mirror

• n. 鏡；正反射；手本
• vt.反射する；映し出す

古フランス語のmirer（観察する、熟考する、鏡を見る）から。ラテン語のmirari（驚嘆する、驚く）が語源で、語源的にはsmile（微笑み）、miracle（奇跡）と同じ。 古代社会では鏡はしばしば神秘や迷信と結びついていたため、鏡が割れることさえ不吉な兆候と考えられていた。reflect「反射する」が語源。

mirror

mirror: [13] Mirror belongs to a small family of English words which illustrate how a Latin term originally signifying ‘wonder at’ weakened (presumably via ‘stare in wonder at’) to ‘look at’. Etymologically, a mirror is something you ‘look at’ yourself in. The word comes via Old French mirour from Vulgar Latin *mīrātōrium, a derivative of *mirāre ‘look at’.

This was closely related to classical Latin mīrārī ‘wonder at’ (a derivative of mīrus ‘wonderful’), which passed into Old French as mirer ‘look at’, source of English mirage [19]. Based on mīrārī were Latin mīrābilis ‘wonderful’ (source of English marvel [13]) and mīrāculum ‘something to be wondered at’ (source of English miracle [12]).
=> marvel, miracle, mirage

mirror (n.)

early 13c., from Old French mireoir "a reflecting glass, looking glass; observation, model, example," earlier miradoir (11c.), from mirer "look at" (oneself in a mirror), "observe, watch, contemplate," from Vulgar Latin *mirare "to look at," variant of Latin mirari "to wonder at, admire" (see miracle). Figurative usage is attested from c. 1300. Used in divination since classical and biblical times; mirrors in modern England are the subject of at least 14 known superstitions, according to folklorists. Belief that breaking one brings bad luck is attested from 1777. The Spanish cognate, mirador (from mirar "to look, look at, behold"), has come to mean "watch tower." Mirror ball attested from 1968.

mirror (v.)

"to reflect," 1590s, from mirror (n.). Related: Mirrored; mirroring. The Middle English verb mirouren (early 15c.) meant "to be a model" (for conduct, behavior, etc.), while miren (mid-14c., from Old French mirer) meant "to look in a mirror."

1. Light colours provide an effective backdrop for pictures or a mirror .

淡い色は、絵や鏡をかけるのに効果的な引き立てです。

2.A mirror hung on a nail above the washstand.

洗面台の上に釘で鏡を掛けている。

3.This is almost the mirror image of the situation in Scotland.

これはほとんどスコットランド情勢の翻版である。

4.I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.

鏡の前に出て舌を出す。

5.The only wall decorations are candles and a single mirror .

壁に飾られている唯一の装飾は、数本のろうそくと鏡です。