good doctor

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

good doctor (countable and uncountable, plural good doctors)

  1. (idiomatic) An honorific form of address to a doctor.
    • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
      Doctor: ...So, good night;
      My mind she has mated, and amaz’d my sight.
      I think, but dare not speak.
      Gentlewoman: Good night, good doctor.
    • 1734, James Miller (1734), The mother-in-law; or, The doctor the disease, London: J. Watts, Act IV, Scene 1, page 60:
      Sir Cred. Spare me, good Doctor!
    • 1776, John Lind (1776), "Letter II: Of civil liberty, and the principles of government", in: Three letters to Dr. Price, London: T. Payne, J. Sewell, and P. Elmsly, page 40:
      Every woman too is her own legislatrix. Good doctor, reprint this sheet; add, but in capitals,—“every woman is her own legislatrix.”—These words alone will sell at least nine more editions of your work.

Usage notes

[edit]

Sometimes used ironically.

Hypernyms

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]