Follow v. World English Historical Dictionary

Follow v. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1901, rev. 2022. Follow v. Forms: α. 1–2 folȝian. 2–3 folȝie(n, (folȝhi), foleȝe(n, (foleȝi), 3 folien, folhen, 2–4 folȝe(n, (3 Orm. follȝhenn, 4 south. uolȝe(n, uolȝy), 3–5 folew(en, (3 south. uolewen, 4 follew(e), folwe(n, (4 follwe(n), folu(n, foluw(en, (3 south. uoluwen), 4–6 folow(e, foloe, (5 folaw(e, foloȝe, foloyn, 4–6 fowlow(e, 6 foolow(e), 6 Sc. fallow, 4–7 followe, 4– follow. β. 1–2 fylȝan, fyliȝan, fylȝian, fylian, 2–3 fulien, (3 south. pa. t. vulede), 3–4 fulu(n, filȝe(n, filiȝ(en, filyh(en, filiyh(en, felu(n, 4–5 filow, fylow, felow, 5 filoe. [The two OE. types, folȝian (o- stem) and fylȝan (-jo- stem), are, as is usual in similar pairs of conjugational variants, representatives of an OTeut. vb. of the -êjan class; cf. OFris. folgia, folia, fulia, OS. folgôn (Du. volgen), OHG. folgên (MHG. volgen, mod.Ger. folgen), ON. fylgja (Da. fölge, Sw. följa); not recorded in Goth. Beside these forms, several of the Teut. langs. have synonymous and phonetically resembling words which are compounds of GANG and GO vbs.; OE. has fulgangan, pa. t. ful-éode (from éode, serving as pa. t. of gân) = OS. fulgangan, OHG. folle gân. The most natural explanation of these parallel forms is that the apparently simple vb. was originally a compound or a phrasal combination. The first element occurs in OE. fylstan, fullǽstan, OHG. folleisten to help, succor, minister to (cf. Goth. laistjan to follow), OHG. follaziohan to assist, support (= OE. *fultéon, whence fultéam, fultum assistance), Goth. fullafahjan to worship, serve, minister to the needs of. In these cases the prefix seems to add to the sense of the simple vbs. the notion of doing something by way of service to another (so that sense 3 of the present vb. is probably nearest to the original meaning). It is on formal grounds probable that the prefix is identical with FULL; its function in the above-cited instances is perh. due to the circumstance that in some vbs. compounded with it the primary sense of ‘satisfying’ developed into the cognate sense of ‘ministering to,’ ‘serving.’]

1   I.  trans. [In OE. and early ME. the object is usually in the dative case.]

2   1.  To go or come after (a person or other object in motion); to move behind in the same direction.

3 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John x. 27. Mine sceap ȝehyraþ mine stefne … & hiȝ folȝiaþ me.

4 c. 1200.  Ormin, 12767.        & he fand ta Filippe, & seȝȝde þuss till himm; follh me.

5 c. 1220.  Bestiary, 757. Ilk der ðe him hereð … foleȝeð him up one ðe wold.

6 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 15193 (Cott.).        Folus forth þat ilk man Right in to þe bi.

7 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Miller’s T., 73.        Therto she koude skippe and make game, As any kyde, or calf folwynge his dame.

8 a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xlvii. 158–9. They went all together and foolowed Huon as preuely as they coude.

9 1598.  Shaks., Merry W., III. ii. 6. Rob. I had rather (forsooth) go before you like a man, then follow him like a dwarfe.

10 1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 238.                  Him followed his next Mate, Both glorying to have scap’t the Stygian flood As Gods, and by their own recover’d strength, Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.

11 1850.  Prescott, Peru, II. 200. The remainder of his forces, when mustered, were to follow him.

12 1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, III. xxi. It was plain that he had followed her, and had been waiting for her.

13   b.  To go forward along (a path), to keep in (a track) as one goes. lit. and fig.

14 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4575 (Cott.).        I folud siþen, me-thoght, a sti Vntil a feild.

15 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 127. Þe fyrre I folȝed þose floty valeȝ.

16 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2017, Ariadne.        That … The same weye he may returne anon, Folwynge alwey the thred as he hath come.

17 1548.  Hall, Chron., Rich. III. (an. 3), 50. Pleiyng the parte of a good blood hounde, [he] foloed the tract of ye flier so euen by ye sent.

18 1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 1024.                    Sin and Death amain Following his track, such was the will of Heav’n, Pav’d after him a broad and beat’n way Over the dark Abyss.

19 1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 79, 31 May, ¶ 3. I am Young, and very much inclined to follow the Paths of Innocence.

20 1825.  in Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), II. 25. I was resolved … not to follow the turnpike road one single inch further.

21 1874.  E. D. Smith, trans. Oehler’s O. T. Theol., I. § 43. 151. Old Testament angelology follows the opposite path; at its close those angels first appear who are endowed with definite personal attributes.

22   c.  phr. To follow the drum: to be a soldier. To follow the hounds: to keep up behind them in the chase; to hunt with hounds. Follow my leader: a game in which each player must do what the leader does, or pay forfeit; also fig. To follow one’s nose: to go straight on (without reflection or preconceived plan). To follow the plough: said of the ploughman.

23 1650.  Ward, Discolliminium, 19. I’le follow Providence, or my Nose, as well as I can.

24 1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., v. (1686), 2. Without its Assistance in Dieting and Exercise, no Horse can follow the Hounds, or indeed undergo any other extreme Labour, without hazarding the melting his Grease.

25 1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., ii. 34. The main Maxim of his [Epicurus’] Philosophy was to trust to his Senses, and follow his Nose.

26 1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 1. He cou’d not carry on his Studies with more Advantage in the Closet than the Field, where his Mind is seldom idle while he prunes the Trees, follows the Plough, or looks after his Flocks.

27 1785.  Burns, Jolly Beggars, ‘I am a son of Mars.’        And now, tho’ I must beg, with a wooden arm and leg, And many a tatter’d rag hanging over my bum, I’m as happy with my wallet, my bottle, and my callet, As when I us’d in scarlet to follow the drum.

28 1832.  Wordsw., Resol. & Independence, vii.        I thought of Chatterton, the marvellous Boy, The sleepless Soul that perished in his pride; Of Him who walked in glory and in joy Following [ed. 1 (1807), behind] his plough, along the mountain-side.

29 1835.  Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xxxviii. There was one amusement which was the occasion of a great deal of mirth, and it was a favourite one of the captain’s, as it made the men smart. It is called ‘Follow my leader.’

30 1858.  Thackeray, Virgin., xvi. Harry had slept on many a straw mattress, and engaged in endless jolly night-bouts over claret and punch in cracked bowls till morning came, and it was time to follow the hounds.

31 1895.  Tablet, 14 Sept., 408. Englishmen are the last people in the world to play a blind game of follow-my-leader.

32   2.  fig. To come after in sequence or series, in order of time, etc.; to succeed.

33 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4599 (Gött.). Seuen ȝere hunger grett Þat oþer neist sal be foluand Þat neuer was suilk bifor in land.

34 1656.  B. Harris, trans. Parival’s The History of This Iron Age, 241. One misfortune followes another: for the fire got into the Arsenal at Venice, and indangered the blowing up of that brave City.

35 1667.  Milton, P. L., XII. 335.        Such follow him, as shall be registerd Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scrowle.

36 1728.  Pope, The Dunciad, III. 321.        Signs following signs, lead on the mighty year! See the dull stars roll round and re-appear!

37 1802.  Ld. Eldon, in Vesey’s Rep., VII. 81. This case was followed by The Att.-Gen. v. Doyley.

38 c. 1817.  Hogg, Julia M‘Kenzie, in Tales & Sk. (1837), V. 350. Punishment must follow conviction, not antecede it.

39 1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. vii. 51. Forming vast transverse ridges which follow each other in succession down the slope.

40   † b.  To be second or inferior to. Obs.

41 1632.  Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, II. ii.                          Her education Follows not any; for her mind, I know it To be far fairer than her shape.

42   c.  To come after or succeed as a consequence or effect; to result from. (Cf. sense 4.)

43 1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 356.        The eye of Heaven is out, and mistie night Covers the shame that followes sweet delight.

44 a. 1616.  Beaum. & Fl., Thierry & Theod., I. ii.        A Duty well discharg’d is never follow’d By sad Repentance.

45 1842.  Tennyson, Morte d’Arth., 92.        What good should follow this, if this were done? What harm, undone? deep harm to disobey, Seeing obedience is the bond of rule.

46   3.  To go after or along with (a person) as an attendant or companion; to accompany, serve, or attend upon.

47 O. E. Chron., an. 755. Þa cuædon hie þæt … hie næfre his banan folȝian noldon.

48 c. 950.  Lindisfarne Gospels, Mark v. 37. Ne leort æniȝne monno to fylȝenne hine.

49 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 151. Monie kunnes men foleȝeden ure drihten ine þisse liue.

50 c. 1205.  Lay., 95. Of kunne & of folke þe fulede þan duke.

51 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 15339 (Cott.).        Yee haf me folud hider-to   Tuelue in mikel thrang.

52 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 894, Thisbe.        I wol the folwen ded and I wol be Felaw and cause eke of thy deth, quod she.

53 c. 1450.  Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6338.        A seruand folowand his lorde, Come to þe kirke, as bokes recorde.

54 1591.  Shaks., Two Gentl., I. i. 94. Thou for wages followest thy master, thy master for wages follows not thee: therefore, thou art a sheep.

55 1611.  Bible, 1 Sam. xvii. 13. And the three eldest sonnes of Iesse went, and followed Saul to the battell.

56 1845.  Mrs. S. C. Hall, Whiteboy, vi. 51. To help Esther, the rheumatic and ague-stricken creature who had ‘followed’ the family for more than forty years.

57 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 37, Charmides. You may depend on my following and not deserting him, said Charmides: if you who are my guardian command me, I should be very wrong not to obey you.

58   b.  To go after as an admirer, auditor, or the like.

59 1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 349. Ham. Doe they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the City? Are they so follow’d?

60 1756.  Mrs. F. Brooke, Old Maid, No. 22, ¶ 3. I went not long since with a friend to hear one of the most followed and admired of them all [preachers]. Ibid. O! he is a sweet creature, a charming man! ah! would they were all like him! Thank God, I have followed him these twenty years.

61   4.  fig. To accompany, attend upon, ‘go with’; to be a (necessary) concomitant or accompaniment to; to be consequent upon.

62 c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. lv[i]. 4. Ðæt minre spræce sped folȝie.

63 c. 1205.  Lay., 1002. Wælde heom scal fulien.

64 a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter, xxii[i]. 6.        And filigh me sal þi mercy, And daies of mi life for-þi.

65 c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, II. vi. 46. Sorwe foluiþ euer þe glory of þe worlde.

66 1526.  Tindale, 1 Cor. x. 13. There hath no temptacion taken you but soche as foloweth the nature of man.

67 1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 297. The liberty that follows our places.

68 1611.  Bible, Ps. xxiii. 6. Surely goodnes and mercie shall followe me all the daies of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for euer.

69 1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 24.                        The happier state In Heav’n, which follows dignity, might draw Envy from each inferior.

70 1859.  Jephson, Brittany, vi. 74. Under the feudal system, the title follows the land.

71 1868.  Morris, Earthly Par., I. 609 (Pygmalion).        He stopped and said, ‘Ah, love, what meaneth this? Seest thou how tears still follow earthly bliss?’

72 1885.  Law Rep., 29 Ch. Div., 283. The right to a grant of administration follows the right to the property.

73   5.  To go in pursuit of, try to overtake or come up with; to pursue, chase.

74 Beowulf, 2933 (Gr.). [He] folȝode feorhȝeniðlan.

75 a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter, xvi[i]. 38. I sal filghe mi faas, and um-lap þa.

76 a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, vii. 1. Make me safe of all folouand me and delyuere me.

77 c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), iv. 12. Þe dragoun folowed and tuke þe knyght and bare him maugree his til a cragg of þe see.

78 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI. (an. 6), 105. The Englishemen folowed theim so faste, in killyng and takyng of their enemies.

79 1690.  Dryden, Don Sebastian, I. i. 4.                        ’Twas indeed the place To seek Sebastian: through a track of Death I follow’d him, by Groans of dying Foes.

80 1783.  Cowper, Epitaph on Hare.        Here lies, whom hound did ne’er pursue,   Nor swifter greyhound follow; Whose foot ne’er tainted morning dew,   Nor ear heard huntsman’s halloo.

81   b.  fig. To pursue like an enemy. Also, † to visit (a person) with (affliction, etc.).

82 a. 1310.  in Wright’s, Lyric P., xv. 48.        Evel ant elde, ant other wo,   foleweth me so faste.

83 c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 436.            A fers feintise · folwes me oft, & takes me so tenefully.

84 1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., V. i. 36.          Cæsar.  Oh Anthony, I haue followd thee to this, but we do launch Diseases in our Bodies.     Ibid. (1607), Cor., IV. v. 104. Since I haue euer followed thee with hate, Drawne Tunnes of Blood out of thy Countries brest.

85 1671.  Lady M. Bertie, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 22. Wee play sometimes at trante a courante where my old ill lucke follows mee to loose my money.

86 1688.  Bunyan, Jerus. Sinner Saved (1689), 155. Art thou followed with affliction, and dost thou hear God’s angry voice in thy afflictions?

87   c.  Sc. ‘To pursue at law’ (Jam.), prosecute. Also absol.

88 1425.  Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1814), 9. The party scathit sall folowe, and the party trespassande sall defende, eftir the cours of the auld lawis of the realme.

89 1466.  Act. Audit. (1839), 5/2. [He] comperit nouther be himself nor his procuraturis to folow thaim.

90   † d.  To visit (an offence, an offender) with punishment. Obs.

91 1579–80.  North, Plutarch, 19 (Theseus). There was no man at that time that dyd followe or pursue his death.

92 1593.  Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., 295. Were you but once or twise well followed for other mens faultes, you woulde soone waxe weary of this generall and confused execution.

93   6.  fig. To pursue (an object of desire); to endeavor to reach or attain to; to strive after, try to gain or compass, aim at.

94 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23867 (Gött.).        In eldrin men vr merrur [we] mai se Quat forto fulv, quat forto fle.

95 c. 1400.  An Apology for Lollard Doctrines, 33. Dekunis to be chast, not dowble tongid, not ȝeuun to mikil to drink, ne fowlowing fowle wynning.

96 1539.  Bible (Great), Heb. xii. 14. Folowe peace wyth all men.

97 1549.  Latimer, 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 97. He folowed gyftes, as fast as he that folowed the puddynge.

98 1754.  Chatham, Lett. Nephew, iv. 24. Venture to own frankly that you came to Cambridge to learn what you can, not to follow what they are pleased to call pleasure.

99 1842.  Tennyson, Ulysses, 31.        And this gray spirit yearning in desire To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.     Ibid. (1859), Vivien, 471. Had carved himself a knightly shield of wood, And then was painting on it fancied arms, Azure, an Eagle rising, or the Sun In dexter chief; the scroll ‘I follow fame.’

100   † b.  To pursue (an affair) to its conclusion or accomplishment; to follow up, prosecute; to enforce (law). Also const. on, upon, against (a person). Obs.

101 a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneid, II. 116.        Ne could I fool refrein my tong from thretes: That if my chaunce were euer to return Uictor to Arge, to folowe my reuenge.

102 c. 1585.  R. Browne, Answ. Cartwright, 55. We shoulde first followe the Lawe on them, to thrust them out of the sheepefolde.

103 1595.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, V. lxxxii.        Where, now the matter is so followed, That he conuented is, ere he could tell He was in danger.

104 1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 20.                        O, such a day, So fought, so followed and so fairly won.

105 1608.  D. T., Ess. Pol. & Mor., 28. For that he did egerly follow the extreamitie of law against a certaine friende of his.

106 1653.  Holcroft, Procopius, Vandal Wars, II. xi. 43. Belisarius followed no execution, thinking it enough with so small an Army to beat the enemy, and send him going.

107 1693.  Hum. Town, I. 30. They have nick’d Reason, as sure as a Buckaneer his mark, or a Clyent in giving his Lawyer double Fees, that his Cause may be well followed.

108   7.  fig. (Cf. sense 3). To treat or take (a person) as a guide, leader, or master; to accept the authority or example of, obey the dictates or guidance of; to adhere to, espouse the opinions, side, or cause of. Also, to follow a person’s steps.

109 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xvi. 13. He anum folȝaþ and oðerne forhoȝaþ.

110 c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues (1888), 27. Ðat tu ne folȝhi none dwelmenn, ðe muchel misleueð.

111 c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 15. He seð þe folhen hire treoden.

112 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 21. First followe I Stace, and after him Corinne.

113 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 381. Þat ȝe filow þe steppis of hym þat did no synne.

114 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. xvii. 248. The sympler partie of hem folewiden the worthier and the more wijs partie.

115 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1 b. Which doctours I folowe most communly in this poore treatyse.

116 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI. (an. 34), 169. Favoryng and folowyng the part of kyng Henry.

117 1548–91.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Collect 18th Sund. after Trinity. With pure harte and mynde to folowe thee the onelye God.

118 1666.  Dryden, Lett. to Sir R. Howard, 10 Nov. Wks. (Globe), 41. He [Virgil] has been my Master in this Poem: I have followed him everywhere.

119 1706.  Atterbury, Serm., 1 Cor. xv. 19 (1723), II. 7. They [Beasts] follow Nature, in their Desires and Fruitions, carrying them no farther than she directs, and leaving off at the Point, at which Excess would grow troublesome and hazardous.

120 1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 16. We profess to follow Reason wherever it leads.

121 1851.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., II. III. II. v. § 15. The sacred painters must not be followed in their frankness of unshadowed colour, unless we can also follow them in its clearness.

122   8.  To conform to, comply with, obey, act upon or in accordance with (advice, command, teaching, example, fashion, etc.); to take as a rule or model, act up to, ‘walk after.’

123 a. 1000.  Elene, 929 (Gr.). He forlæteð lare þine & manþeawum minum folȝaþ.

124 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 185. Wule nu þanne foleȝ seinte andreues faire forbisne.

125 a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xxi. 16. As hundes folus þer custom in berkyng & bitynge.

126 a. 1450.  Cov. Myst. (1841), 268. Ȝyf ȝe wole folwe myn intent.

127 1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Collect Sunday bef. Easter. To suffre death vpon the crosse, that all mankynde shoulde folowe the example of his greate humilitie.

128 1611.  Bible, 2 Sam. xvii. 23. And when Ahithophel sawe that his counsell was not followed, he sadled his asse, and arose, and gate him home to his house, to his citie, and put his houshold in order, and hanged himselfe, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

129 1671.  Milton, P. R., I. 482.                        Most men admire Vertue, who follow not her lore.

130 1692.  Locke, Educ., § 89 (1699), 141. Ill Patterns are sure to be follow’d more than good Rules: And therefore he must also carefully preserve him from the Influence of ill Precedents, especially the most dangerous of all, the Examples of the Servants.

131 1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xi. 239–40. Our men in the pinnace followed their orders, and took up three men; one of which was just drowning, and it was a good while before we could recover him.

132 1771.  Junius Lett., xlviii. 252. I shall agree with you very heartily, and think that the precedent ought to be followed immediately.

133 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 446. Had his advice been followed, the laws would have been strictly observed.

134 1871.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 5. The rank vocabulary of malice and hate, that noisome fringe of the history of opinion, has received many of its most fulminant terms from critics of Voltaire, along with some from Voltaire himself, who unwisely did not always refuse to follow an adversary’s bad example.

135   ¶ intr. const. to. rare–1 (perh. an involuntary anacoluthon).

136 1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxli. 777. He counsayled them to yelde vp the towne, sauynge their bodyes and goodes, to the whiche counsayle they were gladde to folowe.

137   † b.  To conform to in likeness, resemble, take after; to imitate or copy. Obs.

138 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 1133.        Folweth Ekko, that holdeth no silence, But ever answereth at the countretaille.

139 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8722.        The body of this bold, þat barely is ded, Most follow by fourme the freeltie of man: Hit may not long vpon loft ly vncorruppit.

140 1483.  Cath. Angl., 137/1. To Folowe ye fader in maners, patrissare.

141 1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxviii. § 1. Where Rome keepeth that which is antienter and better; others whom we much more affect leaving it for newer, and changing it for worse; we had rather follow the perfections of them whom we like not, than in defects resemble them whom we love.

142 1615.  T. Adams, Spirit. Navig., 41. Glasse among stones, is as a foole amongst men. For it takes all paint, and followes precious stones in colour, not in vertue.

143 1674.  Wood, Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. 281. Mr[s] Betty her daughter followes her.

144   9.  To walk in, pursue, practice (a way of life, habit, method of acting); to engage in, occupy oneself with, addict or apply oneself to; esp. to practice (a calling or profession) for a livelihood. To follow the sea: to practice the calling of a sailor.

145 971.  Blickl. Hom., 25. Þa men þe þyssum uncystum fylȝaþ.

146 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 119. Monie þewas … ledað to deðe on ende þa þe heom duseliche folȝiað.

147 c. 1400.  Cato’s Morals, 63, in Cursor M., 1670. Quat werk þou folow salle.

148 1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. iii. 99. I would I had bestowed that time in the tongues, that I haue in fencing, dancing, and beare-bayting: O had I but followed the Arts.

149 1618.  Rolfe, in Capt. Smith’s Wks. (1819), II. 37. In peace euery man followed his building and planting without any accidents worthy of note.

150 1651.  Lilly, Chas. I., 75. While he was young, he followed his Booke seriously, which his elder brother Prince Henry could not indure.

151 1709.  Steele & Swift, Tatler, No. 68, 13 Sept., ¶ 4. When I was young enough to follow the Sports of the Field, I have more than once rode off at the Death of a Deer, when I have seen the Animal in Affliction which appeared humane without the least Noise, let fall Tears when he was reduced to Extremity.

152 1800.  Colquhoun, Comm. Thames, Preface, p. i. Those Classes who are concerned in Navigation and Commerce, and who follow Nautical Pursuits.

153 1864.  D. G. Mitchell, Sev. Stor., 269. The assassin, who was promptly arrested, is a stalwart man of about thirty, and from the contents of his portmanteau, which he had left at the inn of an adjoining village, it is presumed that he followed the profession of an artist.

154 1883.  Stevenson, Treas. Ist., II. x. Mr. Trelawney had followed the sea, and his knowledge made him very useful, for he often took a watch himself in easy weather.

155 1885.  U. S. Grant, Personal Mem., I. xxi. 288. There were also many men in the town whose occupation had been following the river in various capacities, from captain down to deck hand.

156   10.  To watch the progress or course of (an object in motion).

157 1697.  Dryden, Æneid, VI. 641.        Some pious Tears the pitying Heroe paid; And follow’d with his Eyes the flitting Shade.

158 1819.  Byron, Juan, I. clx.        With prying snub-nose, and small eyes, he stood,   Following Antonia’s motions here and there, With much suspicion in his attitude.

159   11.  To trace or attend to the course or sequence of; to keep up with (an argument, train of thought, etc.) so as to grasp its sequence and meaning; also, to keep up with and understand (a person as he reasons or recounts.

160 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 407.        An ancient Legend I prepare to sing, And upward follow Fame’s immortal Spring.

161 1866.  L. Carroll, Alice in Wonderld., ix. ‘I think I should understand that better,’ Alice said very politely, ‘if I had it written down: but I can’t quite follow it as you say it.’

162 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 64, Lysis. I do not quite follow you, he said. Ibid., V. 12, Laws, Introduction. He will ‘carry them over the stream’; he will answer for them when the argument is too difficult for them to follow.

163   12.  Mech. a. To go over the contour of (a piece of turned work with a tool). b. Of a piece of machinery: To receive its motion from, be a ‘follower’ to (another piece).

164 1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 213. They smoothen the work with the Edge of a piece of a Blade of a broken Knife, basil’d away, by following the Work with it: That is, holding the basil’d Edge of the Knife close against the Work while it comes about.

165 1851.  L. D. B. Gordon, in Art Jrnl. Illust. Mag., II. **/1. The act of giving motion to a piece is termed driving it, and that of receiving motion from a piece is termed following it.

166   13.  To follow suit: see SUIT sb.

167   II.  Intransitive uses.

168   14.  To go or come after a person or thing in motion; to move behind some object; also, to go as a person’s attendant or companion. Const., after, † on, † to. Also fig. Cf. 1.

169 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3272.        Egipcienes woren in twired wen queðer he sulden folȝen or flen.

170 c. 1340.  Cursor M., 11435 (Trin.).        Þei follewed on þe sterre beme Til þei coom to Ierusalem.     Ibid., 19373 (Trin.). As bifore hem wrouȝt he þe wey So aftir him faste folewed þey.

171 c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 6342.        And with me folwith my loteby, To done me solas and company.

172 c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 421.        He followit to him haistely, amang the holtis hair,   For to bring him to the king, at bidding full bane.

173 1513.  More, Rich. III. (1641), 219. The whole clergie assembled in Copes richly vested, and so with a reverent ceremonie went about the citie in procession, after whom folowed the King with his Crowne and Scepter.

174 c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonnet xli. 4.        Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits, When I am some-time absent from thy heart, Thy beautie, and thy yeares full well befits, For still temptation followes where thou art.

175 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 700.        He first, and close behind him follow’d she, For such was Proserpine’s severe Decree.

176 1848.  R. I. Wilberforce, Incarnat. Our Lord, xiv. (1852), 401. The Philosopher of Konigsberg [Kant], following in a measure in Plato’s steps, took the laws of man’s inner nature as an axiomatic foundation in his search after truth.

177 1874.  Green, Short Hist., ii. § 6. 89. Gilbert was one of the Norman strangers who followed in the wake of the Conqueror.

178   15.  To come (next) after something else in order or sequence. As follows: a prefatory formula used to introduce a statement, enumeration, or the like. Cf. 2.

179   The const. in as follows is impers., and the verb should always be used in the sing.; for the incorrect pl. see quots. 1776, 1797.

180 c. 1300.  Cursor M., 19135 (Edin.). Þe toþer dai þat folwid neste.

181 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 107. Þe secunde part of þis holy praier folweþ in þese wordes: And lede ous nouȝt into temptacion.

182 1426.  in Surtees Misc. (1890), 9. Was done afterwarde als her fast folowys.

183 1486.  Bk. St. Albans, D iij, Now foloys the naamys of all maner of hawkys.

184 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV. (an. 23), 247. He openly sayde as foloweth.

185 1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 229. Vegetius having commended the Persian Horses saith, that the Armenians and Sapharens do follow next.

186 1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 58, 7 May, ¶ 6. The Subject of it (as in the rest of the Poems which follow) bears some remote Affinity with the Figure, for it describes a God of Love, who is always painted with Wings.

187 1776.  G. Campbell, Rhetoric, I. II. iv. 495. Analogy as well as usage favour this mode of expression. ‘The conditions of the agreement were as follows’; and not as follow. A few late writers have inconsiderately adopted this last form through a mistake of the construction.

188 1797.  Godwin, Enquirer, II. xii. § 1. 374. The reasons that dissuade us from a compliance with this demand, are as follow.

189 1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), II. iv. Beat what follows, if you can.

190 1843.  Mill, Logic, I. iii. § 7. There are philosophers who have argued as follows.

191   b.  To happen or occur after something else; to come next as an event; to ensue.

192 c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 120. If þe crampe folowe it is deedly.

193 a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxii. 254. Thou lyest falsly, for it shall not folow after thy counsell, whether thou wylt or not.

194 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI. (an. 5), 103 b. The Castle was almoste vndermined, so that yeldyng must folowe, and resistaunce could not preuaile.

195 1611.  Bible, Exod. xxi. 22. If men striue, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischiefe follow, he shalbe surely punished, according as the womans husband will lay vpon him, and hee shall pay as the Iudges determine.

196 1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 204.        I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold And vent’rous, if that fail them, shrink and fear What yet they know must follow, to endure Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain, The sentence of thir Conquerour.

197 1688.  J. Smith, Baroscope, 65. If Fair Weather follows immediately upon the Mercury’s Rising, and the Rising be also but a little, then expect not much Fair Weather at that time;

198 1839.  Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., iii. (1847), 28. The martyrdom of this blessed apostle followed very shortly after the writing of this Epistle.

199   16.  To result (as an effect from a cause, an inference from premisses); to be, or occur as, a consequent. Const. from († of). Often impers. with a clause, it follows (that)…. Cf. 2 c.

200 a. 1300.  Cursor M. (Gött.). 2891.        Fleis þat sine ouer al þis erde, þe wreche þat foluis haue ȝe herd.

201 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 110. And though that Salomon seith, That ‘he ne fond never womman good,’ it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen ben wikke.

202 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. i. 132. And sithen al this is trewe, (as ech wijs man can it recorde to be trewe,) herof it muste nedis folewe that now adaies it is not perel to Cristen men neithir to the Iewis neither to hethen men forto haue and entermete with ymagis of God, as it was in the daies fer bifore going the incarnacioun of Crist.

203 1624.  W. Simons, in Capt. Smith’s Wks. (1819), I. 166. In a short time it followed, that could not be had for a pound of Copper, which before was sould vs for an ounce: thus ambition and sufferance cut the throat of our trade.

204 1678.  Dryden, Limberham, I. Wks. 1883, VI. 27. But what followed of this dumb interview?

205 1698.  Keill, Exam. Th. Earth (1734), 55. These are the effects which the Learned Kepler has shewed, would necessarily follow from the position of the Earths axis.

206 1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), II. iii. 44. Though we have received a command to pray for our enemies, it follows not thence we may not wage war with them.

207 1843.  Mill, Logic, II. i. § 1. We say of a fact or statement, that it is proved, when we believe its truth by reason of some other fact or statement from which it is said to follow.

208   17.  To go in chase or pursuit. Const. after, † on, † upon. Also fig. of things. Cf. 5.

209 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1751.        He toc and wente, and folwede on, And ðhoȝt in mod iacob to slon.

210 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 10459. Theire fos on hom folowet, fell hom full thicke.

211 c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., v.        The king blue a rechase, Folut fast on the trase With mony seriandys of mase.

212 1535.  Coverdale, Prov. xiii. 21. Myschefe foloweth vpon synners, but the rightuous shal haue a good rewarde.

213 1611.  Bible, Gen. xliv. 4. Ioseph said vnto his steward, Vp, follow after the men; and when thou doest ouertake them, say vnto them, Wherefore haue ye rewarded euill for good?

214 1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 115. They dare and will be readie to follow vpon vs, if we retire.

215   b.  To follow after: to strive to reach, gain, or compass. Cf. 6.

216 1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 188.        Þauȝ þei don hem to donmowe · but þe deuel helpe To folewen aftur þe Flucchen · fecche þei hit neuere.

217 1611.  Bible, Ps. cxix. 150. They draw nigh that follow after mischiefe: they are farre from thy Law.

218 1881.  Bible (R.V.), Heb. xii. 14. Follow after peace with all men.

219   † c.  ? To tend to. Obs.

220 c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 508. Thow fand me fechand nathing that followit to feid.

221   † 18.  Of a person: To proceed with, or continue doing, something begun. Cf. 6 b. Obs.

222 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12197 (Cott.). Ihesus þan folud on his speke.

223 1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 182. Having thus described the parts of a Common Lathe, I shall now follow with their other Tools also.

224   III.  In combination with adverbs.

225   Follow home. See HOME adv.

226   19.  Follow on. a. intr. To go on in the same direction as an object which is moving in front; to continue following.

227 c. 1250.  [see 17].

228 1884.  W. Cook, Billiards, 9. A following stroke is when you cause your ball to follow on after the ball it strikes.

229   † b.  To go on or continue perseveringly (to do something). Obs.

230 1611.  Bible, Hos. vi. 3. Then shal we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.

231   c.  trans. = follow up b.

232 1652.  Wadsworth, trans. Sandoval’s Civ. Wars Spain, 363. If, after the taking of Torrelobaton, hee had followed on his victorie, hee should never have been reduced to so deplorable a condition.

233   d.  intr. Of a side at Cricket: To go in again at once after completing the first innings, in consequence of having made a prescribed number of runs less than their opponents in the first innings.

234 1882.  Standard, 9 Aug., 3/6. They consequently had to ‘follow on.’

235 1891.  Leeds Mercury, 2 May, 6/4. Being left in a minority of 93 they had to follow on.

236   20.  Follow out. trans. To pursue to a conclusion; to bring to a completion or final issue.

237 1762.  Ld. Kames, Elem. Crit., I. i. 36. Avarice having got possession of his mind, he follows out that theme to the end, and never returns to the question proposed in the beginning.

238 1884.  Church, Bacon, i. 22. While he was following out the great ideas which were to be the basis of his philosophy, he was as busy and as painstaking in fashioning the instruments by which they were to be expressed.

239   21.  Follow up. trans. a. To go after or pursue closely; to keep steadily in the track or pursuit of.

240 1847.  Tennyson, The Princess, I. 203.        We follow’d up the river as we rode.     Ibid., iv. 446.     It becomes no man to nurse despair, But in the teeth of clench’d antagonisms To follow up the worthiest till he die.

241 1888.  Times, 16 Oct., 10/5. The Forest bylaws … make no provision for wounded deer being followed up.

242   b.  To prosecute with energy (an affair already in progress); to reinforce by further vigorous action or fresh support.

243 1794.  Paley, Evid., II. ix. (1817), 216. It comes next to be considered, how far these accounts are confirmed, or followed up by other evidence.

244 1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 354. The blow was speedily followed up.

245 1867.  Smiles, Huguenots Eng., ix. (1880), 143. Louis was not slow to follow up this intimation with measures of a more positive kind.

246 1878.  Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 98. The Romans followed up their success by an attack on Olbia, the capital of the island.

247   absol.  1854.  Dickens, Hard T., I. ii. He would go in and damage any subject whatever with his right, follow up with his left, stop, exchange, counter, bore his opponent (he always fought All England) to the ropes, and fall upon him neatly.

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