mirror

• n. 镜子；真实的写照；榜样
• vt. 反射；反映

来自古法语mirer,观察，沉思，照镜子，来自拉丁语mirari,惊叹，吃惊，词源同smile,miracle.因镜子在古代社会常常带有神秘和迷信色彩，甚至打碎一面镜子都会被认为是不祥之兆。引申词义反映，反射。

mirror

mirror: [13] Mirror belongs to a small family of English words which illustrate how a Latin term originally signifying ‘wonder at’ weakened (presumably via ‘stare in wonder at’) to ‘look at’. Etymologically, a mirror is something you ‘look at’ yourself in. The word comes via Old French mirour from Vulgar Latin *mīrātōrium, a derivative of *mirāre ‘look at’.

This was closely related to classical Latin mīrārī ‘wonder at’ (a derivative of mīrus ‘wonderful’), which passed into Old French as mirer ‘look at’, source of English mirage [19]. Based on mīrārī were Latin mīrābilis ‘wonderful’ (source of English marvel [13]) and mīrāculum ‘something to be wondered at’ (source of English miracle [12]).
=> marvel, miracle, mirage

mirror (n.)

early 13c., from Old French mireoir "a reflecting glass, looking glass; observation, model, example," earlier miradoir (11c.), from mirer "look at" (oneself in a mirror), "observe, watch, contemplate," from Vulgar Latin *mirare "to look at," variant of Latin mirari "to wonder at, admire" (see miracle). Figurative usage is attested from c. 1300. Used in divination since classical and biblical times; mirrors in modern England are the subject of at least 14 known superstitions, according to folklorists. Belief that breaking one brings bad luck is attested from 1777. The Spanish cognate, mirador (from mirar "to look, look at, behold"), has come to mean "watch tower." Mirror ball attested from 1968.

mirror (v.)

"to reflect," 1590s, from mirror (n.). Related: Mirrored; mirroring. The Middle English verb mirouren (early 15c.) meant "to be a model" (for conduct, behavior, etc.), while miren (mid-14c., from Old French mirer) meant "to look in a mirror."

1. Light colours provide an effective backdrop for pictures or a mirror.

浅色是挂放图画或镜子很有效果的衬托。

来自柯林斯例句

2. A mirror hung on a nail above the washstand.

脸盆架上方用钉子挂着一面镜子。

来自柯林斯例句

3. This is almost the mirror image of the situation in Scotland.

这几乎就是苏格兰局势的翻版。

来自柯林斯例句

4. I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.

我走到镜子前面伸出舌头。

来自柯林斯例句

5. The only wall decorations are candles and a single mirror.

墙上唯一的装饰是几支蜡烛和一面镜子。

来自柯林斯例句