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Archiver > GENBRIT > 2004-01 > 1073854992-01


From: (cecilia)
Subject: Re: Nephew double meaning
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 21:03:12 GMT
References: <Z%CLb.429$ir1.2691@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net> <58euvv8in0aob0772p8n9fpfrfsv8dgnmv@4ax.com> <fqkvvvc2698i99l7t4groqud8fr3nbroi1@4ax.com> <ijrvvvcm81irjmd7famuo1sco3tnhobpu9@4ax.com> <MVXLb.422$YV1.383@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net> <cig2001p3dbg9uo9g8ct5s18jgart84dfp@4ax.com>


Don Aitken wrote:
"W Johnson" wrote:
[...]
>>According to the Shorter OED,
>> examples of the following have been found:
>>
>>1. nephew was used meaning niece up to 1585.
>> [...]
>>
> I think that "up to" is misleading. [...]
>There is no implication that the
> cited use ceased at or soon after the
> date of the last cite.

"The latest limit of an obsolete word or sense is shown by means of a
year preceded by a dash, as -1759."
The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Vol I A-M, Third Edition
reprinted with corrections, 1967

Which I take to mean that the OED did not know of a (written) use of
the obsolete word or sense after the given date; "up to 1585" seems
a reasonable restatement of the OEd's "-1585".

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