at someone's beck and call

beck

A a

Definitions of at someone's beck and call words

noun at someone's beck and call ready to obey someone's orders instantly; subject to someone's slightest whim 3
noun at someone's beck and call a gesture used to signal, summon, or direct someone. 1
noun at someone's beck and call Chiefly Scot. a bow or curtsy of greeting. 1
idioms at someone's beck and call at someone's beck and call, ready to do someone's bidding; subject to someone's slightest wish: He has three servants at his beck and call. 1

before 1325

One of the 16% oldest English words

1325-75; Middle English becken, short variant of becnen to beckon

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 83% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

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