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2 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
Down \Down\, adv. [For older adown, AS. ad[=u]n, ad[=u]ne,
prop., from or off the hill. See 3d Down, and cf. Adown,
and cf. Adown.]
1. In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the
earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; --
the opposite of up.
[1913 Webster]
2. Hence, in many derived uses, as:
(a) From a higher to a lower position, literally or
figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top
of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground
or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition;
as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and
the like; into a state of rest; -- used with verbs
indicating motion.
[1913 Webster]
It will be rain to-night. Let it come down.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
I sit me down beside the hazel grove.
--Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
And that drags down his life. --Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
There is not a more melancholy object in the
learned world than a man who has written himself
down. --Addison.
[1913 Webster]
The French . . . shone down [i. e., outshone]
the English. --Shak.
(b) In a low or the lowest position, literally or
figuratively; at the bottom of a descent; below the
horizon; on the ground; in a condition of humility,
dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet.
[1913 Webster]
I was down and out of breath. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
He that is down needs fear no fall. --Bunyan.
[1913 Webster]
3. From a remoter or higher antiquity.
[1913 Webster]
Venerable men! you have come down to us from a
former generation. --D. Webster.
[1913 Webster]
4. From a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a
thicker consistence; as, to boil down in cookery, or in
making decoctions. --Arbuthnot.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Down is sometimes used elliptically, standing for go
down, come down, tear down, take down, put down, haul
down, pay down, and the like, especially in command or
exclamation.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
If he be hungry more than wanton, bread alone
will down. --Locke.
Down is also used intensively; as, to be loaded down;
to fall down; to hang down; to drop down; to pay down.
The temple of Her[`e] at Argos was burnt down.
--Jowett
(Thucyd.).
Down, as well as up, is sometimes used in a
conventional sense; as, down East.
Persons in London say down to Scotland, etc., and
those in the provinces, up to London.
--Stormonth.
[1913 Webster]
Down helm (Naut.), an order to the helmsman to put the helm
to leeward.
Down on or Down upon (joined with a verb indicating
motion, as go, come, pounce), to attack, implying the idea
of threatening power.
[1913 Webster]
Come down upon us with a mighty power. --Shak.
Down with, take down, throw down, put down; -- used in
energetic command, often by people aroused in crowds,
referring to people, laws, buildings, etc.; as, down with
the king! ``Down with the palace; fire it.'' --Dryden.
To be down on, to dislike and treat harshly. [Slang, U.S.]
To cry down. See under Cry, v. t.
To cut down. See under Cut, v. t.
Up and down, with rising and falling motion; to and fro;
hither and thither; everywhere. ``Let them wander up and
down.'' --Ps. lix. 15.
[1913 Webster]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
Down \Down\, adv. [For older adown, AS. ad?n, ad?ne, prop., from
or off the hill. See 3d Down, and cf. Adown, and cf.
Adown.]
1. In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the
earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; --
the opposite of up.
2. Hence, in many derived uses, as:
(a) From a higher to a lower position, literally or
figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top
of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground
or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition;
as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and
the like; into a state of rest; -- used with verbs
indicating motion.
It will be rain to-night. Let it come down.
--Shak.
I sit me down beside the hazel grove.
--Tennyson.
And that drags down his life. --Tennyson.
There is not a more melancholy object in the
learned world than a man who has written himself
down. --Addison.
The French . . . shone down [i. e., outshone]
the English. --Shak.
(b) In a low or the lowest position, literally or
figuratively; at the bottom of a decent; below the
horizon; of the ground; in a condition of humility,
dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet.
I was down and out of breath. --Shak.
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.
--Shak.
He that is down needs fear no fall. --Bunyan.
3. From a remoter or higher antiquity.
Venerable men! you have come down to us from a
former generation. --D. Webster.
4. From a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a
thicker consistence; as, to boil down in cookery, or in
making decoctions. --Arbuthnot.
Note: Down is sometimes used elliptically, standing for go
down, come down, tear down, take down, put down, haul
down, pay down, and the like, especially in command or
exclamation.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.
--Shak.
If he be hungry more than wanton, bread alone
will down. --Locke.
Down is also used intensively; as, to be loaded down;
to fall down; to hang down; to drop down; to pay down.
The temple of Her[`e] at Argos was burnt down.
--Jowett
(Thucyd. ).
Down, as well as up, is sometimes used in a
conventional sense; as, down East.
Persons in London say down to Scotland, etc., and
those in the provinces, up to London.
--Stormonth.
Down helm (Naut.), an order to the helmsman to put the helm
to leeward.
Down on or upon (joined with a verb indicating motion, as
go, come, pounce), to attack, implying the idea of
threatening power.
Come down upon us with a mighty power. --Shak.
Down with, take down, throw down, put down; -- used in
energetic command. ``Down with the palace; fire it.''
--Dryden.
To be down on, to dislike and treat harshly. [Slang, U.S.]
To cry down. See under Cry, v. t.
To cut down. See under Cut, v. t.
Up and down, with rising and falling motion; to and fro;
hither and thither; everywhere. ``Let them wander up and
down.'' --Ps. lix. 15.
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