С-495

СОРОК СОРОКОВ чего obs NP, fixed WO

a very large number of sth. : countless

a multitude of numerous a host of.

«Все мы исповедуем христианский закон прощения обид и любви к ближнему - закон, вследствие которого мы воздвигли в Москве сорок сороков церквей, а вчера засекли кнутом бежавшего человека...» (Толстой 5). "We all profess the Christian law of forgiveness of injuries and love for our neighbor-the law in honor of which we have built countless churches in Moscow-but yesterday a deserter was whipped to death with the knout..." (5a).

From the now archaic word «сорокъ», an old unit of count in Russia. Originally, «сорокъ» was a shirt used as a bag that held forty sable pelts, a full set for a fur coat.