年、老年)或历史时期(如青铜时代)。
“She looks young for her age.”
(她看起来比实际年龄年轻。)
“The legal drinking age is 21 in this country.”
(这个国家的法定饮酒年龄是21岁。)
❶ 表示某事物存在或持续的很长时间,常带有'漫长'的隐含意义。
“I haven't seen you for ages!”
(我好久没见到你了!)
“It took ages to download the large file.”
(下载这个大文件花了很长时间。)
verb
❶ 指随着时间推移而变老或成熟的过程,可用于人或物品(如酒、奶酪等)。
“Fine wine ages well in proper conditions.”
(优质葡萄酒在适当条件下会很好地陈化。)
“He has aged gracefully over the years.”
(这些年来他优雅地老去。)
常见短语
come of age — 达到法定成年年龄或成熟阶段,常用来表示重要的发展里程碑。
“The novel describes a young man coming of age in wartime.”
(这本小说描述了一个年轻人在战争时期的成长过程。)
age before beauty — 幽默用语,表示年长者优先,常用于让年长者先行的礼貌场合。
“"Age before beauty," he said, holding the door for his elderly aunt.”
(他一边为年长的姑妈扶着门,一边说"年长者优先"。)