fact, hanker, lady cousin, beggarly rascal

漫畫來源: Ted Goff

fact
n.

1. Knowledge or information based on real occurrences: an account based on fact; a blur of fact and fancy.
2. 1. Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed: Genetic engineering is now a fact. That Chaucer was a real person is an undisputed fact.
   2. A real occurrence; an event: had to prove the facts of the case.
   3. Something believed to be true or real: a document laced with mistaken facts.
3. A thing that has been done, especially a crime: an accessory before the fact.
4. Law. The aspect of a case at law comprising events determined by evidence: The jury made a finding of fact.

idiom:
in (point of) fact

1. In reality or in truth; actually.

[Latin factum, deed, from neuter past participle of facere, to do.]

USAGE NOTE Fact has a long history of usage in the sense "allegation of fact," as in "This tract was distributed to thousands of American teachers, but the facts and the reasoning are wrong" (Albert Shanker). This practice has led to the introduction of the phrases true facts and real facts, as in The true facts of the case may never be known. These usages may occasion qualms among critics who insist that facts can only be true, but the usages are often useful for emphasis.

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 In 1987, hankering for more serious roles, he joined Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company where he took on a number of stage roles and appeared in Branagh's films of Henry V and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

hanker	(verb) Desire strongly or persistently.
Synonyms:	long, yearn
Usage:	There, my lady cousin; there stands the most undutiful child in the world; she hankers after a beggarly rascal, and won't marry one of the greatest matches in all England.

(lā'dē)
n., pl., -dies.

1. A well-mannered and considerate woman with high standards of proper behavior.
2. 1. A woman regarded as proper and virtuous.
   2. A well-behaved young girl.
3. A woman who is the head of a household.
4. A woman, especially when spoken of or to in a polite way.
5. 1. A woman to whom a man is romantically attached.
   2. Informal. A wife.
6. Lady Chiefly British. A general feminine title of nobility and other rank, specifically:
   1. Used as the title for the wife or widow of a knight or baronet.
   2. Used as a form of address for a marchioness, countess, viscountess, baroness, or baronetess.
   3. Used as a form of address for the wife or widow of a baron.
   4. Used as a courtesy title for the daughter of a duke, a marquis, or an earl.
   5. Used as a courtesy title for the wife of a younger son of a duke or marquis.
7. Lady The Virgin Mary. Usually used with Our.
8. Slang. Cocaine.

[Middle English, mistress of a household, from Old English hlǣfdige.]

USAGE NOTE Lady is normally used as a parallel to gentleman to emphasize norms expected in polite society or in situations requiring courtesies: Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. I believe the lady in front of the counter was here before me. The attributive use of lady, as in lady doctor, is offensive and outdated. When the sex of the person is relevant, the preferred modifier is woman or female. Twice as many members of the Usage Panel in our 1994 survey preferred female and male to woman and man as modifiers in the sentence President Clinton interviewed both -=@rule3m=- and -=@rule3m=- candidates for the position of Attorney General.