核心畫面

Picture a floor or a piece of cloth where the same shape shows up again and again in a regular way — you can predict where the next one lands. That recurring, recognizable arrangement is the heart of 'pattern': a form that repeats. From this one image the word stretches two ways — outward to any regular thing that (in behaviour, in sound), and back to the template you repeat in order to make copies.

可以想成一塊磁磚地板或一塊布:同一個形狀有規律地一再出現,你甚至猜得到下一個會落在哪裡。這個「會重複、認得出來」的排更多收起可以想成一塊磁磚地板或一塊布:同一個形狀有規律地一再出現,你甚至猜得到下一個會落在哪裡。這個「會重複、認得出來」的排列就是 pattern 的核心畫面——一種一再出現的形。從這一個畫面,這個字往兩邊伸展:往外,指任何規律重現的東西(行為的模式、聲音的規律);往回,指那個「照著它就能複製出一批」的範本。

From the word’s history

'Pattern' is a Modern English variant of 'patron', which kept the old sense 'model, an original proposed for imitation' — from Old French patron and Medieval Latin patronus 'model, pattern, example' (ultimately from Latin pater, 'father'). The 'design to copy' sense is from late 14c.; the 'repeated decorative design' sense from the 1580s.

pattern 其實是 patron(贊助人/模範)的一個分身:它保留了 patron 較早的一個意思——「可供模仿的原型、範本」,源自古法語 patron、中世紀拉丁語 patronus(模範、樣式、範例),最終追到拉丁語 pater(父親)。「照著做的圖樣」約在十四世紀末出現,「重複的裝飾花紋」則要到 1580 年代。所以這個字骨子裡就是「一個拿來照著複製的原型」,難怪它同時能指範本,也能指範本印出來的重複花紋。

etymonline.com/word/pattern

Four branches

看得見的重複花紋

這一組最貼近核心畫面:同一個形有規律地重複。花紋是眼睛看到的重複,聲音的規律是耳朵聽到的重複,動詞則是「去弄出這種重複」。

decorative design · noun · B1

Shapes, colours, or lines repeated in a regular way, especially for decoration.

圖案/花紋

抽象的規律·模式

把「重複的排列」從具體表面抽離出來,用到事情發生的方式上:花紋是空間上的重複,模式是時間或行為上的重複。

recurring trend · noun · B1

A repeated, regular way that something happens, develops, or gets done.

模式/規律

照著做的範本·模型

這一組最貼近字源:pattern 本來就是「拿來照著複製的原型」。一個範本之所以有用,正因為照著它能一再做出同樣的東西——複製,本身就是一種重複。

sewing template · noun · B1

A shape used as a guide for making something, especially thin paper used to cut cloth for clothes.

紙型/版型

代表整批的樣本

從「範本」再走一小步:一小塊樣品之所以有用,是因為它忠實重現了整批東西的樣子,讓你看一小塊就知道全部長什麼樣。

fabric swatch · noun · B1

A sample of cloth or paper that shows how the whole looks.

樣本/樣品

原始詞典資料33 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。

patternnoun/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/

  • 1

    Model, example.

    • The wallpaper had a floral pattern.
    • There is no reason why all colleges and universities should be cut to the same pattern.
  • 2

    Model, example.

    • Well! the King of France died pardoning & pitying all those who had tortured his Soul & Body, a great Pattern for us all.
    • I write this to repeat most earnestly for myself all that she said to you and to let you know how sure I am that you will sooner or later find our cousin John a pattern of truth, sincerity, and goodness, when you will deeply, deeply grieve to have done him (without intending it) so much wrong.
  • 3

    archaicModel, example.

  • 4

    hobbieslifestylenumismaticsModel, example.

  • 5

    Model, example.

  • 6

    Model, example.

  • 7

    businessmanufacturingtextilesModel, example.

  • 8

    datedartscraftsengineeringModel, example.

    • From this point those who became pupils went on to a further series of shops, usually commencing with the pattern shop. […] However, some of us did make quite reasonable patterns and had the satisfaction of seeing castings produced from them but, sad to say, many of these efforts were used as firewood after they had left the shop.
    • But instead, the distinctive ironwork and glass platform awnings have been carefully refurbished, while making them compatible with the overhead wiring. Kettering's island Platform 2/3 is especially noteworthy. Although it dates from 1879, when the station was enlarged to four platforms, the same original (1857) patterns for the delicate cast-ironwork seem to have been used - […].
另外 12 個記錄的用法
  • 9

    computingengineeringmathematicsModel, example.

    • There were no files matching the pattern *.txt.
  • 10

    computingengineeringmathematicsModel, example.

  • 11

    Coherent or decorative arrangement.

    • On my way to work the other day, I stopped at a church in Rome and saw a painting of the Madonna. The subtle pattern of blues and golds in the embroidery of her dress was so amazing that I used it to design a new evening dress for my haute couture.
  • 12

    Coherent or decorative arrangement.

    • He lifted the entire joint or fowl up into the air, speared on a carving fork, and sliced pieces off it so that they fell on the plate below in perfectly organised patterns.
  • 13

    Coherent or decorative arrangement.

  • 14

    Coherent or decorative arrangement.

    • follow a pattern
    • There’s a clear pattern of behavior emerging.
  • 15

    human-scienceslinguisticssciencesCoherent or decorative arrangement.

  • 16

    computingengineeringentertainmentCoherent or decorative arrangement.

    • Pattern 10 is open in figure 3.9, showing the 64 notes in the pattern (each pattern in this song has 64 beats).
    • A MOD file contains a number of short audio samples, and instructions or a “pattern” for how and when those samples are to be played.
  • 17

    cellular-automatacomputingengineeringCoherent or decorative arrangement.

    • For example, at one point it claims that in order to view a pattern capable of reproduction and evolution, one would need a computer with a screen the size of the solar system, and the pattern would be so sparse anyway as to be almost unobservable.
    • The state of the pattern after 1.25 * 10^12 generations is here:
  • 18

    Coherent or decorative arrangement.

    • I got so much of it, my cousins think I've got a pattern with Celine And that I'm lyin', when I say that I do no get it for free
  • 19

    informalA wont or habit to cause an annoyance or bother; to stir up trouble

    • This guy always chut pattern like badminton.
  • 20

    CatholicismChristianityRoman-CatholicismThe devotions that take place within a parish on the feast day of the patron saint of that parish.

patternverb/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/

  • 1

    To apply a pattern.

  • 2

    To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.

    • [A temple] patterned […] from that which Adam reared in Paradise.
  • 3

    To follow an example.

    • Under his system, patterned after the French, the army corps became a more mobile, flexible command.
  • 4

    To fit into a pattern.

    • Although there is no direct evidence for the identification of *θi as a genuine prefix in this word, it patterns well with the other discussed instances of *θi- both morphologically and semantically.
  • 5

    To serve as an example for.

  • 6

    hobbieshuntinglifestyleTo observe an animal closely over time in order to discern its habitual movements and behaviours.

  • 7

    To arrange, to organise, to fix.

    • MALACHI: Are you two fucking mad? Listen, you need to pattern up, you know?
  • 8

    To arrange, to organise, to fix.

    • Pattern gang, who they patterning? Pull up, skrr, have them panicking.
    • Batteries already included, man just shoot it. Trying to pattern your bruces (all of them).
另外 4 個記錄的用法
  • 9

    To arrange, to organise, to fix.

    • The system can't pattern me out or pattern me down, I'll pattern these clowns. They tried block my path, I built my own. Ya dun know, better start patterning now.
    • Let me pattern these boys on time.
  • 10

    To arrange, to organise, to fix.

    • Pretty girls wanna beat, wanna pattern.
    • My gal so fine, pattern her. Sorry, little nigga, better pattern up.
  • 11

    To arrange, to organise, to fix.

    • You know man's patterned, man's still slanging. Pack just vanished, all raw, no magic.
    • Bro thinks I'm booky, cah I ain't tryna sell him shit. Gotta peb this brick, on the next one I'll pattern him.
  • 12

    To arrange, to organise, to fix.

    • Oh, you mad? Then come at me, you prick. Make a move, better pattern it quick.
    • Me and bro tryna pattern this grow. We ain't editin' pictures but I'm still croppin'.

patternadj/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/

  • 1

    Of or in accordance with a usual pattern, or type; model; ideal.

    • "Not to me," interrupted his sister. "I will have no straw-bonneted, gingham-gowned pattern wives in my acquaintance. I shall make a point of cutting you."
    • The parish duty was better attended to, and perhaps domestic duties also. At such period he was a pattern parson and a pattern husband, atoning to his own conscience for past shortcomings by present zeal.

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