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Author Topic: Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al  (Read 2986 times)

Smith

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« on: January 13, 2006, 04:31:22 AM »
Huh?  Where did these "shortenings" (rather than abbreviations) come from?  What does the "Obs" mean?  What is all this stuff?  Could someone explain this?  Thanks!
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TarpleyG

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2006, 04:38:28 AM »
Ppl r la-z n case u didn't notice.
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Art Eatman

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2006, 05:46:54 AM »
Should be "Obt" as in "obedient".

From the days of quill pens.  Merely pro forma shortening of the formal ending of a letter.

Anything to reduce the risk of scratching and splattering, I guess...

Art
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Justin

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2006, 06:16:55 AM »
Obs = observant?
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El Tejon

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2006, 08:53:30 AM »
Obs=obsequious Cheesy
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Harold Tuttle

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2006, 10:13:35 AM »
Your humble servant, or Your obedient servant, phrases of
        civility formerly often used in closing a letter, now
        archaic; -- at one time such phrases were exaggerated to
        include Your most humble, most obedient servant.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
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The Rabbi

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2006, 10:28:35 AM »
Abbreviations like that were pretty common, esp in manuscripts.
Examples that come ot mind:
Geo Washington
Oz (where the z indicates an abbreviation)
Wm
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Felonious Monk/Fignozzle

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2006, 02:32:48 PM »
Rabbi nailed it as usual.
Most of the time, these were simply dropped vowels.

Yr Obs Frnd,  (Translation: Your Obnoxious Friend)
Fig
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The Rabbi

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2006, 05:49:53 PM »
I saw another one today:
viz.  which is short for "videlicet" or "in other words"
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Antibubba

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2006, 08:05:42 PM »
Alright, since we're near the topic, what the heck is "w00t"??
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Smith

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2006, 04:31:00 AM »
Antibubba, that's L337 speak and a completely different topic.  lol.
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Antibubba

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2006, 05:55:35 PM »
Alright, what the heck is L337 speak?
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Smith

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2006, 06:31:51 PM »
Argh, I was hoping one of the geeks would ring in...I'd suggest you read this link for the L337 info.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L337
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bermbuster

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2006, 08:12:03 AM »
Quote from: Antibubba
Alright, what the heck is L337 speak?
Twenty-first century pig latin Wink
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charby

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Yr Fthfl Srvnt, Yr Obs Svt, et al
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2006, 08:42:39 AM »
et al. is short for latin words 'et alii' (masculine plural) or `et aliae' (feminine plural) or `et alia' (neutral plural) when referring to a number of people.

translated to English: and others.

It is primarily used in citations of publications.

Charby
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