Away. World English Historical Dictionary

Away. 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. 1888, rev. 2024. Away adv. Forms: 1 onweʓ, 1–2 aweʓ, 2 aweiʓ, 2–5 awei, awey, awai, (3 awæi, Orm. aweȝȝ), 4 owai (ewai), o wey, on-wai, on way, (a-vey, avay), aweie, aweye, 4–5 oway, 4–6 awaye, 6 awaie, 4– away. Sc. 8–9 awa. [In its origin a phrase, ON prep., and weʓ, WAY, i.e., on (his, one’s) way, ‘on’ (as in ‘move on’), and thus ‘from this (or that) place.’ Already in OE. reduced to a-weʓ: cf. A prep.1: the 14th and 15th c. forms in o-, on-, were northern; in ME. and mod. dialects reduced to ’way (York Plays, do way = put away, Sc. co’way, c’way = come away), also in certain combinations, as way-going. So MHG. enwëc (for in wëc), mod.HG. dial. ewéck, mod.G. weg. In earlier Eng. used as a separable verbal prefix, standing before the vb., esp. in subordinate sentences, and compound tenses (as in G.), e.g., Sone se ich hit awei warp, soon as I threw it away: he wes awæi ifloȝen, he had flown away; still placed emphatically before the subject as ‘away he went,’ ‘away went hat and wig.’]

1   I.  Of motion in place, removal.

2   1.  On (his or one’s) way; onward, on, along. Hence used also with come, as still in north. Eng. and Sc., where ‘Come away’ = ‘come along, come on,’ without reference to place left.

3 Beowulf, 534. Ær he on weʓ hwurfe.

4 921.  O. E. Chron. (Earle 106). Þa forleton hie þa burʓ and foron aweʓ.

5 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 810. Abram … ferde a-wei to mambre dale.

6 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8067. Wit þe king he ferd on-wai.

7 c. 1500.  Rel. Ant., I. 45. The plowman cryed, Sirs, come awaye.

8 1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. iv. 55. Come away, come away death, And in sad cypresse let me be laide.

9   2.  From this (or that) place, to a distance.

10 Beowulf, 4199. He onweʓ losade.

11 918.  O. E. Chron. Hira feawa on weʓ comon.

12 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xix. 22. Þa eode he aweʓ unrót [Rushw. awæʓ, Hatton aweiʓ].

13 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 21. Bute he hine driue a-wei.

14 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11262. Þir angels wited þam ewai.

15 c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 169. And bare hym on his bakke a way [v.r. awey].

16 1436.  Pol. Poems (1859), II. 156. The duk fled oway.

17 1526.  Tindale, John xvi. 7. That I goo a waye.

18 1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., I. ii. 16. Get thee away.

19 1699.  Dryden, Char. Gd. Parson, 74. And hungry sent the wily fox away.

20 1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 136, ¶ 2. My Imagination runs away with me.

21 1854.  Thackeray, Newcomes, xxiv. I. 224. They sail away each on his course.

22 1884.  Pall Mall Gaz., 9 Aug., 9/1. The bride’s going away dress being a handsome costume.

23   b.  emphatically.

24 1583.  Babington, Commandm. (1590), 177. Making them ride and run, post & away.

25 1782.  Cowper, Gilpin, xxv. Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; Away went hat and wig.

26 1821.  Keats, Isabel, lx. Away they went.

27   3.  From actual adherence, contact or inclusion; off, aside; fig. as in to fall away, to desert.

28 c. 1160.  Hatton Gosp., Matt. xviii. 8. Awurp hine aweiʓ fram þe.

29 c. 1220.  Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 189. Waschen a-wai alle folkes fulþe.

30 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 393. He with his tayl awey the flye smyteth.

31 1481.  Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 41. Scrape and dygge a way a lytyl the mosse.

32 1577.  St. Aug. Manuell, 18. To lay away the burden of fleshly desires.

33 a. 1711.  Ken, Poet. Wks., I. 361. His mournful Tears he clear’d away.

34 1873.  Longf., Eliz., 29, in Aftermath, 51. She folded her work, and laid it away.

35   4.  From or out of one’s personal possession, with sense of parting with, deprivation, loss; e.g., with put, give, take, throw, etc.

36 c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 110. Þei tak a vey all þingis fro alle men.

37 1611.  Bible, Gen. xxvii. 36. Hee tooke away my birthright.

38 1653.  Walton, Angler, 56. It shall be given away to some poor body.

39 1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 549, ¶ 3. Life … is thrown away when it is not some way useful to others.

40 1833.  Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, I. vi. 93. This is not an air to take away one’s appetite.

41 1873.  Longf., Emma & Eginh., 179. This passing traveller, who hath stolen away The brightest jewel of my crown to-day.

42 Mod.  Who gave the bride away?

43   5.  From the actual state or condition; from existence; into extinction or termination (in most cases gradual); to death, to an end, to nothing.

44 c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3769. Parchaunce þai er ille within, And passes away in dedely syn.

45 c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 1149. They were molte awey with hete.

46 1526.  Tindale, Luke ix. 12. The daye beganne to weare awaye.

47 1611.  Bible, Job xiv. 10. Man dieth, and wasteth away. Ibid., xxxiii. 21. His flesh is consumed away.

48 1641.  French, Distill., ii. (1651), 60. Let that … be vapoured away to the thicknesse of honey.

49 1714.  Addison, Spect., No. 565, ¶ 1. They faded away.

50 1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xxxvii. Their zeal … died gradually away.

51 1864.  Longf., Falc. Federigo, 114. The petted boy grew ill, and day by day Pined with mysterious malady away.

52   6.  From its natural use with certain verbs in the preceding senses, away is extended to other transitive verbs, to express a specific application of the action to a. removal, parting with (cf. blow away, kiss away, boon away), b. doing away with, elimination (cf. boil away, refine away, analyse away, explain away); and finally also with similar force to c. intransitive verbs, which are thereby rendered transitive, as ‘to sigh away one’s life,’ ‘to idle away one’s time,’ ‘to sleep the day away.’ There are verbs which are scarcely or not at all used without it, as ‘to while the time away,’ ‘to fool one’s money away’ (to part with it like a fool).

53   a.  c. 1661.  Argyle’s Last Will, in Harl. Misc. (1746), VIII. 27/1. What was got by Oppression, will be booned away by the King’s Liberality.

54 1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 138, ¶ 3. Which can play away its Words.

55 1881.  Blackmore, Christowell, xxxviii. He … kissed away the tears.

56   b.  1738.  Johnson, London, 53. Explain their country’s dear-bought rights away.

57 1742.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 75. To split hairs and to distinguish away the Christian Duties.

58 1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), VI. vii. 140. To purify their religion, till they refined it away.

59 1812.  L. Hunt, in Examiner, 14 Dec., 785/2. To explain away some of the passages.

60 1865.  Mill, Utilit., 46. This … might be analysed away.

61   c.  1689.  Sherlock, Death, iii. § 7 (1731), 210. These Men have loitered away the Day.

62 1712.  Spect., No. 527, ¶ 2. We had whiled away three hours after this manner.

63 1767.  Wesley, Jrnl., 27 July (1827), III. 284. Having a severe cold, I was in hopes of riding it away. Ibid., 31 Oct., 14/3. They had falsely sworn away the lives of their fellows.

64 1812.  Byron, Ch. Har., II. l. Let … the loitering pilgrim … gaze … the morn … away.

65 1864.  Longf., Falc. Federigo, 90. The lovely lady whiled the hours away.

66   ¶ Being used with verbs generally, like the L. prefix ab-, Gr. ἀπο-, G. weg-, ab-, hin-, F. en- (cf. aufugĕre to flee away, ἀποτιθέναι to put away, wegnehmen, abnehmen, to take away, s’en aller to go away, enlever to take away), away enters into many idiomatic phrases, e.g., to do away (with), make away, give away (now give way), fall away, etc., which will be found under the verbs in question.

67   II.  Of action. [Immediately from sense 1.]

68   7.  Onward in time, on, continuously, constantly; with idea of continuance of action and progress; e.g., to work away = to go on working.

69 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 90. I with ale, and ale with me wag away.

70 1570.  Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 29. As you perceiue your scholer to goe better and better on awaie.

71 1737.  M. Green, Spleen (1796), 48.        Here Dryads, scorning Phœbus’ ray, While Pan melodious pipes away.

72 1804.  Naval Chron., XII. Sailors have a knack, ‘Haul away! yo ho, boys!’

73 1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xxxiii. ‘Scream away if you like it.’

74 c. 1826.  R. Macnish, Barber of Gött., in Mod. Pythag. (1838), II. 101. ‘Brush away, my old boy—nothing like it.’

75 1833.  Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, ix. 112. The young folks tripped it away on the grass.

76 1855.  Thackeray, Rose & Ring, v. (1866), 23. She capered away on her one shoe. Ibid., xiv. 89. He sat down and worked away, very, very hard.

77 1875.  Helps, Anim. & Mast., v. 132. And kept ‘pegging away,’ to use a presidential expression, with all my might.

78   8.  Straightway, forthwith, directly, without hesitation or delay; chiefly colloquial in imperative sentences, as Fire away! = proceed at once to fire, begin immediately, Say away = say on, and U.S. and Eng. dial. Right away = straightway, directly.

79 1535.  Coverdale, John xvi. 12. I haue yet moch to saye vnto you, but ye can not beare it awaye.

80 1676.  Shadwell, Virtuoso, II. Wks. 1720, I. 332. Come … pull away.

81 1842.  Dickens, Amer. Notes, ii. 14. ‘Dinner, if you please,’ said I to the waiter … ‘Right away?’ said the waiter … I saw now that ‘Right away’ and ‘Directly’ were one and the same thing.

82 1883.  Pall Mall Gaz., 27 Sept., 7/2. She told him ‘to report away,’ that she was not afraid.

83   III.  Of position. [From senses 2–5.]

84   9.  Of direction: (Turned) from this (or that) direction; in the other direction.

85 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 53. Hi beoð iturnid away from heom.

86 c. 1383.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 8. Þat turneþ a wey his eris.

87 c. 1440.  Apol. Loll., 68. Turniþ away ȝour facis fro al ȝour folthis.

88 1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 514, ¶ 3. I turned away from this despicable troop with disdain.

89 1879.  Lockyer, Elem. Astron., iii. xii. 72. The axis of rotation is inclined away from the Sun.

90   10.  Appended to where, there, here, with sense of: In the direction of, about; e.g., there away = in that quarter, there about. (Now only dial.)

91 1564.  Brief Exam., iij b. The Gentiles there away had their … common bankettes.

92 1641.  Hinde, J. Bruen, xlvii. 152. The Witch will not looke one in the face, but shee will looke here a way and there a way.

93 a. 1665.  W. Guthrie, Christian’s Gt. Int. (1743), 121 (Jam.). Confirming the same by many mighty Works in Scripture tending there away.

94 1815.  Scott, Guy M., i. The three miles … extended themselves into ‘four miles or there awa.’

95 Mod. Sc.  Where away did you lose it? He lives hereaway.

96   11.  Of the position attained by removal in place: In another place; at a distance; at (a stated) distance, off.

97 1712.  Spect., No. 502, ¶ 5. I shall not be able to stay away.

98 c. 1835.  C. H. Bateman, Hymn. There is a happy land Far, far away!

99 1850.  Sears, Athan., vi. 53. They can see the city away through the hot and stifling air.

100 1866.  G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., i. (1878), 14. Away in the distance … glittered a weathercock.

101 1881.  Blackmore, Christowell, xxxix. His home was some miles away.

102   12.  Of the state or condition resulting from removal: Gone (from a place); absent; wanting.

103 c. 1300.  Cursor M., 9702. What is wisdome be pees awaye?

104 c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2095. And turned agein … and told he was a-weie.

105 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Frankl. T., 336. The Rokkes been aweye.

106 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 53. Three maie kepe counsayle, if two be away.

107 1647.  Cowley, Mistr., Spring, ii. How could it be so fair and you away?

108 1816.  Scott, Antiq., xxvii. He was like a man awa frae himsell.

109 Mod.  I called at his office, but found him away.

110   13.  Of the condition resulting from deprivation, loss or extinction: Gone (from existence); vanished, destroyed, consumed; dead; fainted. (Now chiefly dial.)

111 c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 2504. Our bred, our wyn ys al away.

112 c. 1430.  Lydg., Bochas, IV. ii. (1554), 102. A blase of fire, now bright, and now away.

113 1535.  Coverdale, Jer. xxxi. 15. Rachel mournynge for hir children, and wolde not be comforted, because they were awaye.

114 1787.  Burns, Wks., III. 119. Your mortal Fae is now awa’,—Tam Samson’s dead!

115 1818.  Edin. Mag., Dec., 503/2 (Jam.). My dochter was lang awa’ [= in a swoon], but whan she cam again, she tauld us, etc.

116 Mod.  Here’s a health to them that’s awa’.

117   IV.  Elliptical uses, with a verb suppressed: simulating an imperative or (rarely) infinitive.

118   14.  = Go away.

119 c. 1250.  Meid. Margr., xxxvi. Awei ye euele consilers.

120 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XVIII. 367. Otherwayis mycht thai nocht avay.

121 1393.  Gower, Conf. Away the tyranny!

122 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 91. Whither awaie with my hens, foxe?

123 1594.  2nd Pt. Contention (1843), 177. I will awaie to Barnet presently.

124 1611.  Bible, Ex. xix. 24. Away, get thee downe.

125 1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 28. We must … away euery man to his lodging.

126 1762–9.  Falconer, Shipwr., II. 907. Away there! lower the mizen-yard on deck.

127 1872.  W. F. Butler, Gt. Lone Land, iii. 25 (1873). Meantime we must away.

128   15.  Go or get away with, take away.

129 1526.  Tindale, Matt. xix. 15. Awaye with him, awaye with him, crucify him. [Wyclif, Take awey, take awey.]

130 1549.  Latimer, Serm. bef. Edw. VI., vii. (Arb.), 193. Awaye with these auowryes.

131 1577.  Test. 12 Patriarchs, 122. My children, away with hatred out of your hearts.

132 1583.  Babington, Commandm. (1590), 81. Yea, wee would burst it in peeces, bid away with it, and not abide the sight of it.

133 1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., 191. In his honest indignation he would reply, ‘Away with it!’

134   16.  = Get on or along with, put up with; tolerate, endure, bear.

135 1477.  Sir J. Paston, in Lett., 802, II. 199. My charges be gretter than I maye a weye with.

136 1526.  Tindale, Matt. xix. 11. All men can not awaye with that saynge.

137 1530.  Palsgr., 419/1. I agre with meate or drinke. I can away with it.

138 1577.  Holinshed, Chron., II. 45. He … could well awaie with bodilie labour.

139 1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Justine, 85 b. They might enure themselues … to away with hardnesse and sparing.

140 1621.  Sanderson, Serm., Ad. Cl. ii. (1674), 24. He being the Father of lyes … cannot away with the Truth.

141 1642.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., 98. Some … can with greater patience away with death.

142 1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. 183. That saucy fleer I cannot away with.

143 1840.  Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 275. Idolatry … is a thing they cannot away-with.

144 1869.  M. Arnold, Cult. & An. (1882), 42. Jacobinism … cannot away with the inexhaustible indulgence proper to culture, the consideration of circumstances, [etc.].

145   † b.  with infinitive. Obs.

146 1580.  North, Plutarch (1676), 183. Notwithstanding the People … could well away to live like Subjects.

147 1598.  R. Bernard, Terence Andr., I. ii. Men that be in loue, can ill away to haue wiues appointed them by others.

148   17.  And away (= and going away again), denoting discontinuance, in once and away (now, once in a way) = once, but not continuously.

149 1583.  Golding, Calvin on Deut. i. 3. Not … for once and away, but wee haue our eares beaten with it euery day. Ibid., xvi. 96. It is not for a pang and away.

150 1655.  Gurnall, Chr. in Arm. (1669), 125/1. Short hints and away, may please a Scholar.

151   V.  Comb. Formerly in many separable compound verbs, as away-bear, away-draw, away-go, away-put, away-take, away-warp. Of these the ppl. adjs. and vbl. substantives were retained longest, and some, as away-going, are still in use.

152 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John iv. 50. Gelefde ðe monn, & aueʓeade.

153 1297.  R. Glouc., 398. Þys Cristynmen … gred preye Awey bere.

154 a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter lxxxviii. 14. Whar-to, Laverd, awai-puttes þou bede mine?

155 1588.  A. King, Canisius’ Catech., I j. Pairtly be ye away taking of thre dayes in 400 ȝeres.

156 1865.  Macm. Mag., July, 275. Away-stretching leagues of brick and mortar.

157 Mod.  The away-going crop.

158   ¶ Formerly sometimes used in error for WAY.

159 1600.  Hakluyt, Voyages (1810), III. 481. ‘We set sayle, but made but little away all the day.’

160 1755.  Smollett, Don Quixote (1803), II. 193. On these considerations Sancho arose, and went aside a good away to another tree.

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