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Kenta Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

A lily of the valley

Hello. "lily of the valley" is a kind of a flower.

I wonder why it isn't "lily in the valley."

What does "of" mean?

Do you use the expressions such as "... of the mountain, ...of the river"?

Would you explain the useage this "of" or give me some other examples?

Thank you!
  

Top answer

"Of" is often used in names of things, proper, or, in your case, generic. The holder of the name claims to be characterized by the nature of the place they are from. That is, it means "from the valley" as much as "in the valley" - as though they were made of it, like cream of tartar.

— Avangi

  • "Of" is often used in names of things, proper, or, in your case, generic.
  • The holder of the name claims to be characterized by the nature of the place they are from.
  • That is, it means "from the valley" as much as "in the valley" - as though they were made of it, like cream of tartar.
  • The sheriff of Notingham Tess of the D'Ubervilles Maid o'the Mist Lady of the Lake Queen of the River The Hound of the Baskervilles
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1 Answers
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"Of" is often used in names of things, proper, or, in your case, generic. The holder of the name claims to be characterized by the nature of the place they are from. That is, it means "from the valley" as much as "in the valley" - as though they were made of it, like cream of tartar.

The sheriff of Notingham
Tess of the D'Ubervilles
Maid o'the Mist
Lady of the Lake
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