万物简史 第518期:丰富多彩的生命(14)
英语课
The intention originally was to use the binomial system for everything — rocks, minerals, diseases, winds, whatever existed in nature. 他本打算把双名体系用于自然界中的一切，如岩石、矿物质、疾病、风等等。
Not everyone embraced the system warmly. 然而，不是人人都热情地赞成那种体系。
Many were disturbed by its tendency toward indelicacy, 许多人为这个体系往往比较粗俗而感到不安。
which was slightly ironic 1 as before Linnaeus the common names of many plants and animals had been heartily 2 vulgar. 这有点儿讽刺意味，因为在林奈之前，许多植物和动物的俗名也是很低级的。
The dandelion was long popularly known as the "pissabed" because of its supposed diuretic properties, 蒲公英被认为具有利尿作用，因此在很长时间里被从们称做“尿壶”。
and other names in everyday use included mare's fart, naked ladies, twitch-ballock, hound's piss, open arse, and bum-towel. 别的常用的名称包括母马之屁、裸体小姐、抽动的睾丸、猎狗之尿、光屁股和大便巾。
One or two of these earthy appellations 3 may unwittingly survive in English yet. 一两个这类粗俗的名称也许在无意中还保留在英语里。
The "maidenhair" in maidenhair moss 4, for instance, does not refer to the hair on the maiden's head. 比如，少女之发苔藓（即铁线苔藓）中的“少女之发”并不是指少女头上的头发。
At all events, it had long been felt that the natural sciences would be appreciably 5 dignified 6 by a dose of classical renaming, 总之，长期以来人们觉得，自然科学里有的名称应当以传统的方式来重新命名，使之更加严肃。
so there was a certain dismay in discovering that the self-appointed Prince of Botany had sprinkled his texts with such designations as Cliforia, Fornicata, and Fulva. 因此，当他们发现那位自封的植物王子竟然在他的作品里不时插入阴蒂属、性交属和外阴属这类名称，大家不免觉得有点儿不快。
Over the years many of these were quietly dropped 在随后的年月里，许多这类名称渐渐地被弃之不用
(though not all: the common slipper 7 limpet still answers on formal occasions to Crepidula fornicata) （虽然不是全部：普通的笠贝在正式场合仍被称做性交履螺属），
and many other refinements 8 introduced as the needs of the natural sciences grew more specialized 9. 为了满足自然科学越来越专门化的需要，又引入了许多别的高雅名称。
In particular the system was bolstered 10 by the gradual introduction of additional hierarchies 11. 尤其是，那个体系又渐渐采纳了一批等级名称作为基本架构。
adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的
- That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
- People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。
adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很
- He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
- The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。
n.名称，称号( appellation的名词复数 )
- The list of odd appellations goes on, and anything goes-just name it. 像这种奇怪的名字还有许多，但一切还在继续-----学一句流行词，想取就取吧。 来自互联网
- In the present Chinese characters teaching, the radicals' appellations cause much confusion. 目前的识字教学中，部首的名称较混乱。 来自互联网
n.苔，藓，地衣
- Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
- He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。
adv.相当大地
- The index adds appreciably to the usefulness of the book. 索引明显地增加了这本书的实用价值。
- Otherwise the daily mean is perturbed appreciably by the lunar constituents. 否则，日平均值就会明显地受到太阳分潮的干扰。
a.可敬的，高贵的
- Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
- He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
n.拖鞋
- I rescued the remains of my slipper from the dog.我从那狗的口中夺回了我拖鞋的残留部分。
- The puppy chewed a hole in the slipper.小狗在拖鞋上啃了一个洞。
n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作
- The new model has electric windows and other refinements. 新型号有电动窗和其他改良装置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- It is possible to add a few useful refinements to the basic system. 对基本系统进行一些有益的改良是可能的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
adj.专门的，专业化的
- There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
- These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。
v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助
- He bolstered his plea with new evidence. 他举出新的证据来支持他的抗辩。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The data must be bolstered by inferences and indirect estimates of varying degrees of reliability. 这些资料必须借助于推理及可靠程度不同的间接估计。 来自辞典例句
等级制度( hierarchy的名词复数 )； 统治集团； 领导层； 层次体系
- That's a trip of two hierarchies. 那是两个领导层之间的互访。
- Hierarchies of authority, spans of control, long-range plans, and budgets. 等级森严的权力机构，控制范围，长期计划，预算。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦
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