constable
/ˈkʌnstəbl/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈɑnstəbəl] /ˈkɑːnstəbl/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈɑnstəbəl] /ˈkän(t)-stə-bəl ˈkən(t)-/ (ame, mw)
constable — 名詞
- constablesingular
- constablesplural
1. a police officer in Britain who holds the most junior rank in the force
警員
英國警隊中最低級別的警察
a police officer in Britain who holds the most junior rank in the force
Constable Soraya patrolled the high street on foot every evening after dark.
警員 Soraya 每晚天黑後都在大街上徒步巡邏。
title usage: Constable + surname as a formal form of address
Felix spent two years as a constable before being promoted to sergeant.
Felix 當了兩年警員後晉升為小隊長。
spent [time] as a constable — describing duration in the rank
The constable knocked on Mrs. Chen's door to ask about the broken window.
警員敲了陳太太的門，詢問打破窗戶的事。
A constable and a detective arrived at the scene within ten minutes.
一名警員和一名探員在十分鐘內趕到現場。
Sofia put on her constable's uniform and checked her radio before the night shift.
Sofia 穿上警員制服，在值夜班前檢查了無線電。
- police officer
a broader, neutral term used across all English-speaking countries; constable specifies the lowest rank in a British force
- bobby
an informal, old-fashioned British term for a constable, rarely used in official contexts
用法筆記
This is the lowest police rank in British forces. Above constable are sergeant, inspector, and chief inspector. A constable who has just joined the force is often called a probationary constable.
常見錯誤
2. an official responsible for keeping order within a single town or district, who
地方治安官
負責小鎮或區域治安與輕微案件的官員
an official responsible for keeping order within a single town or district, who handles minor legal matters
The town constable, Tamar, settled the noise complaint between the two neighbours.
鎮上的治安官 Tamar 處理了兩戶鄰居之間的噪音投訴。
town constable — the modifying noun names the jurisdiction
Esme was elected constable of the township and swore an oath at the courthouse.
Esme 當選為鎮區治安官，在法院宣誓就職。
be elected constable — describing how one gains the role
Idris, the village constable, kept the cell keys on a ring at his belt.
村裡的治安官 Idris 把拘留室鑰匙掛在腰間的鑰匙圈上。
When a tourist lost her wallet, the local constable searched the park benches until dusk.
一名遊客弄丟錢包後，當地治安官在公園長椅間找到天黑。
The constable posted the election notice on the door of the town hall.
治安官把選舉公告貼在市政廳的門上。
- sheriff
has authority over an entire county, not just a single town or township
- marshal
a federal officer with broader jurisdiction and different duties from a local constable
- peace officer
a broad legal category; constable is one specific type of peace officer
用法筆記
This sense is used mainly in historical or rural American contexts. The role is usually elected and covers a single town or township. A constable has fewer powers than a sheriff and handles minor disputes rather than serious crimes.