What does 'limbs' mean in this context?
'As to our second new appointment,' Dumbledore continued, as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away, 'well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, ...
I'm wondering if 'limbs' is used to mean its literal meaning or a special meaning. What does it mean exactly? (arms & legs, large branches of a tree, or something else)
-- From Harry Potter - and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5.
meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
add a comment |
'As to our second new appointment,' Dumbledore continued, as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away, 'well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, ...
I'm wondering if 'limbs' is used to mean its literal meaning or a special meaning. What does it mean exactly? (arms & legs, large branches of a tree, or something else)
-- From Harry Potter - and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5.
meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
8
I don't think this should be closed as off-topic. dan has researched the meaning of the word "limb" in the dictionary and is still confused. Although the answer turns out to be the literal one, it still needs some interpretation and a learner of English could reasonably believe that it doesn't just mean arms and legs in this context.
– David Richerby
Nov 13 '18 at 18:39
add a comment |
'As to our second new appointment,' Dumbledore continued, as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away, 'well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, ...
I'm wondering if 'limbs' is used to mean its literal meaning or a special meaning. What does it mean exactly? (arms & legs, large branches of a tree, or something else)
-- From Harry Potter - and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5.
meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
'As to our second new appointment,' Dumbledore continued, as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away, 'well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, ...
I'm wondering if 'limbs' is used to mean its literal meaning or a special meaning. What does it mean exactly? (arms & legs, large branches of a tree, or something else)
-- From Harry Potter - and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 5.
meaning-in-context word-meaning
meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
asked Nov 13 '18 at 13:46
dandan
4,96122672
4,96122672
8
I don't think this should be closed as off-topic. dan has researched the meaning of the word "limb" in the dictionary and is still confused. Although the answer turns out to be the literal one, it still needs some interpretation and a learner of English could reasonably believe that it doesn't just mean arms and legs in this context.
– David Richerby
Nov 13 '18 at 18:39
add a comment |
8
I don't think this should be closed as off-topic. dan has researched the meaning of the word "limb" in the dictionary and is still confused. Although the answer turns out to be the literal one, it still needs some interpretation and a learner of English could reasonably believe that it doesn't just mean arms and legs in this context.
– David Richerby
Nov 13 '18 at 18:39
8
8
I don't think this should be closed as off-topic. dan has researched the meaning of the word "limb" in the dictionary and is still confused. Although the answer turns out to be the literal one, it still needs some interpretation and a learner of English could reasonably believe that it doesn't just mean arms and legs in this context.
– David Richerby
Nov 13 '18 at 18:39
I don't think this should be closed as off-topic. dan has researched the meaning of the word "limb" in the dictionary and is still confused. Although the answer turns out to be the literal one, it still needs some interpretation and a learner of English could reasonably believe that it doesn't just mean arms and legs in this context.
– David Richerby
Nov 13 '18 at 18:39
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
It's the literal meaning.
The joke is that Professor Kettleburn's job was Care of Magical Creatures, but presumably wasn't very good at it as he has lost at least one of his arms or legs, and he's retired before he can lose any more.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
5
Another example of this use is the idiom "to risk life and limb", literally meaning to do something dangerous enough that you might die or lose an important part of your body.
– Andrew
Nov 13 '18 at 14:39
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
Nov 13 '18 at 20:05
4
It's pretty much the same joke as the safety notice occasionally seen in optical labs: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
– Ross Smith
Nov 13 '18 at 21:11
2
@Brian: To slightly extend your clarification, "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs" suggests that he was at risk of losing another limb soon had he continued his job, which suggests a particularly inept caretaker.
– Flater
Nov 14 '18 at 10:26
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
It's the literal meaning.
The joke is that Professor Kettleburn's job was Care of Magical Creatures, but presumably wasn't very good at it as he has lost at least one of his arms or legs, and he's retired before he can lose any more.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
5
Another example of this use is the idiom "to risk life and limb", literally meaning to do something dangerous enough that you might die or lose an important part of your body.
– Andrew
Nov 13 '18 at 14:39
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
Nov 13 '18 at 20:05
4
It's pretty much the same joke as the safety notice occasionally seen in optical labs: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
– Ross Smith
Nov 13 '18 at 21:11
2
@Brian: To slightly extend your clarification, "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs" suggests that he was at risk of losing another limb soon had he continued his job, which suggests a particularly inept caretaker.
– Flater
Nov 14 '18 at 10:26
add a comment |
It's the literal meaning.
The joke is that Professor Kettleburn's job was Care of Magical Creatures, but presumably wasn't very good at it as he has lost at least one of his arms or legs, and he's retired before he can lose any more.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
5
Another example of this use is the idiom "to risk life and limb", literally meaning to do something dangerous enough that you might die or lose an important part of your body.
– Andrew
Nov 13 '18 at 14:39
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
Nov 13 '18 at 20:05
4
It's pretty much the same joke as the safety notice occasionally seen in optical labs: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
– Ross Smith
Nov 13 '18 at 21:11
2
@Brian: To slightly extend your clarification, "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs" suggests that he was at risk of losing another limb soon had he continued his job, which suggests a particularly inept caretaker.
– Flater
Nov 14 '18 at 10:26
add a comment |
It's the literal meaning.
The joke is that Professor Kettleburn's job was Care of Magical Creatures, but presumably wasn't very good at it as he has lost at least one of his arms or legs, and he's retired before he can lose any more.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
It's the literal meaning.
The joke is that Professor Kettleburn's job was Care of Magical Creatures, but presumably wasn't very good at it as he has lost at least one of his arms or legs, and he's retired before he can lose any more.
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
edited Nov 13 '18 at 14:45
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
answered Nov 13 '18 at 13:51
Daniel RosemanDaniel Roseman
79659
79659
5
Another example of this use is the idiom "to risk life and limb", literally meaning to do something dangerous enough that you might die or lose an important part of your body.
– Andrew
Nov 13 '18 at 14:39
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
Nov 13 '18 at 20:05
4
It's pretty much the same joke as the safety notice occasionally seen in optical labs: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
– Ross Smith
Nov 13 '18 at 21:11
2
@Brian: To slightly extend your clarification, "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs" suggests that he was at risk of losing another limb soon had he continued his job, which suggests a particularly inept caretaker.
– Flater
Nov 14 '18 at 10:26
add a comment |
5
Another example of this use is the idiom "to risk life and limb", literally meaning to do something dangerous enough that you might die or lose an important part of your body.
– Andrew
Nov 13 '18 at 14:39
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
Nov 13 '18 at 20:05
4
It's pretty much the same joke as the safety notice occasionally seen in optical labs: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
– Ross Smith
Nov 13 '18 at 21:11
2
@Brian: To slightly extend your clarification, "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs" suggests that he was at risk of losing another limb soon had he continued his job, which suggests a particularly inept caretaker.
– Flater
Nov 14 '18 at 10:26
5
5
Another example of this use is the idiom "to risk life and limb", literally meaning to do something dangerous enough that you might die or lose an important part of your body.
– Andrew
Nov 13 '18 at 14:39
Another example of this use is the idiom "to risk life and limb", literally meaning to do something dangerous enough that you might die or lose an important part of your body.
– Andrew
Nov 13 '18 at 14:39
7
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
Nov 13 '18 at 20:05
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
Nov 13 '18 at 20:05
4
4
It's pretty much the same joke as the safety notice occasionally seen in optical labs: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
– Ross Smith
Nov 13 '18 at 21:11
It's pretty much the same joke as the safety notice occasionally seen in optical labs: "Do not look into laser with remaining eye."
– Ross Smith
Nov 13 '18 at 21:11
2
2
@Brian: To slightly extend your clarification, "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs" suggests that he was at risk of losing another limb soon had he continued his job, which suggests a particularly inept caretaker.
– Flater
Nov 14 '18 at 10:26
@Brian: To slightly extend your clarification, "in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs" suggests that he was at risk of losing another limb soon had he continued his job, which suggests a particularly inept caretaker.
– Flater
Nov 14 '18 at 10:26
add a comment |
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8
I don't think this should be closed as off-topic. dan has researched the meaning of the word "limb" in the dictionary and is still confused. Although the answer turns out to be the literal one, it still needs some interpretation and a learner of English could reasonably believe that it doesn't just mean arms and legs in this context.
– David Richerby
Nov 13 '18 at 18:39