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Oldest Nation

and most ancient of all languages. Psammetichus of Egypt, wishing to penetrate these secrets, commanded that two infants should be brought up in such seclusion that they should never hear a single word uttered. When they had been thus secluded for two years, the boys both cried out to the keeper, “Becos! Becos!” a Phrygian word for Bread, so Psammetichus declared the Phrygian language to be man’s primitive speech. (See Language.)

 

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Old Age Restored to Youth
Old Dogs will not Learn New Tricks
Old Lady of Threadneedle Street
Old Man Eloquent
Old Man of the Moon (The)
Old Man of the Mountain
Old Man of the Sea
Oldbuck
Oldcastle (Sir John)
Oldenburg Horn
Oldest Nation
Oleum Adde Camino
Olibrius (An)
Olifaunt
Oligarchy [olly-gar-ky]
Olindo
Olio or Oglio
Olive
Olive Branches
Oliver
Oliver or Olivier