associates:通常指 associate 的复数形式,意思是“同事;伙伴;合伙人;同伴”。也可作动词 associate 的第三人称单数,意为“使联系;交往;把……与……联系起来”。(此处以最常见的名词义为主。)
/əˈsoʊsiəts/(名词复数)
/əˈsoʊʃieɪts/(动词三单)
She brought two associates to the meeting.
她带了两位同事来开会。
The lawyer said his associates had reviewed every detail of the contract before signing.
律师说,他的同事们在签字前已审查了合同的每一个细节。
来自拉丁语 associare(“联合、结盟”),由 **ad-**(“向、使”)+ socius(“同伴、伙伴”)构成,后来进入法语并传入英语,逐渐形成“同伴/同事/合伙人”以及“把……联系起来”的含义。