constable: [13] The late Latin comes stabulī was an officer in charge of the stables (comes is the source of the English title count, and stabulum is the ancestor of English stable). From the comparatively lowly status of head groom, the job gradually grew in importance until Old French conestable was used for the principal officer of the household of the early French kings. In the 14th century the title was adopted for the Constable of England. On a less exalted level, the word has also been used since the 14th century for someone appointed to uphold law and order, and was applied to police officers when they were called into being in the 1830s. => count, stable
constable (n.)
c. 1200, "chief household officer, justice of the peace," from Old French conestable (12c., Modern French connétable), "steward, governor," principal officer of the Frankish king's household, from Late Latin comes stabuli, literally "count of the stable" (established by Theodosian Code, c.438 C.E.), hence, "chief groom." See count (n.). Second element is from Latin stabulum "stable, standing place" (see stable (n.)). Probably a translation of a Germanic word. Meaning "an officer of the peace" is from c. 1600, transferred to "police officer" 1836. French reborrowed constable 19c. as "English police."
双语例句
1. The Chief Constable's clipped tones crackled over the telephone line.
电话线那头噼里啪啦地传来警察局长短促的声音。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He detailed a constable to take it to the Incident Room.
他派了一名警察把它送到重案调查室。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The Chief Constable deeply resented any intrusions into his manor.
警察局局长对侵入其辖区的行为深恶痛绝。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The Chief Constable said that sexual harassment was deplorable.
郡警察局长说性骚扰应受谴责。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The detective-constable picked out the words with difficulty.
