| 释义 |
posy Now arch. or dial.|ˈpəʊzɪ|
Forms: 6 posye, 6–9 posey, posie, 6– posy.
[A syncopated form of poesy (which, even when written in full, was often pronounced in two syllables).]
I.
1. A short motto, originally a line or verse of poetry, and usually in patterned language, inscribed on a knife, within a ring, as a heraldic motto, etc. Obs. or arch.
[c1430–1675: see poesy 3.] 1533Coronat. Q. Anne A v, Wafers with rose leaues, and about the wafers were written with letters of gold, this posey. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 160 All the stretes and waies, beyng hanged and spired with rich and costly carpets, and posies written in euery place. a1569A. Kingsmill Godly Advise (1580) 31 Some haue their fansie so led as though money made men: let this be your Posie rather,..Manners makes man. 1634Bp. Hall Contempl., N.T. iv. xii, Abrahams posie is ‘in monte providebitur’. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 86 The rest is dried Bricks covered over with Posies of Arabique and like worke. a1704T. Brown Pleasant Ep. Wks. 1730 I. 109 Our posies for rings are either immodest or irreligious. 1896Beaumont Joan Seaton 53 Joan was reading the posy [in the ring]—‘But one for me, but one for thee, but one of thee and me’.
†b. An emblem or emblematic device. Obs.
[1530Palsgr. 256/1 Poysy, devyse, or worde, deuise.] 1644Bulwer Chirol. 139 In all tacit posies of His ascention this figure..is most emphatically significant.
2. A bunch of flowers; a nosegay, a bouquet. Now somewhat arch. or rustic.
[1565Golding Ovid's Met. iv. (1567) 47 b, A gathering flowres from place to place she strayes, And (as it chaunst) the selfe same time she was a sorting gayes, To make a Poisie.] 1573Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Admoveo, Fasciculum ad nares admouebis, thou shalt put the posie to thy nose. a1593Marlowe Passionate Sheph. to his Love iii, And I will make thee beds of roses, And a thousand fragrant posies. 1742Shenstone Schoolmistr. xii, Marj'rum sweet, in shepherd's posie found. 1810Wordsw. Scenery Lakes ii. (1823) 51 The little garden..with its borders and patches of flowers for Sunday posies. 18..in J. Harland Lanc. Lyrics (1866) 64 I'll make me a posy of hyssop,—no other I can touch.
b. A collection or ‘bouquet’ of ‘flowers’ of poetry or rhetoric. Cf. anthology. arch.
a1569A. Kingsmill Comf. Afflict. (1585) C vij, If it hath pleased almightie God any thing to refresh you with this my poore posy, his will be done. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. x. (1627) 153 That booke is as a most pleasant posie, composed of all the sweet smelling flowers, picked of purpose out of all his workes. 1638R. Brathwait Barnabees Jrnl. iv. (1818) 177 Bee't so, Faustulus! there repose thee, Cheere thy country with thy posie. 1879E. W. Gosse in Academy 11 Jan. 26/1 To collect..from [these] pages a posy of funny stories and gay quips.
† II. 3. Sometimes in the sense of poesy 2, a poetical production. Obs.
1578Florio 1st Fruites 52 Gioconde was the Emperor Gratian when he read the Posies of Ausonius. 1581G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. ii. (1586) 63 Those, who..reade Comedies, and other posies. 1645Harwood Loyal Subj. Retiring-room 16 Make them into a Posey.
III. 4. attrib. (or as adj.) and Comb., as posy-bouquet, posy-maker; dial. having a flowery pattern, flowered, as posy gown, posy waistcoat; posy-ring, a finger-ring with a motto inside.
1626T. H[awkins] Caussin's Holy Crt. 3 The diuine Prouidence is a skilfull Posy-maker, who knoweth artificially how to mingle all sortes of flowers, to make the Nose-gay of the Elect. 1859Thackeray Virgin. xxx, He has bought posey-rings at Tunbridge Fair. 1863Robson Bards Tyne 89 Peg shall hev a posey gown, To mense her when she comes to town. Ibid. 492 A posy waiscoat aw hev got. 1896Beaumont Joan Seaton 53 A posy-ring set with two rows of small pearls. |
