http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3615.39139)http://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htm#74364Mon, 25 May 2009 01:20:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:74364MrPedantic0http://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htm#74364http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-74364.xmlHello Elena Yes, cf. = 'compare'. 1423. I wouldn't have thought it was such an old expression. It sounds new-ish to me! See you MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htm#74330Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:20:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:74330Elena1http://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htm#74330http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-74330.xmlThen, to fall into a state of. Thanks, MrP Does cf. mean 'confer-compare'? Ehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htm#74214Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:20:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:74214MrPedantic2http://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htm#74214http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-74214.xmlThat's a tricky one, Elena. Maybe 'fall' in the sense of 'happen': cf. 'it fell upon a summer's day', etc. Or cf. 'fall asleep'. The two states are very similar. Or maybe in the sense of 'stumble into': cf. 'to fall into error'. In Chaucer's 'Sir Thopas' (?1386) we have: 'Sir Thopas fil in love-longinge Al when he herde the thrustel singe And priked as he were wood...' MrPhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htmWed, 25 Feb 2009 02:20:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:74201Elena3http://www.englishforums.com/English/FallInLove/pbmn/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-74201.xmlDo you know the origin of this expression? I just know that it is attested from 1423, from etymonline.com, but why with the verb 'fall'?