*down*

prep. Down. [ Archaic & Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Her hair adown her shoulders loosely lay displayed. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A receding or giving up; a complete surrender. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. prenom. 1. devoting full strength and concentrated attention to.
Syn. -- determined. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. expressing the essence; condensed; summarized. the final boiled-down crux of the matter
Syn. -- boiled down. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act or result of breaking down, as of a carriage; downfall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (a) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of persons or pairs in succession, as among the colored people of the Southern United States, and so called, perhaps, because the exercise is continued until most of those who take part in it break down. (b) Any rude, noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet, usually by one person at a time. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Don't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a breakdown to wind up with. New Eng. Tales. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. conservatively formal and businesslike in dress and manner.
Syn. -- button-down, conservative. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a colorful character in the buttoned-down, dull-gray world of business. Newsweek

n. sudden restriction on an activity. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. a retraction of a previously held position.
Syn. -- withdrawal, backdown. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Grand climacteric or
Great climacteric, the sixty-third year of human life. [ 1913 Webster ]

I should hardly yield my rigid fibers to be regenerated by them; nor begin, in my grand climacteric, to squall in their new accents, or to stammer, in my second cradle, the elemental sounds of their barbarous metaphysics. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. termination of operations; a shutdown.
Syn. -- closure, closing, shutdown. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A downfall; an humiliation. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to LG. dune, dun, Icel. d&unr_;nn, Sw. dun, Dan. duun, G. daune, cf. D. dons; perh. akin to E. dust. ] 1. Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool; esp.: (a) (Zool.) The soft under feathers of birds. They have short stems with soft rachis and bards and long threadlike barbules, without hooklets. (b) (Bot.) The pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of the seeds of certain plants, as of the thistle. (c) The soft hair of the face when beginning to appear. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the first down begins to shade his face. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down [ 1913 Webster ]

When in the down I sink my head,
Sleep, Death's twin brother, times my breath. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou bosom softness, down of all my cares! Southern. [ 1913 Webster ]

Down tree (Bot.), a tree of Central America (Ochroma Lagopus), the seeds of which are enveloped in vegetable wool. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down. [ R. ] Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. dun, doun, AS. dūn; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. dūn hill, fortified hill, Gael. dun heap, hillock, hill, W. din a fortified hill or mount; akin to E. town. See Town, and cf. Down, adv. & prep., Dune. ] 1. A bank or rounded hillock of sand thrown up by the wind along or near the shore; a flattish-topped hill; -- usually in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hills afford prospects, as they must needs acknowledge who have been on the downs of Sussex. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

She went by dale, and she went by down. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep; -- usually in the plural. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Seven thousand broad-tailed sheep grazed on his downs. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. A road for shipping in the English Channel or Straits of Dover, near Deal, employed as a naval rendezvous in time of war. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the 11th [ June, 1771 ] we run up the channel . . . at noon we were abreast of Dover, and about three came to an anchor in the Downs, and went ashore at Deal. Cook (First Voyage). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. pl. [ From the adverb. ] A state of depression; low state; abasement. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It the downs of life too much outnumber the ups. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ For older adown, AS. adūn, adūne, 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 ]

☞ 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 Herè 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 ]

prep. [ From Down, adv. ] 1. In a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; as, down a hill; down a well. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

Down the country, toward the sea, or toward the part where rivers discharge their waters into the ocean. --
Down the sound, in the direction of the ebbing tide; toward the sea. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Downed p. pr. & vb. n. Downing. ] To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down. [ Archaic or Colloq. ] “To down proud hearts.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

I remember how you downed Beauclerk and Hamilton, the wits, once at our house. Madame D'Arblay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To go down; to descend. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Downcast; as, a down look. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway. [ 1913 Webster ]

Down draught, a downward draft, as in a flue, chimney, shaft of a mine, etc. --
Down in the mouth,
Down at the mouth chopfallen; dejected. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. impoverished; -- usually implying a state of dejection as well. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. physically weak.
Syn. -- down-and-out. [ PJC ]

n. a person who is destitute; as, he tried to help the down-and-out. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To bear down; to depress. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Music) the first beat of a musical measure (as the conductor's arm moves downward). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. leading in a downward direction.
Syn. -- down(prenominal), downward(prenominal). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Music) a downward stroke from the heel to the tip of the bow, in bowing a stringed instrument. Contrasted with up-bow, when the bow is moved in the opposite direction. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. 1. Downcast or melancholy look. [ 1913 Webster ]

That downcast of thine eye. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mining) A ventilating shaft down which the air passes in circulating through a mine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cast downward; directed to the ground, from bashfulness, modesty, dejection, or guilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is love, said she; and then my downcast eyes,
And guilty dumbness, witnessed my surprise. Dryden.

2. depressed; dispirited; dejected; -- of people.
Syn. -- down(predicate), downhearted, low, low-spirited. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

-- Down"cast`ly, adv. -- Down"cast`ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Sudden fall; downfall; overthrow. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Iron Manuf.) A pipe for leading combustible gases downward from the top of the blast furnace to the hot-blast stoves, boilers, etc., where they are burned. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A pipe to conduct something downwards; specif.: (a) (Iron Manuf.) A pipe for leading the hot gases from the top of a blast furnace downward to the regenerators, boilers, etc. (b) (Steam Engin.) In some water-tube boilers, a tube larger in diameter than the water tubes to conduct the water from each top drum to a bottom drum, thus completing the circulation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. 1. knocked down. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Football) touched to the ground, thus ending the play; -- of a football. [ PJC ]

n. a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person. [ Colloq. ]
Syn. -- sedative, depressant. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. A sudden fall; a body of things falling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those cataracts or downfalls aforesaid. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each downfall of a flood the mountains pour. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sudden descent from rank or state, reputation or happiness; destruction; ruin; as, the senator's unrestrained sexual escapades led to his downfall. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Dire were the consequences which would follow the downfall of so important a place. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Fallen; ruined. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Falling down. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Hanging down like gyves or fetters. [ Poetic & Rare ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A rope to haul down, or to assist in hauling down, a sail; as, a staysail downhaul; a trysail downhaul. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Dejected; low-spirited. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Towards the bottom of a hill; as, water runs downhill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Declivous; descending; sloping. “A downhill greensward.” Congrewe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Declivity; descent; slope. [ 1913 Webster ]

On th' icy downhills of this slippery life. Du Bartas (Trans. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being downy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a downcast countenance; dejected; gloomy; sullen. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The time of retiring to rest; time of repose. Cavendish. [ 1913 Webster ]

At the downlying, at the travail in childbirth. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. designed for low-income consumers. Opposite of upmarket.
Syn. -- downmarket. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A pouring or streaming downwards; esp., a heavy or continuous shower. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Plain; direct; forthright; unceremonious; blunt; positive; as, he spoke in his downright way. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man of plain, downright character. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Open; artless; undisguised; absolute; unmixed; as, downright atheism.
Syn. -- honest-to-goodness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The downright impossibilities charged upon it. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gloomy fancies which in her amounted to downright insanity. Prescott.

-- Down"right`ly, adv. -- Down"right`ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. Straight down; perpendicularly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In plain terms; without ceremony. [ 1913 Webster ]

We shall chide downright, if I longer stay. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Without delay; at once; completely. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She fell downright into a fit. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A breastplow used in paring off turf on downs. [ Eng. ] Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of sitting down; repose; a resting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising. Ps. cxxxix. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]