lore
/lɔː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /lɔːr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlȯr/ (ame, mw)
lore — noun
1. a collection of stories, beliefs, and customs passed down through generations wi
a collection of stories, beliefs, and customs passed down through generations within a community or culture, often by word of mouth rather than in writing
According to local lore, a witch planted the old oak tree at the edge of the village.
Grandmother spent long winter evenings sharing the lore of her people with the children.
Celtic lore is full of stories about magical creatures that live in forests and rivers.
The herbal lore of the Amazon tribes has fascinated Western scientists for decades.
Maritime lore tells sailors that a red sky at night means fair weather the next morning.
- folklore
more specific — folklore is a subset of lore focused on the traditions of a particular people, often including songs and festivals
- mythology
more specific — mythology emphasises sacred stories about gods and heroes, while lore covers a broader range of everyday beliefs
- tradition
broader — tradition includes customs and practices; lore is the knowledge/stories component
- science
science is based on systematic testing and written evidence, while lore rests on oral tradition and anecdote
常見錯誤
2. the detailed background stories and facts about the characters, settings, and hi
the detailed background stories and facts about the characters, settings, and history of a fictional world, as accepted and shared by fans of a book, film, game, or series
Fans spent hours arguing about the deeper lore behind the abandoned castle in the game.
The show's lore explains why certain characters can control fire while others cannot.
noun + verb: lore explains / lore describes / lore reveals
A book of official lore was released to answer questions left open by the movie.
Theo watched every video essay on YouTube to understand the full lore of the fictional universe.
Dedicated fans created a wiki that collects every piece of lore mentioned across all forty novels.
- canon
more restrictive — canon refers only to officially approved material; lore can include widely accepted fan interpretations
- backstory
narrower — backstory typically covers one character's past, while lore covers the entire fictional world
- worldbuilding
process-focused — worldbuilding is the act of creating the fictional setting; lore is the resulting body of knowledge
用法筆記
Commonly used in online fan communities and gaming contexts. Often modified by a franchise name: 'Star Wars lore', 'Harry Potter lore', 'Minecraft lore'.