英和和英

語源

Directly borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀκμή (akmḗ, “point, high point”).

発音

• IPA^(key): /ˈæk.mi/

名詞

acme (複数形 acmes)

1. A high point: the highest point of any range, the most developed stage of any process, or the culmination of any field or historical period. [c. 1610]

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:apex

   • 1570, Roger Ascham, The Scholemaster, f. 31:

     The Latin tong, euen whan it was, as the Grecians say, in ακμη, that is, at the hiest pitch of all perfitenesse.

   • 1651, William Cartwright, The Lady Errant in Comedies Tragi-comedies with Other Poems:

     Eum.: Our Loves what are they
     But howerly Sacrifices, only wanting
     The prease and tumult of Solemnity?
     If then i'th' heat and Achme of Devotion
     We drink a new fiame in, can it be ought
     But to increase the Worship?

   • 1891, George Edward Mannering, With Axe and Rope in the New Zealand Alps, Chapter VII, p. 71:

     Ah, what a sight burst upon our astonished eyes as we gained its summit!
     It seemed the very acme of mountain glory in all the glories around us.

   • 1832, Isaac Taylor, Saturday Evening

     The moment when a certain power reaches the acme of its supremacy.

2. A paragon: a person or thing representing such a high point. [c. 1610]
   • 1842, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, Lady Anne Granard, volume 2, pages 260-261:

     The few words of advice she gave him as to escaping political embarrassments, struck him as the acme of wisdom, and as indicating an interest in his well-being of the kindest description;...

3. (rare) Full bloom or reproductive maturity.
   • 1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Nevves. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, OCLC 81096167, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     He must be one that can instruct your youth,
     And keep your acme in the state of truth

   • 1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, OCLC 1033416756:

     The very acme and pitch of life for epic poesy.

4. (medicine) Synonym of crisis, the decisive moment in the course of an illness.
5. Alternative letter-case form of Acme, particularly as a threading format.