“should” -— Alternative meaning in this context?
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
This excerpt is from Chapter XIV of Uncle Tom's Cabin ( in case the full text is required: http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe/Uncle_Toms_Cabin/Evangeline_p5.html)
Tom was standing just under her on the lower deck, as she fell. He saw her strike the water, and sink, and was after her in a moment. A broad-chested, strong-armed fellow, it was nothing for him to keep afloat in the water, till, in a moment or two the child rose to the surface, and he caught her in his arms, and, swimming with her to the boat-side, handed her up, all dripping, to the grasp of hundreds of hands, which, as if they had all belonged to one man, were stretched eagerly out to receive her. A few moments more, and her father bore her, dripping and senseless, to the ladies' cabin, where, as is usual in cases of the kind, there ensued a very well-meaning and kind-hearted strife among the female occupants generally, as to who should do the most things to make a disturbance, and to hinder her recovery in every way possible.
Pardon me, but "should" here sounds odd as it does not mean that as in "You should go to school today".
meaning-in-context
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 13 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
This excerpt is from Chapter XIV of Uncle Tom's Cabin ( in case the full text is required: http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe/Uncle_Toms_Cabin/Evangeline_p5.html)
Tom was standing just under her on the lower deck, as she fell. He saw her strike the water, and sink, and was after her in a moment. A broad-chested, strong-armed fellow, it was nothing for him to keep afloat in the water, till, in a moment or two the child rose to the surface, and he caught her in his arms, and, swimming with her to the boat-side, handed her up, all dripping, to the grasp of hundreds of hands, which, as if they had all belonged to one man, were stretched eagerly out to receive her. A few moments more, and her father bore her, dripping and senseless, to the ladies' cabin, where, as is usual in cases of the kind, there ensued a very well-meaning and kind-hearted strife among the female occupants generally, as to who should do the most things to make a disturbance, and to hinder her recovery in every way possible.
Pardon me, but "should" here sounds odd as it does not mean that as in "You should go to school today".
meaning-in-context
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 13 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
It means "ought to."
– aparente001
Jun 14 '17 at 2:56
-1 no research indicated. What research have you done? Which dictionaries have you checked? What is it about definitions and examples of usage that leave you confused? Alternative meaning to what?
– Knotell
Jun 15 '17 at 10:14
You're looking in the wrong place; should has its usual meaning here. It's talking about a situation where people are taking the patient's temperature, asking if they're ok, changing their clothes, injecting them with medicine and so on, unfortunately all tending to disrupt the patient's sleep.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 2:15
@Lawrence I agree that without the last half sentence " to hinder her recovery in every way possible", your explanation makes perfect sense. But why would kind-hearted female occupants "should" go out of their way for every means to hinder the girl's recovery? It runs counter to their good meaning, doesn't it?
– Shun
Aug 14 '17 at 9:14
It's probably to inject a little light-hearted feel to the piece.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 10:31
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
This excerpt is from Chapter XIV of Uncle Tom's Cabin ( in case the full text is required: http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe/Uncle_Toms_Cabin/Evangeline_p5.html)
Tom was standing just under her on the lower deck, as she fell. He saw her strike the water, and sink, and was after her in a moment. A broad-chested, strong-armed fellow, it was nothing for him to keep afloat in the water, till, in a moment or two the child rose to the surface, and he caught her in his arms, and, swimming with her to the boat-side, handed her up, all dripping, to the grasp of hundreds of hands, which, as if they had all belonged to one man, were stretched eagerly out to receive her. A few moments more, and her father bore her, dripping and senseless, to the ladies' cabin, where, as is usual in cases of the kind, there ensued a very well-meaning and kind-hearted strife among the female occupants generally, as to who should do the most things to make a disturbance, and to hinder her recovery in every way possible.
Pardon me, but "should" here sounds odd as it does not mean that as in "You should go to school today".
meaning-in-context
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
This excerpt is from Chapter XIV of Uncle Tom's Cabin ( in case the full text is required: http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe/Uncle_Toms_Cabin/Evangeline_p5.html)
Tom was standing just under her on the lower deck, as she fell. He saw her strike the water, and sink, and was after her in a moment. A broad-chested, strong-armed fellow, it was nothing for him to keep afloat in the water, till, in a moment or two the child rose to the surface, and he caught her in his arms, and, swimming with her to the boat-side, handed her up, all dripping, to the grasp of hundreds of hands, which, as if they had all belonged to one man, were stretched eagerly out to receive her. A few moments more, and her father bore her, dripping and senseless, to the ladies' cabin, where, as is usual in cases of the kind, there ensued a very well-meaning and kind-hearted strife among the female occupants generally, as to who should do the most things to make a disturbance, and to hinder her recovery in every way possible.
Pardon me, but "should" here sounds odd as it does not mean that as in "You should go to school today".
meaning-in-context
meaning-in-context
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
edited Jun 12 '17 at 22:12
Laurel
29.4k654104
29.4k654104
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
asked Jun 12 '17 at 21:44
Shun
395215
395215
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 13 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 13 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
It means "ought to."
– aparente001
Jun 14 '17 at 2:56
-1 no research indicated. What research have you done? Which dictionaries have you checked? What is it about definitions and examples of usage that leave you confused? Alternative meaning to what?
– Knotell
Jun 15 '17 at 10:14
You're looking in the wrong place; should has its usual meaning here. It's talking about a situation where people are taking the patient's temperature, asking if they're ok, changing their clothes, injecting them with medicine and so on, unfortunately all tending to disrupt the patient's sleep.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 2:15
@Lawrence I agree that without the last half sentence " to hinder her recovery in every way possible", your explanation makes perfect sense. But why would kind-hearted female occupants "should" go out of their way for every means to hinder the girl's recovery? It runs counter to their good meaning, doesn't it?
– Shun
Aug 14 '17 at 9:14
It's probably to inject a little light-hearted feel to the piece.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 10:31
|
show 1 more comment
1
It means "ought to."
– aparente001
Jun 14 '17 at 2:56
-1 no research indicated. What research have you done? Which dictionaries have you checked? What is it about definitions and examples of usage that leave you confused? Alternative meaning to what?
– Knotell
Jun 15 '17 at 10:14
You're looking in the wrong place; should has its usual meaning here. It's talking about a situation where people are taking the patient's temperature, asking if they're ok, changing their clothes, injecting them with medicine and so on, unfortunately all tending to disrupt the patient's sleep.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 2:15
@Lawrence I agree that without the last half sentence " to hinder her recovery in every way possible", your explanation makes perfect sense. But why would kind-hearted female occupants "should" go out of their way for every means to hinder the girl's recovery? It runs counter to their good meaning, doesn't it?
– Shun
Aug 14 '17 at 9:14
It's probably to inject a little light-hearted feel to the piece.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 10:31
1
1
It means "ought to."
– aparente001
Jun 14 '17 at 2:56
It means "ought to."
– aparente001
Jun 14 '17 at 2:56
-1 no research indicated. What research have you done? Which dictionaries have you checked? What is it about definitions and examples of usage that leave you confused? Alternative meaning to what?
– Knotell
Jun 15 '17 at 10:14
-1 no research indicated. What research have you done? Which dictionaries have you checked? What is it about definitions and examples of usage that leave you confused? Alternative meaning to what?
– Knotell
Jun 15 '17 at 10:14
You're looking in the wrong place; should has its usual meaning here. It's talking about a situation where people are taking the patient's temperature, asking if they're ok, changing their clothes, injecting them with medicine and so on, unfortunately all tending to disrupt the patient's sleep.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 2:15
You're looking in the wrong place; should has its usual meaning here. It's talking about a situation where people are taking the patient's temperature, asking if they're ok, changing their clothes, injecting them with medicine and so on, unfortunately all tending to disrupt the patient's sleep.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 2:15
@Lawrence I agree that without the last half sentence " to hinder her recovery in every way possible", your explanation makes perfect sense. But why would kind-hearted female occupants "should" go out of their way for every means to hinder the girl's recovery? It runs counter to their good meaning, doesn't it?
– Shun
Aug 14 '17 at 9:14
@Lawrence I agree that without the last half sentence " to hinder her recovery in every way possible", your explanation makes perfect sense. But why would kind-hearted female occupants "should" go out of their way for every means to hinder the girl's recovery? It runs counter to their good meaning, doesn't it?
– Shun
Aug 14 '17 at 9:14
It's probably to inject a little light-hearted feel to the piece.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 10:31
It's probably to inject a little light-hearted feel to the piece.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 10:31
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
These days a writer would probably put "who could do the most things...". Technically, however, 'a competition as to who could do the most' refers only to who has the ability; who actually does most is decided by a competition as to who should do the most. It appears that writing was more recise in th 19th century.
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Actually should here does mean the same as in "You should go to school today", even though it's more convoluted.
*… who should… * is a question but the answer will be … she should (who is best qualified according to the terms in the passage…)
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
Hey Robbie, but it does not match the whole context if you could kindly take a closer look at the passage, in that "who is best qualified to disturb the girl and hinder her recovery." It makes more sense to me to interpret it as "who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery."
– Shun
Jun 14 '17 at 23:29
who is best qualified… matches the context perfectly. Would suggests no real question of qualification for the task. The choice might as well be made by the toss of a coin. Would carries no sense of strife, however well-meaning or kind-hearted. Should, here, can’t mean has a duty to. It almost means deserves to; whether through real qualifications or just by blacking the most eyes in a physical striving matters not. Try, ie, google.co.uk/…
– Robbie Goodwin
Jun 15 '17 at 18:44
My understanding of the passage agrees with Shun's. It does not seem to be about qualifications for making trouble.
– Andreas Blass
Jul 15 '17 at 5:20
Thanks. There are senses in which should and would share a meaning; not this. who should could be decided by straws among quaified pickers. aparente001’s ought to seems to show not just a choice but a necessary reason for it. Who thinks It doesn’t seem to be about qualifications for trouble, or that it makes more sense as who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery… is welcome to take it up with Beecher Stowe or any dictionary. Whatever, who out there thinks any modern publisher would have allowed Harriet to get away with a passage like that?
– Robbie Goodwin
Jul 16 '17 at 22:08
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
These days a writer would probably put "who could do the most things...". Technically, however, 'a competition as to who could do the most' refers only to who has the ability; who actually does most is decided by a competition as to who should do the most. It appears that writing was more recise in th 19th century.
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
These days a writer would probably put "who could do the most things...". Technically, however, 'a competition as to who could do the most' refers only to who has the ability; who actually does most is decided by a competition as to who should do the most. It appears that writing was more recise in th 19th century.
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
These days a writer would probably put "who could do the most things...". Technically, however, 'a competition as to who could do the most' refers only to who has the ability; who actually does most is decided by a competition as to who should do the most. It appears that writing was more recise in th 19th century.
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
These days a writer would probably put "who could do the most things...". Technically, however, 'a competition as to who could do the most' refers only to who has the ability; who actually does most is decided by a competition as to who should do the most. It appears that writing was more recise in th 19th century.
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
answered Sep 8 at 22:04
TimLymington
32.4k775142
32.4k775142
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Actually should here does mean the same as in "You should go to school today", even though it's more convoluted.
*… who should… * is a question but the answer will be … she should (who is best qualified according to the terms in the passage…)
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
Hey Robbie, but it does not match the whole context if you could kindly take a closer look at the passage, in that "who is best qualified to disturb the girl and hinder her recovery." It makes more sense to me to interpret it as "who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery."
– Shun
Jun 14 '17 at 23:29
who is best qualified… matches the context perfectly. Would suggests no real question of qualification for the task. The choice might as well be made by the toss of a coin. Would carries no sense of strife, however well-meaning or kind-hearted. Should, here, can’t mean has a duty to. It almost means deserves to; whether through real qualifications or just by blacking the most eyes in a physical striving matters not. Try, ie, google.co.uk/…
– Robbie Goodwin
Jun 15 '17 at 18:44
My understanding of the passage agrees with Shun's. It does not seem to be about qualifications for making trouble.
– Andreas Blass
Jul 15 '17 at 5:20
Thanks. There are senses in which should and would share a meaning; not this. who should could be decided by straws among quaified pickers. aparente001’s ought to seems to show not just a choice but a necessary reason for it. Who thinks It doesn’t seem to be about qualifications for trouble, or that it makes more sense as who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery… is welcome to take it up with Beecher Stowe or any dictionary. Whatever, who out there thinks any modern publisher would have allowed Harriet to get away with a passage like that?
– Robbie Goodwin
Jul 16 '17 at 22:08
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Actually should here does mean the same as in "You should go to school today", even though it's more convoluted.
*… who should… * is a question but the answer will be … she should (who is best qualified according to the terms in the passage…)
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
Hey Robbie, but it does not match the whole context if you could kindly take a closer look at the passage, in that "who is best qualified to disturb the girl and hinder her recovery." It makes more sense to me to interpret it as "who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery."
– Shun
Jun 14 '17 at 23:29
who is best qualified… matches the context perfectly. Would suggests no real question of qualification for the task. The choice might as well be made by the toss of a coin. Would carries no sense of strife, however well-meaning or kind-hearted. Should, here, can’t mean has a duty to. It almost means deserves to; whether through real qualifications or just by blacking the most eyes in a physical striving matters not. Try, ie, google.co.uk/…
– Robbie Goodwin
Jun 15 '17 at 18:44
My understanding of the passage agrees with Shun's. It does not seem to be about qualifications for making trouble.
– Andreas Blass
Jul 15 '17 at 5:20
Thanks. There are senses in which should and would share a meaning; not this. who should could be decided by straws among quaified pickers. aparente001’s ought to seems to show not just a choice but a necessary reason for it. Who thinks It doesn’t seem to be about qualifications for trouble, or that it makes more sense as who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery… is welcome to take it up with Beecher Stowe or any dictionary. Whatever, who out there thinks any modern publisher would have allowed Harriet to get away with a passage like that?
– Robbie Goodwin
Jul 16 '17 at 22:08
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
Actually should here does mean the same as in "You should go to school today", even though it's more convoluted.
*… who should… * is a question but the answer will be … she should (who is best qualified according to the terms in the passage…)
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
Actually should here does mean the same as in "You should go to school today", even though it's more convoluted.
*… who should… * is a question but the answer will be … she should (who is best qualified according to the terms in the passage…)
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
answered Jun 14 '17 at 23:21
Robbie Goodwin
2,0681416
2,0681416
Hey Robbie, but it does not match the whole context if you could kindly take a closer look at the passage, in that "who is best qualified to disturb the girl and hinder her recovery." It makes more sense to me to interpret it as "who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery."
– Shun
Jun 14 '17 at 23:29
who is best qualified… matches the context perfectly. Would suggests no real question of qualification for the task. The choice might as well be made by the toss of a coin. Would carries no sense of strife, however well-meaning or kind-hearted. Should, here, can’t mean has a duty to. It almost means deserves to; whether through real qualifications or just by blacking the most eyes in a physical striving matters not. Try, ie, google.co.uk/…
– Robbie Goodwin
Jun 15 '17 at 18:44
My understanding of the passage agrees with Shun's. It does not seem to be about qualifications for making trouble.
– Andreas Blass
Jul 15 '17 at 5:20
Thanks. There are senses in which should and would share a meaning; not this. who should could be decided by straws among quaified pickers. aparente001’s ought to seems to show not just a choice but a necessary reason for it. Who thinks It doesn’t seem to be about qualifications for trouble, or that it makes more sense as who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery… is welcome to take it up with Beecher Stowe or any dictionary. Whatever, who out there thinks any modern publisher would have allowed Harriet to get away with a passage like that?
– Robbie Goodwin
Jul 16 '17 at 22:08
add a comment |
Hey Robbie, but it does not match the whole context if you could kindly take a closer look at the passage, in that "who is best qualified to disturb the girl and hinder her recovery." It makes more sense to me to interpret it as "who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery."
– Shun
Jun 14 '17 at 23:29
who is best qualified… matches the context perfectly. Would suggests no real question of qualification for the task. The choice might as well be made by the toss of a coin. Would carries no sense of strife, however well-meaning or kind-hearted. Should, here, can’t mean has a duty to. It almost means deserves to; whether through real qualifications or just by blacking the most eyes in a physical striving matters not. Try, ie, google.co.uk/…
– Robbie Goodwin
Jun 15 '17 at 18:44
My understanding of the passage agrees with Shun's. It does not seem to be about qualifications for making trouble.
– Andreas Blass
Jul 15 '17 at 5:20
Thanks. There are senses in which should and would share a meaning; not this. who should could be decided by straws among quaified pickers. aparente001’s ought to seems to show not just a choice but a necessary reason for it. Who thinks It doesn’t seem to be about qualifications for trouble, or that it makes more sense as who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery… is welcome to take it up with Beecher Stowe or any dictionary. Whatever, who out there thinks any modern publisher would have allowed Harriet to get away with a passage like that?
– Robbie Goodwin
Jul 16 '17 at 22:08
Hey Robbie, but it does not match the whole context if you could kindly take a closer look at the passage, in that "who is best qualified to disturb the girl and hinder her recovery." It makes more sense to me to interpret it as "who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery."
– Shun
Jun 14 '17 at 23:29
Hey Robbie, but it does not match the whole context if you could kindly take a closer look at the passage, in that "who is best qualified to disturb the girl and hinder her recovery." It makes more sense to me to interpret it as "who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery."
– Shun
Jun 14 '17 at 23:29
who is best qualified… matches the context perfectly. Would suggests no real question of qualification for the task. The choice might as well be made by the toss of a coin. Would carries no sense of strife, however well-meaning or kind-hearted. Should, here, can’t mean has a duty to. It almost means deserves to; whether through real qualifications or just by blacking the most eyes in a physical striving matters not. Try, ie, google.co.uk/…
– Robbie Goodwin
Jun 15 '17 at 18:44
who is best qualified… matches the context perfectly. Would suggests no real question of qualification for the task. The choice might as well be made by the toss of a coin. Would carries no sense of strife, however well-meaning or kind-hearted. Should, here, can’t mean has a duty to. It almost means deserves to; whether through real qualifications or just by blacking the most eyes in a physical striving matters not. Try, ie, google.co.uk/…
– Robbie Goodwin
Jun 15 '17 at 18:44
My understanding of the passage agrees with Shun's. It does not seem to be about qualifications for making trouble.
– Andreas Blass
Jul 15 '17 at 5:20
My understanding of the passage agrees with Shun's. It does not seem to be about qualifications for making trouble.
– Andreas Blass
Jul 15 '17 at 5:20
Thanks. There are senses in which should and would share a meaning; not this. who should could be decided by straws among quaified pickers. aparente001’s ought to seems to show not just a choice but a necessary reason for it. Who thinks It doesn’t seem to be about qualifications for trouble, or that it makes more sense as who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery… is welcome to take it up with Beecher Stowe or any dictionary. Whatever, who out there thinks any modern publisher would have allowed Harriet to get away with a passage like that?
– Robbie Goodwin
Jul 16 '17 at 22:08
Thanks. There are senses in which should and would share a meaning; not this. who should could be decided by straws among quaified pickers. aparente001’s ought to seems to show not just a choice but a necessary reason for it. Who thinks It doesn’t seem to be about qualifications for trouble, or that it makes more sense as who would disturb the girl and hinder her recovery… is welcome to take it up with Beecher Stowe or any dictionary. Whatever, who out there thinks any modern publisher would have allowed Harriet to get away with a passage like that?
– Robbie Goodwin
Jul 16 '17 at 22:08
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f393649%2fshould-alternative-meaning-in-this-context%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
It means "ought to."
– aparente001
Jun 14 '17 at 2:56
-1 no research indicated. What research have you done? Which dictionaries have you checked? What is it about definitions and examples of usage that leave you confused? Alternative meaning to what?
– Knotell
Jun 15 '17 at 10:14
You're looking in the wrong place; should has its usual meaning here. It's talking about a situation where people are taking the patient's temperature, asking if they're ok, changing their clothes, injecting them with medicine and so on, unfortunately all tending to disrupt the patient's sleep.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 2:15
@Lawrence I agree that without the last half sentence " to hinder her recovery in every way possible", your explanation makes perfect sense. But why would kind-hearted female occupants "should" go out of their way for every means to hinder the girl's recovery? It runs counter to their good meaning, doesn't it?
– Shun
Aug 14 '17 at 9:14
It's probably to inject a little light-hearted feel to the piece.
– Lawrence
Aug 14 '17 at 10:31