dwarf

メキシコで生後10ヶ月の男の子がとんでもなく成長著しく、9歳児の平均体重並みという、医者も困惑する状況にあるそうです。


A Mexican mother whose 10-month-old son weighs the same as a nine-year-old has spoken out about his mystery condition.

Isabel Pantoja, 24, from the Pacific coast state of Colima, said at first she assumed the baby Luis's growth was down to the fact that 'I had good breast milk' but now she is desperately worried for her son.

（中略）

At birth Luis weighed 3.5kg (8lbs), about the same as his brother Mario, who is almost three but is now dwarfed by his baby brother.
(The Daily Mail. November 12, 2017.)


生まれた際には3.5キロと、普通よりもやや大きめというくらいでしたが、その後グングンと成長し、今や18キロもあるそうです。

さて、記事の中でかきのようなくだりがありますが、


his brother Mario, who is almost three but is now dwarfed by his baby brother


ここで、”dwarf”が動詞として使われています。

このような用法を初めて見たのですが、”dwarf”には小人という意味の他に、


（相対的に）相手を小さく見せる、卑小に見せる


という意味があるのを知りました。

取り上げた記事の例でいうと、問題の男児が大きすぎて、もはや兄の3歳児が小さく見えてしまうほどだ、ということです。

このような”dwarf”の意味は物理的な物の大小に留まらず、規模や価値、重要性などの概念的な内容についても用いられます。


The two couples also teamed up with others to create the Breakthrough Prizes for scientists who make discoveries that extend human life. Its $3 million payouts - given to six scientists each year - dwarf similar awards, including the Nobel Prizes, currently about $925,000.
(Washington Post, 2015)


As powerful as it will be, the impact that the Internet of things will have on our personal lives is dwarfed by its business potential. Soon, companies will be able to perfectly match product demand to raw materials orders, streamlining supply chains and minimizing waste to an extraordinary degree.
(Futurist, 2012)