Seemingly quintessentially British non-medical meaning for “surgery”
Due diligence: I have Googled the word "surgery," and I have reviewed a couple of dozen past questions on this site related to the word "surgery." I have not found a satisfactory answer to the question which follows.
I hail from the United States. I recently had occasion to consult the website of the British Parliament. I noticed that in the sections for individual members the word "surgery" would often occur along with a listing of days and times. Internal evidence suggested that I should interpret "surgery" to mean "office hours" -- i.e., when a person could expect to find the M.P. in the office.
First of all, is my conception correct?
If so, how did "surgery" come to have this non-medical connotation?
Thanks to all who have offered, or will offer, answers.
meaning
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
add a comment |
Due diligence: I have Googled the word "surgery," and I have reviewed a couple of dozen past questions on this site related to the word "surgery." I have not found a satisfactory answer to the question which follows.
I hail from the United States. I recently had occasion to consult the website of the British Parliament. I noticed that in the sections for individual members the word "surgery" would often occur along with a listing of days and times. Internal evidence suggested that I should interpret "surgery" to mean "office hours" -- i.e., when a person could expect to find the M.P. in the office.
First of all, is my conception correct?
If so, how did "surgery" come to have this non-medical connotation?
Thanks to all who have offered, or will offer, answers.
meaning
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
4
I always assumed it was because you go along and tell them your problems, analogous to going to the doctors.
– Martin Smith
May 11 '16 at 18:54
2
This question may be of interest.
– WS2
May 11 '16 at 19:05
2
@MartinSmith "MP, it hurts when I do this." "Well don't do that!"
– user126158
May 11 '16 at 23:51
add a comment |
Due diligence: I have Googled the word "surgery," and I have reviewed a couple of dozen past questions on this site related to the word "surgery." I have not found a satisfactory answer to the question which follows.
I hail from the United States. I recently had occasion to consult the website of the British Parliament. I noticed that in the sections for individual members the word "surgery" would often occur along with a listing of days and times. Internal evidence suggested that I should interpret "surgery" to mean "office hours" -- i.e., when a person could expect to find the M.P. in the office.
First of all, is my conception correct?
If so, how did "surgery" come to have this non-medical connotation?
Thanks to all who have offered, or will offer, answers.
meaning
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
Due diligence: I have Googled the word "surgery," and I have reviewed a couple of dozen past questions on this site related to the word "surgery." I have not found a satisfactory answer to the question which follows.
I hail from the United States. I recently had occasion to consult the website of the British Parliament. I noticed that in the sections for individual members the word "surgery" would often occur along with a listing of days and times. Internal evidence suggested that I should interpret "surgery" to mean "office hours" -- i.e., when a person could expect to find the M.P. in the office.
First of all, is my conception correct?
If so, how did "surgery" come to have this non-medical connotation?
Thanks to all who have offered, or will offer, answers.
meaning
meaning
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
edited May 11 '16 at 20:55
Senex Ægypti Parvi
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
asked May 11 '16 at 18:42
Senex Ægypti ParviSenex Ægypti Parvi
2,082815
2,082815
4
I always assumed it was because you go along and tell them your problems, analogous to going to the doctors.
– Martin Smith
May 11 '16 at 18:54
2
This question may be of interest.
– WS2
May 11 '16 at 19:05
2
@MartinSmith "MP, it hurts when I do this." "Well don't do that!"
– user126158
May 11 '16 at 23:51
add a comment |
4
I always assumed it was because you go along and tell them your problems, analogous to going to the doctors.
– Martin Smith
May 11 '16 at 18:54
2
This question may be of interest.
– WS2
May 11 '16 at 19:05
2
@MartinSmith "MP, it hurts when I do this." "Well don't do that!"
– user126158
May 11 '16 at 23:51
4
4
I always assumed it was because you go along and tell them your problems, analogous to going to the doctors.
– Martin Smith
May 11 '16 at 18:54
I always assumed it was because you go along and tell them your problems, analogous to going to the doctors.
– Martin Smith
May 11 '16 at 18:54
2
2
This question may be of interest.
– WS2
May 11 '16 at 19:05
This question may be of interest.
– WS2
May 11 '16 at 19:05
2
2
@MartinSmith "MP, it hurts when I do this." "Well don't do that!"
– user126158
May 11 '16 at 23:51
@MartinSmith "MP, it hurts when I do this." "Well don't do that!"
– user126158
May 11 '16 at 23:51
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The term surgery has been adopted outside clinical contexts by analogy in meaning:
(Britain) Any arrangement where people arrive and wait for an interview with certain people, similar to a doctor's surgery.
Our MP will be holding a surgery in the village hall on Tuesday.'
Surgery (politics):
- A political surgery (in British politics) or clinic is a series of one-to-one meetings that a Member of Parliament (MP) may have with his or her constituents, at which a constituent may raise issues of local concern. The issues may relate to local issues (street crime, litter, a request for intervention by the MP on behalf of the constituent with local or national government) or it could deal with national policy matters.
(The Free Dictionary)
The expression political surgery appears to be from the early 19th century according to Google books.
Thank you for your prompt response, which I accept. If you have any idea as to how "surgery" came to have this meaning, do feel free to augment your answer. I have one other iron in the fire: the excellent British website, World Wide Words, to which I shall submit my query after a decent interval.
– Senex Ægypti Parvi
May 11 '16 at 19:00
1
The use of surgery in politics (a meeting with a politician) is by analogy in meaning with a visit to a doctor.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 19:07
3
I don't think it's really called a "political surgery" in English but simply "surgery", or MP's surgery Most MPs hold regular sessions called surgeries where they meet constituents to talk about issues of concern. If you go to a constituency surgery, it’s best to contact your MP’s office first, to find out whether you need an appointment.
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:15
@Mari-LouA - I used the expression "political surgery" to look for past usages in Google Books. It is an indication of the contiguity of the two terms. I agree that the common term is just "surgery" in a political context, but it appears there is no result for MPs surgery.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 21:29
Google has a few for MP surgery but mostly it's just surgery if the context is clear there's unlikely to be confusion 1. margaretgreenwood.org.uk and 2. davidhanson.org.uk/surgery
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:39
add a comment |
The English don't really have a command of their own language.
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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The term surgery has been adopted outside clinical contexts by analogy in meaning:
(Britain) Any arrangement where people arrive and wait for an interview with certain people, similar to a doctor's surgery.
Our MP will be holding a surgery in the village hall on Tuesday.'
Surgery (politics):
- A political surgery (in British politics) or clinic is a series of one-to-one meetings that a Member of Parliament (MP) may have with his or her constituents, at which a constituent may raise issues of local concern. The issues may relate to local issues (street crime, litter, a request for intervention by the MP on behalf of the constituent with local or national government) or it could deal with national policy matters.
(The Free Dictionary)
The expression political surgery appears to be from the early 19th century according to Google books.
Thank you for your prompt response, which I accept. If you have any idea as to how "surgery" came to have this meaning, do feel free to augment your answer. I have one other iron in the fire: the excellent British website, World Wide Words, to which I shall submit my query after a decent interval.
– Senex Ægypti Parvi
May 11 '16 at 19:00
1
The use of surgery in politics (a meeting with a politician) is by analogy in meaning with a visit to a doctor.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 19:07
3
I don't think it's really called a "political surgery" in English but simply "surgery", or MP's surgery Most MPs hold regular sessions called surgeries where they meet constituents to talk about issues of concern. If you go to a constituency surgery, it’s best to contact your MP’s office first, to find out whether you need an appointment.
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:15
@Mari-LouA - I used the expression "political surgery" to look for past usages in Google Books. It is an indication of the contiguity of the two terms. I agree that the common term is just "surgery" in a political context, but it appears there is no result for MPs surgery.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 21:29
Google has a few for MP surgery but mostly it's just surgery if the context is clear there's unlikely to be confusion 1. margaretgreenwood.org.uk and 2. davidhanson.org.uk/surgery
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:39
add a comment |
The term surgery has been adopted outside clinical contexts by analogy in meaning:
(Britain) Any arrangement where people arrive and wait for an interview with certain people, similar to a doctor's surgery.
Our MP will be holding a surgery in the village hall on Tuesday.'
Surgery (politics):
- A political surgery (in British politics) or clinic is a series of one-to-one meetings that a Member of Parliament (MP) may have with his or her constituents, at which a constituent may raise issues of local concern. The issues may relate to local issues (street crime, litter, a request for intervention by the MP on behalf of the constituent with local or national government) or it could deal with national policy matters.
(The Free Dictionary)
The expression political surgery appears to be from the early 19th century according to Google books.
Thank you for your prompt response, which I accept. If you have any idea as to how "surgery" came to have this meaning, do feel free to augment your answer. I have one other iron in the fire: the excellent British website, World Wide Words, to which I shall submit my query after a decent interval.
– Senex Ægypti Parvi
May 11 '16 at 19:00
1
The use of surgery in politics (a meeting with a politician) is by analogy in meaning with a visit to a doctor.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 19:07
3
I don't think it's really called a "political surgery" in English but simply "surgery", or MP's surgery Most MPs hold regular sessions called surgeries where they meet constituents to talk about issues of concern. If you go to a constituency surgery, it’s best to contact your MP’s office first, to find out whether you need an appointment.
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:15
@Mari-LouA - I used the expression "political surgery" to look for past usages in Google Books. It is an indication of the contiguity of the two terms. I agree that the common term is just "surgery" in a political context, but it appears there is no result for MPs surgery.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 21:29
Google has a few for MP surgery but mostly it's just surgery if the context is clear there's unlikely to be confusion 1. margaretgreenwood.org.uk and 2. davidhanson.org.uk/surgery
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:39
add a comment |
The term surgery has been adopted outside clinical contexts by analogy in meaning:
(Britain) Any arrangement where people arrive and wait for an interview with certain people, similar to a doctor's surgery.
Our MP will be holding a surgery in the village hall on Tuesday.'
Surgery (politics):
- A political surgery (in British politics) or clinic is a series of one-to-one meetings that a Member of Parliament (MP) may have with his or her constituents, at which a constituent may raise issues of local concern. The issues may relate to local issues (street crime, litter, a request for intervention by the MP on behalf of the constituent with local or national government) or it could deal with national policy matters.
(The Free Dictionary)
The expression political surgery appears to be from the early 19th century according to Google books.
The term surgery has been adopted outside clinical contexts by analogy in meaning:
(Britain) Any arrangement where people arrive and wait for an interview with certain people, similar to a doctor's surgery.
Our MP will be holding a surgery in the village hall on Tuesday.'
Surgery (politics):
- A political surgery (in British politics) or clinic is a series of one-to-one meetings that a Member of Parliament (MP) may have with his or her constituents, at which a constituent may raise issues of local concern. The issues may relate to local issues (street crime, litter, a request for intervention by the MP on behalf of the constituent with local or national government) or it could deal with national policy matters.
(The Free Dictionary)
The expression political surgery appears to be from the early 19th century according to Google books.
edited May 11 '16 at 19:04
answered May 11 '16 at 18:47
user66974
Thank you for your prompt response, which I accept. If you have any idea as to how "surgery" came to have this meaning, do feel free to augment your answer. I have one other iron in the fire: the excellent British website, World Wide Words, to which I shall submit my query after a decent interval.
– Senex Ægypti Parvi
May 11 '16 at 19:00
1
The use of surgery in politics (a meeting with a politician) is by analogy in meaning with a visit to a doctor.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 19:07
3
I don't think it's really called a "political surgery" in English but simply "surgery", or MP's surgery Most MPs hold regular sessions called surgeries where they meet constituents to talk about issues of concern. If you go to a constituency surgery, it’s best to contact your MP’s office first, to find out whether you need an appointment.
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:15
@Mari-LouA - I used the expression "political surgery" to look for past usages in Google Books. It is an indication of the contiguity of the two terms. I agree that the common term is just "surgery" in a political context, but it appears there is no result for MPs surgery.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 21:29
Google has a few for MP surgery but mostly it's just surgery if the context is clear there's unlikely to be confusion 1. margaretgreenwood.org.uk and 2. davidhanson.org.uk/surgery
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:39
add a comment |
Thank you for your prompt response, which I accept. If you have any idea as to how "surgery" came to have this meaning, do feel free to augment your answer. I have one other iron in the fire: the excellent British website, World Wide Words, to which I shall submit my query after a decent interval.
– Senex Ægypti Parvi
May 11 '16 at 19:00
1
The use of surgery in politics (a meeting with a politician) is by analogy in meaning with a visit to a doctor.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 19:07
3
I don't think it's really called a "political surgery" in English but simply "surgery", or MP's surgery Most MPs hold regular sessions called surgeries where they meet constituents to talk about issues of concern. If you go to a constituency surgery, it’s best to contact your MP’s office first, to find out whether you need an appointment.
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:15
@Mari-LouA - I used the expression "political surgery" to look for past usages in Google Books. It is an indication of the contiguity of the two terms. I agree that the common term is just "surgery" in a political context, but it appears there is no result for MPs surgery.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 21:29
Google has a few for MP surgery but mostly it's just surgery if the context is clear there's unlikely to be confusion 1. margaretgreenwood.org.uk and 2. davidhanson.org.uk/surgery
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:39
Thank you for your prompt response, which I accept. If you have any idea as to how "surgery" came to have this meaning, do feel free to augment your answer. I have one other iron in the fire: the excellent British website, World Wide Words, to which I shall submit my query after a decent interval.
– Senex Ægypti Parvi
May 11 '16 at 19:00
Thank you for your prompt response, which I accept. If you have any idea as to how "surgery" came to have this meaning, do feel free to augment your answer. I have one other iron in the fire: the excellent British website, World Wide Words, to which I shall submit my query after a decent interval.
– Senex Ægypti Parvi
May 11 '16 at 19:00
1
1
The use of surgery in politics (a meeting with a politician) is by analogy in meaning with a visit to a doctor.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 19:07
The use of surgery in politics (a meeting with a politician) is by analogy in meaning with a visit to a doctor.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 19:07
3
3
I don't think it's really called a "political surgery" in English but simply "surgery", or MP's surgery Most MPs hold regular sessions called surgeries where they meet constituents to talk about issues of concern. If you go to a constituency surgery, it’s best to contact your MP’s office first, to find out whether you need an appointment.
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:15
I don't think it's really called a "political surgery" in English but simply "surgery", or MP's surgery Most MPs hold regular sessions called surgeries where they meet constituents to talk about issues of concern. If you go to a constituency surgery, it’s best to contact your MP’s office first, to find out whether you need an appointment.
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:15
@Mari-LouA - I used the expression "political surgery" to look for past usages in Google Books. It is an indication of the contiguity of the two terms. I agree that the common term is just "surgery" in a political context, but it appears there is no result for MPs surgery.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 21:29
@Mari-LouA - I used the expression "political surgery" to look for past usages in Google Books. It is an indication of the contiguity of the two terms. I agree that the common term is just "surgery" in a political context, but it appears there is no result for MPs surgery.
– user66974
May 11 '16 at 21:29
Google has a few for MP surgery but mostly it's just surgery if the context is clear there's unlikely to be confusion 1. margaretgreenwood.org.uk and 2. davidhanson.org.uk/surgery
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:39
Google has a few for MP surgery but mostly it's just surgery if the context is clear there's unlikely to be confusion 1. margaretgreenwood.org.uk and 2. davidhanson.org.uk/surgery
– Mari-Lou A
May 11 '16 at 21:39
add a comment |
The English don't really have a command of their own language.
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
The English don't really have a command of their own language.
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
The English don't really have a command of their own language.
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The English don't really have a command of their own language.
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
answered 13 mins ago
truthinesstruthiness
1
1
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
truthiness is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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4
I always assumed it was because you go along and tell them your problems, analogous to going to the doctors.
– Martin Smith
May 11 '16 at 18:54
2
This question may be of interest.
– WS2
May 11 '16 at 19:05
2
@MartinSmith "MP, it hurts when I do this." "Well don't do that!"
– user126158
May 11 '16 at 23:51