Time sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Time sb. 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. 1916, rev. 2022. Time sb. Forms: 1–3 tíma, týma, 2–8 tyme, 4 tim, teme, teyme, 4–6 tym, 6 taym, 2– time. [OE. tíma = ON. tími, wk. masc., time, fit or proper time, (first, etc.) time, good time, prosperity (Da. time, Sw. timme an hour),:—OTeut. *tî-mon-, app. f. a root tî- to stretch, extend (see TIDE sb.) + abstr. suffix -mon, -man (see Kluge, Stammbildungslehre, § 154).]

1   I.  = A space or extent of time.

2   1.  A limited stretch or space of continued existence, as the interval between two successive events or acts, or the period through which an action, condition, or state continues; a finite portion of ‘time’ (in its infinite sense: see 24), as a long time, a short time, some time, for a time.

3   In no time, in less than no time (colloq.), immediately, very quickly or soon. Absolute time: see quot. 1842.

4 c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., IV. v. § 5. Ymbe ðone timan þe þiss wæs.

5 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 60. Hit wæs ʓewunelic on ðam timan.

6 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 437. He heold on … long time of þe dei.

7 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 4190. [Caesar] tok his leue … To wende fro þem for longe teymes.

8 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 63. And tolde whi þat tempest so longe tyme dured.

9 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 386. Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild Was wedded, she a doghter hath ybore.

10 c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 494/1. Tyme, idem quod tyyde (P. tyme, whyle, tempus).

11 1572.  Forrest, Theophilus, 263, in Anglia, VII. By so longe tyme as his busshoppe dyd lyue.

12 1610.  Shaks., Temp., III. ii. 93. After a little time Ile beate him too.

13 1662.  Gerbier, Princ., 28. No New Building could stand any time without Proppings.

14 1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. iv. § 5. The highest mountains in the World … may be ascended in three dayes time.

15 1670.  Sir S. Crow, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 15. [Hangings] that—for a time—will look better to the eye.

16 1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 37, ¶ 1. It was some time before the Lady came to me.

17 1762.  Kames, Elem. Crit. (1833), 479. A child perceives an interval, and that interval it learns to call time.

18 1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxv. Annette … was absent a considerable time.

19 1843.  Borrow, Bible in Spain, xxix. (1901), 417. Follow me … and I will lead you to Finisterre in no time.

20 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 291. The time occupied … was not to exceed fourteen days in one year.

21 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 195. In less than no time you shall bear.

22 1843.  Brande, Dict. Sci., etc., s.v., Absolute Time is time considered in itself without reference to that portion of duration to which it belongs, however noted or marked.

23 1868.  Dk. Argyll, in Mem. (1906), II. xlvi. 540. Have we any link connecting time-relative with time-absolute?

24   b.  † (a) The space of an hour (for OE. tíd, TIDE sb. 2). Obs. rare. (b) A space of time, generally understood to mean a year. (A literalism of biblical translation.)

25   (a)  c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 1403. Riht in to helle he eode, Fourti tymen [v.r. tymes] þer he wes [orig. Quarante ures i demora] Er þat he vp risen ches.

26   (b)  1382.  Wyclif, Dan. iv. 13 [16]. The herte of wijlde beest be ȝouen to it, and seuen tymes be chaungid vpon hym. Ibid., xii. 7. Ibid. (1382), Rev. xii. 14. She is fed bi tyme, and tymes, and the half of tyme [v.r. half a tyme].

27 1535.  Coverdale, ibid. She is noryszhed for a tyme, two tymes, and halffe a tyme. [So in later versions.]

28 1827.  G. S. Faber, Sacr. Calend. Prophecy (1844), I. 27. Or such numbers, the three times and a half, the 42 months and the 1260 days, are mutually equivalent.

29   2.  A particular period indicated or characterized in some way. † That time (obs.), at, for the time, for (the) time being († during), during the period under consideration.

30 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 340. Hit is awriten be ðam yfelum timan.

31 a. 1023.  Wulfstan, Hom., ii. (Napier) 19. Æfter þisum fæce ʓewurðan sceall swa eʓeslic tima, swa æfre ær næs. Ibid., xiii. 81. Wa ðam wifum, þe þonne tymað and on þam earmlican timan heora cild fedað.

32 1154.  O. E. Chron., an. 1137 (Laud MS.). On al þis yuele time heold Martin abbot his abbotrice.

33 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 72. Sithen þe pestilence tyme.

34 1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 53. As the Knyghtes shold kepe ye peple in tyme of peas.

35 1486.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 2. That the forsaid tenementes & Rent … shall hoolly remayn to the parisshens … for the tyme beyng for euer. Ibid., 15. The Mayre or Wardeyn of the Citee of london for the tyme beyng.

36 1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 75 b. He had the best right & title for the tyme duryng, to the shadoe of the Asse.

37 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 114. To pass his Times of Recreation In choice and noble Conversation.

38 a. 1774.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 645. Though the time for them be over, yet time itself is not exhausted.

39 a. 1864[?].  (attributed to Pres. Lincoln). You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

40 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 233. All times of mental progress are times of confusion.

41   3.  A period in the existence or history of the world; an age, an era. In later use more indefinite, esp. in pl.

42 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 190. Þry timan sind on þyssere worulde: Ante legem, Sub lege, Sub gratia…. Se tima is ‘ær æ’ ʓecweden, þe wæs fram Adam buton æ oð Moysen.

43 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 3. [Advent] bitocneð þre time. On þe was bi-fore þe olde laȝe, be oðer was on þe holde laȝe, and þe þridde was on þe newe laȝe.

44 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 192. Fram þe biginning of þe world to þe time þat now is Seuene ages þer habbeþ ibe as seue times iwis. Þe verste age & time was fram our ferste fader adam To noe.

45 1483.  Caxton, Chron. (colophon). Here ende the Croniclis of englonde with the frute of timis.

46 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 471. Tully calleth an history the witnes of tymes, and light of veritie.

47 1638.  Wilkins, New World, xiv. (1707), 125. Rondoletius, to whose Diligence these later Times are much beholden.

48 1686.  W. Hopkins, trans. Ratramnus, Dissert. iii. (1688), 59. The Southern Parts of France, where the Albigenses and Waldenses … have abounded in all Times ever since.

49 1734.  trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. 120. Lay aside the prejudice of birth, nations and times.

50 1861.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 39. With Northern Gerinany our connexion was, from the earliest times, most intimate.

51 1884.  W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 86. It is a folly, man, A superstition of these modern times.

52   b.  Time(s past, past time(s; old, olden, or ancient time(s, etc.

53 a. 1067.  in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 202. Swa he on ældum timum ʓelæʓd wæs.

54 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 796. He loves men þat in ald tyme has bene.

55 14[?].  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 564/26. Antiquitus, yn olde tyme.

56 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 6. It has beyne seyne in thir tymys bywent.

57 1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. ii. (1883), 88. In tyme passid the philosophres dyde the same.

58 1549.  Compl. Scot., xi. 88. Thai sal intend veir contrar ȝour maister … as there forbears did in alld tymis.

59 1605.  [see OLDEN a. 1].

60 1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 259. A towne in ancient time of great fame. Ibid. It was fortified in times past with a castle.

61 1611.  Cotgr. s.v. Argent, In good old times when men were loath to publish their owne goodnesse.

62 1784.  Cowper, Task, VI. 715. Encomium in old time was poet’s work.

63 1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 11. The memory of the great and the saintly of ancient time.

64   c.  Time(s to come, († time coming), times to be (arch.), future time; esp. future ages, the future.

65 c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., i. 4. Þay sall joye nowe … and in tym to come.

66 1376.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 53. Hopyng in tyme comyng to haue ben encresyd.

67 c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 107. Þe paynys þat er ordand … for syn in tyme to com.

68 1578.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 36. That na pensionis of victuall be gevin in tyme cuming furth of the said superplus.

69 1891.  Ld. Coleridge, in Law Times Rep., LXV. 581/1. It may become necessary to decide this point in time to come; it is not now.

70   d.  The time (the times): the age now or then present. Cf. the day, the hour, the moment.

71 [1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 791. Rated them … As bumbast and as lining to the time] Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., II. ix. 48. How much honor Pickt from the chaffe and ruine of the times, To be new varnisht.

72 1640[?].  New Serm. of Newest Fashion (1877), 45. Hee is the onelie man of the time, hee is the onelie able man.

73 a. 1704.  T. Brown, Two Oxf. Scholars, Wks. 1730, I. 3. Cannot I … sigh for the Iniquities of the Times?

74 1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., cvi. 18. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times.

75 1869.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xi. 55. An act which ran counter to the religious feelings of the time.

76   4.  With possessive or of: The period contemporary with the life, occupancy, or activity of some one; (his) age, era, or generation. Often pl. = DAY sb. 14.

77 992–3.  Laws Edgar, Suppl. B., Leges sæculares c. 2. On minum timan, swa … on mines fæder.

78 1154.  O. E. Chron., an. 1135 (Laud MS.). On þis kinges time wes al unfrið & yfel.

79 c. 1200.  Ormin, 14429. Fra þatt tatt Adam shapenn wass Anan till Nowess time.

80 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10. Non in his tim was like.

81 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 27. Phariseis … weren religiouse in Cristis tyme.

82 1484.  Caxton, Fables of Poge, v. Poge of Florence recyteth how in his tyme one named Hugh prynce of the medycyns sawe a catte whiche had two hedes.

83 1552.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordin., Pref. From the Apostles tyme there hathe bene these ordres of Ministers.

84 1625.  Bacon, Ess., Riches (Arb.), 235. A Nobleman … that had the greatest Audits, of any Man in my Time.

85 1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 497, ¶ 2. In the time of Don Sebastian of Portugal.

86 1814.  Wordsw., White Doe, I. 42. In great Eliza’s golden time.

87 1832.  Tennyson, Dream Fair Women, ii. The spacious times of great Elizabeth.

88 1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. i. In these times of ours.

89   5.  A period considered with reference to its prevailing conditions; the general state of affairs at a particular period. Chiefly pl.

90   Often in colloq. phrases, as as times go (= as things go in these times), behind the times (= behind the modes or methods of these times).

91 1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, II. viii. Men say comynly that after that the tyme goth, so must folke go.

92 1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. v. 188. The time is out of ioynt.

93 1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 298, ¶ 3. Persons, of tolerable Figure too as Times go.

94 1757.  Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, II. 96. We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves.

95 1837.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 2), III. xii. 178. When times grew cold and unbelieving.

96 1881.  Froude, Short Stud., IV. II. i. 163. How times had changed in the last forty years.

97 Mod.  We live in perilous times.

98   b.  pl. Used as the name of a newspaper.

99 1788.  (title) The Times.

100 1801.  G. Rose, Diaries (1860), I. 439. I found here the Times of Saturday.

101 1829.  (title) South Wales Times.

102 1854.  Hawthorne, Eng. Note-Bks. (1883), I. 477. Every Englishman runs to ‘The Times’ with his little grievance.

103 Mod.  There is an obituary notice in the Oxford Times.

104   6.  A period considered with reference to one’s personal experience; hence, an experience of a specified nature lasting some time; esp. in (to have) a (good, bad, etc.) time (of it); to make a time, i.e., a demonstration, fuss (U.S. colloq.).

105   To have a good time (= a time of enjoyment) was common in Eng. from c. 1520 to c. 1688; it was app. retained in America, whence readopted in Britain in 19th c. (See also GOOD a. 10 d.) So to have the time of one’s life, i.e., the best one has ever had.

106 a. 1529.  Skelton, Bk. 3 Foles, Wks. 1843, I. 200. For to haue good tyme and to lyue meryly.

107 1647.  Trapp, Comm. Ep., 59. They would have a fine time of it. Ibid., 199. Those poor … souls … have an ill time of it.

108 1666.  Pepys, Diary, 7 March. I went and had as good a time as heart could wish.

109 1673.  S’ too him Bayes, 26. It seems his servants had a good time on’t.

110 1709.  Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1736), I. 97. Berintha … thought she should have a melancholy Time of it.

111 1836.  Mrs. Stowe, in Life (1889), 81. I wish I were a man in your place—if I wouldn’t have a grand time!

112 1856.  Olmsted, Slave States, 82. I was having a very good time with her, when her father came in and told her she was ‘troubling the gentleman.’

113 1886.  P. S. Robinson, Valley Teet. Trees, iii. We’ll have a high old time together.

114 1902.  Eliz. L. Banks, Newspaper Girl, i. Think of that when you are tempted to have a good time instead of studying hard.

115   7.  Period of duration; prescribed or allotted term. a. Period of existence or action; period of one’s life, life-time.

116 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 4. His tima ne bið na langsum; forþan þe Godes grama hine fordeð.

117 c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 39. Behoueþ to charite on alle ðines liues time.

118 c. 1400.  Brut, cxxxv. 142. Þo seisede Kyng Henry al Normandye into his hand, & helde hit al his lifes tyme.

119 1535.  Coverdale, Ps. cii[i]. 15. That a man in his tyme is but as is grasse.

120 1549.  Compl. Scot., i. 21. Of this sort euere thyng hes ane tyme.

121 1577.  in Exch. Rolls Scotl. (1899), XX. 373. In the resyngnatioun, to hymself [and] his wyf, for their tym.

122 1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 142. One man in his time playes many parts.

123 1657.  Thornley, trans. Longus’ Daphnis & Chloe, 55. I am older then Saturn, and the whole time of this Universe.

124 1833.  Carlyle, Ess., Cagliostro, ii. The foul sluggard’s comfort: ‘It will last my time.’—It will last thy time, thy worthless sham of an existence.

125   b.  spec. (a) The period of gestation. (b) The menstrual period; transf. menstruation. (c) (One’s) term of apprenticeship. (d) The duration of a term of imprisonment; usually in phrase to do time (slang). (e) An unexpired period of compulsory service (U.S.). (f) The prescribed duration of the interval between two rounds in boxing, or of a round or game in athletics, football, etc., or the moment at which this begins or ends; also ellipt. as the signal to begin or end a bout, as in to call time. (g) The periodic time of a heavenly body: see PERIODIC a. 1.

126   (a)  c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 30. Hire tima was ʓefylled, ðæt heo cennan sceolde.

127 1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 127. A cowe and a quene haue both one time.

128 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, XI. i. (Rtldg.), 392. Beatrice’s time was up first: she was safely delivered of a daughter.

129   (b)  1564–78.  Bulleyn, Dial. agst. Pest. (1888), 41. Certaine people maie not bleede, as women whiche haue their times aboundauntlie.

130 1704.  Collect. Voy. (Churchill), III. 582/1. Women, who shall not be subject to the monthly times.

131 1889.  [see MONTHLY a. 1 b].

132   (c)  c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 227. To be both of one trade, because when they are out of their time they may join stocks together.

133 1718.  Free-thinker, No. 21, ¶ 1. The … Indiscretion of Apprentices Marrying Servant-Wenches, before their Time is expired.

134 1808.  Byron, Eng. Bards, 63. A man must serve his time to every trade, Save censure—critics all are ready made.

135   (d)  1865.  [see DO v. 11 i].

136 1888.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xli. People can’t be expected to associate with men that have ‘done time.’

137 1904.  Griffiths, 50 Years Publ. Service, xiii. 185. He did his ‘time’ without protest.

138   (e)  1769.  Boston Gaz. (U.S.), 20 Nov. (Thornton, Amer. Gloss.). To be sold for five Years, The Time of a hearty young Man, who is a good Sailor.

139 1843.  Missouri Reporter (U.S.) 28 Jan. (ibid.). I have for sale a very likely yellow woman, about 24 years of age…. She has between five and six years to serve. The balance of her time will be sold very low.

140   (f)  1812.  Sporting Mag., XXXIX. 102. George was the first to call ‘time.’

141 1821.  Egan, Boxiana (1829), III. 571. When time was called, the men were to be immediately brought up to the scratch.

142 1832.  Marryat, N. Forster, xlvii. It’s a finisher—can’t come to time.

143 1840.  Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xxii. In prize-fighting phraseology, [he] always came up to time with a cheerful countenance.

144 1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, i. Three whiffs of which would knock any one else out of time [see KNOCK v. 12 d].

145   8.  The length of time sufficient, necessary, or desired for some purpose; also, time available for employment; leisure or spare time.

146 c. 1220.  Bestiary, 256. Ðus ȝe tileð ðar wiles ȝe time haueð.

147 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VIII. 502. No teyme we haiff off segyng now to bid.

148 1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xv. 16 b. There was yet time inough to pleasure them.

149 1689.  Tryal Bps., 34. These Gentlemen have had time enough to have prepared Precedents.

150 1723.  Pres. St. Russia, II. 325. In case the Russian Troops should get time of rallying.

151 1743.  Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 88. He must have Time to consider of it.

152 1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, II. 23. Pray take your own time. I am not in any haste.

153 1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., III. ii. Being pressed greatly for time, in order to get back to London.

154 1865.  Ruskin, Sesame, ii. § 62. I could multiply witness upon witness … if I had time.

155   b.  The (shortest) period in which a given course of action is completed.

156 1894.  Times, 19 Nov., 7/3. Various new tandem times were made by the winners.

157 1899.  F. V. Kirby, Sport E. C. Africa, v. 61. One of them [the boys] came in sight, making excellent time towards the nearest tree, with the wounded cow in close pursuit.

158 1908.  Daily Chron., 15 Jan., 7/5. The times … did not compare with those established by the amateurs the day before. Still some wonderful times were put up.

159   9.  spec. The amount of time worked under a specific contract; hence, in workmen’s speech, pay equivalent to the period worked; also an account or certificate showing the days, hours, etc., worked, and wages due: usually called back time.

160 1795.  Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 116. This time as Mid is absolutely necessary as a part of the long six years. You had better get out his Time from the Navy Office.

161 1888.  Times, 29 Sept., 6/6. The men asked to be paid [for overtime] at the rate of time and a half, but the Masters refused a greater rate than time and a quarter.

162 1908.  Somerset Mag., April, 564. Tim added ‘And I’d like my time.’ Time, in the cattle idiom, meant back pay up to date.

163 Mod.  If you can’t move a bit quicker, I’ll send you to get your back time.

164   10.  Anc. Prosody. A unit or group of units in metrical measurement. Also transf. in Mus.

165   A single, primary, or least time is the duration of utterance of a short syllable; = MORA1 3; a double or compound time is composed of two or more single times.

166 [c. 1050.  Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 314. Ðæt riht meter vers sceal habban feower and twentiʓ timan. Ibid. Dactilus stent on anum langum timan and twam sceortum and spondeus stent of feowrum langum.]

167 1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. xii. (Arb.), 132. A new inuention of feete and times.

168 1686.  New Method to Learn to Sing, 50. In this Example, you have two Staves of Lines; in the upper are Semibreves, each of which is a Time, and fills up a Bar.

169 1727–41.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Some call each half of the measure in common time, a time.

170 1749.  J. Mason, Numbers in Poet. Comp., 8. The Measure of a single Time is the Space in which we commonly pronounce any of the Liquids or Consonants, preceded by a Vowel, e.g. an, of, it, in.

171 1832.  Encycl. Amer., XI. 591. The short syllable … is considered as the original unit for the measure of time in the rhythm, and is called a time, or mora.

172   11.  Mil. The rate of marching, calculated on the number of paces taken per minute. Double time, slow time: see the adjs.; see also QUICK TIME.

173 1802–76.  [see QUICK TIME].

174 1853.  Stocqueler, Milit. Encycl., s.v. Pace, In quick time, 108 paces, or 270 feet, are taken in a minute; and in slow time, seventy-five paces, or 187 feet. In double time, 150 paces of thirty-six inches, making 450 [feet] in a minute.

175 1859.  Field Exerc. Infantry, 21. The time having been given on a drum, on the word March, the squad will move off.

176   12.  Music. a. † The duration of the breve in relation to the semibreve; cf. MOOD sb.2 3 a, PROLATION 2 (obs.); hence, the rhythm or measure of a piece of music, now marked by division of the music into bars, and usually denoted by a fraction expressing the number of aliquot parts of a semibreve in each bar (time-signature). To beat time: see BEAT v.1 32. In time, out of time, in or out of correct rhythm. † Perfect, imperfect time: see PERFECT a. 10, IMPERFECT a. 7.

177 1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. xxi. The associatinge of man and woman in daunsing, they bothe obseruinge one nombre and tyme in their meuynges.

178 1609.  C. Butler, Fem. Mon., V. (1623), K iij. Now and then she beginneth in duple time some two or three Semibriefes.

179 1706.  A. Bedford, Temple Mus., iii. 62. ’Tis … in the same Time and Tune.

180 1710.  Addison, Tatler, No. 153, ¶ 14. To play out of Time.

181 1854.  Helmore, Pract. Lect. Church Music, 6. It is sometimes said … that in Plain Song ‘there is no time.’

182 1884.  Rockstro, in Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 117/2. In modern Music, the word Time is applied to rhythmic combinations of all kinds, mostly indicated by fractions, (3/8 etc.) referring to the aliquot parts of a Semibreve—the norm by which the duration of all other notes is and always has been regulated.

183 1893.  Stevenson, Catriona, i. 4. A … brisk tramp of feet in time and clash of steel.

184   b.  The rate at which a piece is performed; the tempo; hence, the characteristic tempo, rhythm, form, and style of a particular class of compositions (usually in combination, as dance-time, march-time, waltz-time).

185 [1446.  Lydg., Two Nightingale Poems, i. 80. But, doun descendyng, she said in hasti tyme: ‘My lyfe be kynde endure shall not longe.’

186 1602.  Middleton, Blurt, III. i. E j. To keep quick time unto the owl.]

187 1887.  Baring-Gould, Gaverocks, xiii. Little feet beat the dance time on the … floor.

188 1903.  Critic, XLIII. 361/1. Rag-time music, which interprets that divine art only for vulgar heels and toes.

189 Mod.  A movement in slow time.

190   c.  The time-value or duration of a note. (Not in technical use.)

191 1727–41.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Where the time or duration of the notes is equal, the differences of tune alone are capable to entertain us.

192 1776.  Burney, Hist. Mus. (1789), I. vi. 63. The most common application of this term [Rhythm] has been to express the Time or duration of many sounds heard in succession.

193   II.  = Time when: a point of time; a space of time treated without reference to its duration.

194   The ‘point’ may be an instant (as the time when a star crosses the meridian), or it may have some duration (as the time for sowing), but the question of its length is not considered, only the question when it occurs (i.e., where it is situated in the period), and its distinctive qualification.

195   13.  A point in the course of time or of a period: = TIDE sb. 3; spec. in early ME., the hour of the day; = OE. tíd: see TIDE sb. 4. In mod.Eng. What is the time? i.e., the hour and minute as shown by the clock. What time, at what time, = when, (at) the time that: see WHAT.

196 c. 1200.  Ormin, 12745. Þatt time … Wass rihht swa summ itt off þatt daȝȝ Þe tende time wære.

197 a. 1225.  St. Marher., 8. As þah hit were þe seoueðe time of þe dei.

198 c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 3. To knowe … euery tyme of the nyht by the sterres fixe.

199 1764.  Gray, Candidate, 10. At our time of life ’twould be silly, my dear.

200 1823.  J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 162. By the light you shall catch a few words in the book, or the time on the watch.

201 1834.  Nat. Philos., III. Astron., i. 35/1 (Usef. Knowl. Soc.). The difference between the actual time of the sun’s being on the meridian and the beginning of the mean solar day.

202 1908.  R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, viii. Find out what time the marchesa intends to breakfast.

203   b.  A point or fixed part of the year, a season, as in time of year; in comb. in spring-time, summer-time, autumn-time, winter-time; also term-time, vacation-time, holiday-time, etc.; also, of a day, as time of day, time of night, day-time, night-time, morning-time, evening-time; also dinner-time, bed-time, etc.; also, a point in the moon’s age.

204 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Num. xiii. 21. Hit was ða se tima ðæt winberian ripodon.

205 c. 1050.  Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 312. Feower timan beoþ…. Uer ys lengten tima,… se oðer tima hatte æstas … Se þridda tima ys autumnus on lyden ʓecweden.

206 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 119. Vre drihtnes halie passiun … is nu icumen in,… þe ure drihten þolede for us on þisse timan.

207 1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. iii. (Bodl. MS.). Þe ȝere of þe sonne … conteyneþ foure tymes, winter, springingtyme, somer, and harueste.

208 c. 1400.  trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 74. Heruest bygynnes … and lastys lxxxviij dayes…. In þis tyme ys also þe day and þe nyght euyne.

209 a. 1529.  Skelton, On Tyme, 23. The rotys tak theyr sap in tyme of vere.

210 1566.  Blundevil, Horsemanship, IV. xxxii. (1580), 16. The horse that hath this disease, is blind at certaine times of the Moone.

211 1825.  T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., ix. III. 153. Fleeting showers of rain, unseasonable at the time of year.

212   † c.  A season or part of the year considered with reference to the weather experienced; weather (of some kind). Obs. rare. (Cf. F. temps in similar sense.)

213 c. 1400.  trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 93. Þe right of hym þat reygnyth ys more profitable to subgitz þan plente of good tyme. Ibid. (1422), Priv. Priv., 220. The colerike by kynde … sholde haue a stomake good y-nowe, namely in colde tyme.

214   14.  A point in duration marking or marked by some event or condition; a point of time at which something happens, an occasion. † On a time, on one occasion, once. At no time, on no occasion.

215 c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., IV. v. § 5. Ymbe ðone timan þe þiss wæs.

216 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 78. Herodes … ʓeornlice hi befran to hwilces timan se steorra him ærst æteowode.

217 a. 1050.  O. E. Chron., an. 1009 (Laud MS.). On þisum ilcan timan oððe litle ær þet [etc.].

218 c. 1205.  Lay., 2582. Seoððen him a time com mid teonen he wes i-funden. Ibid. (c. 1275). Suþþe him com a time þat he to wode wende.

219 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 2. Constantin & Maxence weren, on ane time … hehest in Rome.

220 13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2243. At þis tyme twelmonyth þou toke þat þe falled.

221 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Frankl. T., 830. Aurelius … Curseth the tyme þat euere he was born.

222 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, II. i. 75. Soo it befelle on a tyme whanne kyng Arthur was at London.

223 1538.  Starkey, Lett., in England, p. lxxiii. Long and much at sundry tymis.

224 1590.  Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 36. From that time forward he would hold the Bowe to be the onelie weapon of the world.

225 1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xii. By this time the unfortunate Moses was undeceived.

226 1837.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 3), I. vii. 99. Surely man is at all times the same being.

227 1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 27. This … trick escaped detection at the time.

228 1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, xxv. It will be nearly two by the time you get down.

229   15.  The appointed, due, or proper time.

230 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., lxiii. 459. Nu us is tima ðæt we onwæcnen of slæpe.

231 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Colloq., in Wr.-Wülcker, 102/1. Hwænne wylle ʓe syngan?… Þonne hyt tima byþ [Quando tempus erit].

232 1154.  O. E. Chron., an. 1011. Mann nolde him to timan [MS. C. atiman] gafol bedan.

233 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 103. Þeo ðeo þet mon et er timan and drinceð.

234 13[?].  Cursor M., 11814 (Cott.). Nu neghes tim to tak his lai.

235 c. 1400.  26 Pol. Poems, xxv. 539. Tyme ys that men now for me pray, For Parce michi, domine!

236 c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1274. Sires, it is tyme þat we hennes hye.

237 c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, xxiii. 74. It was gyme to go to bed.

238 a. 1586.  Sidney, Ps. XII. i. Lord, helpe, it is hyghe tyme for me to call.

239 1741–2.  Gray, Agrippina, 158. ’Tis time to go, the sun is high advanc’d.

240 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, VIII. i. My business consisted in … dunning the farmers, and keeping them to time in their payments.

241 1872.  Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 349/1. See that you are up to time.

242   b.  Qualified by poss. pron., as his, her, its; often ellipt. for time of death, of childbirth, etc.; before (his, etc.) time, prematurely.

243 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 18. Min tima is ʓe-hende. Ibid., John v. 4. Drihtenes engel com to his timan [Hatton to hys tyme] on þone mere & þæt wæter wæs astyred.

244 1388.  Wyclif, Prov. xxv. 11. A goldun pomel in beddis of siluer is he, that spekith a word in his [= its] time.

245 c. 1440.  Alphab. Tales, 11. Sho wex grete & drew nere hur tyme.

246 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 451 b. Ye Quene … was with childe, and nere her time.

247 1689.  Hickeringill, Ceremony-monger, 126. A young Lady … Excommunicated for breaking her Leg or coming before her time.

248 1700.  Dryden, Sigism. & Guiscard., 26. In the prime Of youth, her lord expired before his time.

249 1799.  Wordsw., Lucy Gray, viii. The storm came on before its time.

250 1853.  C. Brontë, Villette, 180. ‘Ten minutes behind his time,’ said she.

251 1890.  Field, 31 May, 799/3. The Banksia roses … are bent on coming out before their time.

252   16.  A or the favorable, convenient or fitting point of time for doing something; the right moment or occasion; opportunity. (Often with his, her, etc.)

253 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxiii. 220. Se wisa hilt his spræce & bitt timan.

254 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7633. Huld hem euere in Scotlond, & poer to hem nome, To worri vpe king willam, wanne god time come.

255 1382.  Wyclif, Eccles. iii. 4. Time of weping, and time of laȝhing [1388 Tyme to wepe, and tyme to leiȝe].

256 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 14. Whan she saugh hir tyme, she seyde hym in this wise: ‘Allas! my lord.’

257 a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxvii. 230. When he sawe his tyme, he cryed his worde & token.

258 1590.  Nashe, Pasquil’s Apol., I. Wks. (Grosart), I. 233. There is a time for speech, and a time for silence.

259 c. 1610.  Bodley, in Reliq. (1703), 108. A Clock and a Bell will be needful for the Library…: but every thing must have his time.

260 1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 36, ¶ 4. When Stocks are lowest, it is the Time to buy.

261 a. 1722.  Fountainhall, Decis. (1759), I. 9. They must wait their tour, since the devil bides his time.

262 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 512. An adversary of no common prowess was watching his time.

263 Mod.  Now’s your time!

264   17.  Any one of the occasions on which something is done or happens; each occasion of a recurring action. Often qualified by a numeral. (= OE. síð: see SITHE sb.1 4–5.)

265   For † one time, † two times have been substituted once, twice. At a time, at one time, at once, simultaneously.

266 c. 1300.  St. Julian, 108 (Ashm. MS.). Let me go at þis one tyme. I ne schal neuereft derie þe.

267 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 350. How þat men shulde snybbe þer breþeren bi þre tymes.

268 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8272. The next tym þou noyes me, þou neghis to þe fer.

269 1454.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 241/1. At too tymes hath be made requestes to the seid Lieutenaunt.

270 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 300 b. How he wolde deny the thre tymes that nyght.

271 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 441 b. The third way … hath bene diuers times assaied.

272 1611.  Bible, John xxi. 16. He saith to him againe the second time, Simon Sonne of Ionas, louest thou me?

273 1660.  R. Ellsworth, in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, II. (1911), 122. Heere they … haue their Meeteings at all Seasons … sometymes about 1000 or 1200 att a tyme.

274 1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 422, ¶ 1. An utter Aversion to speaking to more than one Man at a time.

275 1829.  Landor, Imag. Conv., Villèle & Corbière, I. 123. He did it fifty times, at the very least.

276 1876.  Trevelyan, Macaulay, II. ix. 125. The publishers … are still pouring forth reprints by many thousands at a time.

277   b.  Agric. (See quots.) dial.

278 1813.  R. Kerr, Agric. Surv. Berw., 198. The completest harrowing is called a double double time; in which the harrow goes four times successively over the same range.

279 1857.  N. & Q., 2nd Ser. IV. 80/1. ‘A time’ … in some parts of Scotland is the act of once furrowing between two ploughings.

280 1894.  Northumbld. Gloss., Time, the journey once across a field in agriculture. Time-aboot, a double journey in field work, extending from heedrig to heedrig and back again.

281   18.  Many a time, † many time, many times, elliptically times, also times and often, times without number, many a time and oft (often): on many occasions, in many instances; often, frequently.

282 c. 1250.  Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 30. Ure lord god almichti … habbeþ mani-time maked of watere wyn gostliche.

283 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 336. That may mony tyme awaill.

284 c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 6974. I am gladly executour And many tymes a procuratour.

285 1535.  Coverdale, Ps. lxxvii. 38. Many a tyme turned he his wrath awaye.

286 1560.  Ingelend, Disob. Child, D ij b. Many a tyme and oft, I am fayne To playe the Priest, Clarke, and all.

287 1590.  Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, Ded. 6. Which I haue heard manie, and manie times publikelie reported by manie valiant Gentlemen.

288 1622.  R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (Hakl. Soc.), 115. Which … many time is cause of dissention.

289 1701.  De Foe, True-born Eng., II. 312. Englishmen have done it many a time.

290 1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 51. Many a time and oft … you carried me in your arms.

291 1808.  Eleanor Sleath, Bristol Heiress, III. 94. The fine handsome young officer, who has been here times and often.

292 18[?].  G. Meredith, Juggling Jerry, ii. We’ve travelled times to this old common.

293 1892.  Law Times, XCII. 147/1. Times without number the courts in bankruptcy have been called upon to decide the question.

294 1899.  Trine, In Tune with Infinite (1903), 186. Those who take great pride in speaking of their own practicality are many times the least practical.

295   19.  Preceded by a cardinal numeral and followed by a number or expression of quantity: used to express the multiplication of the number, etc.

296 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 309. As foure tymes sixe maken þis noumbre.

297 c. 1425.  Crafte Nombrynge, 2. Ten tymes twene is twenty. Ibid., 4. If it stonde in the secunde place of þe rewle, he betokens ten tymes hym selfe, as þis figure 2 here.

298 c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 45. Thre tymes ten is thretty.

299 1726.  Swift, Gulliver, II. iii. An animal of ten times my strength.

300 1798.  Coleridge, Anc. Mar., III. xvi. Four times fifty living men.

301 1868.  G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 48. His territories in Asia … are more than twenty-one times the size of Scotland.

302   b.  Also followed by an adj. or adv. in the comparative degree, or in the positive by as (formerly so) with an adj. or adv., expressing comparison.

303 1551.  Crowley, Pleas. & Pain, 229. This might you reade, and ten tymes more In the Bible.

304 c. 1567.  Stow, in Surv. (1908), I. p. li. Fabyan … was a very nowghty cronycle, and Copin … was x. tymes worse.

305 1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 45. They shall pay tenne times so much as it is worth.

306 1644.  Nye, Gunnery, I. 5. Which composition I will call 6 ·· 1 ·· 1, meaning six times so much Peter [nitre], as one time Sulpher, and one time Cole.

307 1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 415, ¶ 8. A Gothick Cathedral tho’ it be five times larger than the other.

308 1876.  Gladstone, Glean. (1879), II. 289. Men who had ten or twenty times less to remember.

309 Mod.  We have five times as many as we can use.

310   † 20.  Gram. = TENSE sb. 2. Obs.

311 1530.  Palsgr., Introd., 32. In these syxe modes be dyvers tymes. Ibid., 84. Tenses or tymes they have in every of these modes.

312 c. 1620.  A. Hume, Brit. Tongue (1865), 31. Tyme is an affection of the verb noating the differences of tyme, and is either present, past, or to cum.

313   21.  Fencing. See quots., and cf. time-attack, time-thrust in 52.

314 1727–41.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Time in fencing.—There are three kinds of time; that of the sword, that of the foot, and that of the whole body. All the times that are perceived out of their measure, are only to be considered as appeals, or feints, to deceive and amuse the enemy. Ibid. (1753), Supp., s.v. Binding, Binding is a method of pursuit more safe and certain … than taking of time.

315 1809.  Roland, Fencing, vii. § 1. To take the time, is making your thrust by a judicious discernment on the motion of your adversary.

316   22.  Manège. (= F. temps.) Applied to each completed motion or action.

317 1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., Time, in the manege, is sometimes taken for the motion of a horse, that observes measure and justness in performing a manege. In the manege of a step and a leap, the horse makes by turns a corvet between two caprioles; and in that case the corvet is one Time that prepares the horse for the caprioles. Ibid. A good horseman disposes his horse for the effects of the heel, by beginning with one Time of the legs, and never runs precipitately upon his Times.

318   23.  pl. Originally (in sense 15), The fixed hours of the day at which an omnibus started from its various stations; hence, the established business enterprise of running an omnibus on a given route at such times, and the ‘good-will’ thus created by the owners of public service vehicles over particular routes, as a recognized vendible asset.

319 1863.  E. Yates, Business of Pleasure (1865), I. 40. They [the London General Omnibus Company] possessed themselves of the ‘times’ of all the important routes in London and the suburbs. These ‘times’ are, in fact, the good will of the roads, and were considered so valuable, that in some cases as much as from £200 to £250 were given for the ‘times’ of one omnibus.

320 1906.  Westm. Gaz., 15 May, 2/3. Emphasis [is] laid in one of the various motor-’bus prospectuses, just now … upon the value of the ‘times’ owned by each member of the associated companies. Ibid. The ‘times,’ which are a special privilege, religiously guarded by the omnibus fraternity,… were also made over as a part of the bargain.

321   III.  In generalized sense.

322   24.  Indefinite continuous duration regarded as that in which the sequence of events takes place.

323   a.  Attempts to define or explain.

324 1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. ii. (Bodl. MS.). Tyme is mesure of chaungeable þinges, as Aristotel seith.

325 1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxix. § 2. Now as Nature bringeth forth Time with Motion, so wee by Motion haue learned how to diuide Time, and by the smaller parts of Time, both to measure the greater, and to know how long all things else indure. Ibid. Some haue defined time to be the measure of the motion of heauen.

326 1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. xiv. § 17. This Consideration of Duration, as set out by certain Periods, and marked by certain Measures or Epochs, is that, I think, which most properly we call Time.

327 1854.  Calderwood, Philos. Infinite, v. 88. Add event to event, still Time is recognised as stretching forth, and still there is room for more.

328 1862.  Spencer, First Princ., II. iii. § 47 (1875), 163. The abstract of all sequence is Time.

329   b.  Examples of this use of the word.

330 1480.  Robt. Devyll, 121, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 224. The tyme drewe so, that nyne monethes was past.

331 1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 38. There is no displeasure so greate, no hatred so impotent, no sorow so immoderate, but tyme aswageth it.

332 1638.  Junius, Paint. Ancients, 29. In processe of time.

333 1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxx. 176. Time, and Industry, produce every day new Knowledge.

334 1743.  Blair, Grave, 479. Think we, or think we not, Time hurries on With a resistless, unremitting Stream.

335 1748.  B. Franklin, Adv. Yng. Tradesman, Wks. 1799, II. 34. Remember that time is money.

336 1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxx. The few gray locks which time had spared on his temples.

337 1821.  Byron, Cain, III. i. The mind then hath capacity of time, And measures it by that which it beholds, Pleasing or painful.

338 1908.  Programme of Modernism, 169. We have cast the seed in the furrow, Time will do the rest.

339   25.  Personified as an aged man, bald, but having a forelock, and carrying a scythe and an hour-glass. Also called Father Time. To take Time by the forelock († by the top), to seize one’s opportunity, to act promptly: see also FORELOCK sb.2 2.

340 1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XLIV. (1555), C iv. Sodainly came Time in breuiacion Whose similitude, I shall anone expresse Aged he was, with a bearde doubtles Of swalowes feaders.

341 1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 71. The plaine bald pate of Father time himselfe. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., III. ii. 145. Time hath, my Lord, a wallet at his backe, Wherein he puts almes for obliuion.

342 1594.  [see FORELOCK sb.2 2].

343 [1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 63, ¶ 4. Equipped (like the figure of Time) with an Hour-glass in one Hand, and a Scythe in the other.]

344 1767.  T. S., in Public Advertiser, 11 Feb., 2/1.        In Days of yore, when Father Time was young, And every Lyre in Praise of Beauty strung, The Gods of Verse and Love together join’d To rule the happy Race of Humankind.

345 1820.  W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 24. Time is ever silently turning over his pages.

346 18[?].  Marsden, What is Time? 32. I ask’d old Father Time himself at last; But in a moment he flew swiftly past!

347   26.  In restricted sense, Duration conceived as beginning and ending with the present life or material universe; finite duration as distinct from eternity.

348 1388.  Wyclif, Rev. x. 6. And the aungel … lifte vp his hond … and swoor bi hym that lyueth in to worldis of worldis … that time schal no more be [1526 Tindale, that there shulde be no lenger tyme; 1557 Geneva, that tyme should be no more; 1611, that there should be time no longer].

349 1573.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 65. For time is it selfe but a time for a time, Forgotten ful soone, as the tune of a chime.

350 1635.  Swan, Spec. M., i. § 3 (1643), 15. All time compared with eternitie is but short time, yea indeed as no time.

351 1650.  Crashaw, Death Herrys, 36. Weak time shall be pour’d out Into eternity.

352 1745.  Scotch Transl. & Paraphr., XXXV. ix. He lov’d us from the first of Time, And loves us to the last.

353 a. 1758.  Ramsay, Some of Contents of Evergreen, xi. A monument … Quhilk sall endure quhyle tymis telled out be days.

354 1803.  Heber, Palestine. His voice amid the thunder’s roar, His dreadful voice, that time should be no more.

355 1827.  Pollok, Course T., X. Time gone, the righteous saved, the wicked damned, And God’s eternal government approved.

356 1836.  H. Rogers, J. Howe, i. (1863), 8. Time, with him, derived all its importance from a reference to eternity.

357 Mod.  Entirely occupied with things of time and sense.

358   27.  A system of measuring or reckoning the passage of time.

359 1706.  Phillips (ed. Kersey), s.v., Relative, Apparent, or Vulgar Time, is the sensible and outward Measure of any Duration or Continuance estimated by Motion; and this is commonly us’d instead of true Time.

360 1727–41.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Astronomical time, is that taken purely from the motion of the heavenly bodies, without any other regard. Civil time, is the former time accommodated to civil uses.

361 1764.  Maskelyne, in Phil. Trans., LIV. 344. There are three different kinds of time used by astronomers, sidereal time, apparent solar time, and mean solar time.

362 1834.  Nat. Philos., III. Math. Geog., v. 16/1 (Useful Knowl. Soc.). A common sun-dial shows the hour of apparent time. Time-keepers or chronometers, common watches and clocks, are made to show the hour of mean time.

363 1861, 1893.  [see GREENWICH].

364   b.  Phrenol. (See quot.)

365 1860.  Mayne, Expos. Lex., Time,… Phrenol., a Faculty … giving the power of judging of time, and of intervals in general.

366   IV.  Phrases. (See also sense 18.)
        * With another sb.

367   28.  Time of day. a. The hour or exact time as shown by the clock; hence, a point or stage in any course or period (somewhat colloq.).

368 1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. ii. 1. Now Hal, what time of day is it Lad?

369 1634.  Ford, P. Warbeck, III. i. How runs the time of day? Past ten, my lord.

370 1699.  Collier, Answ. Stages Survey’d (1730), 382. The Favour of a Prince was not … unreputable at that Time of Day.

371 1771.  Smollett, Humph. Cl., 17 April. I will not begin at this time of day to distress my tenants, because they … cannot make regular payments.

372 1862.  Gen. P. Thompson, in Bradford Advertiser, 15 March, 6/1. No man at this time of day pretends to maintain, that [etc.].

373 1870.  Jas. Nicholson, Idylls, 25. A watch…. At least ’twad ha’e tald him the time o’ the day.

374   b.  In salutations, as † Good, fair time of day (obs.); also, to give one, or pass, the time of day (now dial. and colloq.), to greet, salute, exchange salutations.

375 1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 18. Good time of day vnto your Royall Grace. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., V. ii. 3. To our Sister Health and faire time of day. Ibid. (1608), Pericles, IV. iii. 35.

376 1611.  Cotgr., Saluër, to salute, greet,… giue the time of the day vnto.

377 1707.  J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 300. It shall be always allow’d to give the Time of the Day, but no New-Years-Gifts.

378 1851.  Mayhew, Lond. Labour (1861), II. 489/2. The police … they’re very friendly, they’ll pass the time of day with me.

379 1864.  Lett. to Editor. In Radnorshire a clergyman told me the other day that ‘there was not one in the parish who would not give him the time of day.’ He meant, say ‘How do’ or ‘a fine day, Sir.’

380   c.  colloq. or slang. The prevailing aspect of affairs; the state of the case; (to know) ‘what’s what’; also, the right way of doing anything; the latest dodge or ‘wrinkle’; cf. to know what o’clock it is (CLOCK sb.1 3 d).

381 1667.  Poole, Dial betw. Protest. & Papist (1735), 144. No, Friend, it is not that time of Day.

382 1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 11. If that be done, I know, quickly what time of day ’twill be with us.

383 1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxxix. Steady, Sir, steady! That’s the time o’ day! Ibid. (1840), Barn. Rudge, xxxviii. Hurrah for the Protestant religion! That’s the time of day.

384 1897.  ‘Ouida,’ Massarenes, xxvii. ‘She knows the time o’ day,’ said the other.

385   29.  Time of memory: see quot. 1848. Time out of mind (also, † out of memory), from a time or during a period beyond human memory; so time, † times (also for, from time) immemorial.

386   Also † without or † out of t. of mind, † within time of mind, † before t. of mind had, † during t. of no mind; † from t. whereof is no mind, or whereof the memory of man is not (to) the contrary; † during, from, out of, of t. that no (man’s) mind is the contrary. See also MIND sb.1 2 f.

387 1407.  Waterf. Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 329. The nonpaying … during time of noo mynde.

388 1425.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 267/2. Beyng Erles, of tyme yat no mynde is ye contrarie.

389 1480.  Coventry Leet Bk., 460. Ther haue ben Chirchewardens … tyme out of mynde electyff yerely.

390 1504.  Sel. Cas. Crt. Star Chamber (Selden), I. 211. Which all weyes withoute tyme of mynde hath be made.

391 1511.  Waterf. Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 325. Noo such custum here … oute of tyme of mynde.

392 1515.  Sel. Cas. Star Chamb. (Selden), II. 93. Bying and sellyng frely within tyme of mynd. Ibid. (1516), 107. Liberties … vsed the tyme wherof mannys mynde is not to the contrarie.

393 1523.  Fitzherb., Surv., 7. Except it haue ben vsed tyme out of mynde.

394 1527.  Sel. Cas. Star Chamber (Selden), II. 16. So hath been oute of tyme of mynd.

395 1553.  in Leadam, Court Requests (Selden), 196. Whether it grewe first … before tyme of mynde had.

396 1602.  [see IMMEMORIAL].

397 1622.  Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 89. He and his Predecessors had used time out of memory to repair such a Bridge, which was in decay.

398 1750.  Virginia Gaz., 21 March, 1/1. We begin to listen to the old legendary and traditional Accounts of local Ghosts, which, like the Genii of the Ancients, have been reported, Time immemorial, to haunt certain particular Family-Seats, and Cities, famous for their Antiquity and Decays.

399 1759.  Goldsm., Bee, No. 1, ¶ 11. This deformity … it had been the custom, time immemorial, to look upon as the greatest ornament of the human visage.

400 1760.  Impostors Detected, III. x. II. 103. The beavers having been in possession of it [the island] for time immemorial.

401 1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. viii. 281. The king’s ordinary revenue is such, as has either subsisted time out of mind in the crown; or else has been granted by parliament.

402 1831–2.  Act 2 & 3 Will. IV., c. 71 § 1. Time Immemorial, or Time whereof the Memory of Man runneth not to the contrary.

403 1848.  Wharton, Law Lex., s.v. Memory, By Statute Westminster the First, 3 Edw. I., A.D. 1276, the time of memory was limited to the reign of Richard 1st, July 6th, 1189.

404 1887.  T. A. Trollope, What I remember, II. iii. 37. An ancient … goblet, which has belonged to the Musgraves time out of mind.

405   30.  Time and tide, an alliterative reduplication, in various senses of time; now only or mainly in proverbial phrases, as time and tide wait (stay) for no man, etc., superseding the earlier tide (tide nor time) tarrieth no man, etc. (see TIDE sb. 13 b).

406 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 778. He wat wel wat tim or tide Þat ȝee hade eten o þis tre.

407 c. 1550.  R. Bieston, Bayte Fortune, B j. And founden wast thou fyrst in euyll time and tyde.

408 1581.  Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 804. For their penaunce, according to the number, manner, time and tide giuen them by their ghostly father.

409 1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., II. iv. The divell in his good time and tide forsake thee.

410   31.  Time after time, on many occasions, repeatedly.

411 1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, iii. § 6. 192. The like hath been verified time after time.

412 1881.  Jowett, Thucyd., I. 42. Time after time we have warned you.

413   ** With a following adv.

414   32.  Time about, alternately, in turns. (Formerly with their.) Chiefly Sc. or northern.

415 1537.  Registr. Aberdon. (Maitland), I. 413. Sex of þe foirsaid viccaris þair tyme about ilk Satirdaye … sall syng þe foirsaid anteme.

416 a. 1670.  Spalding, Troubles Chas. I. (1850), I. 131. Becaus … diuerss of his freindis sould cum … thair tyme about, and attend his lordschipis seruice.

417 1756.  Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl.), 272. That a protestant emperor should be chosen time about with a popish.

418 1816.  Scott, Antiq., xxv. Time about’s fair play.

419 1828.  Craven Gloss., s.v,. Times about, in turns, in rotation.

420 1859.  G. Wilson, Gateway Knowl. (ed. 3), 39. Two paviours, driving in stones, bring down their mallets time about.

421   33.  Time (also times) and again, with frequent recurrence; repeatedly, very often.

422 1864.  D. G. Mitchell, Seven Stor., 49. Time and again I looked over the way.

423 1870.  [see AGAIN adv. 4 b].

424 1878.  Mrs. H. Wood, Pomeroy Abb., I. 85. Times and again she had wondered … who the recreant truant could be.

425 1897.  Hall Caine, Christian, IV. xiv. Time and again I thought John’s love of you was near to madness.

426   b.  Times and often; times without number; many a time and oft: see 18.

427   34.  Time back, at some past time. Obs. or dial.

428 1834.  Landor, Exam. Shaks., Wks. 1846, II. 298/1. The girl’s mother, sir, was housemaid and sempstress in your own family, time back.

429 1887.  S. Chesh. Gloss., Time ago…, Time back..., some time ago.

430   35.  Time enough, soon enough, in time, sufficiently early.

431 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 35. A man may stoupe tymes [C. XII. 197 tyme] ynow whan he shal tyne þe croune.

432 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VII. xi. 228. Thou shalt see hym tyme ynough.

433 1583.  Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., III. 116 b. They came not time enough to lay flat the forte, and therefore the Citizens themselues did it.

434 1669.  R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 458. That I may prepare time enough to fit my equipage for the journey.

435 1726.  Swift, Stella’s Birthday, 7. To-morrow will be time enough To hear such mortifying stuff.

436 1864.  Mrs. Gatty, Parables fr. Nat., Ser. IV. 27. Time enough to go into the depths when you have used up what is so much easier got at.

437   ***  With a governing preposition.

438   36.  Against time, in competition with the passage of time; so as to finish one’s task before the expiry of a certain period.

439 1854, 1868.  [see AGAINST prep. 12 d].

440 1872.  Punch, 10 Feb., 57/2. No member shall speak against time or his own convictions.

441 1883.  Swinburne, in Encycl. Brit., XV. 556/2. A man who … was often … compelled to write against time for his living.

442 1887.  Ruskin, Præterita, II. 171. [To] walk against time up a regular slope of eight feet in the hundred is the most trying foot-work I know.

443   37.  At time(s, etc. a. At times, † at (a) time (obs. rare), at one time and another, at various times, occasionally. Also at times and again.

444 1529.  More, Dyaloge, III. Wks. 245/1. Our sauiour at tyme taught his apostles a part.

445 1604.  Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 319. You, or any man liuing, may be drunke at a time, man.

446 1611.  Bible, Judg. xiii. 25. The Spirit of the Lord beganne to mooue him at times.

447 1779.  Mirror, No. 39, ¶ 9. I believe most men have, at times, wished to be … possessed of the power of moulding the world to their fancy.

448 1864.  Reader, 634/3. Some blacks, at times and again, hovering over a few coals.

449 1884.  W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 46. I blame myself at times.

450   b.  (At) one time with (and) another, during various detached periods; on various occasions.

451 1612.  R. Fenton, Usury, 37. If they could with their owne free stocke raise the like gaine one time with another.

452 1845.  T. W. Coit, Puritanism, let. xii. 252. Winthrop, whom the elders feared as a fixture, and whom the people turned out of office because he could not learn Puritanical lessons as fast as Endicott, was governor, at one time with another, eleven years.

453 1884.  Mrs. Oliphant, Sir Tom, II. vi. 84. He had seen a good deal of her one time and another in his life.

454   c.  At the same time, during the same period, at the same moment, not before or after. (Formerly without at.) Also used in introducing a reservation, explanation, or contrast, = ‘while saying this, nevertheless, however, yet, still.’

455 1526.  Tindale, Matt. xviii. 1. The same tyme the disciples cam vnto Iesus, sayng [etc.]. Ibid., Acts xix. 23. The same tyme there arose no litell a do aboute that waye.

456 1563.  Pilkington, Burn. Paules Ch., D ij b. Tertulian who lyued at the same time of this Pope.

457 1705.  Steele, Tender Husb., Ded. At the same time I hope I make the Town no ill Compliment … in acknowledging that it has so far rais’d my Opinion [etc.].

458 1749.  West, trans. Pindar, Nem. Ode, xi. Argt. Lest he should be too much puffed up with these Praises, he reminds him at the same Time of his Mortality.

459 1780.  Mirror, No. 100, ¶ 4. In two of Shakespeare’s tragedies are introduced, at the same time, instances of counterfeit madness, and of real distraction.

460 1891.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Lumley, xv. Give them my best wishes. At the same time I must say I do not envy the girl.

461   38.  Between times, in the intervals between other actions; at intervals, between-whiles.

462 [1580, a. 1641.  Between-time sb.: see BETWEEN B. 4.]

463 1902.  Eliz. L. Banks, Newspaper Girl, 159. She served me faithfully till the very last, packing her humble belongings in between times.

464   † 39.  By time, by times. a. By time: in good time, early; = BETIME adv. Obs.

465 c. 1250, a. 1300.  [see BETIME adv. 1, 2].

466 1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 368. We ne sain hut soþ & sesen by time.

467 c. 1425.  Cast. Persev., 413, in Macro Plays, 89. Ȝa, on þi sowle þou schalt þynke al be tyme.

468 1565.  W. Allen, in Fulke, Confut. Purg. (1577), 142. Therfore deare brethern let vs turne and amende by time.

469   † b.  By times: (a) in good time, early; BETIMES adv.; (b) at various times; from time to time; at times, now and then. Obs.

470 c. 1314, c. 1380.  [see BETIMES adv. 1, 3].

471 c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xi. (1885), 135. The kynge … hade be tymes, sithen he reigned vpon vs, livelod … nerehand to the value of þe vth parte off is Reaume.

472 1530.  Tindale, Answ. More, Wks. (1572), 251/1. Let therfore M. More and his company awake be tymes ere euer their sinne be ripe.

473 1657.  North’s Plutarch (1676), 960. He slept in the day, and by times in the night.

474 1743.  in Egan, Boxiana (1830), I. 49. Gentlemen are therefore desired to come by times.

475 1825.  Knapp & Baldw., Newgate Cal., IV. 177/1. The prisoner and I were on good terms by times.

476 1825.  Scott, Betrothed, xi. His nephew … was despatched by times every morning.

477   † c.  By a time, at times, occasionally. Obs.

478 1721.  Kelly, Prov., 26. A Horse with four Feet may snapper, by a time.

479   † 40.  For time, for the time being. Obs.

480 1464.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 510/2. Any persone or persones for tyme dwellyng … within the same Chapell. Ibid. (1483), VI. 257/1. The Goodes and Chattells of the seid Provost and Fellawes for tyme founden upon the seid Lande.

481   41.  From time to time. a. At more or less regular intervals; now and again, occasionally; in quot. 1382, † at stated times, at definite intervals (obs.); in quot. c. 1412 with ellipsis of from.

482 1382.  Wyclif, Ezek. iv. 11. Fro tyme vn to tyme [1388 fro tyme til to tyme] thou shalt drynke it.

483 c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 4189. Tyme to tyme he ȝaf hem Of his goode.

484 1423.  Acts Privy Council, III. 88. Ye desire to be acertained fro tyme to tyme of oure prosperite and welfare.

485 1651.  Hobbes, Leviathan, III. xl. 255. From thence proceeded from time to time the civill troubles … of the Nation.

486 1891.  Law Rep., Weekly Notes, 136/1. The passage … was used only from time to time, and not continuously.

487   † b.  Denoting succession of periods without intervals: Continuously, constantly, at all times.

488 1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet., 14. Heaven is theirs, saieth David, that doe justly from tyme to tyme.

489 1586.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589), 519. Therefore nothing was more esteemed from time to time among the auncients, than the institution of youth, which Plato calleth Discipline.

490   42.  In time, † in times. a. In time. (a) In the course of time, sooner or later. (b) Soon or early enough, not too late. † (c) At a suitable time; seasonably; opposed to out of time, 44 a (a). Obs. rare. (d) Mus. In the correct rhythm: see 12 a.

491   (a)  c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, III. xxxv. 103. Consolacion shal come to þe in tyme.

492 1594.  Willobie, Avisa, xlvii. I thinke in tyme she may be wonne.

493 1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. xxiii. (1674), 24. Potent men … would certainly in time work their revenge.

494 1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xvi. The inner turnkey’s office to begin wi’, and the captainship in time.

495   (b.)  1467–8.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 623/1. Yf it were used in tyme.

496 1605.  Shaks., Macb., II. iii. 6. Come in time, haue Napkins enow about you.

497 1742.  Observ. Methodists, 4. It will be too late to remedy it if not attended to in Time.

498 1834.  Picture of Liverpool, 73. Letters put into any of the Receiving Houses before twelve o’clock will be in time for the early mails.

499 1912.  Eng. Hist. Rev., XXVII. Jan., 44. Mansel soon returned from his mission in 1238, and was in time to assume the custody of the seal in September 1238.

500   (c.)  1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 184. Whan ȝe haue wyued, bewar and worcheth in tyme.

501 1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 78. The worde of God is to be preached night and day, in time, and out of time, in season and out of season.

502   † b.  In times. (a) At various times, on several different occasions. (b) In times … in times, sometimes … sometimes; at one time … at another.

503 1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 181. He that is a gouernoure in tymes he shall Spare, and in tymes vengeaunse take.

504 1612.  MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp., Canterb. Payd vnto Thomas Williames in times in consederation of a challing of sartayn tythe wood.

505   c.  In good time. (a) After the lapse of a suitable interval; in due course or process of time; at a proper time, when it seems good. (b) Soon or early; quickly. † (c) At the right or a seasonable moment; luckily. Obs. † (d) As an expression of ironical acquiescence, incredulity, amazement, or the like: To be sure!, indeed!, very well! (Cf. Fr. à la bonne heure.) Obs.

506   (a)  c. 1440.  Lovelich, Merlin, 9985. Forth on his message he gan to gon, and dyde his message al in good tyme.

507 1622.  in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 343. But God, in his good time, will amend all that is amiss.

508 1724.  Caledonian Mercury, 22 June, 3933. He narrowly escaped with Life, being forced to hide himself very privately, till they [a riotous rabble] thought fit, in their good Time, to leave his House.

509 1777.  Sheridan, Sch. Scand., IV. i. I shall be rich and splenetic, all in good time.

510 1822.  Scott, Pirate, ix. ‘The devil take him!’ said Mordaunt, in impatient surprise, ‘A’ in gude time,’ replied the jagger.

511 1883.  Gilmour, Mongols, xvii. 206. Every true-hearted follower shall, in good time, arrive at the desired goal.

512   (b)  1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xxii. 63. [They] come home againe in good time without the knowledge … of their husbands.

513 1872.  Punch, 19 Oct., 158/1. My aunt wants to be back in good time.

514   (c)  1586.  A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 62. If it please you then to returne by him those parcels…, they will come now in very good time.

515 1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 65. Learne to iest in good time, there’s a time for all things.

516 1639.  S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 7. This came in good time to keepe this poore family from necessity.

517   (d)  1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. i. 95. Sowing the kernels of it [an island] … bring forth more Islands…. Why in good time.

518 1650.  Fuller, Pisgah, II. vi. 149. There … even at this day, are shewed the ruines of those three tabernacles built according to Peters desire. In very good time no doubt!

519 1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, II. 50. Bonducci … calls him emulous of Milton, in good time! Ibid., 369. Making fat the objects of his partial tenderness with their best treasures—in good time!

520   43.  On time, punctually; also pred. punctual. Chiefly U.S. colloq. See also 48.

521 1870.  ‘Oliver Optic,’ On Time, 152. The trains east and west were on time.

522 1878.  Mrs. Stowe, Poganuc P., xxiii. 209. His wife had always been on time, and on duty.

523 1890, 1892.  [see ON prep. 6 d].

524 1893.  Scribner’s Mag., June, 781/2. My endeavors to get the family out of the house and into our pew on time.

525 1904.  Daily Chron., 5 Feb., 3/4. An Americanism here and there out of place (as … when the native dwarf, Cerberus … speaks of his mistress as being ‘on time’ in her return from a trance).

526   † b.  On a time: see 14. Obs.

527   44.  Out of time. a. adv. phr. † (a) At an inappropriate time; unseasonably. Obs. (b) After the prescribed period has elapsed; too late. See also 7 b (f). (c) Mus. See 12 a.

528   (a)  1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 291. Ȝe þat han wyues, beþ war worcheþ nat out of tyme.

529 c. 1420.  Avow. Arth., xxiii. I, Kay, that thou knawes, That owte of tyme bostus and blawus.

530 1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 100. Doth not Tryacle as well poyson as helpe, if it be taken out of time?

531 1583.  [see 42 a (c)].

532 1780.  Warner in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 325. I went like a thing born out of time, and had the door almost shut in my face.

533   (b)  1884.  Graham Hastings, in Law Times Rep., L. 175/1. On that view of the case also they are out of time, as they took no steps in the matter until Oct. 1883.

534 1886.  Law Times, LXXX. 241/2. Counsel for the respondent took a preliminary objection that the appeal was out of time.

535   b.  adj. phr. Unseasonable: see OUT-OF-TIME.

536   45.  To time. † a. For all time, for ever. Obs.

537 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 183. For þine gulte ishal nu to pine, rotie mote þu to time.

538 1607.  Shaks., Cor., V. iii. 127. I … that brought you forth this boy To keepe your name liuing to time.

539   † b.  conj. phr. To the time that, until such time as, till. Also into, unto, till time. Obs.

540 a. 1352.  Minot, Poems (1887), iv. 6. In þat land … Ordanis he still for to dwell, To time he think to fight.

541 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. xvi. (Rolls), 246. Thei [images] wolden not at alle tymes ȝeue answeris … into tyme thei weren myche preied.

542 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, III. 432. I sall do nocht till tyme I tak my leyff.

543 c. 1500.  Melusine, 170. I shal neuer departe fro this land vnto tyme I be al dyscomfyted, or þat I haue put them to flyght.

544 1506.  Guylforde, Pilgr. (Camden), 18. A lytell cave, where they shytte him in, to tyme the Jewes had … determynyd what they wolde do with hym.

545   c.  Within certain limits of time; so as to complete something by the end of a certain period.

546 1874.  Ethel de Fonblanque, Life A. Fonblanque, 40. A growing dislike to the act of ‘writing to time.’

547   46.  With time, with the lapse of time, in the course of time; = in time (42 a (a)).

548 1578–9.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 82. Your Hienes sal have pruif with tyme of my following thair trew … service to your Grace.

549 1650.  Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 104. When with time he is grown greater. Ibid., 272. Ambition increasing with time.

550 Mod.  With time it will come all right.

551   † 47.  Without time, outside of or independent of time; for ever: eternal(ly). Obs.

552 a. 1400.  Prymer, 6. Holi modir of god … þat we … moun stie up to þe seete of endeles blis, þere þou dwellist wiþ þi sone wiþ-outen tyme.

553 1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., xliv. (Percy Soc.), 215. Withouten tyme is no erthly thynge, Nature, fortune, or yet dame Sapyence.

554 1587.  Golding, De Mornay, vi. 79. This Minde is without time and onely everlasting.

555   † 48.  In commercial phraseology, at, for, on time, at the rate which may be current on the day appointed for settling; cf. TIME-BARGAIN. Obs.

556 1651.  Marius, Adv. Conc. Bills Exch., 74. Goods sold one part for ready Mony, the rest at Time.

557 1727.  Swift, What passed in London, Wks. 1755, III. I. 188. There were many who called themselves Christians, who offered to buy for time.

558 1766.  W. Gordon, Gen. Counting-h., 10. Debited … to the persons of whom they are bought, if on time.

559   ****  With a verb.

560   49.  [The] time was (hath been, shall be), inversion of there was (etc.) a time (when).

561 1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), I. 35. The tyme hath ben, nat longe before our dayes Whan [etc.].

562 1549.  Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Gal. v. 18. The tyme was, when it was nedefull.

563 1611.  Bible, Transl. Pref., 5. The same Hierome elsewhere affirmeth, that he, the time was, had set forth the Translation of the Seuenty for his countrymen of Dalmatia.

564 1791.  Cowper, Iliad, I. 300. Time shall be, when Achilles shall be miss’d.

565 1874.  Micklethwaite, Mod. Par. Churches, 251. Time was when we had a national style.

566   50.  To keep time. a. Mus. To mark the rhythm by movements of the hand or baton; to beat time; also, of a performer, to adhere to the correct rhythm and rate of the music, to keep pace with a measure or another performer, etc. Also fig.

567 1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., I. i. Slow, slow, fresh fount, keep time with my salt tears.

568 1662.  Playford, Skill Mus., I. ix. (1674), 29. In keeping time your hand goes down at one half, and up at the next.

569 1687.  Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., II. 85. They beat this Stuff with one hand two and two over against one another,… keeping time to this tune.

570 1817.  Byron, Beppo, lxiii. I can’t well break it, But must keep time and tune like public singers.

571 1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xviii. Thy reward shall be princely, if thou keep’st time and touch, and exceedest not the due proportion.

572   b.  Of a timepiece: To register the passage of time correctly.

573 1899.  P. N. Hasluck, Clock Jobber’s Handbk., 61. The clock is ready … with every probability of going and keeping time for two or three years.

574   V.  Combinations.

575   51.  a. Simple attrib. (a) ‘Of or pertaining to time,’ as time-basis, -division, -drop, -guide, -integral (INTEGRAL B. 4 a), -mark, -ocean, -perspective, -reference, -schedule, -sense, -variation; also, ‘of time as distinct from eternity,’ as time-element, -pattern, -state, -vesture, -world; (b) ‘relating to, based upon, or indicating the amount of time occupied in some work or process,’ as time-allowance, -board, -log (LOG sb.1 7), -march, prize, -race, -record, -ticket; (c) in names of instruments, machines, or appliances used as time-signals or timed to operate at a given moment, as time-alarm (ALARM sb. 7), -bomb, -fuse, -glass (cf. HOUR-GLASS), -gun, -measure, -taper.

576 1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Time-alarm, an audible notice at the expiration of a set time.

577 1883.  D. Kemp, in Fortn. Rev., 1 Sept., 324. The yachts … were sailed in classes without *time-allowance.

578 1849.  J. A. Carlyle, trans. Dante’s Inferno, p. xxxi. The whole *time-basis of his mighty song has become dim and cold.

579 1890.  W. J. Gordon, Foundry, 34. As the men come in past the time-office they take their piece or *time-boards from the rack, where each is placed against its proper number.

580 1895.  Times, 7 Jan., 3/3. In the case of one large yard the men have come out on strike against the introduction of the ‘timeboard’ system.

581 1885.  Even. Herald (Fort Scott, KS), 30 March, 2/1. The fact comes out that the dynamiters had arranged to ‘remove’ the Prince of Wales in Ireland, by means of *time bombs, placed so as to explode during his holding a levee in Dublin.

582 1893.  Daily Tel., 9 Nov., 5/7. The engine of destruction was not a time bomb.

583 1877.  E. Caird, Philos. Kant, II. x. 415. The schematism of the categories, the translation of them into *time-determinations is no mere idle play of the imagination.

584 1888.  J. Prestwich, Geol., II. 3. The great *time-divisions are of almost universal application.

585 a. 1711.  Ken, Preparatives, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 39. Minutes … On these *Time-drops eternal Joys depend.

586 1831.  Carlyle, Sart. Res., III. viii. Pierce through the *Time-element, glance into the Eternal.

587 1862.  Catal. Internat. Exhib., II. xi. 23. A fuse … placed and used like the ordinary simple *time fuse.

588 1804–6.  Syd. Smith, Mor. Philos. (1850), 122. If you were to say that man was like a *time-glass,—that both must run out, and both render up their dust.

589 1875.  Zoologist, X. 4587. He wished it to be a *time-guide to the appearance of butterflies and moths.

590 1878.  Stevenson, Edinburgh, 133. The *time-gun by which people set their watches.

591 1885.  Tait, Rec. Adv. Phys. Sci. (ed. 3), 359. Momentum is the *Time-Integral of Force because force is the rate of change of Momentum.

592 1868.  *Time-log [see LOG sb.1 7].

593 1891.  Labour Commission Gloss., Time-Log, the printed statement of times allowed for making garments in the tailoring trade, agreed upon between employers and employed.

594 1896.  Daily News, 22 Dec., 6/6. Captain M—— … was thrown from his horse yesterday near Fleet during a *time march.

595 1901.  Spectator, 20 July, 93/2. The continually recurring *time-marks of winter and summer.

596 1726.  Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., Pref. 3. Vehicles, Mills, *Time-measures, and other such minute things.

597 1864.  Lowell, Fireside Trav., 125. The old *time-ocean throws upon its shores just such rounded and polished results of the eternal turmoil.

598 1907.  Gentl. Mag., July, 80. The Australian child is deficient not so much in imagination as in what may be called *time-perspective.

599 1897.  Outing (U.S.), Aug., 494/1. In 1890 Murphy was on scratch, and won the *time-prize.

600 1852.  Bateman, Aquatic Notes, an. 1844. P. M—— [won the sculls] after a good *‘time-race’ with R——.

601 1887.  E. Moore (title), The *Time-References in the Divina Commedia, and their Bearing on the Assumed Date and Duration of the Vision.

602 1877.  E. Caird, Philos. Kant, II. xi. 445. So far as sensations are represented as objects, they must be represented as events in time, and thus … considered as the real subjects of *time-relations like any other events.

603 1904.  Daily Chron., 31 Dec., 6/7. The reconstruction of an old [line], when the working moments must be snatched in the gaps of the *time-schedule, and the greater part of the work must be carried out during a period of four hours at dead of night.

604 1899.  Syd. Soc. Lex., *Time sense, the perception of the lapse of time.

605 1810.  Southey, Kehama, VIII. vii. Lo! the *time-taper’s flame ascending slow.

606 1903.  R. Wallace, Life, iii. 52. This view of the ‘Sabbath’ as a sacrifice or *time-tax paid to the Deity.

607 1900.  ‘H. Lawson,’ Over Sliprails, 123. The door opened. Arvie gathered up his lunch, took his *time-ticket, and hurried in.

608 1881.  Maxwell, Electr. & Magn., II. 223. The third term … depends on the *time-variation of the magnetic field.

609 1831.  Carlyle, Sart. Res., III. viii. Nature, which is the *Time-vesture of God, and reveals Him to the wise, hides Him from the foolish. Ibid. (1843), Past & Pr., II. vi. This *Time-world … plays and flickers in the grand still mirror of Eternity.

610   Objective and obj. gen., as time-beater, -giver, -measurer, -observer, -pleaser, -saver, -setter (1340), -spender, -waster (1661), etc.; time-beguiling (1592), -bettering, -breaking, -deluding, -devouring, -economizing, -noting, -setting (1340), -spending (1509), -wasting, etc., adjs. and sbs.; c. instrumental, as time-authorized (a 1628), -battered, -bent, -bewasted (1593), -blackened, -blanched, -born, -bound, -cleft, -discolored, -eaten, -gnawn, -mellowed, -rent, -rusty, -shrouded, -taught, -tried, -wasted, -wearied, -white, -withered, etc., adjs.; d. in various relations with pples. and adjs., as time-enduring († -during), -lasting, -marked, -proof, -served.

611 a. 1628.  F. Grevil, Sidney, xv. (1652), 199. Those *time-authorized assemblies.

612 1729.  Savage, Wanderer, v. 44. *Time-batter’d Tow’rs frown awful in Decay.

613 1881.  Athenæum, 5 March, 342/3. To feel at once the important difference between a conductor and a *time-beater.

614 1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 24. A sommers day … wasted in such *time-beguiling sport.

615 1863.  Pilgr. over Prairies, II. 302. The grey and *timebent grandsire.

616 c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., lxxxii. Some fresher stampe of the *time bettering dayes. Ibid. (1593), Rich. II., I. iii. 221. My oyle-dride Lampe, and *time-bewasted light.

617 1806.  Surr, Winter in Lond., I. 178. *Time-blanched locks.

618 1628.  Gaule, Pract. The. Panegyr., 59. He *time-borne Sonne, got from eternitie.

619 1647.  Fuller, Good Th. in Worse T. (1841), 132. When we are *time-bound, place-bound, or person-bound.

620 1601.  Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., II. xxxvi. (1631), 102. After comes the torture of the *time-breaking wheele.

621 1800.  Hurdis, Fav. Village, 182. The *time-cleft arch Of ancient chantry.

622 a. 1617.  Hieron, Wks. (1620), I. 10. Idle loyterers … or *time-deluding triflers.

623 1742.  Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. (1861), II. 198. Accustomed to the many hurries and *time-devouring accidents of this huge place.

624 1823.  in Spirit Publ. Jrnls. (1824), II. (N.S.), 386, note. With here and there a few straggling locks of silvery gray, which, like the *time-discolored moss upon some ancient battlements, are the true emblems of antiquity.

625 1836.  H. Coleridge, North. Worthies, Introd. (1852), 17. To … run his eye along the time-discoloured pages.

626 1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John, xi. 80. Not … that it is an uncouth or a *time duryng thyng to me.

627 a. 1849.  Poe, City in Sea, i. *Time-eaten towers that tremble not.

628 1839.  Bailey, Festus, xi. (1852), 142. Now go I forth again … Upon my *time-enduring pilgrimage.

629 1613.  Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626), 33. The King … was no *time-giuer vnto growing dangers.

630 1863.  Hawthorne, Our Old Home (1879), 162. A gray, *time-gnawn, ponderous, shadowy structure.

631 1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 40. This *time-lasting World, and every while-being thing in it.

632 1888.  E. Clodd, Story Creation, xi. 217. The rude … chant of the savage, *time-marked by yell and tamtam.

633 a. 1864.  Hawthorne, S. Felton (1871), 45. The *time-measurer of one whose mortal life he had cut off.

634 1904.  Edin. Rev., Jan., 200. The pendulum was … assigned its function of a time-measurer.

635 1615.  Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 109. My *Time-noting lines ayme not at thee.

636 1647.  Trapp, Comm. Luke xiv. 7. Ministers, though they may not be time-servers, yet they must be *time-observers.

637 1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. iii. 160. The diu’ll a Puritane that hee is, or any thing constantly but a *time-pleaser. Ibid. (1607), Cor., III. i. 45. Time-pleasers.

638 1806.  J. Grahame, Birds Scot., 74. In some vacant niche, Or *time-rent crevice.

639 1639.  Fuller, Holy War, V. xxix. 279. How would a Herald sweat with scouring over these *time-rustie titles.

640 1873.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, IV. i. (1876), 135. The best *time-savers.

641 1900.  Daily Express, 13 June, 5/2. All the men … at the bureaus for *time-served soldiers.

642 1340.  Ayenb., 36. Þe *time-zettere ontrewe … Vor hire *time-zettinge hi destrueþ and makeþ beggeres þe knyȝtes.

643 1794.  Coleridge, Monody Death Chatterton, ad fin. Sweet Harper of *time-shrouded Minstrelsy.

644 1670.  G. H., Hist. Cardinals, I. I. 12. Those impertinent *time-spenders, the Priests.

645 1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., xliv. (Percy Soc.), 215. Eyther hell or heaven, wythout lesynge, Alway he getteth in his *tyme spendynge.

646 1799.  Campbell, Pleas. Hope, II. 224. The *time-taught spirit, pensive not severe.

647 1870.  Ruskin, Lect. Art, i. (1875), 28. Faithful servant of *time-tried principles.

648 1814.  Scott, Ld. of Isles, I. Introd. iv. Through fields *time-wasted, on sad inquest bound.

649 1661.  Baxter, Last Work Believer, Wks. (1846), 253. She was a stranger to pastimes, and no companion for *time-wasters.

650 1741–2.  Gray, Agrippina, 139. The slacken’d sinews of *time-wearied age.

651 c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, VIII. 454. To warn the youth, yet short of war, and *time-white fathers.

652   52.  Special combs.: time-attack (Fencing) = time-thrust; time-bill, (a) a time-table of trains, etc.; (b) a record kept by the guard of a train of the time it leaves each station; time-book, (a) a book in which an entry is made of the time worked by employees; (b) a chronicle (cf. Ger. zeitbuch); (c) = time-bill (a); time-candle (see quot.); time-card, (a) a card on which a record is kept of time worked; (b) a card time-table; time-catch, in a photographic camera, a catch that retains the shutter for a fixed time; time-catcher, in Fencing, one who ‘takes the time’: see 21; time-charter (see quot.); time-clause Gram., an adverbial clause of time, a temporal clause; time-constant Electr. (see quot. 1903); time-course Naut., a ship’s run, as in a fog, calculated by the vessel’s speed, the time occupied, and the direction; time-curve (see quot.); time-detector, a clock (stationary at a point) or watch (carried by the watchman) having additional mechanism, operated by the watchman, to show the times at which he was at certain points of his round (Knight, Dict. Mech., 1877): cf. TELL-TALE 2 g; also called time-watch; time-disk, an instrument used in conjunction with the kymograph for investigating the time-sense; time-expired a., whose term of engagement has expired; time-exposure Photogr., exposure for a regulated time, as distinguished from instantaneous exposure; so time-exposed a.; † time-fellow, a contemporary; time-globe, a terrestrial globe rotated once in twenty-four hours by a clock-movement, and encircled at the equator by a stationary graduated zone, showing the local time at any meridian; time-lag, the length of time separating two correlated physical phenomena; time-line, (a) pl. a certificate of apprenticeship (see LINE sb.2 23 f); (b) an undulating line indicating small fractions of a second, by which the time or rate of some process may be measured; time-lock, a lock with clockwork attachment that prevents its being unlocked until a set time; time-marker, (a) an automatic device in a cab, etc., which registers the time it is in use, with the fare payable; (b) Electr. (see quot. 1902); time-notice, a notice given a definite time before; time-payment, (a) payment by installments; (b) payment on the basis of time worked; time-policy (see quot. 1849); time-rate, (a) rate in time; (b) rate of payment on the basis of time worked; time-recorder, an apparatus that records the time of an act or event; time-sheet, a time-table (on a sheet); the paper on which are entered the names of workmen and the hours worked by them; time-shutter, in the photographic camera, a shutter for time-exposures; time-sight Naut., an observation of the altitude of the sun or a star for the purpose of ascertaining the time and, hence, the longitude (Cent. Dict.); time-signal, a visible or audible signal made at an observatory, etc., to announce the exact time, e.g., the fall of a time-ball, or firing of a time-gun; time-signature Mus., a sign placed at the beginning of a piece of music, or where the time changes, to show the measure or rhythm; rhythmical signature; time-taker, † (a) = TIME-SERVER 1; (b) one who takes a note of the time occupied in any work or course; time-taking a., that takes time, leisurely, slow; time-thrust (Fencing), an offensive-defensive counterstroke made within the time of the adversary’s movement of attack, and preventing its completion; time-value Mus., the relative duration of a note; time-waiter, one who awaits a favorable turn of events; cf. TIDE-WAITER 2; time-watch = time-detector; time-work, work that is paid for on the basis of the time occupied; distinguished from piece-work; so time-worker; time-zone, any one of the twenty-four divisions of the surface of the globe (each bounded by two meridian lines), within each of which the standard time adopted is the mean solar time of the meridian distant from Greenwich a number of complete hours: an improper designation, for the regions so bounded are not zones. See also TIME-BALL, -BARGAIN, -WORN, etc.

653 1889.  Dunn, Fencing, 62. *‘Time’ attacks, whereby, having anticipated in what line your opponent’s attack will be delivered, you intercept his blade as he gives in his attack.

654 1847.  (July 1) East. Counties & E. Union Railways (Railw. Mag., Jan., 1910. 46). *Time bills of a prior date are not correct.

655 1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Time-bill, a time-table of the arrivals and departures of trains, omnibuses, steamers, &c.

656 1878.  F. S. Williams, Midl. Railw., 658. To ascertain the precise moment that the train clears certain stations, that he [the guard] may … chronicle the same in his time-bill.

657 1898.  Daily News, 19 Oct., 3/2. She looked down the timebill for a place a long way off, and seeing Blackpool and the distance it was off took a ticket for there.

658 1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., xiii. (1858), 271. I still retained the *time-book in my master’s behalf.

659 1867.  trans. Ewald’s Hist. Israel, 92. Like a true time-book (or chronicle) terminated with the description of the most recent great deeds.

660 1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Time-candle, one in which the size and quality of the material and the wick are so regulated that a certain length will burn in a given time.

661 1891.  Cent. Dict., *Time-card.

662 1898.  Engineering Mag., XVI. 41. Each workman perforates a five-minute time-card for each job on which he is employed, simply piercing the card at the five-minute points most nearly representing his times of beginning and ending.

663 1890.  Anthony’s Photogr. Bull., III. 383. The *time catch is on the other side, and by means of two slots and pins, is arranged so that it cannot fall backwards or forwards when not in use.

664 1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Binding, The great objection made by some people, particularly those *time-catchers, against the frequent use of binding, is [etc.].

665 1891.  Labour Commission Gloss, *Time-charter, an agreement under which the owner hires his vessel for a stipulated monthly payment, generally in advance, in which case the charterer loads and discharges the vessel.

666 1895.  Funk’s Stand. Dict., *Time-constant.

667 1903.  Sloane, Stand. Electr. Dict. (ed. 10), Time Constant. (a) If in any circuit we divide the inductance in henries by the resistance in ohms, the ratio gives the time-constant of the circuit, or it expresses the time which it will take for the current to reach 0.63 of its final value. (b) In a static condenser the time required for the charge to fall to 1/2.7183th part of its original value.

668 1909.  Cent. Dict. Suppl., *Time-curve, a curve so plotted that one of its coördinates represents time, or periods of time.

669 1901.  E. B. Titchener, Exper. Psychol., I. x. 338. The most useful appliance for investigation is, probably, Meumann’s ‘time-sense’ apparatus, consisting of Baltzar kymograph, *time-disc, set of contacts, and sound-hammers.

670 1885.  Sir H. Green, in Pall Mall G., 14 Feb., 2/1. *Time-expired soldiers in India will not, as a rule, re-enter the ranks.

671 1889.  Anthony’s Photogr. Bull., II. 79. To level your camera when taking *time-exposed pictures and hence get straight lines.

672 1893.  J. A. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (1907), 18. A tripod stand will be required … when *‘time’ exposures are given.

673 1899.  A. B. Lloyd, in Daily News, 9 Jan., 2/3. I couldn’t give a time exposure, as the pigmies would not stand still.

674 1577.  Harrison, England, I. xviii. (1880), 131. My Synchroni or *time fellows can reape at this present great commoditie in a little roome.

675 1638.  Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. vi. § 23. 340. The disinterested time-fellowes or immediate Successors of Liberius.

676 1862.  Cat. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 5516. *Time globe, planetary clock.

677 1895.  Daily News, 5 Dec., 2/2. The masters, it is admitted, would be acting quite within their powers if they refuse to grant the apprentices their *time lines.

678 1898.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 814. No pulse is regular, as a time line at the foot of a sphygmographic tracing will prove.

679 1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Time-lock, a lock having clock-work attached which … prevents the bolt being withdrawn when locked, until a certain interval of time has elapsed.

680 1908.  Daily Chron., 10 June, 7/1. The time-lock on the door of a bank’s vaults makes it impossible for the bank’s officers themselves to enter the strong room after closing-time.

681 1898.  Westm. Gaz., 11 March, 7/2. Five hundred cabs provided with the *time and fare marker were put on the stands.

682 1903.  Sloane, Stand. Electr. Dict., Suppl. (ed. 10), Time Marker. A light flexible stylus actuated by an electro-magnet in circuit with an electro-magnetic tuning fork. It is used for recording tuning fork vibrations on a chronograph drum.

683 1902.  Westm. Gaz., 7 Feb., 2/2. The Bill … provides for a *time-notice of seven years to the holders of licences to sell liquor for consumption on the premises. Ibid. (1908), 23 March, 2/3. The Government proposal … gives a fourteen years’ time-notice for licences which until 1904 were granted for one year only.

684 1898.  Daily News, 5 Dec., 6/6. This *time payment system is far too much bother for me, and I look on it as undignified for our trade.

685 1848.  Arnould, Mar. Insur., I. v. (1866), I. 219. A *time policy is one in which the limits of the risk are designated only by certain fixed periods of time.

686 1895.  Kennedy, in Law Times Rep., LXXII. 861/1. The policy is a time policy for six months from the 9th Jan. 1894 to the 8th July 1894.

687 1882.  Minchin, Unipl. Kinemat., 60. The *time-rate of description of area round the fixed centre is constant in all positions of the moving point.

688 1902.  Eliz. L. Banks, Newspaper Girl, 263. We always pay the expenses and time rates when you go off on a job like that.

689 1898.  Engin. Mag., XVI. 41. Workmen use a mechanical *time-recorder requiring the vibration of a lever on entering and leaving the shop.

690 1893.  Westm. Gaz., 7 July, 5/1. An elegantly printed *time-sheet had been laid on the table for the use of the Duke and Princess.

691 1907.  Daily Chron., 3 May, 9/2. A light folding quarter-plate camera, with good lens, *time and instantaneous shutter.

692 1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., s.v., The electro-magnetic telegraph has been used for operating *time-signals…; thus, the Greenwich time is indicated at Liverpool … by the dropping of a ball.

693 1875.  Stainer & Barrett, Dict. Mus. Terms, s.v. Signature, There are two kinds of signature, the *time-signature and the key-signature…. It would be more proper to call the time-signature the measure-sign, as it shows the contents of a bar, but not the pace at which the music should be performed.

694 1630–56.  Gordon, Hist. Earld. Sutherld. (1813), 325. That *tyme-takers wold be now easalie decerned from true freinds.

695 1867.  Livingstone, in Blaikie, Life, xix. (1910), 323. His time-taker had no conscience and could not be trusted.

696 1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., i. Mr. Nickleby … was a slow and *time-taking speaker.

697 1809.  Roland, Fencing, 81. To leave his body exposed to receive, in the interim of his motion, a *time thrust.

698 1834.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7), IX. 503. Time thrusts are so called because the success of these movements depends entirely upon their being executed at the exact moment of time employed by the adversary in planning or in executing his attack. Ibid., Passim.

699 1889.  Fencing (Badm. Libr.), 91. The time-thrust is an attack made with opposition on a complicated attack, and intended to intercept the line where such an attack is meant to finish.

700 1859.  Sala, Tw. round Clock (1861), 175. You never see these ghostly *time-waiters anywhere but on ’Change, and out of ’Change hours.

701 1899.  Globe, 30 June. During the debate Mr. Courtney call’d himself first a Liberal Unionist and then a Time-waiter.

702 1829.  Bentham, Justice & Cod. Petit., More Abr. Petit. Justice, 3. He is paid according to the time during which he is occupied … in doing the work: this is called … *time work.

703 1910.  Edinb. Rev., Jan., 12. The advantages which piecework has over timework are more completely secured.

704 1906.  Outlook, 9 June, 774/1. To move the Observatory … would involve the adoption of a new starting-point for the meridians of longitude and for the *time-zones into which the world is divided.

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