核心畫面

Picture the one person who stands at the head of a group and carries final responsibility for it — the figure on the bridge of a ship, the single hand that steers and answers for everyone aboard. From that image, 'captain' fans out to any leader-in-charge and to the act of doing that leading.

可以想成 captain 的核心畫面,是一群人之中站在最前面、為整體扛起最後責任的那一個人——最典型的就是站在船橋上更多收起可以想成 captain 的核心畫面,是一群人之中站在最前面、為整體扛起最後責任的那一個人——最典型的就是站在船橋上的船長:方向由他定,全船的人都聽他的、出了事也是他負責。從這個「掌舵、領頭、負責到底」的畫面出發,captain 才延伸成各種「在位的領導者」,以及「去當這個領導」的動作。

From the word’s history

From Late Latin 'capitaneus' (chief), from Latin 'caput' (head) — literally the head one, the person at the top.

可以追到晚期拉丁文 capitaneus(首領),再往上是拉丁文 caput(頭)——字面就是「為首的那個、頭頭」,剛好對上現代 captain「站在最前面領頭」的核心畫面。

Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), 'captain'

Two branches

領頭負責的人

這一族都是「掌舵、領頭」這個核心畫面的直接延伸:把同一個『站在最前面、負最後責任』的角色,套到船、軍隊、球隊、企業等不同場合。

ship/plane captain · noun · B1

The person in charge of a ship or plane and responsible for everyone on board.

船長 / 機長

去當這個領頭的人(動詞)

由名詞的「領頭者」直接轉成動作:不再是指那個人,而是指「去做那個人在做的事」——帶領、指揮一群人或一艘船。

captain a team · verb · B1

To lead a team as its captain.

擔任…的隊長、率領

原始詞典資料16 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法,原文照列,我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的;有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

Captainnoun

  • 1

    The honorific of a captain, especially a ship's captain or a person with the military rank of captain.

    • These islands were discovered by Captain Cook.
    • […] the governor, convinced of the need of a thorough exploration of the south coast, now ordered Grant to return and carefully survey the bay between Cape Otway and Cape Schank, besides the land which had been seen by Captains Black and Buyers, then to sail to King George’s Sound and, in returning, to explore the whole south coast to Wilson’s Promontory, going to the head of every bay or inlet as far as possible.
  • 2

    Forms a title for a superhero seen as embodying or possessing in high degree the qualities associated with the ensuing phrase

    • Captain America; Captain Marvel; Captain Hindsight
  • 3

    Forms a title or nickname for a person; typically a nonce coinage

    • Abbott has this alter ego, Captain Creepy. I mean, if he's not chatting away to the nation about his daughters' virginity, he's using anti-rape slogans to belittle the female Prime Minister.
    • Dean asks, 'How'm I s'posed to empty my bloody pockets with my hands tied, Captain Genius?'

captainnoun/ˈkæp.tɪn/

  • 1

    A chief or leader.

    • For out of the shal come a captaine, whych shall govern my people israhel.
    • Stand up-stand up, Northumberland! / I bid you answer true, / If England's King has under his hand / A Captain as good as you?
  • 2

    The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.

    • Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, […] naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several states on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.
    • The captain is the last man to leave a sinking ship.
  • 3

    An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.

    • "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.[…]."
  • 4

    A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.

  • 5

    A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA Corps, or PHS Corps of a grade superior to a commander and junior to a rear admiral (lower half). A captain is equal in grade or rank to a United States Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force colonel.

  • 6

    aeronauticsaerospaceaviationA rank qualifying an airline pilot to act as pilot in command of a two-pilot flight crew.

  • 7

    One of the athletes on a sports team who is designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.

    • Captain's supposed to be the leader, right?
    • As Di Matteo celebrated and captain John Terry raised the trophy for the fourth time, the Italian increased his claims to become the permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas by landing a trophy.
  • 8

    The leader of a group of workers.

    • John Henry said to the captain, "A man ain't nothing but a man."
    • The assistant mine captains then reported to the mine captain in charge of all underground operations and subordinate only to the superintendent himself.
另外 3 個記錄的用法
  • 9

    The head boy of a school.

  • 10

    A maître d', a headwaiter.

    • 1977, Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey, lyricists, "Hotel California", So I called up the Captain, "Please bring me my wine." / He said: "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969."
  • 11

    An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel.

captainverb/ˈkæp.tɪn/

  • 1

    To act as captain

  • 2

    To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

資料來源:英文維基詞典 English WiktionaryCC BY-SA 4.0)。 原文照列,未經改寫。