seven: [OE] The Indo-European term for ‘seven’ was *septm. This evolved into Latin septem (source of English September), Greek heptá (source of English heptathlon [20]), and Germanic *sebun. And *sebun in turn has diversified into German sieben, Dutch zeven, Swedish sju, Danish syv, and English seven. => heptathlon, september
seven (n.)
Old English seofon, from Proto-Germanic *sebun (cognates: Old Saxon sibun, Old Norse sjau, Swedish sju, Danish syv, Old Frisian sowen, siugun, Middle Dutch seven, Dutch zeven, Old High German sibun, German sieben, Gothic sibun), from PIE *septm "seven" (cognates: Sanskrit sapta, Avestan hapta, Hittite shipta, Greek hepta, Latin septem, Old Church Slavonic sedmi, Lithuanian septyni, Old Irish secht, Welsh saith).
Long regarded as a number of perfection (seven wonders; seven sleepers, the latter translating Latin septem dormientes; seven against Thebes, etc.), but that notion is late in Old English and in German a nasty, troublesome woman could be eine böse Sieben "an evil seven" (1662).
Magical power or healing skill associated since 16c. with the seventh son ["The seuenth Male Chyld by iust order (neuer a Gyrle or Wench being borne betweene)," Thomas Lupton, "A Thousand Notable Things," 1579]. The typical number for "very great, strong," as in seven-league boots in the fairy story of Hop o'my Thumb. The Seven Years' War (1756-63) is also the Third Silesian War.
The Seven Stars (Old English sibunsterri), usually refers to the Pleiades, though in 15c. and after this name occasionally was given to the Big Dipper (which also has seven stars), or the seven planets of classical astronomy. Popular as a tavern sign, it might also (with six in a circle, one in the center) be a Masonic symbol.
FOOL: ... The reason why the
seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.
LEAR: Because they are not eight?
FOOL: Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.
["King Lear," I.v.]
双语例句
1. Originally released in 1957, the film was remade as "The Magnificent Seven".
这部电影最早在1957年上映，后被翻拍为《七侠荡寇志》。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The seven major industrial countries will have their yearly meeting in London.
7个主要工业国家将在伦敦举行一年一度的会议。
来自柯林斯例句
3. These chaps know their stuff after seven years of war.
7年的战争过后，这些家伙都成了作战行家。
来自柯林斯例句
4. By my reckoning we were seven or eight kilometres from Borj Mechaab.
据我估计我们离梅卡巴堡有七八公里远。
来自柯林斯例句
5. He was about seven years old, small and fine-boned like his mother.
