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Far-fetched

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on November 05, 2009 at 12:48

In Reply to: Far-fetched posted by R. Berg on November 04, 2009 at 16:47:

: : You use the expression 'far-fetched' a lot on this site, but its origin is not listed here.

: It's just a compound adjective. ~rb

I find it interesting, though, that there is a pejorative implication even in the OED's first citation dated 1583. The word is being used in its original literal sense, but you can hear the "harrumph!" in it: "Farrefetched and deare boughte is good for Ladyes, they say." Nobody could doubt that Stubbes thought people would be better off with sensibly-priced local merchandise. (VSD)

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