2006-10-23 14:38:33 · 11 answers · asked by Cynthia M 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
There are some good guesses about this here. I go with the theory that it is a way to say a swear without technically swearing.
If you study anthropology you will learn that in many cultures names are considered powerful magic. And swears are magic. So if you swear, especially with someone's name, there is a lot of magical power floating around, and since you are using the power in an angry way, that could be dangerous. So one way to defuse the magic is to not EXACTLY swear, so you change the word to something similar, but different.
I had two old uncles raised in England who would never have said Jesus Christ! as a swear. But they both said Jesus H Christ. Also, instead of saying "bast -ards" they used to say "baskets" and instead of "by God" they used to say "by Gor"
and several other similar sayings.
2006-10-24 12:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by matt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by no potential heard of the H. Like human beings including " Fish " signs and indicators as a signature for Christianity... what next. using the object “the” with the call (“the Christ”) is yet in any different case interest is on occasion attracted to the place of work as held by potential of Jesus. (Mt sixteen:sixteen)
2016-12-28 03:13:05 · answer #2 · answered by goldie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It, in actuality, stands for NOTHING.. It is just an expressive feeling that has developed by people who want to swear by saying OH Jesus Christ but because of latent morals, they add an H
2006-10-23 15:04:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing, strictly speaking it's considered blasphemous to take the lords name in vain, adding the H is a clumsy way around that stricture.
Although the other fellows explanation that adding the H gives it more emphasis explains the prevalence of usage bears noting.
2006-10-24 05:48:28 · answer #4 · answered by corvis_9 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hulio
2006-10-23 14:53:26 · answer #5 · answered by Cheryl H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is just a literary device called "tmesis". It accentuates the phrase and gives it an additional emphasis to it.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=tmesis
2006-10-24 01:51:52 · answer #6 · answered by sixgun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm guessing it stands for the opposite of heaven.
2006-10-23 14:46:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holy.
2006-10-23 19:32:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe it stands for holy
2006-10-23 14:46:29 · answer #9 · answered by tiffany_newland 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hallowed. As in, "Our father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name".
2006-10-23 14:47:56 · answer #10 · answered by aerin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋