Up and down

Up and down
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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Up and down — Up Up ([u^]p), adv. [AS. up, upp, [=u]p; akin to OFries. up, op, D. op, OS. [=u]p, OHG. [=u]f, G. auf, Icel. & Sw. upp, Dan. op, Goth. iup, and probably to E. over. See {Over}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Aloft; on high; in a direction contrary to that of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • up and down — adverb Date: 12th century 1. to and fro < paced up and down > 2. alternately upward and downward < jump up and down > 3. archaic here and there especially throughout an area 4. with regard to every particular ; thoroughly < knew the …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • To beat up and down — Beat Beat, v. i. 1. To strike repeatedly; to inflict repeated blows; to knock vigorously or loudly. [1913 Webster] The men of the city . . . beat at the door. Judges. xix. 22. [1913 Webster] 2. To move with pulsation or throbbing. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stockton Wood and Down — (gbmapping|ST958366) is a 61.5 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire, notified in 1951.ource* [http://www.english nature.org.uk/citation/citation photo/1002831.pdf English Nature citation sheet for the site]… …   Wikipedia

  • up-and-down — adjective Date: circa 1755 1. marked by alternate upward and downward movement, action, or surface 2. perpendicular …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Down (band) — Down Down live in 2008 Background information Origin New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Genres …   Wikipedia

  • Down feather — The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Very young birds are clad only in down. Powder down is a specialized type of down found only in a few groups of birds. Down is a fine thermal insulator and… …   Wikipedia

  • Down GAA — Irish: An Dún Province: Ulster Nickname(s): The Mournemen (football) The Ardsmen (hurling) …   Wikipedia

  • 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 Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down helm — 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”