一切經音義 57.164

57.164

佞嬖 (The first character has the fanqie 寧 + 定. Jia's commentary on the Guoyu states that it means hypocritical goodness and pretended benevolence. Gu Yewang states that it means using flattery to comply with admonitions so as to please the ruler's mind. We note that a flatterer obsequiously fawns upon superiors and crookedly complies with human feelings, pretending to resemble benevolence; hence it is formed from 仁 and 女. The Shuowen says it means clever flattery. The second character is pronounced 閉. Du's commentary on the Zuo zhuan states that 嬖 means being a favored intimate. Wang's commentary on the Chuci states that 嬖 is like love. The Rules for Posthumous Names state: "A lowly person who attains love is called 嬖." Liu Xi states: "嬖 means low; through familiarity and low sycophancy one serves people with their looks." The Shuowen says it is formed from 女 with 辟 phonetic. 媟 is pronounced 屑).