每日单词：nimble

摘要：“Nimble”源自古英语“nǽmel”（快速的、敏捷的），与“niman”（拿、抓住）相关，暗示迅速捕捉或反应的能力。这个词可能源于印欧语系的“*nem-”（分配、获取），与“number”（数字）、“numb”（麻木，意为失去抓取能力）有远亲关系。到中古英

nimble

英 ['nɪmbl] 美 ['nɪmbl]

adj.敏捷的；伶俐的；机敏的

“Nimble”源自古英语“nǽmel”（快速的、敏捷的），与“niman”（拿、抓住）相关，暗示迅速捕捉或反应的能力。这个词可能源于印欧语系的“*nem-”（分配、获取），与“number”（数字）、“numb”（麻木，意为失去抓取能力）有远亲关系。到中古英语时期，“nimble”演变为“nimel”，最终定型为现代形式，专指灵活与敏捷。其语感轻盈而活泼，带有一种灵动的生命力。

◉外刊例句

① 《The Economist》 (2023年12月3日)

Startups thrive by staying nimble, adapting quickly to market shifts.

初创公司通过保持灵活性蓬勃发展，迅速适应市场变化。

② 《National Geographic》 (2024年5月19日)

The mountain goat’s nimble hooves navigated the steep cliffs with ease.

山羊灵巧的蹄子轻松地在陡峭的悬崖上移动。

◉经典名著

①《仲夏夜之梦》（A Midsummer Night’s Dream）——威廉·莎士比亚 (约1595年)

The nimble fairies danced through the forest, unseen by mortal eyes.

敏捷的仙子们在森林中起舞，凡人之眼无法看见。

② 《金银岛》（Treasure Island）——罗伯特·路易斯·史蒂文森 (1883年)

Jim was nimble enough to climb the rigging and escape the pirates.吉姆足够敏捷，能爬上船索逃离海盗。

◉Usage Examples

(1) She knitted a pair of mittens for me with her nimble fingers.

(2) The nurse sewed up the wound with nimble fingers.

(3) Habits will make us have two nimble hands and a clumsy brain.

(4) He is a nimble and versatile wit.

(1) 她用灵巧的双手为我织了一副手套。

(2) 护士用灵巧的手指缝好了伤口。

(3) 习惯会使我们的双手伶俐而头脑笨拙。

(4) 他是一个机敏而又多才多艺的才子。

◉Usage Notes

If you're nimble, you can move quickly and with ease. That spryness can be both physical and mental, so even if your granny isn't very nimble on her feet, she can probably still whip you in chess.

A toddler might recognize the word nimble from the nursery rhyme: "Jack be nimble / Jack be quick / Jack jump over / The candlestick," but may not be nimble enough to deduce the meaning. Nimble, from the 14th century Old English næmel, meaning "quick to grasp," can refer to one's mental quickness or physical agility.

◉Colins

1. [ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]敏捷的；灵活的；灵巧的 Someone who is nimble is able to move their fingers, hands, or legs quickly and easily.

① Everything had been stitched by Molly's nimble fingers...

每一件东西都是莫莉灵巧的双手缝制出来的。

② Val, who was light and nimble on her feet, learnt to dance the tango.

脚步轻盈灵活的瓦尔学会了跳探戈舞。

nimbly

③ Sabrina jumped nimbly out of the van...

萨布丽娜敏捷地跳出货车。

④ Uncle George quickly descended the ladder and nimbly stepped aboard.

乔治叔叔迅速爬下梯子，敏捷地上了船。

2. [ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]敏锐的；聪明的；机智的 If you say that someone has a nimble mind, you mean they are clever and can think very quickly.