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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2 |
"And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again." - Jesus (Luke 10:5,6 KJV)
It seems to me that "to speak one's peace" is one of our many common phrases borrowed from the Bible, like "my two-cents worth" or "a little bird told me." In the above scenario after the disciple speaks "Peace," his obligation is fulfilled; the response rests on the listeners.
Isn't this essentially what "to speak one's peace" means today?
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I don't think so, Eric; to wit:
piece [n]
14 g. A passage for recitation; a short speech. Now chiefly U.S. and Eng. regional exc. in to say (also speak) one's piece : to have one's say, to express one's opinion on a subject or question; to make a statement.
1822 C. M. Sedgwick New-Eng. Tale vi. 85 The young woman was to speak a piece of her own framing.
1865 C. F. Browne A. Ward: his Trav. ii. i. 128, I have spoken my piece about the Ariel.
1895 ‘Rosemary’ Under Chilterns 83 All the ‘pieces’ that the children learnt to repeat at school they taught to her.
1941 U. Orange Tom Tiddler's Ground vi. 117 Lady Cameron was simply furious with me after that concert-party episode, when I just flatly refused to say my piece.
1973 J. Porter It's Murder with Dover xi. 115 ‘You didn't speak to Marsh again?’ ‘No. I'd said my piece.’
2003 Washington Times 9 Apr. c09 He..gives each caller a chance to say his piece before moving on.
[OED]
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2 |
From what I can tell, you are correct, tsuwm. That's too bad because my theory would have tied together the two idioms (that is: to say and to hold one's "peace" would have been complementary statements).
I stand corrected. Thank you for saying your piece.
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