Etymology and Meaning
The term "arsy versy" is a childish corruption of the Latin phrase "ars est celare artem" ("art is concealed art"). This phrase originated in the Ars Poetica, a treatise on poetry written by the Roman poet Horace in the 1st century BCE. Horace's full statement was:
Ars est celare artem, et cetegit arte sua quod erat artifex ("Art is to conceal art, and the true artist hides his art with art.")
In the original Latin, the phrase refers to the idea that good art should seem effortless and natural, without revealing the artifice or technique that went into its creation.
Origin
The corrupted form "arsy versy" is said to have originated in England in the 19th century. It is thought to have been used by children as a way to imitate the sound of the original Latin phrase, without understanding its meaning.
Meaning
Today, the term "arsy versy" is often used in a joking or ironic way to describe something that is overly contrived or artificial. It can also be used to refer to a person who is pretending to be something they are not.
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