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Mar. 17th, 2008 11:00 pmAlso, while looking for something else entirely, I found this rather arresting proverb in the OED.
1539 TAVERNER Erasm. Prov.† (1552) 62 Ye set the cart before the horse..cleane contrarily and arsy versy as they say.
It's always odd to find shocking modern clichés in old texts. I don't know why this should be, but there it is - and even being glossed for those who don't know it! And as a Patrick O'Brian fan, it's fun to see arsey-versy in its natural habitat.
† Taverner, Richard
The garden of wysdom 1539
Prouerbes or adagies with newe addicions, gathered out of the Chiliades of Erasmus 1539 (1545, 1552)
1539 TAVERNER Erasm. Prov.† (1552) 62 Ye set the cart before the horse..cleane contrarily and arsy versy as they say.
It's always odd to find shocking modern clichés in old texts. I don't know why this should be, but there it is - and even being glossed for those who don't know it! And as a Patrick O'Brian fan, it's fun to see arsey-versy in its natural habitat.
† Taverner, Richard
The garden of wysdom 1539
Prouerbes or adagies with newe addicions, gathered out of the Chiliades of Erasmus 1539 (1545, 1552)
