英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

pyrotechnic (adj.)[pyrotechnic 词源字典]: 1704, "of or pertaining to fire;" 1825, "of or pertaining to fireworks," from pyro- + Greek tekhnikos "made by art," from tekhne "art" (see techno-). Figurative use attested from 1847. Related: Pyrotechnical (1610s, from pyrotechny "use of gunpowder," 1570s).[pyrotechnic etymology, pyrotechnic origin, 英语词源]
pyrotechnician (n.): 1729, from pyrotechnic + -an.
pyrotechnics (n.): 1729, from pyrotechnic (also see -ics). Figurative sense is from 1901.
Pyrrhic (adj.): 1885 (usually in phrase Pyrrhic victory), from Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who defeated Roman armies at Asculum, 280 B.C.E., but at such cost to his own troops that he was unable to follow up and attack Rome itself, and is said to have remarked, "one more such victory and we are lost."
pyrrhic (n.): "dance in armor" (1590s), also a type of metrical foot (1620s), from Latin pyrrhicha, from Greek pyrrikhe orkhesis, the war-dance of ancient Greece, traditionally named for its inventor, Pyrrikhos. The name means "reddish," from pyrros "flame-colored," from pyr "fire," from PIE root *paəwr- "fire" (see fire (n.)). As an adjective from 1749.
Pyrrhonic (adj.): 1590s, "pertaining to Pyrrho" (c. 360-c. 275 B.C.E.), skeptic philosopher of Elis, who held the impossibility of attaining certainty of knowledge. Related: Pyrrhonism; Pyrrhonist.
Pythagorean (adj.): 1540s, from Latin Pythagoreus "of or pertaining to Pythagoras," Greek philosopher of Samos (6c. B.C.E.), whose teachings included transmigration of the soul and vegetarianism (these are some of the commonest early allusions in English). The Pythagorean theorem is the 47th of the first book of Euclid.
Pythia (n.): "priestess of Apollo at Delphi," 1842, from Greek pythia (hiereia) "(Priestess) of Pythian Apollo, from a variant form of Pythios, an epithet of Apollo, from Pytho, older name of the region of Delphi (see python).
Pythian (adj.): c. 1600, "pertaining to Delphi or Delphic Apollo," from Pythia + -an. As a noun from 1590s.
python (n.): 1580s, fabled serpent, slain by Apollo near Delphi, from Latin Python, from Greek Python "serpent slain by Apollo," probably related to Pytho, the old name of Delphi, perhaps itself related to pythein "to rot," or from PIE *dhubh-(o)n-, from *dheub- "hollow, deep, bottom, depths," and used in reference to the monsters who inhabit them. Zoological application to large non-venomous snakes of the tropics is from 1836, originally in French.
Pythonesque (adj.): 1975, in reference to the style of humor popularized by British TV series "Monty Python's Flying Circus."
pythoness (n.): late 14c., "woman with the power of soothsaying," from Old French phitonise (13c.), from Late Latin pythonissa, used in Vulgate of the Witch of Endor (I Sam. xxviii:7), and often treated as her proper name, literally fem. of pytho "familiar spirit;" which ultimately is connected with the title of the prophetess of the Delphic Oracle, Greek pythia hiereia, from Pythios, an epithet of Apollo, from Pytho, older name of the region of Delphi (see python).
pyuria (n.): 1811, from pyo- + -uria (see urine).
pyx (n.): c. 1400, "a box," especially the vessel in which the host or consecrated bread is preserved, from Latin pyxis, from Greek pyxis "box-wood; a box," from pyxos "box-wood; box-tree," of uncertain origin.
predicative: "(Of an adjective or noun) forming or contained in the predicate, as old in the dog is old (but not in the old dog) and house in there is a large house", Mid 19th century: from Latin praedicativus, from praedicat- 'declared' (in medieval Latin 'predicated'), from the verb praedicare (see predicate).
pallium: "A woollen vestment conferred by the Pope on an archbishop, consisting of a narrow circular band placed round the shoulders with a short lappet hanging from front and back", Middle English: from Latin, literally 'covering'.
pinfold: "A pound for stray animals", Late Old English pundfald, from a base shared by pond and pound³ + fold².
palaeontology: "The branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants", Mid 19th century: from palaeo- + Greek onta 'beings' (neuter plural of ōn, present participle of einai 'be') + -logy.
palatal: "Relating to the palate", Early 18th century: from French, from Latin palatum (see palate).
plaudits: "Praise", Early 17th century: plaudit shortened from Latin plaudite 'applaud!' (said by Roman actors at the end of a play), imperative plural of plaudere.