pirate
Definitions
A person who attacks and robs ships at sea
海盗
A person who illegally copies and sells protected work
盗版者
To illegally copy and use someone's protected work
盗版；非法翻印
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedThrough Greek, not Latin. Greek peira ('an attempt') — the same root behind experience — produced peiratēs, 'one who tries his luck,' specifically by attacking ships. So a pirate is etymologically just 'a chancer.' The modern 'software pirate' who copies what isn't his keeps the original flavor exactly: making an unauthorized attempt on someone else's property.
Root peri still carries 23 more wordsWhy It Means This
Pirate is the family's surprise — the one member that reached English through Greek rather than Latin. Greek peira meant 'attempt,' and a peiratēs was someone who 'tried his fortune' by raiding. That image of an unauthorized, opportunistic grab is why the word jumped so naturally from sea raiders to the copyright 'pirate': in both cases someone is making a bold attempt to take what isn't theirs.
Common Collocations
- 1.pirate ship海盗船
- 2.software pirate软件盗版者
- 3.pirated copy盗版拷贝
- 4.modern-day pirate现代海盗
Example Sentences
- 1.
The ship was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
- 2.
He was fined for pirating copyrighted music.
- 3.
Software pirates cost the industry billions each year.