loophole, fineness, at close quarters, fine point, estival, unloose. Ancient Marvels of Mankind

Ancient Marvels of Mankind

Ayy Ardianti  · 8分鐘  · 

The word "loophole" comes from the Middle English words "loupe" and "hole", and is derived from a Germanic source. The word was originally used to describe a small opening in a castle or fort that archers used to shoot arrows through. 

Etymology details

• The word "loophole" combines the words "loop", which means "something folded on itself, leaving an opening between parts", and "hole", which means "an opening". 
• The word "loupe" was a Middle English word that meant "narrow window, slit-opening in a wall". 
• The word "loupa" and "lobia" were Medieval Latin words. 
• The word "lupen" was a Middle Dutch word that meant "to watch, peer". 

Figurative meaning

The word "loophole" has also been used figuratively to mean "outlet" or "means of escape" since the 1660s. 

Examples of loophole in a sentence 

• "There can also be loopholes in politics, where politicians get away

"Everybody knows there is no fineness or accuracy of suppression; if you hold down one thing, you hold down the adjoining.'
--from THE ADVENTURES OF AUGIE MARCH (1953)

In Gubernatorial Race, It's About Who's More Pro-Gun

Background Check Loophole Puts Fine Point on Policies

Walking the jam-packed aisles of Virginia's biggest gun show, Richard Begay carried a .30-06 Sauer hunting rifle and a hand-lettered cardboard sign on his back asking $1,199.



The Europeans knew revolution at close quarters.

unloose	(verb) Grant freedom to; free from confinement.
Synonyms:	free, loose, release, liberate
Usage:	His act seemed to unloose a thousand devils in the hairy creature clinging to his throat.estival (ES-ti-vuhl) adjective: Relating to or occurring in summer. Etymology Via French from Latin aestivus (of or relating to summer). Usage "Ms. Croghan confides that she is sometimes known as a battle ax, both to locals and estival visitors." — Joanne Kaufman; Prep Work; The New York Times; Apr 25, 2008.

at close quarters　接近して, 間近に.

dioms:

at close quarters

Crowded, in a confined space, as in We could use a lot more room; this tiny office puts us at close quarters.

This idiom makes figurative use of quarters in the sense of "military lodgings" but originated in 18th-century naval warfare. When the enemy boarded a ship, the crew would retreat behind wooden barriers erected for this purpose and would continue to fire through loopholes. They thus were very near the enemy, fighting in close quarters. [c. 1800]

fine
adj., fin·er, fin·est.

1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.
2. Very small in size, weight, or thickness: fine type; fine paper.
3. 1. Free from impurities.
   2. Metallurgy. Containing pure metal in a specified proportion or amount: gold 21 carats fine.
4. Very sharp; keen: a blade with a fine edge.
5. Thin; slender: fine hairs.
6. Exhibiting careful and delicate artistry: fine china. See synonyms at delicate.
7. Consisting of very small particles; not coarse: fine dust.
8. 1. Subtle or precise: a fine difference.
   2. Able to make or detect effects of great subtlety or precision; sensitive: has a fine eye for color.
9. Trained to the highest degree of physical efficiency: a fine racehorse.
10. Characterized by refinement or elegance.
11. Satisfactory; acceptable: Handing in your paper on Monday is fine.
12. Being in a state of satisfactory health; quite well: I'm fine. And you?
13. Used as an intensive: a fine mess.

adv.

1. Finely.
2. Informal. Very well: doing fine.

tr. & intr.v., fined, fin·ing, fines.
To make or become finer, purer, or cleaner.

[Middle English fin, from Old French, from Latin fīnis, end, supreme degree.]

fineness
fine'ness n.
fine² (fīn)
n.

1. A sum of money required to be paid as a penalty for an offense.
2. Law.
   1. A forfeiture or penalty to be paid to the offended party in a civil action.
   2. An amicable settlement of a suit over land ownership.
3. Obsolete. An end; a termination.

tr.v., fined, fin·ing, fines.
To require the payment of a fine from; impose a fine on.
idiom:
in fine

1. In conclusion; finally.
2. In summation; in brief.

[Middle English fin, from Old French, settlement, compensation, from Medieval Latin fīnis, from Latin, end.]

finable fin'a·ble or fine'a·ble adj.

fi·ne³ (fē'nā)
n. Music.
The end.

[Italian, from Latin fīnis, end.]

每日一詞：LOOPHOLE

在香港，一場由“填補漏洞”引發的爭議

SHUHUA TANG

Loophole原指城牆上用於窺視或開火的洞眼，現在指法律中的漏洞與空子。近期，一起暴露香港《逃犯條例》漏洞的殺人案引發了一場大規模抗議，使這座城市陷入動盪。

loophole

n.

1. A way of escaping a difficulty, especially an omission or ambiguity in the wording of a contract or law that provides a means of evading compliance.
2. A small hole or slit in a wall, especially one through which small arms may be fired.

[LOOP² + HOLE.]