squire

/ˈskwaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskwaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskwī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw) · /skwaɪər/ (bre, ipa) · /skwaɪr/ (ame, ipa)

squire — 名詞

  • squiresingular
  • squiresplural

1. a man of the English landed gentry in earlier centuries, who owned the principal

1.名詞B2
釋義

鄉紳

昔日英格蘭擁有村莊土地的鄉間地主

a man of the English landed gentry in earlier centuries, who owned the principal house and farmland of a country district and held informal local authority there

例句

Squire Edmund Ashworth owned every field and cottage for three miles around.

鄉紳 Edmund Ashworth 方圓三英里內的每塊田地和每座小屋都歸他所有。

collocation: country squire who owns a rural estate

The villagers tipped their hats whenever the old squire rode through the lane.

老鄉紳騎馬經過小路時，村民們都會脫帽致敬。

同義詞
  • landowner

    neutral, modern term with no implication of social rank or historical period

  • lord of the manor

    more formal and legalistic; implies specific manorial rights

  • gentleman farmer

    less emphasis on status; often implies hands-on farming

用法筆記

Historical term specific to the English class system before the 20th century. Refers to a major landowner with local social standing, not to the modern legal concept of a property owner.

常見錯誤

❌The squire was a nobleman with a title.
✅The squire was a major landowner, but he did not hold a formal title of nobility.
💡Squires belonged to the gentry, not the aristocracy; they ranked below knights and baronets.

2. a warm, old-fashioned way for one man to greet another, especially when the spea

2.名詞C1
釋義

老兄

男子之間老派而友善的稱呼語

a warm, old-fashioned way for one man to greet another, especially when the speaker treats the other as a superior or equal in a respectful, familiar tone

例句

'Evening, squire,' called the barman as Nikolai walked through the pub door.

「晚安啊，老兄，」Nikolai 走進酒吧時，酒保招呼道。

British informal: friendly address from a barman to a customer

An elderly cab driver greeted Hassan with a cheerful 'Where to, squire?'

一位年長的計程車司機用開朗的語氣招呼 Hassan：「老兄，上哪兒去？」

同義詞
  • mate

    far more common and casual in modern British English; no implication of deference

  • guv'nor

    similar British informal register but carries stronger implication of deference to a superior

用法筆記

Almost exclusively British and increasingly dated. Most often heard in pubs, markets, or from older speakers addressing a man they do not know well. Not used between women or when a woman addresses a man.

常見錯誤

❌She greeted him with a warm "Hello, squire!
✅A man might greet another man with "Evening, squire!
💡This form of address is used between men, not by a woman to a man.

3. in the Middle Ages, a young nobleman who trained under a knight, carrying his sh

3.名詞B2
釋義

騎士侍從

中世紀受訓成為騎士的年輕貴族隨從

in the Middle Ages, a young nobleman who trained under a knight, carrying his shield and armour while learning the combat skills and courtly manners needed to become a knight himself

例句

The knight's squire polished every link of chain mail before the tournament began.

騎士的侍從在比武大會開始前，將鎖子甲的每一環都擦得發亮。

collocation: knight's squire — attendant to a specific knight

Young William served as squire to Sir Owain, tending his armour and horses daily.

年輕的 William 擔任 Owain 爵士的侍從，每天照料他的盔甲和馬匹。

同義詞
  • page

    a younger boy at an earlier stage of knightly training, below a squire in rank

  • armour-bearer

    narrower term focusing only on the equipment-carrying duty, without the training aspect

用法筆記

Distinguish from noun/1 (COUNTRY LANDOWNER): a medieval squire was a young trainee serving a knight, not a landowner. The landowning squire belongs to a later historical period, roughly the 16th to 19th centuries.

常見錯誤

❌The squire cleaned the knight's boots like a common servant.
✅The squire was a young nobleman who looked after the knight's equipment while training to become a knight.
💡A medieval squire was a trainee of noble birth, not a low-ranking servant.
❌The squire owned a large castle and ruled the village.
✅The squire was a young attendant to a knight.
💡Do not confuse the medieval knight's attendant (this sense) with the later country landowner (noun/1).

4. a man who accompanies a woman with attentive, old-fashioned politeness, acting a

4.名詞C1
釋義

護花使者

殷勤陪伴並護送女性的男士

a man who accompanies a woman with attentive, old-fashioned politeness, acting as her protector or devoted admirer in social settings

例句

At the ball, Ingrid's squire fetched her punch and made sure she never stood alone.

舞會上，Ingrid 的護花使者為她拿果汁，確保她一刻也不會落單。

literary usage: a man attending a woman at a social event

Amara laughed and called Diego her faithful squire after he carried all her shopping bags.

Amara 笑著稱 Diego 為她忠心的護花使者，因為他幫她提了所有的購物袋。

同義詞
  • gallant

    emphasises romantic devotion and dashing bravery more strongly

  • escort

    neutral, modern term with no implication of old-fashioned chivalry

  • cavalier

    more dashing and literary; often implies a slightly reckless charm

用法筆記

Literary or humorous in modern usage. Most often found in romantic fiction or used playfully to describe a man being especially attentive to a woman. Less common in everyday speech.

squire — 動詞