umpire: [15] An umpire is etymologically someone who is ‘not the equal’ of others, and is therefore neutral between them. The word’s ultimate source is Old French nomper, a compound noun formed from the prefix non- ‘not’ and per ‘equal’ (source of English peer). This was borrowed into English in the 14th century as noumpere, but soon misdivision of a noumpere as an oumpere led to umpire (the same process produced adder from an original nadder). => peer
umpire (n.)
mid-14c., noumper, from Old French nonper "odd number, not even," in reference to a third person to arbitrate between two, from non "not" (see non-) + per "equal," from Latin par (see par). Initial -n- lost by mid-15c. due to faulty separation of a noumpere, heard as an oumpere. Originally legal, the gaming sense first recorded 1714 (in wrestling).
umpire (v.)
1610s, from umpire (n.). Related: Umpired; umpiring.
雙語例句
1. The umpire's decision is final.
裁判的裁定是不可更改的。
來自柯林斯例句
2. We need someone to umpire.
我們得找個人當裁判。
來自《權威詞典》
3. The boys had an altercation over the umpire's decision.
男孩子們對裁判的判決頗有爭議.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
4. The umpire's duty is to see that competition is fair play.