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Passing strange

Posted by R. Berg on January 18, 2010 at 17:24

In Reply to: Passing strange posted by David EM on January 18, 2010 at 10:37:

: Is there any way to find the original usage of the phrase "passing strange" or "it is passing strange"?

An older meaning of "passing" is "surpassing." The word was used as an adverb, an intensifier, so that the phrase means "very strange." If you're asking whether the first use of that phrase can be found, probably not. ~rb

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