uncle: [13] Uncle comes via Anglo-Norman uncle and late Latin aunculus from Latin avunculus ‘mother’s brother, maternal uncle’ (source also of English avuncular [19]). This was a diminutive noun derived from the prehistoric base *aw- ‘grandparent’, and it has relatives in Latin avus ‘grandfather’, Welsh ewythr ‘uncle’, Polish wuj ‘uncle’, Armenian hav ‘uncle’, etc. => avuncular
uncle (n.)
late 13c., from Old French oncle, from Latin avunculus "mother's brother" ("father's brother" was patruus), literally "little grandfather," diminutive of avus "grandfather," from PIE root *awo- "grandfather, adult male relative other than one's father" (cognates: Armenian hav "grandfather," Lithuanian avynas "maternal uncle," Old Church Slavonic uji "uncle," Welsh ewythr "uncle").
Replaced Old English eam (usually maternal; paternal uncle was fædera), which represents the Germanic form of the root (cognates: Dutch oom, Old High German oheim "maternal uncle," German Ohm "uncle").
Also from French are German, Danish, Swedish onkel. As a familiar title of address to an old man, attested by 1793; in the U.S. South, especially "a kindly title for a worthy old negro" [Century Dictionary]. First record of Dutch uncle (and his blunt, stern, benevolent advice) is from 1838; Welsh uncle (1747) was the male first cousin of one's parent. To say uncle as a sign of submission in a fight is North American, attested from 1909, of uncertain signification.
双语例句
1. Auntie Hilda and Uncle Jack couldn't fuss over them enough.
希尔达姨妈和杰克姨父对他们宠爱有加。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Uncle Richard intoned a chapter from the Bible and improvised a prayer.
理查德叔叔吟诵了《圣经》中的一章，又即兴作了一段祈祷文。
来自柯林斯例句
3. There's been no trace of my aunt and uncle.
没有我姑姑、姑夫的踪迹。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Auntie and Uncle suggested she serve in the shop.
阿姨和叔叔建议她去商店工作。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Uncle Herbert never argued, never spoke up for himself.