Old wives' tale: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Supposed truth that is actually spurious or a superstition}} |
{{Short description|Supposed truth that is actually spurious or a superstition}} |
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{{for|the play|The Old Wives' Tale (play)}} |
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An '''old wives' tale''' is a |
An "'''old wives' tale'''" is a colloquial expression referring to spurious or superstitious claims. They can be said sometimes to be a type of [[urban legend]], said to be passed down by older women to a younger generation. Such tales are considered [[superstition]], [[folklore]] or unverified claims with exaggerated and/or inaccurate details. Old wives' tales often centre on women's traditional concerns, such as [[pregnancy]], [[puberty]], [[social relations]], [[health]], [[herbalism]] and [[nutrition]]. |
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== Origins == |
== Origins == |
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Old wives' tales are often invoked to discourage certain behaviours, usually of children, or to share knowledge of [[traditional medicine|folk cures]] for ailments ranging from [[toothaches]] to [[dysentery]]. |
Old wives' tales are often invoked to discourage certain behaviours, usually of children, or to share knowledge of [[traditional medicine|folk cures]] for ailments ranging from [[toothaches]] to [[dysentery]]. |
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The concept of old wives' tales has existed for centuries. In 1611, the [[King James Bible]] was published with the following translation of a verse |
The concept of old wives' tales has existed for centuries. In 1611, the [[King James Version|King James Bible]] was published with the following translation of a verse: "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness" ([[First Epistle to Timothy|1 Timothy]] [[1 Timothy 4|4:7]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Ti&c=4&v=7&t=KJV#7|title=1 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> |
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Old wives' tales originate in the oral tradition of storytelling. They were generally propagated by illiterate women, telling stories to each other or to children. The stories do not attempt to moralise, but to teach lessons and make difficult concepts like death or [[coming of age]] easy for children to understand. These stories are also used to scare children so they don't do |
Old wives' tales originate in the oral tradition of storytelling. They were generally propagated by illiterate women, telling stories to each other or to children. The stories do not attempt to moralise, but to teach lessons and make difficult concepts like death or [[coming of age]] easy for children to understand. These stories are also used to scare children so they don't do undesirable things.<ref>''The Guardian'', 15 May 2010, Greer, Germaine. "Grandmother's footsteps" http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/15/germaine-greer-old-wives-tales</ref> |
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These tales have often been collected by literate men and turned into written works. Fairy tales by [[Giambattista Basile|Basile]], [[Charles Perrault|Perrault]], and the [[Brothers Grimm|Grimms]] have their roots in the oral tradition of women. These male writers took the stories from women, with their plucky, clever heroines and heroes, and turned them into [[morality tale]]s for children.<ref>Zipes, Jack. ''The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood'', Routledge, 1993 {{ISBN|0-415-90834-5}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Lies-to-children]] |
* [[Lies-to-children]] |
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* [[Maxim (philosophy)]] |
* [[Maxim (philosophy)]] |
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* [[Saw (saying)]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 17:09, 6 October 2024
An "old wives' tale" is a colloquial expression referring to spurious or superstitious claims. They can be said sometimes to be a type of urban legend, said to be passed down by older women to a younger generation. Such tales are considered superstition, folklore or unverified claims with exaggerated and/or inaccurate details. Old wives' tales often centre on women's traditional concerns, such as pregnancy, puberty, social relations, health, herbalism and nutrition.
Origins
[edit]In this context, the word wife means "woman" rather than "married woman". This usage stems from Old English wif ("woman") and is akin to the German Weib (also meaning "woman"). This sense of the word is still used in Modern English in constructions such as midwife and fishwife.
Old wives' tales are often invoked to discourage certain behaviours, usually of children, or to share knowledge of folk cures for ailments ranging from toothaches to dysentery.
The concept of old wives' tales has existed for centuries. In 1611, the King James Bible was published with the following translation of a verse: "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7).[1]
Old wives' tales originate in the oral tradition of storytelling. They were generally propagated by illiterate women, telling stories to each other or to children. The stories do not attempt to moralise, but to teach lessons and make difficult concepts like death or coming of age easy for children to understand. These stories are also used to scare children so they don't do undesirable things.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "1 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)". Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ The Guardian, 15 May 2010, Greer, Germaine. "Grandmother's footsteps" http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/15/germaine-greer-old-wives-tales
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