| 释义 |
Tongan, a. and n.|ˈtɒŋən|
[f. Tonga (see def.) + -an.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to the island kingdom of Tonga in the south-west Pacific Ocean.
B. n. A native of Tonga. Also, the Polynesian language spoken in Tonga.
[1818J. Martin in Mariner & Martin Acct. Natives Tonga Islands p. iii, Having written down sundry examples in English,..I gave them to Mr. Mariner to translate into Tonga.] 1853J. E. Erskine Jrnl. Cruise Western Pacific iv. 119 The group has from time immemorial formed part of the Tongan dominions. Ibid. iv. 157 In imitation of the Feejeeans, the Tongans have occasionally practised cannibalism. 1897S. W. Baker Eng. & Tongan Vocab. ii. iii. 35 The present tense in the Tongan language..for which we have two forms in English... In Tongan..there is but one form. 1901, etc. [see Niuean n. and a.]. 1927J. S. Huxley Relig. without Revelation vi. 183 The Tongans became..the most virulent Sabbatarians. 1939G. Blamires Little Island Kingdom of South 13 We had at least five anthems that evening, some of Tongan composition, others European, in the latter case the words being translated into Tongan. 1951R. Firth Elem. Social Organization iii. 105 Every male Tongan is entitled by law when he becomes a taxpayer to receive a residential plot of land in a village or town. 1966Listener 13 Jan. 62/1, I wrote it out in Tongan. 1972Vogue June (Special no.) 135/1 Rate of exchange: 2·14 Tongan dollars to {pstlg}1. 1976S. R. Anderson in Symposium on Subject & Topic 3 A language in which ergativity is indicated by case marking alone is Tongan. 1978Times 17 Jan. 17/4 Captain Cook..noted that Tongans boxed in much the same way as the English. |
