| 释义 |
▪ I. lyric, a. and n.|ˈlɪrɪk|
Also 6 lirick, 6–7 lirique, 7 lyrike, 7–8 lyrick.
[a. F. lyrique, or ad. L. lyric-us, a. Gr. λυρικός, f. λύρα lyre1.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to the lyre; adapted to the lyre, meant to be sung; pertaining to or characteristic of song. Now used as the name for short poems (whether or not intended to be sung), usually divided into stanzas or strophes, and directly expressing the poet's own thoughts and sentiments. Hence, applied to the poet who composes such poems. lyric drama, lyric stage, the opera.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xi. 20 They were called Lirique Poets. 1664Dryden Rival Ladies Ep. Ded., This sweetness of Mr. Waller's lyric poesy was afterwards followed in the epic by Sir John Denham. 1671Milton P.R. iv. 257 æolian charms and Dorian Lyric Odes. a1727Newton Chronol. Amended i. (1728) 59 Terpander was a Lyric Poet. 1778Johnson L.P., Dryden, Quatrains of lines alternately consisting of eight and six syllables make the most soft and pleasing of our lyric measures. 1825W. Ayrton Let. 5 Apr. in J. Ebers Seven Yrs. King's Theatre (1828) 255 Signor Tramezzani,..one of the finest singers and actors that ever graced the lyric stage, took the character of Guglielmo. 1838Thirlwall Greece II. xii. 125 The tyrants likewise cherished the lyric Muse. 1842Ainsworth's Mag. I. 183 Still we hail with undiminished delight the lyric drama. 1849Ticknor Sp. Lit. III. 8 Herrera is too lyric..to write good elegies. 1873Ruskin Fors Clav. III. xxxiv. 6 Lyric poetry is the expression by the poet of his own feelings. 1877G. B. Shaw How to become Mus. Critic (1960) 22 The most exciting situation in lyric drama—the duet in the fourth act of Les Huguenots. Ibid. 28 It requires a faculty for light comedy, which is almost unknown on the lyric stage. 1880V. Lee Stud. Italy ii. iii. 38 Poetry which is lyric in spirit as well as in metre. 1938Oxf. Compan. Mus. 526/2 Lyric Drama, another name for opera, covering all kinds. The term is applied not so much to any particular work as to the whole class—i.e. opera as distinct from the spoken play. 1957Oxf. Compan. Theatre 589/1 Beethoven's..solitary contribution to the lyric stage, ‘Fidelio’ (1805). 1958A. Jacobs New Dict. Mus. 218 Lyric drama, occasional synonym for opera (especially in French, as drame lyrique); hence also the lyric stage, i.e. the operatic stage.
2. Of persons: Given to song; singing-. poet.
1814Southey Roderick xxi. Poet. Wks. IX. 203 A richer, stronger strain Than that with which the lyric lark salutes The new-born day. 1820Keats Cap & Bells iv, While little harps were touch'd by many a lyric fay. 1871Browning Balaust. 186 Here she stands, Balaustion! Strangers, greet the lyric girl!
B. n.
1. absol. (with the): That which is lyrical; lyric style, verse, etc.
1586W. Webbe Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 86 The most vsuall kindes [of verse] are foure, the Heroic, Elegiac, Iambick, and Lyric... Sometime the Lyric ryseth aloft, sometime the comicall. 1821Bryon Juan iii. lxxxv, His muse made increment of anything, From the high lyric down to the low rational.
†2. A lyric poet. Obs.
1594R. Ashley tr. Loys le Roy 69 There hath bin a great companie of Tragicks, Comicks, Elegiacks, Lyricks [etc.]. 1630R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlem. (1641) 107 Horace, the most delicate of all the Roman Lyricks. 1699Bentley Phal. 40 Simonides would speak thus of one of his Contemporary Lyrics. 1710Steele Tatler No. 214 ⁋3 That ancient Lyric, M. D'Urfey. 1839tr. Lamartine's Trav. East 82/1 He is the first of sentimental poets!—the king of lyrics!
3. A lyric poem. Also pl., verses in lyric metre.
1581Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 62 In the Earle of Surries Liricks, many things..worthy of a noble minde. 1714Gay Sheph. Week, Wednesday 16 At Wakes..Where D—y's Lyricks swell in every Voice. 1758Johnson Idler No. 2 ⁋6 The cook warbles her lyricks in the kitchen. a1849H. Coleridge Ess. (1851) II. 29 An Eton boy follows Virgil in longs, Tibullus in longs and shorts, and Horace in lyrics. 1879Fortn. Rev. No. 155. 692 Wordsworth's fame will rest upon his lyrics, if we extend the term to include his odes, sonnets, and some narrative poems in stanzas.
4. The words of a popular song; freq. pl. Also attrib., as lyric-writer.
1876Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms 276/2 Lyric, poetry or blank verse intended to be set to music and sung. 1927Melody Maker Aug. 759/3 On July 8 Edgar Leslie, the prolific and most successful lyric writer in America, arrived in London. 1933Punch 16 Aug. 180/3 The gramophone plunged fervently into that lyric called ‘I've Got a Date with an Angel’. 1934C. Lambert Music Ho! iv. 272 The lowbrow poet—the type of writer who in the nineteenth century produced ‘Champagne Charlie’ and now produces revue lyrics. 1938Oxf. Compan. Mus. 526/2 Another well-known poet constantly advertises himself in the British musical press as ‘Lyric Author{ddd}2,000 songs{ddd}not one failure to give great pleasure’. 1946E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh (1947) II. 132 They all join in a jeering chorus, rapping with knuckles or glasses on the table at the indicated spot in the lyric. 1958Times 2 Aug. 7/4 Teenagers in Minneapolis, believing that the words of some ‘pop’ songs can encourage juvenile crime, have..‘opened a nation-wide ‘better lyrics’ contest’. 1967Listener 3 Aug. 130/1 Having introduced a new sound in the music, they saw that they had next to change the type of lyric. 1968Ibid. 7 Nov. 610/1 According to Mick Farren, lyric-writer of the Deviants: ‘Pop music is..the last free medium.’ 1972Jazz & Blues Sept. 12/1 The banality of the lyrics. 1973Listener 19 Apr. 522/1 The bo' weevil fugues..in blues lyrics.
▪ II. † lyric, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec.]
trans. To sing (over) in a lyrical manner.
a1704T. Brown Lett. fr. Dead to Living ii. (1707) 163 Parson Punch..Lyricks over his part in an Anthem very handsomly. 1711E. Ward Quix. I. 383 The Songster Lyrick'd o'er with all His Skill the following Madrigal. |
