pornography

• n. 色情文學；色情描寫

來自希臘語pornographos,描寫妓女的圖畫或文字，來自porne,妓女，原義可能為賣身為妓的女奴，來自PIE*per,買賣，詞源同price.-graph,寫，劃，畫。

pornography

pornography: [19] Pornography denotes etymologically the ‘depiction of prostitutes’; and indeed Webster’s dictionary 1864 defined the word as ‘licentious painting employed to decorate the walls of rooms sacred to bacchanalian orgies, examples of which occur in Pompeii’. Originally in English it was mainly reserved to classical Greek and Roman examples of the genre, and the application to contemporary books, magazines, etc did not emerge strongly until the 1880s. The term originated in Greek, based on pórnē ‘prostitute’, and reached English via French.

pornography (n.)

1843, "ancient obscene painting, especially in temples of Bacchus," from French pornographie, from Greek pornographos "(one) depicting prostitutes," from porne "prostitute," originally "bought, purchased" (with an original notion, probably of "female slave sold for prostitution"), related to pernanai "to sell," from PIE root *per- (5) "to traffic in, to sell" (see price (n.)) + graphein "to write" (see -graphy). A brothel in ancient Greek was a porneion.

Pornography, or obscene painting, which in the time of the Romans was practiced with the grossest license, prevailed especially at no particular period in Greece, but was apparently tolerated to a considerable extent at all times. Parrhasius, Aristides, Pausanias, Nicophanes, Chaerephanes, Arellius, and a few other [pornographoi] are mentioned as having made themselves notorious for this species of license. [Charles Anthon, "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities," New York, 1843]

In reference to modern works by 1859 (originally French novels), later as a charge against native literature; sense of "obscene pictures" in modern times is from 1906. Also sometimes used late 19c. for "description of prostitutes" as a matter of public hygiene. The "Medical Archives" in 1873 proposed porniatria for "the lengthy and really meaningless expression 'social evil hospital' ...."

I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description [hard-core pornography]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that. [U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, concurring opinion, "Jacobellis v. Ohio," 1964]

In ancient contexts, often paired with rhypography, "genre painting of low, sordid, or unsuitable subjects." Pornocracy (1860) is "the dominating influence of harlots," used specifically of the government of Rome during the first half of the 10th century by Theodora and her daughters. Pornotopia (1966) was coined to describe the ideal erotic-world of pornographic movies.

1. A nationwide campaign against pornography began in the summer.

一場全國性打擊淫穢作品的行動在夏季打響了。

來自柯林斯例句

2. They sell hard-core pornography .

他們出售赤裸裸的色情物品。

來自《權威詞典》

3. In this country pornography was once sold under the counter.

在該國,色情書畫曾一度在黑市出售.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》

4. Police have seized several consignments of pornography.

警方沒收了好幾批運來的色情物品.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》

5. The biggest fear among parents thinking of using the Internet is that their children will be exposed to pornography.

大多數父母認為使用因特網最可怕的是他們的孩子將接觸到色情內容。

來自柯林斯例句