сорок сороков

• СОРОК СОРОКОВ чего obs

[NP; fixed WO]

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⇒ 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 Moscowbut yesterday a deserter was whipped to death with the knout..." (5a).

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← 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.