核心畫面

Think of a loose net or a heap of string. Something goes into it, turns once, turns again, and now there is a knot. Two things happen at the same time, and entangle needs both: the thing is held, and the way out has become . That is why untangling is always part of the picture. Whether the thing in the net is a turtle, a person, or two ideas, the shape is the same.

可以想成一團鬆鬆的線,或是一張攤開的網。有東西掉進去,繞了一圈,又繞了一圈,然後就打結了。entangle 同時需要更多收起可以想成一團鬆鬆的線,或是一張攤開的網。有東西掉進去,繞了一圈,又繞了一圈,然後就打結了。entangle 同時需要兩件事:東西被留住了,而且出口變複雜了。所以「要花力氣解開」一直在這個畫面裡。不管纏住的是海龜、是人,還是兩個講在一起的想法,形狀都一樣。

From the word’s history

Entangle is en- plus tangle: to put something into a tangled state. The Middle English word entanglen is first recorded meaning to involve someone in difficulty, so the human uses are not a late metaphor on top of the rope; both pictures have travelled together from the start.

entangle 由 en-(使進入某狀態)加上 tangle(纏結)組成。中古英文 entanglen 最早記到的意思是「讓人陷入困難」,所以人被捲進事情這一層,並不是後來才加上去的比喻;兩種畫面一開始就同行。

Wiktionary entry for entangle, source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:1113860319:35599, as supplied in the evidence packet

Two branches

線和網:東西被纏住

這一支就是畫面本身,看得見也摸得到。

verb · B2

To get something twisted and caught in a net, rope, string, branches or hair, so that it is held there and hard to pull free.

纏住、絞成一團

人和事情被纏進去

網子換成了關係、爭執和說法:進去容易,出來要花力氣。

verb · B2

To get someone caught up in an argument, a relationship or a situation that is complicated and hard to get out of.

捲進、牽扯不清

原始詞典資料4 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。

entangleverb/ɪnˈtaŋ.ɡəl/

  • 1

    To tangle up; to twist or interweave in such a manner as not to be easily separated.

    • The dolphins became entangled in a fishing net.
  • 2

    To involve in such complications as to render extrication difficult.

  • 3

    To ensnare.

    • But when I turn away, / Thou, willing me to stay, / Wooest not, nor vainly wranglest; / But, looking fixedly the while, / All my bounding heart entanglest, / In a golden-netted smile; […]
  • 4

    To involve in difficulties or embarrassments; to embarrass, puzzle, or distract by adverse or perplexing circumstances, interests, demands, etc.; to hamper; to bewilder.

    • The story entangles the facts with value judgments.

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