核心畫面

One way to hold wallow: a heavy body lying down in something soft and wet, turning over slowly, with no wish at all to get out. Three parts carry over into every use — you are down inside it, you are moving slowly, and you are staying. What you are lying in can change: mud, warm water, sadness, old memories, a rough sea. The posture never changes.

wallow 可以想成這樣一個畫面:一個沉甸甸的身體躺進又軟又濕的東西裡,慢慢地翻身,一點也不想起來。這個字的每一種更多收起wallow 可以想成這樣一個畫面:一個沉甸甸的身體躺進又軟又濕的東西裡,慢慢地翻身,一點也不想起來。這個字的每一種用法,都還帶著這三件事:整個人在裡面、動作很慢、而且待很久。躺的東西可以換——泥巴、熱水、難過、回憶、大浪——但姿勢從來沒換過。

From the word’s history

Wiktionary traces wallow to Old English wealwian 'to roll', from an older root meaning 'to turn, wind, roll'; Latin volvo 'roll, tumble' is a cousin. The rolling is still doing the work in every modern use.

Wiktionary 記錄 wallow 來自古英文 wealwian(滾動),再往上是一個意思為「轉、捲、滾」的古老字根,拉丁文的 volvō(滾、翻)同源。今天每一個意思裡,都還留著這個翻滾的動作。

Wiktionary (en) entry 'wallow', packet source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:672893625:33988

Three branches

躺進泥水裡翻滾

這一組就是核心畫面本身,沒有比喻:真的泥、真的水、真的身體。

verb · B2

If an animal or a person wallows, they lie down in mud, water or sand and roll slowly around in it, because it feels good or because it keeps them cool.

打滾;泡在泥水裡

躺在情緒或享受裡不出來

把泥巴換成心情,姿勢完全不變:整個人陷在裡面、動作很慢、而且不想出來。英文用這個畫面講「一直待在某種感覺裡」。

verb · C1

To sink into a feeling, a memory or a comfortable situation and stay in it for a long time, because you like being surrounded by it.

沉浸;盡情泡在(某種感覺裡)

船在浪裡笨重地搖

同樣是又重又慢地翻來翻去,只是這次翻的是船,而且不是自願的:浪把它推得左倒右倒,幾乎前進不了。

verb · C1

If a ship or boat wallows, it rolls heavily from side to side in rough water and can only move forward slowly and with difficulty.

(船)在浪裡笨重地搖晃前進