zany: [16] Zany originated as the name of a character in the old Italian commedia dell’arte, who tried, rather feebly, to mimic the antics of the clown. It came from Italian Zanni, a Venetian and Lombardic variant of Gianni, the pet form of Giovanni (the Italian equivalent of English John). Its meaning was broadened out to ‘buffoon’ in the 17th century, but it does not seem to have really established itself as an adjective until the mid 19th century. => john
zany (n.)
comic performer, 1580s, from French zani, from Italian zani, zanni "a zany, clown," originally Zanni, Venetian dialect variant of Gianni, pet form of Giovanni "John;" thus equivalent to English Jack. A stock character in old comedies, he aped the principal actors.
zany (adj.)
1610s, from zany (n.). Related: Zanily; zaniness.
雙語例句
1. Michael made us all laugh with his zany tricks.
邁克爾玩兒弄各種可笑的把戲把我們都逗笑了.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
2. She made us all laugh with her zany tricks.
她那些滑稽的惡作劇逗得我們都大笑起來.
來自辭典例句
3. He tried lecturing in California again with great success in the style of zany inconsequence.
他在加州講演,又非常成功,用的噱頭也是模仿醜角的滑稽.
來自辭典例句
4. He tried lecturing in California, again with great success, in the Ward style of zany inconsequence.
他在加州講演, 又非常成功, 用的噱頭也是模仿沃德的.
來自辭典例句
5. Is that zany approach an advantage for you or for your viewers?