Ye olde: Difference between revisions
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'''Ye Olde''' is a [[stock phrase|stock prefix]], used often [[anachronism|anachronistically]] in the case of [[theme pubs]], to indicate things of [[mediaeval]] extraction, things which are [[England|English]], or, as in [[stereotype|popular caricature]] (especially in the [[United States]]) the two are synonymous, both indicating, perhaps, a [[Deep England]], [[half-timbered]] feel. The construction [[Ye Olde English Pubbe]] is the usual example, a standard [[bar (establishment)|bar]] name akin to [[The Red Lion (inn)|The Red Lion]]. |
'''Ye Olde''' is a [[stock phrase|stock prefix]], used often [[anachronism|anachronistically]] in the case of [[theme pubs]], to indicate things of [[mediaeval]] extraction, things which are [[England|English]], or, as in [[stereotype|popular caricature]] (especially in the [[United States]]) the two are synonymous, both indicating, perhaps, a [[Deep England]], [[half-timbered]] feel. The construction [[Ye Olde English Pubbe]] is the usual example, a standard [[bar (establishment)|bar]] name akin to [[The Red Lion (inn)|The Red Lion]]. |
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The use of the term "Ye" to represent a pseudo-[[Early Modern English]] form of the word "the" is, in fact, incorrect. This mistaken attribution is due to the medieval usage of the letter thorn ([[þ]]) the predecessor to the modern [[digraph]] "th". Thorn ([[þ]]) is a letter which is today only in common use in [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]. The word "The" was thus written ''Þe''. Medieval Printing presses didn't contain the letter "thorn", so the y was substituted due to its similarity in some medieval scripts (especially later ones).{{ |
The use of the term "Ye" to represent a pseudo-[[Early Modern English]] form of the word "the" is, in fact, incorrect. This mistaken attribution is due to the medieval usage of the letter thorn ([[þ]]) the predecessor to the modern [[digraph]] "th". Thorn ([[þ]]) is a letter which is today only in common use in [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]. The word "The" was thus written ''Þe''. Medieval Printing presses didn't contain the letter "thorn", so the y was substituted due to its similarity in some medieval scripts (especially later ones).{{Fact|date=May 2008}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 12:26, 30 May 2008
Ye Olde is a stock prefix, used often anachronistically in the case of theme pubs, to indicate things of mediaeval extraction, things which are English, or, as in popular caricature (especially in the United States) the two are synonymous, both indicating, perhaps, a Deep England, half-timbered feel. The construction Ye Olde English Pubbe is the usual example, a standard bar name akin to The Red Lion.
The use of the term "Ye" to represent a pseudo-Early Modern English form of the word "the" is, in fact, incorrect. This mistaken attribution is due to the medieval usage of the letter thorn (þ) the predecessor to the modern digraph "th". Thorn (þ) is a letter which is today only in common use in Icelandic. The word "The" was thus written Þe. Medieval Printing presses didn't contain the letter "thorn", so the y was substituted due to its similarity in some medieval scripts (especially later ones).[citation needed]
See also
External links
- Ye Olde English Sayings
- Ye Olde England Inn, a mock-Tudor hotel complete with references to Dickens and warm beer.
- Oxford Dictionary's FAQ: Why is 'ye' used instead of 'the' in antique English?
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