• n. 鏡子；真實的寫照；榜樣
• vt. 反射；反映

來自古法語mirer,觀察，沉思，照鏡子，來自拉丁語mirari,驚嘆，吃驚，詞源同smile,miracle.因鏡子在古代社會常常帶有神秘和迷信色彩，甚至打碎一面鏡子都會被認為是不祥之兆。引申詞義反映，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.

淺色是掛放圖畫或鏡子很有效果的襯托。

來自柯林斯例句

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

臉盆架上方用釘子掛著一面鏡子。

來自柯林斯例句

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

這幾乎就是蘇格蘭局勢的翻版。

來自柯林斯例句

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

我走到鏡子前面伸出舌頭。

來自柯林斯例句

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

墻上唯一的裝飾是幾支蠟燭和一面鏡子。

來自柯林斯例句