2022年12月25日 星期日

in the abstract, semiregular, tech-enabled. Here’s a Thing


Here’s a Thing: The President Can Text Everyone in the U.S. at Any Time
In a semiregular video series, Christopher Mims looks at fun facts from our tech-enabled world


Kings ought never to be seen upon the stage. In the abstract, they are very disagreeable characters: it is only while living that they are 'the best of kings'. It is their power, their splendour, it is the apprehension of the personal consequences of their favour or their hatred that dazzles the imagination and suspends the judgement of their favourites or their vassals; but death cancels the bond of allegiance and of interest; and seen AS THEY WERE, their power and their pretensions look monstrous and ridiculous.



In the abstract

idiom

without referring to a specific person, object, or event in a general way
thinking about freedom in the abstract


semiregular (not comparable)
  1. Somewhat regularoccasional  [quotations ▼]

thing Line breaks: thing
Pronunciation: /θɪŋ 
  
/

Definition of thing in English:

NOUN

1An object that one need not, cannot, or does notwish to give a specific name to:look at that metal rail thing over therethere are lots of things I’d like to buy
1.1(things) Personal belongings or clothing:she began to unpack her things
1.2(with adjective or noun modifier things)Equipmentutensils, or other objects used for aparticular purpose:they cleared away the lunch things
1.3[WITH NEGATIVE] (a thing) Anything (used foremphasis):she couldn’t find a thing to wear
1.4Used to express one’s disapproval of orcontempt for something:you won’t find me smoking those filthy things
1.5[WITH POSTPOSITIVE ADJECTIVE] (things) All that can be described in the specified way:his love for all things English
1.6Used euphemistically to refer to a man’s penis.
2An inanimate material object as distinct from a livingsentient being:I’m not a thing, not a work of art to be cherished
2.1[WITH ADJECTIVE] A living creature or plant:the sea is the primal source of all living things on earth
2.2[WITH ADJECTIVE] Used to express one’s feelings ofpityaffectionapproval, or contempt for a person or animal:have a nice weekend in the country, you luckything!the lamb was a puny little thing
3An action, event, thought, or utterance:she said the first thing that came into her headthe only thing I could do well was cook
3.1(things) Circumstances or matters that areunspecified:things haven’t gone entirely to planhow are things with you?
3.2An abstract entity, quality, or concept:mourning and depression are not the same thingthey had one thing in common—they were men of action
3.3An example or type of something:the game is the latest thing in family fun
3.4[WITH ADJECTIVE OR NOUN MODIFIER] informal situationor activity of a specified type or quality:your being here is just a friendship thing, OK?
3.5informal romantic or sexual relationship:Phil and Lisa had been having a thing
3.6informal An established or genuine phenomenonor practice (typically used in expressionsregistering surprise or incredulity):according to media reportssleep texting is nowa thing among serious smartphone addictshe looks like he’s wearing boxers underneath histrunks (is that a thing?)
4(the thinginformal What is needed or required:you need a tonic—and here’s just the thing
4.1What is socially acceptable or fashionable:it wouldn’t be quite the thing to go to a royalgarden party in wellies
5(one's thinginformal One’s special interest orinclination:reading isn’t my thing
6(the thinginformal Used to introduce or emphasizean important point:the thing is, I am going to sell this househere’s the thing: this is a story, not a piece of hardnewsthat’s the thing about style—no two people are completely alike

Origin

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to GermanDing. Early senses included 'meeting' and 'matter, concern' as well as 'inanimate object'.

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