swathe
意味一覧 (2件)
帯状の部分、一帯
解説 Definition
土地・森・雲・光などが幅をもって細長く連なる「帯状の範囲」を指す名詞。a swathe of land/forest の形で、地図上に引いた帯のような一続きの区域を描く。社会層や被害範囲など、まとまった大部分の比喩にも広がる。
A swathe is a broad, long strip or area of something, such as land, forest, cloud, or light. It often describes a part that stretches in a band-like shape, wider than a simple strip but more long and narrow than a general area. The word is also used in a figurative way for a large section of society, damage, or activity. It commonly appears in phrases like "a swathe of land" or "a wide swathe of society."
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
swathe の名詞は、上から見た景色に太い帯を引くイメージで覚える。strip より広く、area より形が細長い感じがあり、森・耕地・光・雲・社会の層などを「一続きの帯」として切り取る語。a wide swathe of society のように of で後ろに範囲を置きやすい。米語では同義の swath もよく出るため、読解では両方を同じ仲間として見る。
Picture drawing a thick band across a map or a view from above. That image helps with swathe: it is broader than strip, but still feels long and narrow, like a connected band of forest, farmland, light, cloud, or even part of society. It often appears with of, as in "a swathe of land" or "a wide swathe of society." In American English, you will also often see the form swath with the same meaning.
例文
A wide swathe of forest was destroyed in the fire.
火事で広い帯状の森林地帯が焼けた。
Dark clouds moved across a swathe of sky above the town.
町の上では空の一帯を暗い雲が流れていった。
The policy affected a broad swathe of society, not just young workers.
その政策は若い労働者だけでなく、社会の広い層に影響した。
包む、覆う
(意味 2)解説 Definition
布・包帯・毛布などを巻きつけて、人や物を外側から包み込む動詞。be swathed in ... では、霧・雪・闇などが景色を包んで見えなくする描写にも使う。名詞の「帯状の覆い」感覚が、包む動作へ結びついている。
To swathe means to wrap, cover, or surround something with cloth or another material. It can also be used more generally for covering something completely, such as an area in fog or darkness. The word is often seen in formal or descriptive writing.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
動詞 swathe は、swaddle a baby「赤ちゃんをくるむ」に近い発想で、布状のものをぐるっと巻いて覆う場面を思い浮かべると定着しやすい。単なる cover より、対象が外側から包み込まれて輪郭がやわらぐ感じがある。be swathed in blankets/fog/snow のように受け身でよく使われ、霧や雪が景色を「布のように包む」描写にも向く。
Remember `swathe` as stronger than `cover` and closer to `wrap`. It often appears in the pattern `be swathed in`, as in `swathed in fog` or `swathed in blankets`. Picture something being fully wrapped around from the outside, not just lightly covered.
例文
The fields were swathed in morning fog.
野原は朝霧に包まれていた。
She swathed the baby in soft blankets.
彼女は赤ちゃんを柔らかい毛布で包んだ。
The entire valley was swathed in snow.
谷全体は雪に覆われていた。
swathe の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語 swaþu「足跡、刈った跡」に関係し、草を刈った時に残る細長い跡から「帯状の広がり」の意味が発達した。動詞 swathe「包む」とも、細長い帯で覆う感覚を共有する。
Swathe comes from Old English related to swaethu, meaning a track or the mark left by cutting. It first referred to a long strip left in grass or crops, and later developed the wider meaning of a broad band-like area. It is also related in sense to the verb swathe, which means to wrap with a band or covering.
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