No, I'm not leaving the Agora just yet. I was wondering if anyone could give me the scoop on this usage in the sense adios, goodbye, au revoir, auf weidersehn). I've heard "so long until I see you again", but I suspect that's guesswork.
Interestingly, the same exact construction is used in Swedish (hej så länge), which either points to a common root or a recent acquisition.
Inquiring minds want to know...
-- PW
so long
-
- Lexiterian
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:59 pm
so long
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention to arrive safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow!!! What a ride!"
From the OED
parting salutation, 1860, of unknown origin, perhaps from a Ger. idiom (cf. Ger. parting salutation adieu so lange, the full sense of which probably is something like "farewell, whilst (we're apart)"), perhaps from Heb. shalom (via Yiddish sholom).
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous
Anonymous
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:56 pm
- Location: Crownsville, MD
The Online Etymology Dictionary entry on so long says, in part:
so long
parting salutation, 1860, of unknown origin, perhaps from a Ger. idiom (cf. Ger. parting salutation adieu so lange, the full sense of which probably is something like "farewell, whilst (we're apart)"), perhaps from Heb. shalom (via Yiddish sholom). Some have noted a similarity to Scand. leave-taking phrases, cf. Norw. Adjø så lenge, Farvel så lenge, Mor’n så lenge, lit. "bye so long, farewell so long, morning so long;" and Swed. Hej så länge "good-bye for now," with så länge "for now" attested since 1850 according to Swed. sources. Most etymology sources seem to lean toward the Ger. origin. Earlier guesses that it was a sailors' corruption of a South Pacific form of Arabic salaam are not now regarded as convincing. "Dictionary of American Slang" also adds to the list of candidates Ir. slan "health," said to be used as a toast and a salutation. The phrase seems to have turned up simultaneously in Amer.Eng., Britain, and perhaps Canada, originally among lower classes. First attested use is in title and text of the last poem in Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" in the 1860 edition.
An unknown sphere, more real than I dream’d, more direct, darts awakening rays about me—So long!
Remember my words—I may again return,
I love you—I depart from materials;
I am as one disembodied, triumphant, dead.
Regards//Larry
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
-
- Lexiterian
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:59 pm
Thanks Perry & Stargeezer
I suspected that this might be an odd duck. Nice of you both to try to kwack it for me.
-- PW
I suspected that this might be an odd duck. Nice of you both to try to kwack it for me.
-- PW
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention to arrive safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow!!! What a ride!"
-
- Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:58 pm
- Location: Carolinia Agrestícia: The Forest Primeval
That's the one I remember, thought it was from Maylasian salang ("salaam"). Didn't even know it was out of date. I must be old.The Online Etymology Dictionary entry on so long says, in part:
....Earlier guesses that it was a sailors' corruption of a South Pacific form of Arabic salaam are not now regarded as convincing.
actually Sláinte(but pronounced Slahn I think)"Dictionary of American Slang" also adds to the list of candidates Ir. slan "health," said to be used as a toast and a salutation....
Stop! Murder us not, tonsured rumpots! Knife no one, fink!
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 40 guests