Antedating of "First World War"

[Charles C Doyle]

Of course, the word "word" in Fred's quotation is ambiguous.  Does it refer (loosely) to the phrase "first world war" or just the phrase "world war" or merely the descriptor "world"?

--Charlie
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Subject:      Antedating of "First World War"
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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 wa=
r" ... will become the

first world war in the full sense of the word.


Fred Shapiro

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