James and Snape. Was. Re: Snape and Harry again.

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 113698

> Carol:
> As I keep on saying (but nobody seems to hear me), a lap dog is a
> small pet. 
> , the lap dog
> comment probably refers to the earlier period--a little boy of 
about eleven who hangs around a much older boy of sixteen or 
seventeen who treats him as a prodigy and a pet.
>

Valky:
Carol you must not have any close British descent because that is 
the purely American definition.
In British english the word Lapdog also applies to a person and with 
quite different meaning.
Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary:
Definition
lapdog (PERSON)   
noun [C] DISAPPROVING
someone who is willing to do anything that a more important person 
tells them to do:

and while I am at it I think its about time I let you all in on the 
British meaning of snivel. Since so many american versions have been 
quoted to contradict me when I argue that the derogatory term of 
snivel in the language I, *and JKR* was raised into, *British 
English*, is used to deride someone on their weakness and not 
necessarily sensitivity. 
Cambridge advanced Learners Dictionary:
snivel   
verb [I] -ll- or US USUALLY -l- 
to cry slightly in a way that is weak and does not make other people 
feel sympathy for you:
He's sitting in his bedroom snivelling because he was told off for 
not doing his homework.

snivelling, US USUALLY sniveling   
adjective OLD-FASHIONED INFORMAL
used to describe someone whom you do not like because they are weak 
and unpleasant:
That snivelling creep/coward!


There you all have it. The British terms paint an entirely different 
portrait of James, Sirius and Snape and I have secreted the 
privilege of having a cockney grandmother and english, english 
teacher for a mother to myself for long enough.

Valky
(and yes secreted means hid in english english as well as produced.)