refinement（n.）
17世纪10年代，“提炼的行为或过程； 纯净或提纯的状态”，源自 refine 和 -ment。1710年代，“感觉的精致，摆脱粗俗或堕落的状态”； 1670年代，“源自提炼或渴望提炼的东西，语言、品味等的改进或变化”，如德莱顿所说。相关词汇： Refinements。
Refinement is properly most negative, representing a freeing from what is gross, coarse, rude, and the like, or a bringing of one out of a similar condition in which he is supposed to have been at the start. Cultivation and culture represent the person or the better part of him as made to grow by long-continued and thorough work. [Century Dictionary, 1900]
Refinement 最初是负面的，代表从粗俗、粗鲁等状态中解放出来，或将一个人从类似的起点状态中带出来。Cultivation 和 culture 代表人或他更好的部分通过长期而彻底的工作而成长。[世纪词典，1900]
We cannot reasonably expect, that a piece of woollen cloth will be wrought to perfection in a nation which is ignorant of astronomy, or where ethics are neglected. [Hume, "Of Refinement in the Arts"]
我们不能合理地期望，在一个对天文学一无所知或忽视伦理学的国家里，一块羊毛布料会被完美地制作出来。[休谟，“艺术的提炼”]
该词起源时间：1610年代