commute
/kəˈmjuːt/·커뮤트·verb
通勤、减刑、互换
LatinCEFR B2
词根
Latin 'com-' (together) + 'mutare' (to change)
Latin commutare (to exchange) → English commute (15th c., to exchange); from late 19th c. American railways: a commutation ticket (substitute fare) → to commute = travel by such ticket → daily journey to work
一句话
拉丁 com- (共) + mutare (变)。本义"互换"。 此词的语义迁移本身就是一部社会史 —— 中世: 把一种刑罚换成另一种 = 减刑。 19世纪美国铁路: commutation ticket (月票) 把每日买票的麻烦"换"成定额票 → 用此票者=commuter → 每日通勤=commute。 今天通勤路上的这一英语词,依然借用着拉丁语的"换"动词。
例句
He commutes two hours each day.
他每天通勤两小时。
The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
判决减为终身监禁。
Many people commute by train.
许多人坐火车通勤。
同根词
commutercommutationcommute (n.)mutatemutual