ANST - Latin Translation

[Jodi McMaster]

Gunnora Hallakarva wrote:

> 
> "To keep an eye on" is a colloquial English phrase.  I'd be interested if
> someone with access to an OED could tell us how far back the phrase goes.
> 

Your wish is my command, good lady.  OED, under meaning 6 of "eye" has
1818 as the year of the earliest use of the exact phrase "keep an eye
on."   The earliest related phrase is from 1430: "Segryne had euer on
him his eye."  The other period quotes:

	c. 1460: "Looke ye bere good y{3}es vppon o{th}ur connynge kervers."

	c. 1475: "I mon...eirnestly efter him haue myne eay,"

	c. 1586: "Maurice Fitzgerald...gaue good eie and watched the matter
verie narrowlie."

Shakespeare and Milton both use the "have an eye on x" construction.


AElfwyn aet Gyrwum
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