English Language & Usage Asked on September 4, 2021
“I am hard of seeing” or “I am hard of walking” are just never used. How did people come to call semi-deafness “hard of hearing”?
Especially, why is “hard of” used? I could understand “weak of hearing”, but why “hard”?
It's a common construction from Middle English that is used not-so-unextensively as you'd think:
Fleet of foot.
Yorkshire born and Yorkshire bred, Strong of arm and thick of head.
Etc.
Correct answer by Mark Wallace on September 4, 2021
Interesting question. Etymonline's entry on hard explains that the phrase hard of hearing "preserves obsolete M.E. sense of having difficulty in doing something." This doesn't explain why it is only used for partial deafness. Maybe its alliteration lent it such long life.
Answered by Callithumpian on September 4, 2021
Actually, "hard of seeing" is in use. It was coined by the late, Dr. Lorraine June Marchi Fastie. click here to read about her
Answered by Michelle Lowrie on September 4, 2021
What might have been omitted in the explanations here is the alliteration of the phrase, "hard of hearing". This does not address the 'hard' or the 'of' but it does point to how the musicality of the phrase strikes the ear. Therefore its longevity over the phrase "hard of seeing".
Answered by CSF on September 4, 2021
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