from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw.
hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and
perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. {Hunt}.]
1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in
man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other
animals; manus; paw. See {Manus}.
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2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the
office of, a human hand; as:
(a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or
any one of the four extremities of a monkey.
(b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute
hand of a clock.
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3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a
palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
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4. Side; part; direction, either right or left.
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On this hand and that hand, were hangings. --Ex.
xxxviii. 15.
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The Protestants were then on the winning hand.
--Milton.
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5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill;
dexterity.
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He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.
--Addison.
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6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence,
manner of performance.
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To change the hand in carrying on the war.
--Clarendon.
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Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my
hand. --Judges vi.
36.
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7. An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or
competent for special service or duty; a performer more or
less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand
at speaking.
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A dictionary containing a natural history requires
too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be
hoped for. --Locke.
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I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.
--Hazlitt.
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8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or
running hand. Hence, a signature.
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I say she never did invent this letter;
This is a man's invention and his hand. --Shak.
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Some writs require a judge's hand. --Burril.
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9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction;
management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand
one year's tribute." --Knolles.
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Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the
government of Britain. --Milton.
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10. Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to
buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when
new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the
producer's hand, or when not new.
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11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand,
where there is small dispatch." --Bacon.
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12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as:
(a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the
dealer.
(b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied
together.
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13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock,
which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
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Note: Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts
or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the
hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a
symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as:
(a) Activity; operation; work; -- in distinction from the
head, which implies thought, and the heart, which
implies affection. "His hand will be against every
man." --Gen. xvi. 12.
(b) Power; might; supremacy; -- often in the Scriptures.
"With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you."
--Ezek. xx. 33.
(c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand; to
give the right hand.
(d) Contract; -- commonly of marriage; as, to ask the
hand; to pledge the hand.
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Note: Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or
without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand;
as, hand blow or hand-blow, hand gripe or hand-gripe:
used by, or designed for, the hand; as, hand ball or
handball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or
hand-grenade, handgun or hand gun, handloom or hand
loom, handmill or hand organ or handorgan, handsaw or
hand saw, hand-weapon: measured or regulated by the
hand; as, handbreadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or
hand-gallop. Most of the words in the following
paragraph are written either as two words or in
combination.
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{Hand bag}, a satchel; a small bag for carrying books,
papers, parcels, etc.
{Hand basket}, a small or portable basket.
{Hand bell}, a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell.
--Bacon.
{Hand bill}, a small pruning hook. See 4th {Bill}.
{Hand car}. See under {Car}.
{Hand director} (Mus.), an instrument to aid in forming a
good position of the hands and arms when playing on the
piano; a hand guide.
{Hand drop}. See {Wrist drop}.
{Hand gallop}. See under {Gallop}.
{Hand gear} (Mach.), apparatus by means of which a machine,
or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power,
may be operated by hand.
{Hand glass}.
(a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of
plants.
(b) A small mirror with a handle.
{Hand guide}. Same as {Hand director} (above).
{Hand language}, the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as
practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology.
{Hand lathe}. See under {Lathe}.
{Hand money}, money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest
money.
{Hand organ} (Mus.), a barrel organ, operated by a crank
turned by hand.
{Hand plant}. (Bot.) Same as {Hand tree} (below). -- {Hand
rail}, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. --Gwilt.
{Hand sail}, a sail managed by the hand. --Sir W. Temple.
{Hand screen}, a small screen to be held in the hand.
{Hand screw}, a small jack for raising heavy timbers or
weights; (Carp.) a screw clamp.
{Hand staff} (pl. {Hand staves}), a javelin. --Ezek. xxxix.
9.
{Hand stamp}, a small stamp for dating, addressing, or
canceling papers, envelopes, etc.
{Hand tree} (Bot.), a lofty tree found in Mexico
({Cheirostemon platanoides}), having red flowers whose
stamens unite in the form of a hand.
{Hand vise}, a small vise held in the hand in doing small
work. --Moxon.
{Hand work}, or {Handwork}, work done with the hands, as
distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork.
{All hands}, everybody; all parties.
{At all hands}, {On all hands}, on all sides; from every
direction; generally.
{At any hand}, {At no hand}, in any (or no) way or direction;
on any account; on no account. "And therefore at no hand
consisting with the safety and interests of humility."
--Jer. Taylor.
{At first hand}, {At second hand}. See def. 10 (above).
{At hand}.
(a) Near in time or place; either present and within
reach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand;
I hear his trumpet." --Shak.
(b) Under the hand or bridle. [Obs.] "Horses hot at
hand." --Shak.
{At the hand of}, by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we
receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive
evil?" --Job ii. 10.
{Bridle hand}. See under {Bridle}.
{By hand}, with the hands, in distinction from
instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed
a garden by hand; to lift, draw, or carry by hand.
{Clean hands}, freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of
dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that
hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." --Job
xvii. 9.
{From hand to hand}, from one person to another.
{Hand in hand}.
(a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. --Swift.
(b) Just; fair; equitable.
As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand
comparison. --Shak.
{Hand over hand}, {Hand over fist}, by passing the hands
alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand
over hand; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand
over hand.
{Hand over head}, negligently; rashly; without seeing what
one does. [Obs.] --Bacon.
{Hand running}, consecutively; as, he won ten times hand
running.
{Hands off!} keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling!
{Hand to hand}, in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to
hand contest. --Dryden.
{Heavy hand}, severity or oppression.
{In hand}.
(a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand, and . . .
a far greater reward hereafter." --Tillotson.
(b) In preparation; taking place. --Chaucer. "Revels . .
. in hand." --Shak.
(c) Under consideration, or in the course of transaction;
as, he has the business in hand.
{In one's hand} or {In one's hands}.
(a) In one's possession or keeping.
(b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my
hand.
{Laying on of hands}, a form used in consecrating to office,
in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons.
{Light hand}, gentleness; moderation.
{Note of hand}, a promissory note.
{Off hand}, {Out of hand}, forthwith; without delay,
hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to
be hanged up out of hand." --Spenser.
{Off one's hands}, out of one's possession or care.
{On hand}, in present possession; as, he has a supply of
goods on hand.
{On one's hands}, in one's possession care, or management.
{Putting the hand under the thigh}, an ancient Jewish
ceremony used in swearing.
{Right hand}, the place of honor, power, and strength.
{Slack hand}, idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth.
{Strict hand}, severe discipline; rigorous government.
{To bear a hand} (Naut.), to give help quickly; to hasten.
{To bear in hand}, to keep in expectation with false
pretenses. [Obs.] --Shak.
{To be hand and glove with} or {To be hand in glove with}.
See under {Glove}.
{To be on the mending hand}, to be convalescent or improving.
{To bring up by hand}, to feed (an infant) without suckling
it.
{To change hand}. See {Change}.
{To change hands}, to change sides, or change owners.
--Hudibras.
{To clap the hands}, to express joy or applause, as by
striking the palms of the hands together.
{To come to hand}, to be received; to be taken into
possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday.
{To get hand}, to gain influence. [Obs.]
Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them.
--Baxter.
{To get one's hand in}, to make a beginning in a certain
work; to become accustomed to a particular business.
{To have a hand in}, to be concerned in; to have a part or
concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in.
{To have in hand}.
(a) To have in one's power or control. --Chaucer.
(b) To be engaged upon or occupied with.
{To have one's hands full}, to have in hand all that one can
do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed
with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with
difficulties.
{To have the (higher) upper hand}, or {To get the (higher)
upper hand}, to have, or get, the better of another person or
thing.
{To his hand}, {To my hand}, etc., in readiness; already
prepared. "The work is made to his hands." --Locke.
{To hold hand}, to compete successfully or on even
conditions. [Obs.] --Shak.
{To lay hands on}, to seize; to assault.
{To lend a hand}, to give assistance.
{To lift the hand against}, or {To put forth the hand
against}, to attack; to oppose; to kill.
{To live from hand to mouth}, to obtain food and other
necessaries as want compels, without previous provision.
{To make one's hand}, to gain advantage or profit.
{To put the hand unto}, to steal. --Ex. xxii. 8.
{To put the last hand to} or {To put the finishing hand to},
to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect.
{To set the hand to}, to engage in; to undertake.
That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that
thou settest thine hand to. --Deut. xxiii.
20.
{To stand one in hand}, to concern or affect one.
{To strike hands}, to make a contract, or to become surety
for another's debt or good behavior.
{To take in hand}.
(a) To attempt or undertake.
(b) To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand.
{To wash the hands of}, to disclaim or renounce interest in,
or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash
one's hands of a business. --Matt. xxvii. 24.
{Under the hand of}, authenticated by the handwriting or
signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and
seal of the owner.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Put \Put\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Put}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Putting}.] [AS. potian to thrust: cf. Dan. putte to put, to
put into, Fries. putje; perh. akin to W. pwtio to butt, poke,
thrust; cf. also Gael. put to push, thrust, and E. potter, v.
i.]
1. To move in any direction; to impel; to thrust; to push; --
nearly obsolete, except with adverbs, as with by (to put
by = to thrust aside; to divert); or with forth (to put
forth = to thrust out).
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His chief designs are . . . to put thee by from thy
spiritual employment. --Jer. Taylor.
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2. To bring to a position or place; to place; to lay; to set;
figuratively, to cause to be or exist in a specified
relation, condition, or the like; to bring to a stated
mental or moral condition; as, to put one in fear; to put
a theory in practice; to put an enemy to fight.
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This present dignity,
In which that I have put you. --Chaucer.
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I will put enmity between thee and the woman. --Gen.
iii. 15.
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He put no trust in his servants. --Job iv. 18.
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When God into the hands of their deliverer
Puts invincible might. --Milton.
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In the mean time other measures were put in
operation. --Sparks.
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3. To attach or attribute; to assign; as, to put a wrong
construction on an act or expression.
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4. To lay down; to give up; to surrender. [Obs.]
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No man hath more love than this, that a man put his
life for his friends. --Wyclif (John
xv. 13).
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5. To set before one for judgment, acceptance, or rejection;
to bring to the attention; to offer; to state; to express;
figuratively, to assume; to suppose; -- formerly sometimes
followed by that introducing a proposition; as, to put a
question; to put a case.
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Let us now put that ye have leave. --Chaucer.
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Put the perception and you put the mind. --Berkeley.
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These verses, originally Greek, were put in Latin.
--Milton.
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All this is ingeniously and ably put. --Hare.
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6. To incite; to entice; to urge; to constrain; to oblige.
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These wretches put us upon all mischief. --Swift.
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Put me not use the carnal weapon in my own defense.
--Sir W.
Scott.
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Thank him who puts me, loath, to this revenge.
--Milton.
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7. To throw or cast with a pushing motion "overhand," the
hand being raised from the shoulder; a practice in
athletics; as, to put the shot or weight.
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8. (Mining) To convey coal in the mine, as from the working
to the tramway. --Raymond.
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{Put case}, formerly, an elliptical expression for, put or
suppose the case to be.
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Put case that the soul after departure from the body
may live. --Bp. Hall.
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{To put about} (Naut.), to turn, or change the course of, as
a ship.
{To put away}.
(a) To renounce; to discard; to expel.
(b) To divorce.
{To put back}.
(a) To push or thrust backwards; hence, to hinder; to
delay.
(b) To refuse; to deny.
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Coming from thee, I could not put him back.
--Shak.
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(c) To set, as the hands of a clock, to an earlier hour.
(d) To restore to the original place; to replace.
{To put by}.
(a) To turn, set, or thrust, aside. "Smiling put the
question by." --Tennyson.
(b) To lay aside; to keep; to sore up; as, to put by
money.
{To put down}.
(a) To lay down; to deposit; to set down.
(b) To lower; to diminish; as, to put down prices.
(c) To deprive of position or power; to put a stop to; to
suppress; to abolish; to confute; as, to put down
rebellion or traitors.
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Mark, how a plain tale shall put you down.
--Shak.
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Sugar hath put down the use of honey. --Bacon.
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(d) To subscribe; as, to put down one's name.
{To put forth}.
(a) To thrust out; to extend, as the hand; to cause to
come or push out; as, a tree puts forth leaves.
(b) To make manifest; to develop; also, to bring into
action; to exert; as, to put forth strength.
(c) To propose, as a question, a riddle, and the like.
(d) To publish, as a book.
{To put forward}.
(a) To advance to a position of prominence or
responsibility; to promote.
(b) To cause to make progress; to aid.
(c) To set, as the hands of a clock, to a later hour.
{To put in}.
(a) To introduce among others; to insert; sometimes, to
introduce with difficulty; as, to put in a word while
others are discoursing.
(b) (Naut.) To conduct into a harbor, as a ship.
(c) (Law) To place in due form before a court; to place
among the records of a court. --Burrill.
(d) (Med.) To restore, as a dislocated part, to its place.
{To put off}.
(a) To lay aside; to discard; as, to put off a robe; to
put off mortality. "Put off thy shoes from off thy
feet." --Ex. iii. 5.
(b) To turn aside; to elude; to disappoint; to frustrate;
to baffle.
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I hoped for a demonstration, but Themistius
hoped to put me off with an harangue. --Boyle.
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We might put him off with this answer.
--Bentley.
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(c) To delay; to defer; to postpone; as, to put off
repentance.
(d) To get rid of; to dispose of; especially, to pass
fraudulently; as, to put off a counterfeit note, or an
ingenious theory.
(e) To push from land; as, to put off a boat.
{To put on} or {To put upon}.
(a) To invest one's self with, as clothes; to assume.
"Mercury . . . put on the shape of a man."
--L'Estrange.
(b) To impute (something) to; to charge upon; as, to put
blame on or upon another.
(c) To advance; to promote. [Obs.] "This came handsomely
to put on the peace." --Bacon.
(d) To impose; to inflict. "That which thou puttest on me,
will I bear." --2 Kings xviii. 14.
(e) To apply; as, to put on workmen; to put on steam.
(f) To deceive; to trick. "The stork found he was put
upon." --L'Estrange.
(g) To place upon, as a means or condition; as, he put him
upon bread and water. "This caution will put them upon
considering." --Locke.
(h) (Law) To rest upon; to submit to; as, a defendant puts
himself on or upon the country. --Burrill.
{To put out}.
(a) To eject; as, to put out and intruder.
(b) To put forth; to shoot, as a bud, or sprout.
(c) To extinguish; as, to put out a candle, light, or
fire.
(d) To place at interest; to loan; as, to put out funds.
(e) To provoke, as by insult; to displease; to vex; as, he
was put out by my reply. [Colloq.]
(f) To protrude; to stretch forth; as, to put out the
hand.
(g) To publish; to make public; as, to put out a pamphlet.
(h) To confuse; to disconcert; to interrupt; as, to put
one out in reading or speaking.
(i) (Law) To open; as, to put out lights, that is, to open
or cut windows. --Burrill.
(j) (Med.) To place out of joint; to dislocate; as, to put
out the ankle.
(k) To cause to cease playing, or to prevent from playing
longer in a certain inning, as in base ball.
(l) to engage in sexual intercourse; -- used of women; as,
she's got a great bod, but she doesn't put out.
[Vulgar slang]
{To put over}.
(a) To place (some one) in authority over; as, to put a
general over a division of an army.
(b) To refer.
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For the certain knowledge of that truth
I put you o'er to heaven and to my mother.
--Shak.
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(c) To defer; to postpone; as, the court put over the
cause to the next term.
(d) To transfer (a person or thing) across; as, to put one
over the river.
{To put the hand to} or {To put the hand unto}.
(a) To take hold of, as of an instrument of labor; as, to
put the hand to the plow; hence, to engage in (any
task or affair); as, to put one's hand to the work.
(b) To take or seize, as in theft. "He hath not put his
hand unto his neighbor's goods." --Ex. xxii. 11.
{To put through}, to cause to go through all conditions or
stages of a progress; hence, to push to completion; to
accomplish; as, he put through a measure of legislation;
he put through a railroad enterprise. [U.S.]
{To put to}.
(a) To add; to unite; as, to put one sum to another.
(b) To refer to; to expose; as, to put the safety of the
state to hazard. "That dares not put it to the touch."
--Montrose.
(c) To attach (something) to; to harness beasts to.
--Dickens.
{To put to a stand}, to stop; to arrest by obstacles or
difficulties.
{To put to bed}.
(a) To undress and place in bed, as a child.
(b) To deliver in, or to make ready for, childbirth.
{To put to death}, to kill.
{To put together}, to attach; to aggregate; to unite in one.
{To put this and that} (or {two and two}) {together}, to draw
an inference; to form a correct conclusion.
{To put to it}, to distress; to press hard; to perplex; to
give difficulty to. "O gentle lady, do not put me to 't."
--Shak.
{To put to rights}, to arrange in proper order; to settle or
compose rightly.
{To put to the sword}, to kill with the sword; to slay.
{To put to trial}, or {on trial}, to bring to a test; to try.
{To put trust in}, to confide in; to repose confidence in.
{To put up}.
(a) To pass unavenged; to overlook; not to punish or
resent; to put up with; as, to put up indignities.
[Obs.] "Such national injuries are not to be put up."
--Addison.
(b) To send forth or upward; as, to put up goods for sale.
(d) To start from a cover, as game. "She has been
frightened; she has been put up." --C. Kingsley.
(e) To hoard. "Himself never put up any of the rent."
--Spelman.
(f) To lay side or preserve; to pack away; to store; to
pickle; as, to put up pork, beef, or fish.
(g) To place out of sight, or away; to put in its proper
place; as, put up that letter. --Shak.
(h) To incite; to instigate; -- followed by to; as, he put
the lad up to mischief.
(i) To raise; to erect; to build; as, to put up a tent, or
a house.
(j) To lodge; to entertain; as, to put up travelers.
{To put up a job}, to arrange a plot. [Slang]
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Syn: To place; set; lay; cause; produce; propose; state.
Usage: {Put}, {Lay}, {Place}, {Set}. These words agree in the
idea of fixing the position of some object, and are
often used interchangeably. To put is the least
definite, denoting merely to move to a place. To place
has more particular reference to the precise location,
as to put with care in a certain or proper place. To
set or to lay may be used when there is special
reference to the position of the object.
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