Sequential word repetitions in the VMS

[DarrenW]

I think the reduplication of words in Voynichese might indicate the presence of a superlative expression. A superlative expression acts as an "intensifier" - I struggled to think of a good example in English, the best I could think of was a phrase like "bluest blue" to describe an intense blue colour. I guess that this usage is unusual in English, however, this construction appears often in written Semitic and Persian texts and especially in religious and magical writings. This might also explain the triple repetitions that have been reported.

Here are some examples from the Tanakh/Old Testament and New Testament:

• King of Kings [1 Timothy 6:15] [Revelation 19:16] [Ezra 7:12] [Daniel 2:37] [Ezekiel 26:7]
  

    transliterated Hebrew:  melek mĕlakîm

• (Your) God is a God of gods [Daniel 2:47]
  

    transliterated : elahin elah elaha chovn

• God of gods [Deuteronomy 10:17] [Psalm 136:2] [Daniel 11:36]
  

    transliterated Hebrew : elōhê ha-elōhîm

• Lord of Lords [Deuteronomy 10:17] [1 Timothy 6:15] [Revelation 17:14] [Revelation 19:16 ] [Psalm 136:3] [Psalm 136:26]
  

    transliterated Hebrew : adōnê ha-adōnîm

Here are other sample verses with similar constructions -

• "the King of the King of Kings" (Melech Malchei HaMelachim) used in a prayer when leaving the synagogue.
  
• LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods [Joshua 22:22]
  

Some other common superlative expressions include : Holy of Holies, Song of Songs etc.

These expressions are not just found in Hebrew. For example, the superlative expression "King of Kings" (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.)
is similarly written in Persian and other Semitic languages.

Assyrian : šar šarrāni
Hebrew : melek mĕlakîm
Old Persian : Xšâyathiya Xšâyathiyânâm
Middle Persian : shâhân shâh
New Persian : Shahanshah