History
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, or beyond a shadow of a doubt appears to be a phrase that has grown up in the colloquial, predominantly from the simpler form "beyond a doubt," circa 1300.
Other notable uses of the exact phrase shadow of (a) doubt include:
- popular news print around 1820
- The Scarlet Letter, novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850.
- The Gondoliers, operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan, 1889: “Of that there is no manner of doubt—no probable, possible shadow of doubt”
- "The Trial by Existence", poem by Robert Frost, 1915.
- To Kill a Mockingbird, novel by Harper Lee, 1960, wherein Atticus Finch states: "The law says 'reasonable doubt,' but I think a defendant's entitled to the shadow of a doubt. There's always the possibility, no matter how improbable, that he's innocent."
Read more about this topic: Beyond The Shadow Of A Doubt
Famous quotes containing the word history:
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