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The Abbreviation “OMG” Is Way Older Than We Thought

Stanley Doble

Call Me a Cab
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2,808
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Cobourg
So is "groovy". The oldest use I have seen was in an English short story of about 1900. The story was about a woman who became obsessed with a family tragedy. The family solicitor said "she thought about it too much and got groovy on the subject".
 

Espee

Practically Family
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548
Location
southern California
Article assumes everyone is familiar with "O.B.E." (Order of the British Empire) and... ah well, I have to admit I don't any others.
In fact, I don't know if O.B.E. is "knighthood-level."
Anyway, it doesn't give as much context as it could.
 

Undertow

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,126
Location
Des Moines, IA, US
Interesting article. I don't think it's too hard to imagine seeing OMG used prior to our modern times. It's a very simple acronym for a common expression.

Now a strange one we use is OK (which has since taken the spelling "okay"). OK was an abbreviation for Oll Korrect, part of a fad for abbreviations in the 1830's and 1840's.

A predecessor to OK was OW "Oll Wright". We also have gems like NS "'Nuff Said", NG "No Go" and SP "Small Potatoes", among others.

Here's an article with details:
What does "OK" stand for?
 

MisterCairo

I'll Lock Up
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7,005
Location
Gads Hill, Ontario
In fact, I don't know if O.B.E. is "knighthood-level."

Yes and no. My great grandfather was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order) for services to the Empire in Iraq. It is frequently awarded to members in the arts, entertainment, business and philanthropy. The Beatles were invested as MBEs, Members of the Order, the lowest class of the five.

The two highest classes, Knight/Dame Grand Cross and Knight/Dame Commander, entitle the holder to use sir or ma'am.
 

totallyfrozen

One of the Regulars
Messages
250
Location
Houston, Texas, United States
So is "groovy". The oldest use I have seen was in an English short story of about 1900. The story was about a woman who became obsessed with a family tragedy. The family solicitor said "she thought about it too much and got groovy on the subject".
One assumes the meaning there was "stuck in a rut"
As opposed to more modern usage which is related to the feeling of sensual musical rhythms.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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