aplomb(n.)
"自信心所带来的保证",1828年,源自法语 aplomb "自我掌控",字面意思为"垂直"(16世纪),来自短语 à plomb "竖直平衡",在词源上是"在铅锤线上",来自拉丁语 plumbum "(金属)铅"(参见 plumb(n.)),线末端的重量就是由铅制成的。
The staple figure in novels is the man of aplomb, who sits, among the young aspirants and desperates, quite sure and compact, and, never sharing their affections or debilities, hurls his word like a bullet when occasion requires, knows his way, and carries his points. They may scream or applaud, he is never engaged or heated. Napoleon is the type of this class in modern history ; Byron's heroes in poetry. [Emerson, "Social Aims," 1875]
小说中的主要人物是那些有 aplomb 的人,他们坐在年轻的有志者和绝望者中间,非常自信和紧凑,从不分享他们的感情或弱点,需要时像子弹一样发出他的话语,知道自己的路,达成他的目标。他们可能会尖叫或鼓掌,但他从不参与或激动。拿破仑是现代历史上这一类人的代表人物; 拜伦的英雄则是诗歌中的代表。[爱默生,《社会目标》,1875年]
该词起源时间:1828年