喜樂美語

核心畫面

One way to hold it: a big shape rising up out of mist or darkness, closer and heavier than you expected, its edges not yet clear. You cannot see it properly, and that is part of why it presses on you.

霧裡或暗處浮出一個大東西，比你以為的更近、更重，輪廓還沒清楚。你看不清它，而「看不清」正是它壓人的一部分——如果看清…更多收起霧裡或暗處浮出一個大東西，比你以為的更近、更重，輪廓還沒清楚。你看不清它，而「看不清」正是它壓人的一部分——如果看清楚了，反而就沒那麼嚇人了。loom 這個動詞的三個意思，都是這個「大而模糊地逼上來」的畫面，只是逼上來的東西從實體變成時間，再變成心裡的事。

Four branches

眼前浮出的巨影

核心畫面的字面版本：真的有個形體在視線裡撐大。

appear as a vague shape · verb · C2

To appear as a large shape that is not clear, especially in a way that feels heavy or a little frightening.

聳現

時間上逼近的事

把「在視線裡越靠越近」換成「在時間裡越來越近」——同一個逼近感，軸線從空間換成時間。

be about to happen · verb · C2

If a problem or a hard time looms, it is very likely to happen soon.

迫近

心裡揮不開的存在

影子這次不在眼前也不在日曆上，而在腦子裡——同樣是大、模糊、推不走。

seem worrying and unavoidable · verb · C2

To seem important and worrying, and hard to get away from or push out of your mind.

籠罩

織布的機器（另一個字）

這個名詞跟上面的動詞不同源，不要硬牽在一起：它來自古英語 ġelōma「工具、器具」，本來泛指家中用具，後來窄化成專指織布的那一台。跟「霧裡的巨影」只是拼字碰在一起。

weaving machine · noun · C2

A frame or machine that holds thread so people can weave it into cloth.

織布機

原始詞典資料8 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。

loomnoun詞源 1/luːm/

  • 1

    A utensil; tool; a weapon; (usually in compound) an article in general.

    • heirloom, workloom
  • 2

    A frame or machine of wood or other material, in which a weaver forms cloth out of thread; a machine for interweaving yarn or threads into a fabric, as in knitting or lace making.

    • January 8, 1751, Samuel Johnson, "The Mischiefs of Total Idleness" in The Rambler Hector, when he sees Andromache overwhelmed with terror, sends her for consolation to the loom and the distaff.
  • 3

    The part of an oar which is between the grip or handle and the blade; the shaft.

loomnoun詞源 2/luːm/

  • 1

    datedloon (bird of order Gaviiformes)

loomverb詞源 3/luːm/

  • 1

    To appear indistinctly, e.g. when seen on the horizon or through the murk.

    • The clouds loomed over the mountains.
    • […] yonder cloud That rises upward always higher, ⁠And onward drags a labouring breast, ⁠And topples round the dreary west, A looming bastion fringed with fire.
  • 2

    To appear in an exaggerated or threatening form; (of a person or thing) to tower; (of an idea) to impressively or intimidatingly occupy the mind; (of an event) to be imminent.

    • With no extra-time to be played and penalties looming, the Portuguese winger pounced on some hesitant City defending to run on to a Wayne Rooney clearance, round Joe Hart and slot home.
    • In the meantime, SWR staff have warned privately that an acute shortage of rolling stock is looming, because the new trains are not ready.
  • 3

    To rise and to be eminent; to be elevated or ennobled, in a moral sense.

    • On no occasion does he [Paul] loom so high, and shine so gloriously, as in the context.

loomnoun詞源 3/luːm/

  • 1

    A distorted appearance of something as seen indistinctly or from afar.

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