Set store by

Posted by Smokey Stover on October 02, 2005

In Reply to: Set store by posted by Marilyn Whiteman on September 30, 2005

: What's the origin of the phrase "to set store by" or "to set store in"?

Perhaps you can get something from this passage in the OED: "to set at no price, store, or value. [example cited:] 1413 in 26 Pol. Poems 51 {Th}ou{ygh} all here gold were hider brou{ygh}t, I wolde set hit at lytel store." Or: "Though all her gold were hither brought I would set it at little store [price, value]." Pretty old expression. SS