A pleonasm common among the negroes and those who have to do with them.
1836. He had done gone three hours ago.—W. T. Porter, ed., ‘A Quarter Race in Kentucky,’ etc., N.Y. Spirit of the Times: p. 22 (1846). (Italics in the original.)
1836. I’d done got the licker, and I was satisfied.—Id., p. 94.
1853. Yes, Massa, dern no ’count calves done fool me agin.—S. A. Hammett (‘Philip Paxton’), ‘A Stray Yankee in Texas,’ p. 282.
1856. You’ve done scared them niggers, and I’ve e’en a’most made up my mind to whale ye.—Yale Lit. Mag., xxi. 149 (Feb.).
1856. Missus, she’s done got on her best cap, and gone down in the parlor for him.—H. B. Stowe, ‘Dred,’ ch. xi.
1885. “Massa Capen,” said Moses, “the Unyum Gub’ment done make all de black folks contraban’; now, sar, what’s dat?”—Admiral D. D. Porter, ‘Incidents of the Civil War,’ p. 94.
