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Index/Topics/Historical corpora and archival proof

Historical corpora and archival proof

The importance of accessing primary historic corpora and archival proof to settle questions about the origin of phrases.

Fact-Checks

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Jan 27, 2026
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When was the phrase gentleman of fortune first said?

The short answer: authoritative sources disagree; reports the phrase “” as first recorded in 1880–85 , while a range of dictionaries and usage notes treat the expression as older and classical in mean...