semblance

名词，表示事物之间的相似之处，也表示事物表面呈现出的样子或勉强维持的状态。

💡 记忆钩子

把它想成事物露在外面的“样子”：两件东西露出相似的样子，就是“相像”；混乱或虚弱的状态暂时露出一点整齐、正常的样子，就是“表面上的状态”。

📝 学习建议

学习时先记住“表面呈现出的样子”这一核心概念，再区分“相似之处”和“看似存在但未必真实的状态”。
不要把它直接理解成完全真实的情况；它常常只强调外表或勉强维持的表象。

📖 中文释义

noun

core 相似之处；相像

📖 指两个事物在外形、特点或整体印象上相像的地方，强调它们露出了相近的样子。

💡 常用结构是“bear a close/strong semblance to + 名词”，表示“与……很相像”。这个用法偏书面，日常口语中通常用更普通的“相似”表达；不要把它误解为两者完全相同。

countable uncountable

The new logo bears a close semblance to the old one.

新标志和旧标志很相像。

There is a striking semblance between the two paintings.

这两幅画之间有明显的相似之处。
core 表面样子；表面上的状态

📖 指某种外表或看起来的状态，尤其指混乱、紧张等情况下暂时维持出的秩序或正常样子；这种表面状态不一定代表真实情况。

💡 最常见结构是“a semblance of + 名词”，如“a semblance of order”或“a semblance of normality”。它常与“restore、maintain、retain”等动词搭配，语气较正式，突出状态只是勉强或表面上的。不要将其理解为状态已经真正恢复。

countable uncountable

After the meeting, the staff restored a semblance of order to the office.

会议结束后，工作人员让办公室勉强恢复了秩序。

She put on a semblance of confidence before going on stage.

上台前，她装出了一副自信的样子。

semblances plural

📘 英文释义 (WordNet) 共 3 组

picture consisting of a graphic image of a person or thing

同义词集: likeness semblance

上位: icon, ikon, image, picture 下位: portrait, portrayal

an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading; ;

同义词集: semblance gloss color colour

he hoped his claims would have a semblance of authenticity

he tried to give his falsehood the gloss of moral sanction

the situation soon took on a different color

上位: appearance, visual aspect 下位: camouflage, disguise, guise, pretence, pretense, pretext

an erroneous mental representation

同义词集: illusion semblance

上位: appearance 下位: apparition, fantasm, irradiation, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, shadow

🌳 词源

源自中古英语，来自古法语，最终与表示“像、似乎”的词源有关。

From Middle English semblaunce (“outward appearance, form; appearance without reality; condition or fact of being apparent; symbolic image; facial expression, countenance; conduct, manner; image, likeness; analogy, comparison”), from Anglo-Norman semblaunce and Old French semblance (modern French semblance), from semblant, the present participle of sembler (“to appear; to resemble, seem”), from Late Latin similāre, the present active infinitive of similō, a variant of Latin simulō (“to act or behave as if; to imitate, simulate”), from similis (“like resembling, similar to”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; together”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs). By surface analysis, semble + -ance (suffix forming nouns denoting conditions or states).

🔄 变式

semblances plural

🏷 单词标签 & 词根