[Ads-l] Antedating of "special someone"

[Steven Losie]

Special someone (OED3, 1924) - referring to a romantic relationship

[begin quote]
"No one is likely to hear. Have you a special Someone—" I looked at her
inquiringly.

"You appear to have forgotten that I am a married woman."
[end quote]
Source: The Sketch: A Journal of Art and Actuality (London, England),
vol.55, 10 Oct 1906, p.424, col.2
Article title: A Novel In A Nutshell / A Vicarious Wooing
Author: Walter E. Grogan
Database: Google Books
https://books.google.com/books?id=ioE4AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA424&dq=%22special+someone%22

[begin quote]
["]I'm off on a yachting expedition round the coast of Scotland, and it's a
tremendous business getting one's outfit for a three weeks' cruise,
particularly when there is to be a special someone on board," and she
simpered elegantly, "By-by."

[..]

The "special someone" of whom she had hinted to Lillie Castles was the
owner of the yacht. Hubert Vincent, aged twenty-nine; height 6ft. 2in.
Dark, good-looking; heir to his uncle, Viscount Lisvane, and possessed in
his own right of coalpits bringing in an extremely comfortable income.
[end quote]
Source: The Liverpool Weekly Mercury, 21 Mar 1908, p.3, col.1
Title: Two Holidays. A Summer Story.
Author: Florence Stacpoole
Database: Newspapers.com

[begin quote]
"This is a very special someone who rather likes the idea of being alone
with me," I teased.
[end quote]
Source: Fort Wayne News and Sentinel, 26 Nov 1920, p.15, col.3
Article Title: When A Girl Marries
Author: Ann Lisle
Database: Newspapers.com

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