
oracle
词源
源自拉丁语 'oraculum'(神谕),来自 'orare'(说话、祈祷)。14世纪通过古法语进入英语。
noun
❶ 在古希腊宗教中,指能传达神谕或预言的祭司或女祭司,也指神谕本身。通常与德尔斐等著名神庙相关。
“The priestess at Delphi was the most famous oracle in ancient Greece.”
(德尔斐的女祭司是古希腊最著名的神谕传达者。)
“People traveled from afar to consult the oracle about their future.”
(人们远道而来向神谕咨询他们的未来。)
❶ 现代用法中,指被认为能提供权威建议或准确预测的人或事物,常带有夸张或幽默色彩。
“My grandfather was the family oracle when it came to gardening advice.”
(在园艺建议方面,我的祖父是家里的权威。)
“The economist was treated as an oracle on stock market trends.”
(这位经济学家被视为股市趋势的预言家。)
常见短语
Oracle of Delphi — 特指古希腊德尔斐神庙中传达阿波罗神谕的女祭司,历史上最著名的神谕来源。
“The Oracle of Delphi played a significant role in Greek political decisions.”
(德尔斐神谕在希腊政治决策中发挥了重要作用。)
consult the oracle — 向权威或专家寻求建议的比喻说法,源自古代向神谕咨询的传统。
“Before making the big investment, he wanted to consult the oracle of Wall Street.”
(在进行重大投资前,他想咨询华尔街的权威人士。)