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ArchivesRe: Anthony
in reply to a message by Anneza, nsi
I checked by googling around for quite some time: The info itself is around everywhere - I saw it in English, in German, and in French. I saw it in books, with the help of Google Books search.
But nowhere any source for it, nor any indication which Latin word could be behind it.
The only interesting tidbit that I could come up with: The oldest book with the "priceless" meaning in it that I found is from 1967:
https://books.google.ch/books?id=94psAAAAMAAJ
So this certainly predates the usual baby names websites copy-and-paste nonsense that is often the source of questionable meanings.
But nowhere any source for it, nor any indication which Latin word could be behind it.
The only interesting tidbit that I could come up with: The oldest book with the "priceless" meaning in it that I found is from 1967:
https://books.google.ch/books?id=94psAAAAMAAJ
So this certainly predates the usual baby names websites copy-and-paste nonsense that is often the source of questionable meanings.
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Funnily enough, I first came across it in a children's book that was written by two English schoolgirls in the 1930s. A relative of mine gave me her very old copy as a curiosity. In it, there's a character named Anthony and one of his sisters buys a booklet with name meanings: Bridget and Frances are mentioned, with accurate derivations, and then there's this interesting dialogue: "What's Anthony?" "Priceless." "Shh, don't make jokes!"
I strongly doubt that a bit of random, giggly dialogue in a happy-kids-on-horseriding-holiday book long ago could have sparked a false etymology so they must, surely, have found it somewhere.
I strongly doubt that a bit of random, giggly dialogue in a happy-kids-on-horseriding-holiday book long ago could have sparked a false etymology so they must, surely, have found it somewhere.
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The Far-Distant Oxus! That's one of my favorites, and yes, I remember that dialogue.
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OT Anneza & Claudia
Did either of you ever read the sequels? I am still curious about Maurice. :)
Did either of you ever read the sequels? I am still curious about Maurice. :)
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All of them! And Crowns, which was different and excellent in a very strange way - don't remember much about it, except the effect it had.
When in later life I started reading Golden Age detective fiction, Albert Campion reminded me rather of Maurice. Both had very distinguished connections that they'd rather nobody knew about! So I rather assume royalty, perhaps at a couple of removes!
When in later life I started reading Golden Age detective fiction, Albert Campion reminded me rather of Maurice. Both had very distinguished connections that they'd rather nobody knew about! So I rather assume royalty, perhaps at a couple of removes!
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