good doctor

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

good doctor (countable and uncountable, plural good doctors)

1. (idiomatic) An honorific form of address to a doctor.
   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

     Doctor: ...So, good night;
     My mind she has mated, and amaz’d my sight.
     I think, but dare not speak.
     Gentlewoman: Good night, good doctor.

   • 1734, James Miller (1734), The mother-in-law; or, The doctor the disease, London: J. Watts, Act IV, Scene 1, page 60:

     Sir Cred. Spare me, good Doctor!

   • 1776, John Lind (1776), "Letter II: Of civil liberty, and the principles of government", in: Three letters to Dr. Price, London: T. Payne, J. Sewell, and P. Elmsly, page 40:

     Every woman too is her own legislatrix. Good doctor, reprint this sheet; add, but in capitals,—“every woman is her own legislatrix.”—These words alone will sell at least nine more editions of your work.

Usage notes

Sometimes used ironically.

Hypernyms

• doctor

Related terms

• the good doctor

References

• good doctor at the Google Books Ngram Viewer.