different between constabulary vs constable

English

Etymology

From mediaeval Latin conestabularia, a noun use of the feminine version of conestabularius, from Latin constabulus, from comes stabuli, literally ‘master of the stables’.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?stæbj?l??i/

Adjective

constabulary (not comparable)

1. Of, or relating to constables.
2. Characteristic to police; police-like, rather than military.

   Constabulary missions are different from fighting wars.

Synonyms

• constabular

Noun

constabulary (countable and uncountable, plural constabularies)

1. A police force.
2. The police in a particular district or area.

Usage notes

Constabulary is a collective noun and usually has no plural. Only when describing groups of constabularies is it used in the plural. For example, the constabularies of England and Wales form part of the constabulary of the United Kingdom.

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English constable, cunstable, constabil, connestable, cunestable, from Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabul? (“officer of the stables”). For the sense-development, compare marshal.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k?nst?b?l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?nst?b?l/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /?k?nst?b?l/

Noun

constable (plural constables)

1. One holding the lowest rank in most Commonwealth police forces. (See also chief constable.)
2. (Britain, law) A police officer or an officer with equivalent powers.
3. (historical) An officer of a noble court in the Middle Ages, usually a senior army commander. (See also marshal).
4. The warden of a castle.
5. (US) A public officer, usually at municipal level, responsible for maintaining order or serving writs and court orders.
6. (Channel Islands) An elected head of a parish (also known as a connétable)
7. A large butterfly, Dichorragia nesimachus, family Nymphalidae, of Asia.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:police officer

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

constable (third-person singular simple present constables, present participle constabling, simple past and past participle constabled)

1. (intransitive, dated) To act as a constable or policeman.

Anagrams

• balconets