| 释义 |
▪ I. usher, n.|ˈʌʃə(r)|
Forms: 4–5 vsscher, usscher, uscher, 5 vschere, vshure, 6 vscher; 4–5 vssher (5 -ere), 4–6 ussher (5 -ere), 6 vsher, 5– usher (7 ushier); 4 oyschere, 5 oischer; Sc. 5 isscheare, 5–6 ischar, 6 ischair, -ear, 7 isher.
[a. AF. usser (12th c.), OF. ussier, uissier, uscier, var. of huisier, etc., huisher n. Cf. ostiary.]
1. An official or servant who has charge of the door and admits people to a hall, chamber, etc.; a door-keeper; in later use esp. an officer in a court of justice, or an attendant who conducts people to seats in a church, public hall, or place of amusement.
c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 293 The vsshers and the squiers been ygoon, The spices and the wyn is come anoon. a1400–50Boke of Curtasye 30 in Babees Bk. 300 Whille marshalle or vssher come fro þe dore, And bydde the sitte, or to borde the lede. c1400Northern Passion (H.) 617 Saint iohn spak to vsscher þan. c1410Sir Cleges 287 The vsscher at the hall dore was Wyth a staffe stondynge. a1470H. Parker Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) vi. xi. 249/1 She dyd hyr offyce, for she was usshere and keper at the dore. 1525Ld. Berners Froiss. II. xcvi. 110 b/1 Than the squyer..called the vssher to open the dore. c1610in [T. Maude] Verbeia or Wharfdale (1782) App. 43 The Usher's Wordes of Directions. First,..he must go before them thro' the hall [etc.]. 1677Govt. Venice 121 He disposes of the little Offices about the Palace, as the Ushers and others. 1694E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. England i. iii. 681 Chelsea College... There are several other..Servants, as..Sexton, Usher, Porters [etc.]. 1728Chambers Cycl. (1738) s.v., The ushers of the inquisition..think themselves highly honoured, by only looking to the doors of the sacred tribunal. 1799Report Comm. Courts of Justice 29 Usher of the Court. Ibid. 31 The Court of King's Bench..[Officers include] Usher and Cryer. Deputy Cryers. Deputy Ushers. 1868Dickens Let. 3 Jan., He met one of the ‘ushers’ (who show people to their seats) coming in with Kelly. 1898A. M. Binstead Pink 'Un & Pelican 181 Like the legal gent.., asked to define the duties of the ushers in the law courts.
b. fig., transf., and in fig. context.
c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 163 Crist..haþ resoun of many þingis; for he is dore, he is ussher. 1387Trevisa Higden v. xvii. (MS. Cott. Tib. D. vii.) fol. 188 Seþþe..so meny..priueleges..were ygrauntet to petur y dare noȝt wiþsygge [so] grete and soche an oyschere and porter. 1573Tusser Husb. (1878) 20 Make eie to be vsher, good vsage to haue, make bolt to be porter. 1594Zepheria v. B 3, Feare, Centinell of sad discretion,..Cares Vsher, Tenant to his owne oppression. 1630Prynne Anti-Armin. 258 Arminianisme is but a Bridge, an Vsher vnto grosse Popery. 1638T. Whitaker Blood of Grape 4 As if Satiation were the Usher of diseases. 1709Steele & Swift Tatler No. 67 ⁋10 In this chamber of Fame..no historians are to be admitted at any of these tables; because they..are to be made use of as ushers to the assemblies. 1878Stewart & Tait Unseen Univ. i. §5. 27 Being the usher of souls in their passage to the future state.
c. Const. of (the hall, chamber, etc.).
a1400–50Bk. Curtasye 432 in Babees Bk., Speke I wylle a lytulle qwyle Of vssher of chambur, with-outen gyle. [Description of his duties follows.] 1436Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 13, I was put to þe Soudenys house & was made vssher of halle. 1480Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 49/1 Sir Johne of Culquhone..vschare in þe tyme of oure souerane lordis chawmer durre. 1503Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. II. 311 John Knox ischar of the hall. 1538Elyot, Admissionales, vshers of the chambre. 1623Cockeram ii, An Vsher of a Hall, atrict. 1728Chambers Cycl. (1738) s.v., In the French Court there are two ushers of the ante-chamber, or hall where the king dines in public.
fig.a1500Assemb. Ladies in Skeat Chaucerian Pieces (1897) 383, I am..Of her [sc. Loyalty's] chambre her ussher. 1501Douglas Pal. Hon. iii. lviii, Humanitie and trew Relatioun Bene ischaris of his chalmer.
d. U.S. One who performs the functions of an usher (sense 1) at a wedding.
1895Outing (U.S.) XXVII. 181 He sent the young lady a beautiful Colport cup and saucer,..at the same time breathing a prayer that Elliott would not ask him to be usher.
2. An officer at court, in a dignitary's household, etc., whose duty it is on occasion to walk or go before a person of high rank; also, a chamberlain. Usher of the Black Rod, Green Rod: (see Black Rod, and quot. 1869).
1518H. Watson Hist. Oliver of Castile (Roxb.) N 2 b, There came dyuers kynges and herauldes of armes, and after came the Vsshers. 1553Rutland Papers (Camden) 118 The Duke of Northfolke..claymethe to be highe vssher the daye of the coronacion. 1641Sc. Acts Chas. I (1870) V. 332/1 Commandit.. to goe befoir the king as Ischear with ane rod in his hand. 1678Phillips (ed. 4) s.v., Usher of the Black-rod. 1689Breviate St. Scot. 10 The Second Great Heritable Offices in the Kingdom, are The Lord High Constable,..The Heritable Usher. 1718Echard Hist. Eng. III. 622 The Usher of the Black-Rod commanded their Attendance in the House of Lords. 1721Ramsay Poems I. List of Subscribers, Usher of the Green Rod, and daily Waiter to his Majesty. 1850Marsden Early Purit. 402 The king sent down the usher of the House of Lords with a message. 1869Cussans Her. 235 The Officers attached to this Noble Order [of the Knights of the Thistle] are: The Dean;..and the Usher of the Green Rod.
fig.1641Milton Reform. 2 Faith needing not..the Senses, to be either the Vshers, or Interpreters, of heavenly Mysteries. 1673A. Walker Leez Lachrymans 18 When he is pleased to send this usher of the Black-Rod, Death,..a white⁓staffe is too weak to make Resistance.
transf.1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husbandry iii. 116 A Colt..passeth bridges, not tarriing for an vsher, nor fearing the Ise. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iii. vi. 44 The wife of Anttony Should haue an Army for an Vsher. 1626T. H[awkins] Caussin's Holy Crt. 37 Anciently Pearles were called Vshers, because they made way for Ladyes, who were attyred with them. 1726Pope Odyssey xvii. 251 The good old proverb how this pair fulfill! One rogue is usher to another still. 1763Churchill The Ghost iv. 37 A downright Usher to admit New-Comers to the Court of Wit.
†b. A male attendant on a lady. Obs.
1621Fletcher Wild-G. Chase iii. i, If she want an Usher; such an implement; One that is throughly pac'd; a clean made Gentleman; Can hold a hanging up. 1649Davenant Love & Honour i. i, Consumptive Ushers that are decay'd In their Ladies service. 1664Butler Hud. ii. i. 96 She call'd for Hood And Usher, Implements abroad Which Ladies wear. 1749Smollett Gil Blas i. xvi, A lady who..was squired by an old usher [F. écuyer], and a little black moor carried her train. 1809Malkin Gil Blas i. xvi. ⁋2 She released her sweet hand from the custody of the usher [F. écuyer].
3. One who precedes or arrives before another, esp. a higher dignitary or personage; a precursor. Also transf. Cf. harbinger n. 3.
1548Udall Erasm. Par. Matt. iii. 28 By his ussher and messenger John. c1550N. Smyth tr. Herodian iii. 40 b, He had certayne Usshers going before him, whiche commaunded euerye man to auoyde the stretes. 1641J. Jackson True Evang. T. ii. 151 That other lesson..[Christ] suffered his Ushers that went before him to teach. 1847Emerson Initial Love 75 Heralds high before him [sc. Cupid] run, He has ushers many a one.
b. transf. That which precedes or gives intimation of the approach or advent of a person or thing.
c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. l. i, God comes,..His guarde huge stormes, hot flames his ushers goe. 1599Sir J. Davies Hymns of Astræa 5 Early, chearfull, mounting Larke, Lights gentle Vsher. 1633P. Fletcher Elisa i. xxviii, Ah death!.. Thou one meals fast, usher to endlesse feasting. 1640J. Gower Ovid's Festiv. ii. 32 In comes the Lecher bold;..His groping hands his warie ushers were. 1645Stapylton tr. Musæus C j b, Leander..Expecting the sad Torch, and to be led By that bright Vsher to his private bed.
fig.a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. xxvii, Stretching out his hand, and making vehement countenances the ushers to his speches. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxii. §18 Fasts haue beene set as Vshers of festiuall dayes. 1607Shakes. Cor. ii. i. 173 [Stage direction] A showt, and flourish. Volum. These are the Vshers of Martius. 1632tr. Bruel's Praxis Med. 58 Troublesome dreames are vshers to this disease. c1670M. Bruce Gd. News in Evil Times, etc. (1708) 26 They make the Sabbath, as it were, Mr. Usher to their Visiting of Christ.
c. Ent. A species of moth.
1819G. Samouelle Entomol. Compend. 360 Geometra leucophearia, The Spring Usher. Ibid., [G.] nigricaria, The dark-bordered Usher. 1832Rennie Brit. Butterfl. & Moths 102 The Spring Usher (Anisopteryx leucophearia, Stephens) appears in oak woods the end of February. Ibid., The Wall Usher (A. æscularia).
4. An assistant to a schoolmaster or head-teacher; an under-master, assistant-master. Now rare. Also in fig. context.
1512Nottingham Rec. (1885) III. 453 To..establisshe one free schole of one Schole Maister and one Vssher. 1561in H. B. Wilson Hist. Merchant-Taylors' Sch. (1814) 15 Yff both the maister and the usshers be sick at once (as God defend) then let the schoole cease for that while. 1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. to Osorius 259 b, Who hath made you usher I pray you, or prepositour of Ciceroes schoole? 1632D. Lupton London & Countrey carbonadoed 119 Country Vshers..are vnder the Head-maister, equall with the chiefe Schollers, and aboue the lesser boyes. 1653Baxter Worc. Petit. Def. 6 We are but Ushers, and Christ is the..chief Master of the School. 1669E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. ii. 483 This Colledge consists of a Master.., a Chaplain,..A Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars. 1687Wood Life (O.H.S.) III. 247 He being usher to a Presbyterian scholemaster. 1711Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 205 Tollet is made IId Master, he being before a chief Usher. 1791Boswell Johnson an. 1732, He accepted of an offer..as usher in the school of Market-Bosworth. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxvii, Conning over a few pages of Horace or Juvenal with his usher. c1868in Hughes Tom Brown (ed. 6) Pref., Persecution..he can't stop; no more could all the ushers in the world. 1876Scheme C.C. 8 governing Foundation Thetford School Hosp. 6 From the same date..the present usher of the said School shall cease to hold his office as such Usher.
†b. transf. A teacher or preceptor acting under another. Obs.
1533More Confut. Tindale Wks. 585/2 Oure sauiour..sent him [sc. Judas] forth..for one of hys vsshers to teache in his owne time. 1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. vi. xiv. 105 He ordained Heraclas..his fellowe helper, and Usher,..committing vnto him the instruction of the inferiour sort. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage i. iv. 16 Nature was his Schoole master; or if you will rather, Gods Usher.
c. = provost n. 8.
1545[see provost n. 8]. 1699Boyer i, Prevost de sale d'armes, the Provost, or Usher of a Fencing-School. 1765Angelo Sch. Fencing 52 When an usher..has finished his apprenticeship under an able master,..he is obliged to fence with several masters.
†5. Usher of the Coins, Change, or Exchange, an officer of the Mint. Obs.
1485Cal. Patent Rolls (1914) 49 [The] countroller,..clerk and ussher of the coynes. 1485Rolls of Parlt. VI. 365/2 The Office of Usher of the Exchaunge of oure said Soveraigne Lord, within his Towre [of London].
6. attrib. and Comb., as usher life, usher-like.
1580Fulke Martiall Confut. iv. 164 An other foolish brable and vsherlike construing, he maketh of Cyprians words. 1873W. Cory Lett. & Jrnls. (1897) 341 The eight years I had then gone through of usher life.
Hence ˈusherdom, the office or status of an usher; ˈusheress, a female usher; uˈsherian, of or pertaining to an usher or ushers; ˈusherism, conduct or comportment characteristic of ushers.
1846Worcester (citing Qu. Rev.), *Usherdom. 1905A. C. Benson Upton Lett. 106 The ugly slough of usherdom.
1879Ch. Times 5 Sept., An appointment..as an ‘*usheress’ in a big establishment.
1826Disraeli Viv. Grey i. iv, Certain powers were..delegated to..beings called Ushers... The *usherian rule had, however, always been comparatively light at Burnsley Vicarage.
1869Ellis E.E. Pronunc. I. vi. 625 That kind of pedantic self-sufficiency which is the true growth of half-enlightened ignorance, and may be termed ‘*usherism’.
▪ II. usher, v.|ˈʌʃə(r)|
[f. prec. Cf. huisher v.]
1. a. trans. To act as usher to (a person or persons); to admit ceremoniously; to conduct, attend, or introduce with ceremony from, to or unto or esp. into (a place), etc.; to announce, introduce, or bring in as an usher.
In frequent use from c 1820. In group (b) with advs.
(a)1596Warner Alb. Eng. xii. lxxv. 312 Vnto their Lodging Stafford did the Ladies Vsher then. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena A 3 b, Excuse my boldnesse in ushering her Excellencie..into so excellent a presence. 1725Pope Odyss. xvii. 447 My Lords! this stranger..The good Eumæus usher'd to your court. 1773Cook's Voy S. Pole ii. ii. (1777) I. 202 An old gentleman came along-side, who..was some king or great man. He was accordingly, ushered on board. 1821Scott Kenilw. xiv, The hall..to which Tressilian was ushered by one of the Earl's attendants. 1844Disraeli Coningsby iii. iii, Whose gracious lot it was to usher them from the apartment. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxv, The tribune ushered her into the Emperor's chamber.
(b)1749Fielding Tom Jones xiv. x, He..ushered his visitant up stairs. 1760in Doran Mann. & Manners (1876) II. 63 For which purpose I set forth in a Coach and Six, and ushered him in. 1835Dickens Sk. Boz, Parish i, Simmons bows assent, and ushers the woman out. 1853C. Brontë Villette xli, Ushering me in, he shut the door behind us.
b. Predicated of things. Also transf.
1623T. Scot Tongve-Combat 63 This brauerie..vshers them into the company of best princes. 1697Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 311 Boats having mett them with divers sorts of musick to usher them into that harbour. 1807–8W. Irving Salmag. (1824) 169 The piece opens with a gentle andante affetuoso, which ushers you into the Assembly-room.
c. fig., transf., and in fig. context.
1594[Southwell] Mary Magd. Funeral Tears 69 b, As desire is euer vshered by hope, and waited on by feare. 1612Drayton Poly-olb. iii. 3 Yet the blushing dawn out of the chearful east Is ushering forth the day. 1623Cockeram iii, Nusculus, a friendly fish to the Whale, it vshers him from rocks, shelues, and shores. a1661Fuller Worthies, Leic. ii. (1662) 130 Sir Tho. Lake may be said to have ushered him [sc. Villiers] to the English Court. 1715Rowe Lady Jane Gray iv. i, As if his traitor father's haggard ghost, And Somerset,..had usher'd him to ruin. 1749Fielding Tom Jones iv. i, [The hero] is generally ushered on the Stage by a large Troop of..Scene-shifters. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. 6 That mode of signature to which you have thrown open the folding-doors of your presence chamber, and have ushered into your National Assembly. 1806J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (ed. 4) ii. xiii, A furious wind which ushers the dust into your eyes. 1867H. Macmillan Bible Teach. vi. 109 A new class of objects is now ushered upon the scene. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn lxvi, Those whom we ushered into the reader's presence at the beginning of this book.
refl.1812Ann. Reg., Chron. 47 This singular person ushered himself into public notice in London, by [etc.].
d. absol. To act as or after the manner of an usher.
1612Donne Progresse of Soule, 2nd Anniversary 156 Yet Death must usher, and unlocke the doore. Thinke further on thy selfe, my Soule. 1657F. Cockin Div. Blossomes 4 For to insinuate into his will, And usher, thorough his Judgment to 's Affection..That he may give to Thee all due subjection.
(b) spec. to act as an usher in a cinema. U.S.
1973Publishers Weekly 27 Aug. 243/1 A 13-year-old boy who ushers in a movie house. 1980M. Gordon Company of Women (1981) i. i. 26 It was teen-agers who flocked to see that kind of movie. Mary Rose had to usher at those movies now.
2. a. To precede, escort, or go before (a dignitary) ceremonially as an usher.
1612in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. I. 599 All his equippage was ushered by certaine officers in ritche coates. 1665R. Brathwait Comment Two Tales (1900) 47 If I at any time use him for the Squire of my Body, or to Usher me in the streets. 1676Office Clerk of Assize E vij, His Bayliffs, with their white wands in their hands, do usher the Justices from the Court, to the place where they dine. a1700Evelyn Diary 23 April 1667, His Majesty went to Chappell with the Knights of the Garter.., usher'd by the Heraulds.
†b. To precede (a person, esp. of higher rank) as a forerunner or harbinger. Also in fig. context.
1629Gaule Pract. The. A 5, You shall see your Sauiour at once Vshered, Afforded, Humbled, and Exalted: Vshered by his Prophets, afforded in his Person. 1639Fuller Holy War iii. vi. 118 [Richard I] set forth [to the Crusade] with many of our nation, which either ushered or followed him. 1646G. H[ils] Odes of Casimire Pref., Juno and Venus ushered by chaste love Through..Flora's banks here move.
c. fig. and transf.
1599T. Storer Life & D. Wolsey H j b, Who follow'd me, but Fortune was at hand, To follow him? or, if she went before, To vsher him? 1602Marston Ant. & Mel. iii. E 2, Gastly amazement..Shall hurry on before, and vsher vs. 1609B. Jonson Sil. Wom. iv. i, Nor will it bee out of your gaine to make loue to her too, so shee follow, not vsher, her ladies pleasure. 1621R. Brathwait Nat. Embassie, etc. (1877) 203 My friends..Wish'd that all good successe might vsher mee. a1668Davenant Play House to let iii. i, Wilt thou now guided be By that bright Star which ushers me.
d. To precede, come or happen immediately before, in order of time; to lead up to. (Cf. 7 c.)
1607Merry Devil Edmonton i. ii. 55 In and feed, And let that vsher a more serious deed. c1611Chapman Iliad v. 864 Pitchy tempests threat, Usher'd with horrid gusts of wind. 1616B. Jonson Epigrams ci, Some better sallade Vshring the mutton. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. vii. §282 Such an application to Court as usually ushered those promotions. 1821Shelley Adonais xxi, Evening must usher night, night urge the morrow. 1821Byron Sardan. v. i, The day at last has broken. What a night Hath usher'd it!
†3. To wait at (a banquet) as an usher. Obs.—1
1602Dekker Satirom. K 3 b, Euen thus the Mercury of Heauen Vshers th' ambrosiate banquet of the Gods.
4. To introduce (something uttered); to preface. (Cf. 7 e.)
1635A. Stafford Fem. Glory 55 She made two pawses usher her answer. 1637C. Dow Answ. to H. Burton 159 Divine offices..must not bee curtall'd..by..any new-devised formes of praier, either ushering, or following them. 1717Pope Eloisa to Abelard 32 Oh name for ever sad!.. Still breath'd in sighs, still ushered with a tear.
†5. To lead, conduct, or direct (a thing) to some point. Obs. rare.
1668Culpepper & Cole tr. Barthol. Anatomy ii. x. 120 The External [membrane].. sticks close to the intermediate Ligaments.., and ushers along the recurrent Nerves. 1791Cowper Iliad ii. 649 Skill In ushering to its mark the rapid lance.
6. To introduce or bring into the world.
1679C. Nesse Antichrist 6 Harbingers..to usher him into the world. 1713Steele Englishm. No. i. 5 The Jest..is ushered into the World by the loudest Laughter. 1756H. Johnson in J. Duncombe Lett. (1773) III. 38 You have done a great favour to the world in ushering so noble..a work into it. 1835Marryat J. Faithful i, It was about a year after the loss.., that I was ushered into the world. 1855Brewster Newton II. xviii. 172 The theory he ushered into the world.
transf.1835Marryat J. Faithful v, I am very nearly ushered into the next World.
7. to usher in: (see also 1).
a. To bring in (a banquet, meat, etc.) with ceremony.
1613Heywood Silver Age ii. i, Vsher me in a costly banquet straight To entertaine my Lord. 1706E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 94 The Captain's Bell calls him to usher in the Apple-dumplins. 1829S. H. Cassan Lives Bps. Bath & Wells 262 The meat was ushered in.
b. To inaugurate or bring in (a period of time).
c1600Shakes. Sonn. cxxxii, That full Starre that vshers in the Eauen. 1656S. Winter Serm. 147 That so he might usher in the eternitie of the world. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 276 The Morning being ushered in with..Music. 1781Cowper Hope 717 If chance..A tempest usher in the dreaded morn. 1791Smeaton Edystone L. §306 The year 1762 was ushered in with stormy weather. 1827Longfellow Life (1891) I. viii. 121 The day was ‘ushered in’, as the newspapers say, by the firing of cannon. 1850Tennyson In Mem. lxxii, Dim dawn,..Who usherest in the dolorous hour With thy quick tears. 1872Yeats Techn. Hist. Comm. 298 The French Revolution ushered in a new era of taste.
c. = sense 2 d.
1641Maisterton Serm. 18 An anteambulo to usher in a thousand pains. 1663South Serm. (1717) V. 89 Every Fast portended some Villany, as still a Famine ushers in a Plague. 1695J. Edwards Perfect. Script. 414 The Lord, who was to be usher'd in by Elijah the prophet. 1707Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 44 Flowers..appear only to usher in the Fruit, or the Seed; afterwards they fade. 1712Addison Spect. No. 363 ⁋18 That vision of Lewdness and Luxury which usher in the Flood. a1721Prior Many Daughters have done well 10 How welcome did that light appear Which usher'd in a form all Heav'nly fair.
d. To mark the introduction, beginning, or occurrence of (an event, etc.); to introduce.
1646J. Hall Horæ Vac. 8 They generally usher in uproares in the State. 1650R. Stapylton Strada's Low C. Wars vii. 49 These punishments seemed only to usher in the Death of the two Counts. 1697W. Dampier Voy. (1729) I. 394 A convenient place to usher in a Commerce with the neighbouring country. 1784Cowper Task iv. 23 But oh th' important budget! usher'd in With..heart-shaking music. 1801Med. Jrnl. V. 231 Increased heats..already described as ushering in the hæmorrhage. 1843R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. x. 106 The symptoms..bear a very strong analogy to those which usher in typhus. 1870Freeman Norm. Conq. (ed. 2) I. 738 The event of 1018..was ushered in by a comet.
e. = sense 4.
1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. ii. vi. §5 Their deliverance by Cyrus..he ushers..in with this preface that [etc.]. 1673True Worship of God 8 These Sacrifices not only accompanying their Confessions..; but their Hymns and Doxologies also,..to usher them in with more acceptance. 1699Bentley Phal. 222 He would have usher'd the Word in with some kind of introduction. 1757Gray Let. Poems (1775) 252 All that ushers in the incantation from ‘Try we yet..’, I am delighted with. a1763W. King Lit. & Polit. Anecd. (1819) 154 He was..so unfortunate as to usher in his criticisms with [etc.]. 1814Chalmers Evid. Chr. Revel. ii. ii, The quotation is..ushered in by the general words, ‘As it is written’.
Hence ˈushering ppl. a.
1628[A. Leighton] Appeal to Parliament 145 Why breaketh out the fearfull wrath of God..among us, but because of Baal-peor his ushering Ceremonies..? 1634Milton Comus 279 Could that [sc. darkness] divide you from neer-ushering guides? 1820Clare Rural Life (ed. 3) 32 That rural call..All noises now to silence lulls, In soft and ushering sounds. |