downstairs

comparative further downstairs · comparative farther downstairs · superlative furthest downstairs · superlative farthest downstairs

1. Located on a lower floor.

   The kids sleep in the downstairs bedroom; we sleep in the upstairs one.

2. human sciencesOriginating in or associated with a lower, embedded clause, as opposed to the matrix clause.

   1 more example

   In referring to the conditions under which an upstairs negation can be associated with the lower clause, rather than the conditions under which a downstairs negative can be raised, I have tacitly endorsed the semantic or pragmatic approach to the NRP, without having dispelled the problems posed by the intra- and cross-linguistic variation in the selection of trigger predicates.

   1989, Laurence R. Horn, chapter 5, in A Natural History of Negation, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 330

comparative further downstairs · comparative farther downstairs · superlative furthest downstairs · superlative farthest downstairs

1. Down the stairs.

   The lodger lives downstairs.

   1 more example

   I have to walk downstairs to leave the building.

2. figurativelyIn or to hell.
3. euphemisticslangRegarding the genitalia.

   something wrong downstairs

4. human sciencesIn or to a lower, embedded clause, as opposed to the matrix clause.

   Given that all English speakers conventionally use verbs like think and suppose so as to transmit their negation downstairs, while only some speakers operate with the analogous convention for guess, and none do for hope, the distribution of polarity until follows accordingly: […]

   1989, Laurence R. Horn, chapter 5, in A Natural History of Negation, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 346

1. The lower floor of a house, at ground level, or sometimes below.

   We looked over the house; downstairs was spacious, but upstairs really cramped.

   1. In particular, especially historically, the servants’ quarters.

      The family tried to ignore gossip from downstairs.

      1 more example

      Now the two of them rattled around in the old house, even with his office and small clinic sharing the downstairs with the kitchen, parlor, and dining room.

      1978, Tom Reamy, Blind Voices

2. euphemisticslangThe genitalia.

   The wind lifted up her skirt and I caught a glimpse of her downstairs.