Date:  Fri, 16 Jan 1998 08:34:51 -0500
From:  Gregory {Greg} Downing <downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]IS2.NYU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Has-been

At 08:19 AM 1/16/98 EST, you wrote:
>   Just how old is "has been"?
>

Taint exactly new -- see OED2 "has-been," with cites dated 1606, 1786
(Burns), and 1827.

Greg Downing/NYU, at greg.downing[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]nyu.edu or downingg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]is2.nyu.edu