What does 'limbs' mean in this context?
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'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 yesterday
dan
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up vote
9
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'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 yesterday
dan
3,36422256
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
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
favorite
up vote
9
down vote
favorite
'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 yesterday
dan
3,36422256
'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 yesterday
dan
3,36422256
asked yesterday
dan
3,36422256
asked yesterday
dan
3,36422256
asked yesterday
dan
3,36422256
asked yesterday
dan
3,36422256
3,36422256
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
28
down vote
accepted
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 yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
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
yesterday
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
16 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
28
down vote
accepted
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 yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
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
yesterday
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
16 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
28
down vote
accepted
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 yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
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
yesterday
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
16 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
28
down vote
accepted
up vote
28
down vote
accepted
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 yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
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 yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
answered yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
answered yesterday
Daniel Roseman
72249
72249
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
yesterday
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
16 hours ago
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
yesterday
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
16 hours ago
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
7
7
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
yesterday
To clarify this answer, the word "remaining" in "remaining limbs" indicates that at least one limb has been lost.
– Brian
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
16 hours ago
@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
16 hours ago
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
yesterday