orchestra: [17] In ancient Greece, the term orkhéstrā denoted a ‘semicircular space at the front of a theatre stage, in which the chorus danced’ (it was a derivative of the verb orkheisthai ‘dance’). English originally took it over (via Latin orchēstra) in this historical sense, but in the early 18th century orchestra began to be used for the ‘part of a theatre where the musicians played’, and hence by extension for the ‘group of musicians’ itself. The derivative orchestrate [19] was adapted from French orchestrer.
orchestra (n.)
c. 1600, "area in an ancient theater for the chorus," from Latin orchestra, from Greek orkhestra, semicircular space where the chorus of dancers performed, with suffix -tra denoting place + orkheisthai "to dance," intensive of erkhesthai "to go, come," from PIE root *ergh- "to mount" (cognates: Sanskrit rghayati "trembles, rages, raves," rnoti "rises, moves," arnah "welling stream;" Old Persian rasatiy "he comes;" Greek ornynai "to rouse, start;" Latin oriri "to rise," origo "a beginning;" Gothic rinnan, Old English irnan "to flow, run"). In ancient Rome, it referred to the place in the theater reserved for senators and other dignitaries. Meaning "group of musicians performing at a concert, opera, etc." first recorded 1720; "part of theater in front of the stage" is from 1768.
双语例句
1. The orchestra gave its first performance on Whit Monday.
乐团在周一的圣灵降临节举行了首场演出。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Young conductors earn their spurs in a small orchestra or opera house.
年轻的指挥家们在小乐队或小歌剧院里崭露头角。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He had nursed an ambition to lead his own big orchestra.
他一直有一个梦想，希望能指挥一支自己的顶级管弦乐队。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The orchestra contrived to produce some of its best playing for years.
这支管弦乐队呈现了精彩的演奏，堪称其多年来的巅峰演奏。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The orchestra has more discipline now, but at the expense of spirit.