【英语学习】【WOTD】 nonpareil 释义/词源/示例

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nonpareil adj. [nahn-puh-REL]

[ˌnɑːnpə’rel] adj. 无法匹敌的 n. 独孤求败的人；一种巧克力商品名

Definition

: having no equal
：没有匹敌的

Did You Know？

Trace nonpareil back to its Middle French origins, and you’ll find that it comes from a term meaning “not equal.” Pareil itself comes from a Vulgar Latin form of par, which meas “equal.” Nonpareil has served as an English adjective since the 15th century, and since about the turn of the 16th century, it has also functioned as a noun describing an individual of unequaled excellence. In 1612, Captain John Smith used the term in that noun sense (but with a now-archaic spelling): “Pocahontas, Powhatan’s daughter … was the very Nomparell of this kingdome, and at most not past 13 or 14 years of age.” And as you may know, nonpareil is also the name of a chocolate candy covered with white sugar pellets.

词源词根演化：par- (“equal”) —> Pareil —> nonpareil (adj. n.)

nonpareil的起源可以追溯到中世纪法语，它来自于一个意思是“无法匹敌的”词汇。Pareil本身来自于一个通俗拉丁语形式par，意思是“相等的，相当的”。Nonpareil在从15世纪就在英语中，是一个形容词；到了16世纪之交，它也可以做名词，用于指代“优秀到独孤求败的”人。在1612年，Captain John Smith把这个词当作名词使用（在当时用古拼法，现在已经过时了）：“Pocahontas, Powhatan的女儿 …在他的王国里是无语匹敌的，至多不是过去13或14年。” 可能你也已经知道了，nonpareil还是一款上面白糖小球覆盖的巧克力的名字。

注：pellet：小球，小子弹
chocolate nonpareil：

Examples

• The chef is well-known for his mastery at creating savory entrées, but it is his dessert creations that are nonpareil.
  这位大厨以他的美味佳肴著称，但是他的甜品更加无与伦比。
  注：savory entrée ['ɒntreɪ]：美味可口的主菜

• “Louis Armstrong was a God-gifted cultural amalgamation of all the best that America has to offer: He was an artist and humanitarian of the highest order … [He] broke down artistic, racial, social, and cultural barriers. Using his nonpareil trumpet ability, he reinvented American music.”
  — Jon Batiste, quote in Billboard, 31 May 2017

  Louis Armstrong是极具天赋的文化融合人，他是美国能够给予的最好的选择：他是最高级别的艺术家与人道主义者…他打破了艺术，种族，社会与文化的壁垒。使用它无与伦比的演奏小号功力，他重新定义了美国音乐。

  注：amalgamation [əˌmælɡə’meɪʃn]: 融合，合并；cultural amalgamation：文化融合；humanitarian [hjuːˌmænɪ’teriən]：人道主义者，博爱者；trumpet：小号

Reference

Louis Armstrong

Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed Satchmo, Satch, and Pops, was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist and occasional actor who was one of the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s, and different eras in the history of jazz. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.