Ц-4

В НЕКОТОРОМ ЦАРСТВЕ, В НЕКОТОРОМ ГОСУДАРСТВЕ folk poet PrepP Invar adv fixed WO

the formulaic beginning of many Russian folk tales

once upon a time (in a faraway kingdom)

a long time ago in a land far away long ago and far away.

(Марат:) В некотором царстве, в некотором государстве жил старик со своей старухой... (Арбузов 4). (М.:) Once upon а time there lived an old man with his old woman... (4a).