¹ [Is it possible that this way of expressing emphasis could (like of the earthy earthy below) have a biblical origin? It is used in the same manner in the Hebrew of Gen. 9. 25, servant of servants; Canticles 1. 1 the song of songs, which is now, in the Revised Version, also the name of the book (Authorized Version: Song of Solomon), Vulgate canticum canticorum; Eccl. 1. 2 vanity of vanities, vanitas vanitatum; holy of holies. This latter form is not used in the Authorized Version, which has Exod. 26.34 the most holy place and 2 Chron 3.10 the most holy house. But the Hebrew is literally rendered in Septuaginta and in Vulgate sanctum sanctorum, and in English correspondingly used by Wyclif and Milton. The NED cites in modern times only eighteenth century authors and Ouida 1876. Of greater influence for the spreading of the expression was probably Carlyle, who used it often (compare W. Leopold, Religiöse Wurzel von Carlyles literarischer Wirksamkeit, Halle 1922, p. 91). While the construction has become so frequent in English and other languages that its origin is not evident, it is rather rare in German. The only examples which come readily to mind are Buch der Bücher and Lied der Lieder; the first is used for the Bible only, the second, a poetic term, at least suggests a biblical origin. It does not seem unlikely that the group could in several languages be traced back to the Bible. W. L.]

² [Carlyle used this Bible quotation, like so many others (compare Carla Weidemann, GRM 15. 202-13), frequently, e.g. State of German Literature, Tauch-nitz p. 65, line 22; Life of Schiller, Library Edition p. 234; modified: Mignon … is of the earth, but not earthly, Misc. Ess. 1. 308. W. L.]