核心畫面

Picture something coming out of a person's head that was not in the world before. That is the whole word — and notice it stays the same whether what comes out is a machine or a lie. The difference is only what the thing is for: the telephone was invented to work, an excuse is invented to be believed.

可以想成:一樣東西從一個人的腦袋裡跑出來,而它在此之前並不存在於世界上。整個字就是這樣——而且不管跑出來的是一台機器更多收起可以想成:一樣東西從一個人的腦袋裡跑出來,而它在此之前並不存在於世界上。整個字就是這樣——而且不管跑出來的是一台機器還是一個謊,畫面都一樣。差別只在那樣東西是拿來做什麼的:電話被發明出來是為了能用,藉口被編出來是為了被人相信。

From the picture

編出不存在的說法

同樣是從腦袋裡生出原本不存在的東西,只是這次生出來的是一個說法,而且是要拿去讓別人相信的。

invent, make up a story · verb · B1

to think of a story, excuse, or name that is not real, so that other people will believe it.

捏造;編(故事、藉口)

Also in this word

invent, create · verb · B1

to think of a new thing that nobody has made before, and then make it or design it.

發明

原始詞典資料3 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。

inventverb/ɪnˈvɛnt/

  • 1

    To design a new process or mechanism.

    • After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks.
    • Accurſt be he that firſt inuented war
  • 2

    To create something fictional for a particular purpose.

    • I knew I had to invent an excuse, and quickly.
    • We need a name to put in this form, so let's just invent one.
  • 3

    obsoleteTo come upon; to find; to discover.

    • Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad, / If Bacchus merry fruit they did inuent [...].

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