Have you ever stared at a clock, wondering what secrets it might hold? We use the term “o’clock” daily, but its origin takes us on a fascinating journey back in time.
The “o” in “o’clock” is actually a secret agent, working undercover! It’s a tiny abbreviation for the word “of.” Back in the Middle Ages, before digital screens and flashing lights, people used phrases like “four of the clock” or “five of the clock” to tell time. Can you imagine picturing a sundial and pointing to say, “it’s definitely three of the sundial?”
Over time, this lengthy phrase transformed into the more convenient “four o’clock” we use today. This historical tidbit is a reminder that even the simplest words can hold hidden stories waiting to be discovered.