All 5 Uses
petty
in
Snow Falling on Cedars
(Edited)
- Ishmael Chambers, in the last light of day, found himself seated in the office of the lighthouse chief petty officer, a large man named Evan Powell.
Chpt 23 *petty officer = non-commissioned officer
- Petty Officer Powell kept an immaculate desk—a calendar blotter, twin upright pen stands, a nearly full ashtray, a telephone.
Chpt 23
- "We do a lot of record keeping," Petty Officer Powell replied.
Chpt 23
- Petty Officer Powell fell forward in his chair and carefully snubbed out his cigarette.
Chpt 23
- "This man here is Ishmael Chambers," Petty Officer Powell explained.
Chpt 23
Definitions:
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(1)
(petty as in: a petty crime) of less importance -- at times implying insignificance
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(2)
(petty as in: don't be petty) unpleasantly focusing on an unimportant flaw; or attempting to make someone suffer for an unimportant wrong
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(3)
(petty as in: petty officer) a non-commissioned officerPetty officer typically refers to a Navy or Coast Guard officer who is subordinate to commissioned officers and chief petty officers.
- (4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)