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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
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Mein host or mine host?

I know this has cropped up before but without any definitive answer. I was always taught the expression was "mein host" and I see that spelling widely used. Others write "mine host". Which is right? Or are both right? And where did the expression "mein host" originate?

Alan Cleaver
  

Top answer

[nq:1]I know this has cropped up before but without any definitive answer. I was always taught the expression was "mein ... used.

— Usenet

  • [nq:1]I know this has cropped up before but without any definitive answer.
  • I was always taught the expression was "mein ...
  • used.
  • Others write "mine host".
  • Which is right?
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]I know this has cropped up before but without any definitive answer. I was always taught the expression was "mein ... used. Others write "mine host". Which is right? Or are both right? And where did the expression "mein host" originate?[/nq]
The erroneous "mein host" may have arisen among people unaware of the antiquity of this expression in England, cf. Keats's verse (approx. 1810) abou
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[nq:2]I know this has cropped up before but without any ... are both right? And where did the expression "mein host"originate?[/nq]
[nq:1]The erroneous "mein host" may have arisen among people unaware of the antiquity of this expression in England, cf. Keats's ... quill . . ." English "mine host" is nowadays thought affected or old-fashioned, because iit was in use centuries ago.[/nq]
Just
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[nq:2]I know this has cropped up before but without any ... both right? And where did the expression "mein host" originate?[/nq]
[nq:1]The erroneous "mein host" may have arisen among people unaware of the antiquity of this expression in England, cf. Keats's ... quill . . ." English "mine host" is nowadays thought affected or old-fashioned, because iit was in use centuries ago.[/nq]
I assum
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[nq:2]The erroneous "mein host" may have arisen among people unaware ... affected or old-fashioned, because iit was in use centuries ago.[/nq]
[nq:1]I assume it was just an example of the usual form of "my" before a vowel - "mine eyes...", "...mine own". I don't know if the aitch was pronounced in "host" - it seems to be the same issue as "an hotel", "an historic..." etc.[/nq]
"Mine host"
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[nq:2]I assume it was just an example of the usual ... be the same issue as "an hotel", "an historic..." etc.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Mine host" and "mine hostess" occur frequently in Shakespeare. And, supporting the vowel theory, there are other uses there such ... usage "brother mine", "pupil mine" and "neighbour mine." Which then leads to the question "How would Shakespeare have pronounced "host"?"[/nq
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[nq:1]"mine alder-liefest sovereign".[/nq]
That sounds like something Falstaff might have said after he'd been drinking too much with the king. "You're mine alder-liefest sovereign you are. And my best mate."

Phil C.
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[nq:2]"mine alder-liefest sovereign".[/nq]
[nq:1]That sounds like something Falstaff might have said after he'd been drinking too much with the king. "You're mine alder-liefest sovereign you are. And my best mate."[/nq]
"I luf you. Verily".
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