2020-12-13
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด Q – quarter
แนะนำการใช้ ตามที่ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ แต่ละท้องถิ่น
ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค
Dictionary.com
ออกเสียง quarter = ‘KWAWR-ter’
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Quarter
Quarter derives, via Anglo-French, from Latin quartus,
meaning "fourth," and since at least the 14th century,
it has been used to denote one of four equal partsinto which
anything is physically or mathematically divisible,
from grain to phases of the moon, periods of time
(e.g., hours, years, and seasons), currency, and pie.
By the 15th century, quarter, as well as its plural form quarters,
came to denote position or place
—in particular, regions and localities lying under
any of the four divisions of the horizon
conceived as corresponding to the cardinal points of the compass
(north, east, south, and west).
This idea of sectioning areas into quadrants
led to the senses of quarter
denoting a district of a town or city occupied by a particular group
or found notable for a conspicuous feature,
such as the French quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana,
or the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney, Australia.
In military jargon,
quarters came to refer to the special place of residence
appointed to soldiers.
In time, that sense was extended to civilian lodgings and living quarters.
Another familiar military sense of quarter implies showing mercy.
"To give quarter" originally meant to send a defeated enemy to "quarters" (i.e., back to base)
—hence, showing mercy and sparing their life
(usually with the intent of eventually getting a ransom for the prisoner).
The negative expression "to give no quarter"
took on a figurative meaning of showing no mercy or leniency in today's parlance:
Both teams were incredibly well matched. No quarter was given nor expected. Not an inch was given, every inch had to be taken. — Rico S. Giron, The Las Vegas Optic, 15 Dec. 2017
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,
Usage Note:
When referring to the time of day,
the article a is optional in phrases
such as (a) quarter to (or of, before, or till) nine;
(a) quarter after (or past) ten.
Collins COBUILD English Usage
1. 'term'
At a British school, each year is divided intothree terms.
At an American school, it is divided into four terms.
...the summer term.
2. 'semester'
At a British college or university, each year isalso divided into three terms.
At an American college or university, it is divided into two semesters, three trimesters, or four quarters.
The first semester starts in three weeks.
