Antedating of "First World War"

[Shapiro, Fred]

The OED's first use for "First World War" is dated 1918.  It seems that the following citation, which I have previously posted, should be mentioned at least in square brackets:


1914 Ernst Haeckel in _Indianapolis Star_ 20 Sept. 37/1 (Newspaperarchive)  There is no doubt that the course and character of the feared "European war" ... will become the

first world war in the full sense of the word.


Fred Shapiro

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