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Katrinarc Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Phrase 'Till death us do part'

Hi, what does 'Till death us do part' mean? The phrase usually is 'Till death do us part'; I don't exactly understand the change of position between the auxiliary and the pronoun. Someone said to me that it's for the sake of irony, but still I don't understand. Thanks!
  

Top answer

katrinarc Hi, what does 'Till death us do part' mean? This is the actual wording in the Book of Common Prayer. It's also the title of a British TV series.

— CalifJim

  • katrinarc Hi, what does 'Till death us do part' mean?
  • This is the actual wording in the Book of Common Prayer.
  • It's also the title of a British TV series.
  • As an American, I am also more familiar with what you call the usual phrase.
  • The meaning is exactly the same.
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3 Answers
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katrinarcHi, what does 'Till death us do part' mean?
This is the actual wording in the Book of Common Prayer. It's also the title of a British TV series.

As an American, I am also more familiar with what you call the usual phrase.

The meaning is exactly the same. I have no idea why it should involve irony to express the meaning in a trivial
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It's not for the ske of irony: it's an older language structure that's no longer accepted in common English speach. We see it in ceremonies because the ceremonies are very old and because their value lies partly in the traditions the continue -- that is, thier values comes partly from the old and long-accepted things they contain.
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