Meaning of “(On) Her Majesty's Secret Service”

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up vote
9
down vote

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1












The 1969 Bond Film was titled "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".



I have always wondered what was with the use of "On" in this phrase. Certainly, it should be "In Her Majesty's Secret Service"?



Is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" even correct English? Does it mean anything?







share|improve this question
















  • 1




    You need to show your research when asking here.
    – GEdgar
    Aug 24 at 16:00










  • Isn't a football player (of either variety) commonly said to be "on the team" of which he is a member?
    – Hot Licks
    Aug 24 at 16:26










  • Worth noting that in French, which had a lot of influence on English, our “in” and “on” both translate to the same single word.
    – WGroleau
    Aug 24 at 23:22






  • 1




    @WGroleau: I don't think that's true; French has several prepositions corresponding to "in" and "on", such as dans, en, and sur.
    – ruakh
    Aug 25 at 1:07
















up vote
9
down vote

favorite
1












The 1969 Bond Film was titled "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".



I have always wondered what was with the use of "On" in this phrase. Certainly, it should be "In Her Majesty's Secret Service"?



Is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" even correct English? Does it mean anything?







share|improve this question
















  • 1




    You need to show your research when asking here.
    – GEdgar
    Aug 24 at 16:00










  • Isn't a football player (of either variety) commonly said to be "on the team" of which he is a member?
    – Hot Licks
    Aug 24 at 16:26










  • Worth noting that in French, which had a lot of influence on English, our “in” and “on” both translate to the same single word.
    – WGroleau
    Aug 24 at 23:22






  • 1




    @WGroleau: I don't think that's true; French has several prepositions corresponding to "in" and "on", such as dans, en, and sur.
    – ruakh
    Aug 25 at 1:07












up vote
9
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
9
down vote

favorite
1






1





The 1969 Bond Film was titled "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".



I have always wondered what was with the use of "On" in this phrase. Certainly, it should be "In Her Majesty's Secret Service"?



Is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" even correct English? Does it mean anything?







share|improve this question












The 1969 Bond Film was titled "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".



I have always wondered what was with the use of "On" in this phrase. Certainly, it should be "In Her Majesty's Secret Service"?



Is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" even correct English? Does it mean anything?









share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Aug 24 at 15:42









Jonathon

1585




1585







  • 1




    You need to show your research when asking here.
    – GEdgar
    Aug 24 at 16:00










  • Isn't a football player (of either variety) commonly said to be "on the team" of which he is a member?
    – Hot Licks
    Aug 24 at 16:26










  • Worth noting that in French, which had a lot of influence on English, our “in” and “on” both translate to the same single word.
    – WGroleau
    Aug 24 at 23:22






  • 1




    @WGroleau: I don't think that's true; French has several prepositions corresponding to "in" and "on", such as dans, en, and sur.
    – ruakh
    Aug 25 at 1:07












  • 1




    You need to show your research when asking here.
    – GEdgar
    Aug 24 at 16:00










  • Isn't a football player (of either variety) commonly said to be "on the team" of which he is a member?
    – Hot Licks
    Aug 24 at 16:26










  • Worth noting that in French, which had a lot of influence on English, our “in” and “on” both translate to the same single word.
    – WGroleau
    Aug 24 at 23:22






  • 1




    @WGroleau: I don't think that's true; French has several prepositions corresponding to "in" and "on", such as dans, en, and sur.
    – ruakh
    Aug 25 at 1:07







1




1




You need to show your research when asking here.
– GEdgar
Aug 24 at 16:00




You need to show your research when asking here.
– GEdgar
Aug 24 at 16:00












Isn't a football player (of either variety) commonly said to be "on the team" of which he is a member?
– Hot Licks
Aug 24 at 16:26




Isn't a football player (of either variety) commonly said to be "on the team" of which he is a member?
– Hot Licks
Aug 24 at 16:26












Worth noting that in French, which had a lot of influence on English, our “in” and “on” both translate to the same single word.
– WGroleau
Aug 24 at 23:22




Worth noting that in French, which had a lot of influence on English, our “in” and “on” both translate to the same single word.
– WGroleau
Aug 24 at 23:22




1




1




@WGroleau: I don't think that's true; French has several prepositions corresponding to "in" and "on", such as dans, en, and sur.
– ruakh
Aug 25 at 1:07




@WGroleau: I don't think that's true; French has several prepositions corresponding to "in" and "on", such as dans, en, and sur.
– ruakh
Aug 25 at 1:07










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
16
down vote



accepted










The preposition on has a number of different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.



In the case of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", on is




used to describe an activity or a state



  • to be on business/holiday/vacation

  • The book is currently on loan.



Let's look at the term to be on active service




Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces.




In James Bond's case he is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"



This usage is mainly British.



As Michael Harvey pointed out in the comments:



OHMS




is used on official letters from British or Commonwealth government offices.




See Google images: On Her Majesty's Service envelopes




OHMS is the abbreviation for 'On Her Majesty's Service' or 'On His Majesty's Service'.




O.H.M.S also refers to a 1937 British comedy Film renamed You're in the Army now for American audiences. The 007 movie was probably a play on words.



In American English in service would certainly apply.




  1. in the armed forces






share|improve this answer


















  • 12




    Until the 1970s, 'On Her Majesty's Service' used to be printed on all envelopes containing letters mailed out by UK government departments, sometimes abbreviated to 'OHMS'. I believe the film title could be, at least in part, a play on that.
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:04










  • I've shamelessly incorporated your comment into my answer. I sincerely hope it's not out of order :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:24










  • I am flattered that you found my comment useful, however you altered it slightly. 'On Her (or His) Majesty's Service' was usually printed in full on Government envelopes. 'OHMS' was found where there was not enough space for the full wording. picture here
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:53







  • 3




    In British English, to be 'in service' has (had?) a specific meaning - to be employed as a domestic servant (butler, housemaid, etc).
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:56






  • 3




    @Jonathon Of course not! With "On Her Majesty's Service", the "on" is being used in the same sense as "going away ON business", perhaps "on army business". James Bond, when on mission, was on very special business, indeed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". He was also more generally "in the secret service" in the same way that someone might be "in the army".
    – WS2
    Aug 24 at 18:33


















up vote
3
down vote













Wikipedia has this:




On Her Majesty's Secret Service was written in Jamaica at Fleming's Goldeneye estate in January and February 1962, whilst the first Bond film, Dr. No was being filmed nearby. The first draft of the novel was 196 pages long and called The Belles of Hell. Fleming later changed the title after being told of a nineteenth-century sailing novel called On Her Majesty's Secret Service, seen by Fleming's friend Nicholas Henderson in Portobello Road Market.




name of the novel



Found it: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, at the British Library



Title: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. [A novel.]



Publication Details: London : I. & R. Maxwell, 1878.



Identifier: System number 001657270



Physical Description: 314 p. ; 8º.



Shelfmark(s): General Reference Collection 12356.h.32.



UIN: BLL01001657270



To find out why it's titled like that, you'd have to read it. I see no author listed.






share|improve this answer






















  • On Her Majesty's Service by Miss M.C. Hay?
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:50











  • I really have no idea. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 17:05










  • I misedited the title and left out "secret". The recto page has other novels by Miss M.C. Hay. I love making assumptions and jumping to conclusions! :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 17:17










  • No worries at all. Yes, I do the same thing. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 19:05

















up vote
3
down vote













On is used here to indicate that Bond is a member of the Secret Service. For reference, please refer to the Oxford Dictionaries definition linked below.




on

PREPOSITION

4 As a member of (a committee, jury, or other body)

‘they would be allowed to serve on committees’




source - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/on



For other examples of this type of usage, consider the following sentence.




"Tommy is on the debate team."







share|improve this answer


















  • 2




    Could you please add something original to this answer? Stack Exchange answers should contain your own original work, not merely citations without explanations.
    – tchrist♦
    Aug 24 at 17:23










  • Perfect as a comment, less so as an answer. You should clearly attribute the definition.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Aug 24 at 18:40











  • Sources MUST be attributed clearly in plain text, not merely as the destination of an apparently anonymous link. And I concur: without your own editorial content, this may well end up as a comment (at best).
    – Andrew Leach♦
    Aug 24 at 19:51











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3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes








3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
16
down vote



accepted










The preposition on has a number of different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.



In the case of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", on is




used to describe an activity or a state



  • to be on business/holiday/vacation

  • The book is currently on loan.



Let's look at the term to be on active service




Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces.




In James Bond's case he is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"



This usage is mainly British.



As Michael Harvey pointed out in the comments:



OHMS




is used on official letters from British or Commonwealth government offices.




See Google images: On Her Majesty's Service envelopes




OHMS is the abbreviation for 'On Her Majesty's Service' or 'On His Majesty's Service'.




O.H.M.S also refers to a 1937 British comedy Film renamed You're in the Army now for American audiences. The 007 movie was probably a play on words.



In American English in service would certainly apply.




  1. in the armed forces






share|improve this answer


















  • 12




    Until the 1970s, 'On Her Majesty's Service' used to be printed on all envelopes containing letters mailed out by UK government departments, sometimes abbreviated to 'OHMS'. I believe the film title could be, at least in part, a play on that.
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:04










  • I've shamelessly incorporated your comment into my answer. I sincerely hope it's not out of order :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:24










  • I am flattered that you found my comment useful, however you altered it slightly. 'On Her (or His) Majesty's Service' was usually printed in full on Government envelopes. 'OHMS' was found where there was not enough space for the full wording. picture here
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:53







  • 3




    In British English, to be 'in service' has (had?) a specific meaning - to be employed as a domestic servant (butler, housemaid, etc).
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:56






  • 3




    @Jonathon Of course not! With "On Her Majesty's Service", the "on" is being used in the same sense as "going away ON business", perhaps "on army business". James Bond, when on mission, was on very special business, indeed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". He was also more generally "in the secret service" in the same way that someone might be "in the army".
    – WS2
    Aug 24 at 18:33















up vote
16
down vote



accepted










The preposition on has a number of different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.



In the case of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", on is




used to describe an activity or a state



  • to be on business/holiday/vacation

  • The book is currently on loan.



Let's look at the term to be on active service




Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces.




In James Bond's case he is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"



This usage is mainly British.



As Michael Harvey pointed out in the comments:



OHMS




is used on official letters from British or Commonwealth government offices.




See Google images: On Her Majesty's Service envelopes




OHMS is the abbreviation for 'On Her Majesty's Service' or 'On His Majesty's Service'.




O.H.M.S also refers to a 1937 British comedy Film renamed You're in the Army now for American audiences. The 007 movie was probably a play on words.



In American English in service would certainly apply.




  1. in the armed forces






share|improve this answer


















  • 12




    Until the 1970s, 'On Her Majesty's Service' used to be printed on all envelopes containing letters mailed out by UK government departments, sometimes abbreviated to 'OHMS'. I believe the film title could be, at least in part, a play on that.
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:04










  • I've shamelessly incorporated your comment into my answer. I sincerely hope it's not out of order :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:24










  • I am flattered that you found my comment useful, however you altered it slightly. 'On Her (or His) Majesty's Service' was usually printed in full on Government envelopes. 'OHMS' was found where there was not enough space for the full wording. picture here
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:53







  • 3




    In British English, to be 'in service' has (had?) a specific meaning - to be employed as a domestic servant (butler, housemaid, etc).
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:56






  • 3




    @Jonathon Of course not! With "On Her Majesty's Service", the "on" is being used in the same sense as "going away ON business", perhaps "on army business". James Bond, when on mission, was on very special business, indeed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". He was also more generally "in the secret service" in the same way that someone might be "in the army".
    – WS2
    Aug 24 at 18:33













up vote
16
down vote



accepted







up vote
16
down vote



accepted






The preposition on has a number of different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.



In the case of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", on is




used to describe an activity or a state



  • to be on business/holiday/vacation

  • The book is currently on loan.



Let's look at the term to be on active service




Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces.




In James Bond's case he is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"



This usage is mainly British.



As Michael Harvey pointed out in the comments:



OHMS




is used on official letters from British or Commonwealth government offices.




See Google images: On Her Majesty's Service envelopes




OHMS is the abbreviation for 'On Her Majesty's Service' or 'On His Majesty's Service'.




O.H.M.S also refers to a 1937 British comedy Film renamed You're in the Army now for American audiences. The 007 movie was probably a play on words.



In American English in service would certainly apply.




  1. in the armed forces






share|improve this answer














The preposition on has a number of different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.



In the case of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", on is




used to describe an activity or a state



  • to be on business/holiday/vacation

  • The book is currently on loan.



Let's look at the term to be on active service




Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces.




In James Bond's case he is "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"



This usage is mainly British.



As Michael Harvey pointed out in the comments:



OHMS




is used on official letters from British or Commonwealth government offices.




See Google images: On Her Majesty's Service envelopes




OHMS is the abbreviation for 'On Her Majesty's Service' or 'On His Majesty's Service'.




O.H.M.S also refers to a 1937 British comedy Film renamed You're in the Army now for American audiences. The 007 movie was probably a play on words.



In American English in service would certainly apply.




  1. in the armed forces







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Aug 24 at 18:47









Mari-Lou A

60k52208434




60k52208434










answered Aug 24 at 16:03









bookmanu

2,491421




2,491421







  • 12




    Until the 1970s, 'On Her Majesty's Service' used to be printed on all envelopes containing letters mailed out by UK government departments, sometimes abbreviated to 'OHMS'. I believe the film title could be, at least in part, a play on that.
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:04










  • I've shamelessly incorporated your comment into my answer. I sincerely hope it's not out of order :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:24










  • I am flattered that you found my comment useful, however you altered it slightly. 'On Her (or His) Majesty's Service' was usually printed in full on Government envelopes. 'OHMS' was found where there was not enough space for the full wording. picture here
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:53







  • 3




    In British English, to be 'in service' has (had?) a specific meaning - to be employed as a domestic servant (butler, housemaid, etc).
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:56






  • 3




    @Jonathon Of course not! With "On Her Majesty's Service", the "on" is being used in the same sense as "going away ON business", perhaps "on army business". James Bond, when on mission, was on very special business, indeed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". He was also more generally "in the secret service" in the same way that someone might be "in the army".
    – WS2
    Aug 24 at 18:33













  • 12




    Until the 1970s, 'On Her Majesty's Service' used to be printed on all envelopes containing letters mailed out by UK government departments, sometimes abbreviated to 'OHMS'. I believe the film title could be, at least in part, a play on that.
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:04










  • I've shamelessly incorporated your comment into my answer. I sincerely hope it's not out of order :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:24










  • I am flattered that you found my comment useful, however you altered it slightly. 'On Her (or His) Majesty's Service' was usually printed in full on Government envelopes. 'OHMS' was found where there was not enough space for the full wording. picture here
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:53







  • 3




    In British English, to be 'in service' has (had?) a specific meaning - to be employed as a domestic servant (butler, housemaid, etc).
    – Michael Harvey
    Aug 24 at 16:56






  • 3




    @Jonathon Of course not! With "On Her Majesty's Service", the "on" is being used in the same sense as "going away ON business", perhaps "on army business". James Bond, when on mission, was on very special business, indeed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". He was also more generally "in the secret service" in the same way that someone might be "in the army".
    – WS2
    Aug 24 at 18:33








12




12




Until the 1970s, 'On Her Majesty's Service' used to be printed on all envelopes containing letters mailed out by UK government departments, sometimes abbreviated to 'OHMS'. I believe the film title could be, at least in part, a play on that.
– Michael Harvey
Aug 24 at 16:04




Until the 1970s, 'On Her Majesty's Service' used to be printed on all envelopes containing letters mailed out by UK government departments, sometimes abbreviated to 'OHMS'. I believe the film title could be, at least in part, a play on that.
– Michael Harvey
Aug 24 at 16:04












I've shamelessly incorporated your comment into my answer. I sincerely hope it's not out of order :)
– bookmanu
Aug 24 at 16:24




I've shamelessly incorporated your comment into my answer. I sincerely hope it's not out of order :)
– bookmanu
Aug 24 at 16:24












I am flattered that you found my comment useful, however you altered it slightly. 'On Her (or His) Majesty's Service' was usually printed in full on Government envelopes. 'OHMS' was found where there was not enough space for the full wording. picture here
– Michael Harvey
Aug 24 at 16:53





I am flattered that you found my comment useful, however you altered it slightly. 'On Her (or His) Majesty's Service' was usually printed in full on Government envelopes. 'OHMS' was found where there was not enough space for the full wording. picture here
– Michael Harvey
Aug 24 at 16:53





3




3




In British English, to be 'in service' has (had?) a specific meaning - to be employed as a domestic servant (butler, housemaid, etc).
– Michael Harvey
Aug 24 at 16:56




In British English, to be 'in service' has (had?) a specific meaning - to be employed as a domestic servant (butler, housemaid, etc).
– Michael Harvey
Aug 24 at 16:56




3




3




@Jonathon Of course not! With "On Her Majesty's Service", the "on" is being used in the same sense as "going away ON business", perhaps "on army business". James Bond, when on mission, was on very special business, indeed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". He was also more generally "in the secret service" in the same way that someone might be "in the army".
– WS2
Aug 24 at 18:33





@Jonathon Of course not! With "On Her Majesty's Service", the "on" is being used in the same sense as "going away ON business", perhaps "on army business". James Bond, when on mission, was on very special business, indeed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". He was also more generally "in the secret service" in the same way that someone might be "in the army".
– WS2
Aug 24 at 18:33













up vote
3
down vote













Wikipedia has this:




On Her Majesty's Secret Service was written in Jamaica at Fleming's Goldeneye estate in January and February 1962, whilst the first Bond film, Dr. No was being filmed nearby. The first draft of the novel was 196 pages long and called The Belles of Hell. Fleming later changed the title after being told of a nineteenth-century sailing novel called On Her Majesty's Secret Service, seen by Fleming's friend Nicholas Henderson in Portobello Road Market.




name of the novel



Found it: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, at the British Library



Title: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. [A novel.]



Publication Details: London : I. & R. Maxwell, 1878.



Identifier: System number 001657270



Physical Description: 314 p. ; 8º.



Shelfmark(s): General Reference Collection 12356.h.32.



UIN: BLL01001657270



To find out why it's titled like that, you'd have to read it. I see no author listed.






share|improve this answer






















  • On Her Majesty's Service by Miss M.C. Hay?
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:50











  • I really have no idea. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 17:05










  • I misedited the title and left out "secret". The recto page has other novels by Miss M.C. Hay. I love making assumptions and jumping to conclusions! :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 17:17










  • No worries at all. Yes, I do the same thing. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 19:05














up vote
3
down vote













Wikipedia has this:




On Her Majesty's Secret Service was written in Jamaica at Fleming's Goldeneye estate in January and February 1962, whilst the first Bond film, Dr. No was being filmed nearby. The first draft of the novel was 196 pages long and called The Belles of Hell. Fleming later changed the title after being told of a nineteenth-century sailing novel called On Her Majesty's Secret Service, seen by Fleming's friend Nicholas Henderson in Portobello Road Market.




name of the novel



Found it: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, at the British Library



Title: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. [A novel.]



Publication Details: London : I. & R. Maxwell, 1878.



Identifier: System number 001657270



Physical Description: 314 p. ; 8º.



Shelfmark(s): General Reference Collection 12356.h.32.



UIN: BLL01001657270



To find out why it's titled like that, you'd have to read it. I see no author listed.






share|improve this answer






















  • On Her Majesty's Service by Miss M.C. Hay?
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:50











  • I really have no idea. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 17:05










  • I misedited the title and left out "secret". The recto page has other novels by Miss M.C. Hay. I love making assumptions and jumping to conclusions! :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 17:17










  • No worries at all. Yes, I do the same thing. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 19:05












up vote
3
down vote










up vote
3
down vote









Wikipedia has this:




On Her Majesty's Secret Service was written in Jamaica at Fleming's Goldeneye estate in January and February 1962, whilst the first Bond film, Dr. No was being filmed nearby. The first draft of the novel was 196 pages long and called The Belles of Hell. Fleming later changed the title after being told of a nineteenth-century sailing novel called On Her Majesty's Secret Service, seen by Fleming's friend Nicholas Henderson in Portobello Road Market.




name of the novel



Found it: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, at the British Library



Title: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. [A novel.]



Publication Details: London : I. & R. Maxwell, 1878.



Identifier: System number 001657270



Physical Description: 314 p. ; 8º.



Shelfmark(s): General Reference Collection 12356.h.32.



UIN: BLL01001657270



To find out why it's titled like that, you'd have to read it. I see no author listed.






share|improve this answer














Wikipedia has this:




On Her Majesty's Secret Service was written in Jamaica at Fleming's Goldeneye estate in January and February 1962, whilst the first Bond film, Dr. No was being filmed nearby. The first draft of the novel was 196 pages long and called The Belles of Hell. Fleming later changed the title after being told of a nineteenth-century sailing novel called On Her Majesty's Secret Service, seen by Fleming's friend Nicholas Henderson in Portobello Road Market.




name of the novel



Found it: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, at the British Library



Title: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. [A novel.]



Publication Details: London : I. & R. Maxwell, 1878.



Identifier: System number 001657270



Physical Description: 314 p. ; 8º.



Shelfmark(s): General Reference Collection 12356.h.32.



UIN: BLL01001657270



To find out why it's titled like that, you'd have to read it. I see no author listed.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Aug 24 at 18:43









Mari-Lou A

60k52208434




60k52208434










answered Aug 24 at 16:29









Lambie

6,8641831




6,8641831











  • On Her Majesty's Service by Miss M.C. Hay?
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:50











  • I really have no idea. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 17:05










  • I misedited the title and left out "secret". The recto page has other novels by Miss M.C. Hay. I love making assumptions and jumping to conclusions! :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 17:17










  • No worries at all. Yes, I do the same thing. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 19:05
















  • On Her Majesty's Service by Miss M.C. Hay?
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 16:50











  • I really have no idea. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 17:05










  • I misedited the title and left out "secret". The recto page has other novels by Miss M.C. Hay. I love making assumptions and jumping to conclusions! :)
    – bookmanu
    Aug 24 at 17:17










  • No worries at all. Yes, I do the same thing. :)
    – Lambie
    Aug 24 at 19:05















On Her Majesty's Service by Miss M.C. Hay?
– bookmanu
Aug 24 at 16:50





On Her Majesty's Service by Miss M.C. Hay?
– bookmanu
Aug 24 at 16:50













I really have no idea. :)
– Lambie
Aug 24 at 17:05




I really have no idea. :)
– Lambie
Aug 24 at 17:05












I misedited the title and left out "secret". The recto page has other novels by Miss M.C. Hay. I love making assumptions and jumping to conclusions! :)
– bookmanu
Aug 24 at 17:17




I misedited the title and left out "secret". The recto page has other novels by Miss M.C. Hay. I love making assumptions and jumping to conclusions! :)
– bookmanu
Aug 24 at 17:17












No worries at all. Yes, I do the same thing. :)
– Lambie
Aug 24 at 19:05




No worries at all. Yes, I do the same thing. :)
– Lambie
Aug 24 at 19:05










up vote
3
down vote













On is used here to indicate that Bond is a member of the Secret Service. For reference, please refer to the Oxford Dictionaries definition linked below.




on

PREPOSITION

4 As a member of (a committee, jury, or other body)

‘they would be allowed to serve on committees’




source - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/on



For other examples of this type of usage, consider the following sentence.




"Tommy is on the debate team."







share|improve this answer


















  • 2




    Could you please add something original to this answer? Stack Exchange answers should contain your own original work, not merely citations without explanations.
    – tchrist♦
    Aug 24 at 17:23










  • Perfect as a comment, less so as an answer. You should clearly attribute the definition.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Aug 24 at 18:40











  • Sources MUST be attributed clearly in plain text, not merely as the destination of an apparently anonymous link. And I concur: without your own editorial content, this may well end up as a comment (at best).
    – Andrew Leach♦
    Aug 24 at 19:51















up vote
3
down vote













On is used here to indicate that Bond is a member of the Secret Service. For reference, please refer to the Oxford Dictionaries definition linked below.




on

PREPOSITION

4 As a member of (a committee, jury, or other body)

‘they would be allowed to serve on committees’




source - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/on



For other examples of this type of usage, consider the following sentence.




"Tommy is on the debate team."







share|improve this answer


















  • 2




    Could you please add something original to this answer? Stack Exchange answers should contain your own original work, not merely citations without explanations.
    – tchrist♦
    Aug 24 at 17:23










  • Perfect as a comment, less so as an answer. You should clearly attribute the definition.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Aug 24 at 18:40











  • Sources MUST be attributed clearly in plain text, not merely as the destination of an apparently anonymous link. And I concur: without your own editorial content, this may well end up as a comment (at best).
    – Andrew Leach♦
    Aug 24 at 19:51













up vote
3
down vote










up vote
3
down vote









On is used here to indicate that Bond is a member of the Secret Service. For reference, please refer to the Oxford Dictionaries definition linked below.




on

PREPOSITION

4 As a member of (a committee, jury, or other body)

‘they would be allowed to serve on committees’




source - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/on



For other examples of this type of usage, consider the following sentence.




"Tommy is on the debate team."







share|improve this answer














On is used here to indicate that Bond is a member of the Secret Service. For reference, please refer to the Oxford Dictionaries definition linked below.




on

PREPOSITION

4 As a member of (a committee, jury, or other body)

‘they would be allowed to serve on committees’




source - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/on



For other examples of this type of usage, consider the following sentence.




"Tommy is on the debate team."








share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Aug 24 at 20:07









Lumberjack

4,2781032




4,2781032










answered Aug 24 at 16:06









GEdgar

12k21941




12k21941







  • 2




    Could you please add something original to this answer? Stack Exchange answers should contain your own original work, not merely citations without explanations.
    – tchrist♦
    Aug 24 at 17:23










  • Perfect as a comment, less so as an answer. You should clearly attribute the definition.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Aug 24 at 18:40











  • Sources MUST be attributed clearly in plain text, not merely as the destination of an apparently anonymous link. And I concur: without your own editorial content, this may well end up as a comment (at best).
    – Andrew Leach♦
    Aug 24 at 19:51













  • 2




    Could you please add something original to this answer? Stack Exchange answers should contain your own original work, not merely citations without explanations.
    – tchrist♦
    Aug 24 at 17:23










  • Perfect as a comment, less so as an answer. You should clearly attribute the definition.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Aug 24 at 18:40











  • Sources MUST be attributed clearly in plain text, not merely as the destination of an apparently anonymous link. And I concur: without your own editorial content, this may well end up as a comment (at best).
    – Andrew Leach♦
    Aug 24 at 19:51








2




2




Could you please add something original to this answer? Stack Exchange answers should contain your own original work, not merely citations without explanations.
– tchrist♦
Aug 24 at 17:23




Could you please add something original to this answer? Stack Exchange answers should contain your own original work, not merely citations without explanations.
– tchrist♦
Aug 24 at 17:23












Perfect as a comment, less so as an answer. You should clearly attribute the definition.
– Mari-Lou A
Aug 24 at 18:40





Perfect as a comment, less so as an answer. You should clearly attribute the definition.
– Mari-Lou A
Aug 24 at 18:40













Sources MUST be attributed clearly in plain text, not merely as the destination of an apparently anonymous link. And I concur: without your own editorial content, this may well end up as a comment (at best).
– Andrew Leach♦
Aug 24 at 19:51





Sources MUST be attributed clearly in plain text, not merely as the destination of an apparently anonymous link. And I concur: without your own editorial content, this may well end up as a comment (at best).
– Andrew Leach♦
Aug 24 at 19:51


















 

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