symposium: [18] A symposium is etymologically a ‘get-together for a drink’. The word comes via Latin symposium from Greek sumpósion, a derivative of sumpótēs ‘drinking companion’. This was a compound noun formed from the prefix sun- ‘together’ and the base *pot- ‘drink’ (source of English poison, potion, etc). The Greeks favoured lubricating intellectual discussion with drink, and so the term sumpósion came to be used for a meeting which combined elements of party and intellectual interchange. => poison, potable, potion
symposium (n.)
1580s, "account of a gathering or party," from Latin symposium "drinking party, symposium," from Greek symposion "drinking party, convivial gathering of the educated" (related to sympotes "drinking companion"), from assimilated form of syn- "together" (see syn-) + posis "a drinking," from a stem of Aeolic ponen "to drink," cognate with Latin potare "to drink" (see potion).
The symposium usually followed a dinner, for the Greeks did not drink at meals. Its enjoyment was heightened by intellectual or agreeable conversation, by the introduction of music or dancers, and by other amusements. [Century Dictionary]
The sense of "a meeting on some subject" is from 1784. Reflecting the Greek fondness for mixing wine and intellectual discussion, the modern sense is especially from the word being used as a title for one of Plato's dialogues. Greek plural is symposia, and the leader of one is a symposiarch (c. 1600 in English). Related: Symposiac (adj.); symposial.
实用例句
1. The symposium on AIDS research lasted two days.
艾滋病研究的报告会持续了两天.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. What have you learned from the symposium?
你参加了这次科学讨论会,有什么体会?
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
3. He had been taking part in an international symposium on population.
他那时正参加一个有关人口问题的国际研讨会。
来自辞典例句
4. Once I attended an international symposium on Dunhuang studies held at the Mogao Grottoes.
我去时,一次敦煌学国际学术讨论会正在莫高窟举行.
来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
5. The specialists and scholars present at the symposium come from all corners of the country.
