Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Today's OED antedating: "double standard"

Double standard, employing dissimilar criteria to compare similar cases ("double," a., sec 6, first use cited 1951): Untitled item by Franklin P. Adams, New York Tribune, May 28, 1920, p 14, col 5: "If Mr. Bryan's proposed amendment providing a single standard of morals ever is added, there probably will be a law against selfishness, avarice and greed. We, for one, are all for the double standard. Why should women have all the freedom?"