verge

• vi. 濒临，接近；处在边缘
• n. 边缘
• n. (Verge)人名；(英)弗奇；(西)贝尔赫

来自拉丁语virga,小杆，绿枝，引申词义小草地。同时，因用做教堂司事的权杖，引申词义管辖范围，管辖范围的边缘。

verge

verge: English has two words verge. The noun [14], which now means ‘edge’, was originally used in English for ‘penis’ (it is to this day a technical term for the male reproductive organ of invertebrate animals). It comes via Old French verge from Latin virga ‘rod’ (source also of English virgule [19]), and the sense ‘edge’ emerged in the 15th century from the notion of the limits of territorial jurisdiction of the Lord High Steward, as symbolized by his ‘rod’ of office.

A verger is likewise etymologically someone who carries an official ‘rod’. The verb verge [17] comes from Latin vergere ‘bend, incline’, which also gave English converge [17] and diverge [17].
=> verger, virgule; converge, diverge

verge (n.)

"edge, rim," mid-15c., from Old French verge "twig, branch; measuring rod; penis; rod or wand of office" (12c.), hence, from the last sense, "scope, territory dominated" (as in estre suz la verge de "be under the authority of"), from Latin virga "shoot, rod, stick, slender green branch," of unknown origin.

Earliest attested sense in English is now-obsolete meaning "male member, penis" (c. 1400). Modern sense is from the notion of within the verge (c. 1500, also as Anglo-French dedeinz la verge), i.e. "subject to the Lord High Steward's authority" (as symbolized by the rod of office), originally a 12-mile radius round the king's court. Sense shifted to "the outermost edge of an expanse or area." Meaning "point at which something happens" (as in on the verge of) is first attested c. 1600. "A very curious sense development." [Weekley]

verge (v.1)

"tend, incline," c. 1600, from Latin vergere "to bend, turn, tend toward, incline," from PIE *werg- "to turn," from root *wer- (3) "to turn, bend" (see versus). Influenced by verge (v.2) "provide with a border" (c. 1600); "be adjacent to" (1787), from verge (n.). Related: Verged; verging.

1. I'm sad that Julie'smarriage is on the verge of splitting up.

朱莉的婚姻濒临破裂，我为此感到难过。

来自柯林斯例句

2. Her parents are rumoured to be on the verge of splitting up.

据说她的父母快要离婚了。

来自柯林斯例句

3. The big Irishman was on the verge of losing his cool.

那个高大的爱尔兰人快要失去冷静了。

来自柯林斯例句

4. Carole was on the verge of tears.

卡萝尔差点就要哭了。

来自柯林斯例句

5. His voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

他声音颤抖，泪水在眼眶里打转。

来自柯林斯例句