| 释义 |
▪ I. wear, n.|wɛə(r)|
Also 5 were, 6–7 weare, 7–8 ware.
[f. wear v.1]
I.
1. a. The action of wearing or carrying on the person (an article of clothing, an ornament, a watch, sword, or the like); the condition or fact of being worn or carried upon the person.
1464Rolls of Parlt. V. 567/2 The best and lightest Tymbre to make of Patyns and Clogges, and moost esiest for the were of all estate. 16..Bell my Wiffe 26 in Percy Fol. MS. II. 323 My cloake itt was a verry good cloake, it hath beene alwayes good to the weare. 1713Steele Guardian No. 170 ⁋16 'Tis a Demonstration, that they have more [Woollen Goods] than is sufficient for their own Wear. 1716J. Perry State Russia 74 The wear of Furs is a great Fashion in China. 1757[Burke] Europ. Settlem. Amer. vii. v. II. 161, I have seen cloths made there, which..were..as far as I could judge, superior for the ordinary wear of country people, to any thing we make in England. 1818Min. Evid. Committee Ribbon Weavers 178 Every one who visits France brings over some [articles of manufactured silk] for their own wear. 1903R. Barr Over Border i. vi. 66 His costume..hung, loosely unfitting, about a frame that had become gaunt since its wear began. 1912Daily Graphic 31 Dec. 13/2 A charming coat for restaurant wear.
b. the worse for wear: deteriorated through wearing (cf. wearing vbl. n.1 3); drunk. See also worse a. 4 c.
1782Cowper Gilpin 183 A hat not much the worse for wear. 1840‘Ouida’ Moths I. ii. 32 The statuette..never seemed the worse for wear. 1857C. M. Yonge Dynevor Terrace II. xvii. 270 His boots were less polished..and he looked somewhat the worse for wear. 1936J. Buchan Island of Sheep iii. 44 When I came across him in Persia..he was rather the worse for wear. 1966D. Francis Flying Finish x. 127 You'll be kicking your heels about the airport for a few hours. Don't let any of them get{ddd}er{ddd}the worse for wear. 1977M. Allen Spence in Petal Park xix. 87 The blonde girl left about ten, looking distinctly the worse for wear. 1982T. Berger Reinhart's Women iii. 46 The vehicles in view were routine automobiles, two of them the worse for wear, with dents and rust and jagged antenna-stems.
†c. Use, the using or making use (of a utensil). Obs.
1571Aldeburgh Rec. in N. & Q. 12th Ser. VII. 185/1 For ye wear of a kettil and a trevet xiid.
2. Phr. to be in wear.
a. Of an article of clothing, an ornament, etc.: To be actually on the person of the wearer; also, to be (still) habitually worn by a person, not to have been discarded. Similarly (of a person), to have in wear.
b. Of a kind or style of garment, etc.: To be worn by people generally; to be in vogue or fashion. Similarly, to come into wear.
1786A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscr. III. 106 Sophia, do you know patches are coming into wear again? 1799Washington Lett. Writ. 1893 XIV. 150 If there are any handsome cockades (but not whimsically foolish) in wear,..I should be glad if they were sent with the eagles fixed thereon. 1809W. Irving Knickerb. ii. ii. (1849) 92 Several gigantic knee-buckles of massy silver are still in wear, that made gallant display in the days of the patriarchs of Communipaw. 1851–61Mayhew Lond. Labour II. 33/1 If there be any part of silk in a dress not suitable for any of these purposes it is wasted, or what is accounted wasted, although it may have been in wear for years. 1855Dickens Holly-Tree i, The lesser roadside Inns of Italy; where all the dirty clothes in the house (not in wear) are always lying in your anteroom.
fig.1704Swift Mech. Operat. Spir. Misc. (1711) 274 Now, Sir, to proceed after the Method in present Wear. 1853Dickens Bleak Ho. xix, Assuredly that shield and buckler of Britannia are not in present wear.
3. a. What one wears or should wear; the thing or things worn or proper to be worn at a particular time or in certain circumstances.
1570Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1576) 12 Makers of coloured woollen clothes..from whome is drawne..sufficient stoare to furnishe the weare of the best sort of our owne nation. 1581A. Hall Iliad x. 180 And without crest or plume at all his morian on [he] doth pull, Of bullish hyde, a yong mans weare, men do it call a scul. 1599B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. i. iv, Amo. Your ribband too do's most gracefully, in troth. Aso. Tis the most gentile, and receiu'd weare now, sir. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. vii. 34 Motley's the onely weare. 1611― Wint. T. iv. iv. 327 Will you buy..Any Silke, any Thred, any Toyes for your head Of the news't and fins't, fins't weare-a. 1619Fletcher Knt. Malta ii. i, What's in that pack there? 1 Sold. 'Tis English Cloth. Nor. That's a good wear indeed, Both strong, and rich. 16..Cleveland News fr. Newcastle 130 Wks. (1687) 290 Our Wear's plain Out-side, but is richly lin'd. 1688Holme Armoury iii. 257/2 It is a wear amongst little Children with us to this day. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. II. 166 A particular kind of flowered and striped lawns, which are a cheap and fashionable wear. 1812W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. XXXIII. 229 It has occasionally been questioned whether hats or turbans were the prevailing wear. 1860Thackeray Round. Papers, Ribbons (1876) 18 The Great Duke's theory was..that for common people your plain coat without stars and ribbons, was the most sensible wear. 1865in G. Hill Hist. Dress (1893) II. 261 Little insects of all kinds, especially flies, are good wear in bonnets. 1885Manch. Exam. 5 June 5/6 Their cotton gowns are much cooler wear in the broiling weather of the present week than the warm Welsh woollens. 1902Times 29 July 11/3 The makers..are fairly well supplied with orders, men's wear excepted.
b. transf. and fig.
1603Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. ii. 78 Clo. I hope Sir, your good Worship wil be my baile? Luc. No indeed wil I not Pompey, it is not the wear. 1742Young Nt. Th. v. 829 Hence burly corpulence Is his familiar wear, and sleek disguise. 1847L. Hunt Men, Women, & B. I. xiv. 232 Meeting one day with a lovely face that had flaxen locks about it, we thought for a good while after, that flaxen was your only wear. 1876C. L. Smith Tasso's Jerus. Delivered iii. vii, Each from his head removes the bauble there Of silk or gold,..Each doffs too from his heart its haughty wear.
4. a. Capacity for being worn or for further advantageous use.
1699Boyer Royal Dict., Eng.-Fr. s.v., A Stuff of good Wear, une Etoffe d'un bon usé. 1881Punch 26 Feb. 94/1 The shoe that has still wear in it. 1901T. J. Alldridge Sherbro xxviii. 339 The native-made cloths..of never-ending wear.
b. Advantage of continued wearing.
1836[Hooton] Bilberry Thurland ii. I. 35, I've had more wear out of this one waistcoat, than any hafe dozen agen.
II.
5. a. The process or condition of being worn or gradually reduced in bulk or impaired in quality by continued use, friction, attrition, exposure to atmospheric or other natural destructive agencies; loss or diminution of substance or deterioration of quality due to these causes.
1729[T. Prior] Observ. Coin (1856) 305 This Scarcity will be farther increased by the Wear of Silver Coins, which has lessened their Weights considerably. 1730Conduitt Observ. Coins (1774) 51 The telling money on wood, especially with a mixture of sand, very much encreases the wear. 1791Smeaton Edystone L. §321, I then saw the coast was in a state of wear. 1797Monthly Mag. III. 546 The foundation should be covered to the depth that is necessary to sustain the wear to which the road is subject. 1869F. Kohn Iron & Steel Manuf. 90 The saw, not being constantly in use, is driven by an independent engine to save the wear of its bearings. 1891Flower Horse iii. 115 The shape of the table alters as the wear of the tooth proceeds. 1894A. M. Bell in Jrnl. Anthrop. Inst. XXIII. 273 So also with surface finds; if they possess definite characteristics of form, of wear, of weather,..of position when found, each of which places them in a class by themselves.
b. transf. and fig.
1882Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. cxix. 20. VI. 51 They [sc. desires for holiness] cause a wear of heart, a straining of the mind. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 311 Those who..are already showing signs of wear in their nervous systems.
6. a. wear and tear, wearing or damage due to ordinary usage; deterioration in the condition of a thing through constant use or service. Also (less usual) tear and wear: see tear n.2 1.
1666Pepys Diary 29 Sept., The wages, victuals, wear and tear, cast by the medium of the men, will come to above {pstlg}3,000,000. 1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 119 Wear and tear of Ground-Tackle. 1699Luttrell Brief Rel. IV. 595 Allowing 4l. a man per mensem for ware and tear, charge of the ordnance included. 1702Savery Miner's Friend 64 A Work..that cost forty-two shillings per diem..besides Ware and Tare of Engines. 1776Adam Smith W.N. iv. ix. (1869) II. 249 The wear and tear of the implements of husbandry. 1835Marryat J. Faithful i, A pair of shoes may have lasted her for five years, for the wear and tear that she took out of them. 1839Stonehouse Axholme 46 It is difficult to calculate the daily wear and tear of four horses, straining through the thick mud, breaking the gears, and almost pulling the waggon to pieces. 1867Smyth Sailor's Wordbk., Wear and Tear, the decay and deterioration of the hull, spars, sails, ropes, and other stores of a ship in the course of a voyage. 1868Stanley Westm. Abb. (ed. 2) 508 The wear-and-tear of four centuries..had rendered this venerable building quite unfit for its purpose. 1902Act 2 Edw. VII c. 42 §7 (d), Such damage as the local authority consider to be due to fair wear and tear in the use of any room in the school house.
b. transf. and fig.
1678Butler Hud. iii. i. 1182 That in return would pay th'expence, The Wear-and-tear of Conscience. 1775Johnson in Boswell (1791) I. 515 You are not to wonder at that; no man's face has had more wear and tear. 1806J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life ii. §31 There is not a whit less wear and tear to the nerves. 1828Macaulay Ess., Hallam (1897) 89 Mr. Hallam..scarcely makes a sufficient allowance for the wear and tear which honesty almost necessarily sustains in the friction of political life. 1848Dickens Dombey xxv, Unequal to the wear and tear of daily life, as he had often professed himself to be. 1881M. Arnold Ess. Crit. Ser. ii. vi. (1888) 166 Nay, I doubt whether his [Shelley's] delightful Essays and Letters..will not resist the wear and tear of time better..than his poetry.
c. wear-and tear-pigment (Biochem.) [tr. G. abnutzungspigment]: a pigment that accumulates in cells as they age.
1928Amer. Jrnl. Path. IV. 236 This pigment (lipofuscin) was recognized by Lubarsch who classified it along with melanin as ‘wear-and-tear’ pigment (Abnutzungspigmente). 1943Jrnl. Compar. Neurol. LXXVIII. 45 It would be better to abandon the attempt to group all these substances [from different tissues] under the common term ‘wear-and-tear’ pigment. 1968[see lipofuscin s.v. lipo-].
7. Pugilism. (See quots.)
1819Sporting Mag. N.S. III. 231 It was who should stay upon the wear-out game in the rain the longest. 1832P. Egan's Bk. Sports 45/1 Bravo, Neal—he must win it—he has too much wear-and-tear for Gaynor.
III. 8. The anterior surface of the lower part of the mouth of a carpenter's plane.
185.Tomlinson's Cycl. Useful Arts II. 318/2 The narrow opening between the face of the iron and the line m w′ is termed the mouth of the plane; the line m w′ is called the wear: the angle between the mouth and the wear should be as small as possible, so that as the sole wears away,..the mouth may not be too much enlarged.
IV.
9. attrib. and Comb., as wear-resistance, wear-resisting; wear-proof, wear-resistant, wear-resisting adjs.; wear-dated a. (see quot. 1968).
1897Sears, Roebuck Catal. 183/2 This suit..is regular wear-resisting goods. 1921Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 9 Apr. 7/1 Wearproof Suits for Boys. Specially selected materials and extra care in the making of these suits enable them to give every wearing satisfaction. 1943U.S. Patents Q. LVI. 494/2 Wear-resisting, anti-fatigue, and shock-absorbing properties are relative and not absolute terms. 1946Nature 5 Oct. 476/2 The advantage of these new processes is that the weight and wear-resistance of the fabrics are increased. 1960Farmer & Stockbreeder 29 Mar. (Suppl.) 4/1 A wear-resistant outer lining. 1968J. Ironside Fashion Alphabet 102 Wear⁓dated, officially recognised guaranteeing the length of normal wear of garments. 1978Detroit Free Press 16 Apr. (Detroit Suppl.) 14 (Advt.), Choice of covers includes lush acrylic velvet by Monsanto with two-year wear-dated guarantee.
▪ II. wear, v.1|wɛə(r)|
Pa. tense wore |wɔə(r)|; pa. pple. worn |wɔːn|. Forms: 1 werian, 3–4 werie, werye, 3–5 north. wer, 3–7 were, 4 weri, 4–6 wher(e, 5 weyr(e, wheer, 5–6 weer(e, 5–8 (chiefly Sc.) weir, 6 wayre, Sc. weire, veir, veyr, 6–7 weare, waire, 7 ware, (8 wair), 6– wear. pa. tense. α. 1–5 werede, 3 weorede, 4–5 wered, -id, werd(e, 5 weryd(e, werryde, -id, veryd, Sc. werit, -yt, weiret, 6 weard, 8 weared. β. 4–6 were, 4–5 wer, weyr, Sc. war, wour, 5–6 Sc. woir, 5–7 ware, 6 weer, weare, wayre, waare, warre, woore, Sc. wair, woure, 6–7 woare, 6– wore. pa. pple. α. 1–5 wered, 4 (y)werd, 5 werid, -yd, Sc. -it, werde, werede. β. 5 woryn, 5–8 worne, 6 woren, Sc. vorne, 6–8, 9 dial. wore, 5– worn.
[A Com. Teut. weak vb. (wanting in Frisian, LG., Du., Sw., Da., and mod.Norw.): OE. węrian corresponds to OHG. werjan, werjen to clothe, ON. verja to clothe, also to invest, lay out (money: see ware v.2), Goth. wasjan to clothe (also in comb. gawasjan to clothe, andwasjan to unclothe, strip):—OTeut. *wazjan (? and *wasjan), f. Teut. root *was-, whence Goth. wasti fem., garment, MHG. wester fem., christening robe; ablaut variant of OTeut. and Indogermanic *wes-, whence ON. vesl neut., cloak, L. vestis garment, Gr. ἑννύναι (:—*wesnu-) to clothe, ϝεσθής, ἐσθής raiment, Skr. vas to clothe, vasman neut., a cover, garment, vasana neut., vastra neut., clothing.
The change from the weak to the strong conjugation, due to the analogy of verbs like swear, bear, tear, seems to have begun in the 14th c., but is rare before the 16th. In OE. the pa. pple. forworen occurs once, along with the regular forwered, as a gloss to decrepita (Napier OE. Gl. i. 2109), and in The Ruined City 7 we should probably read forworene ᵹelorene for the forweorone ᵹeleorene of the MS.]
I. ‘To carry appendant to the body’ (J.).
1. a. trans. To carry or bear on one's body or on some member of it, for covering, warmth, ornament, etc.; to be dressed in; to be covered or decked with; to have on.
c893ælfred Oros. iv. ix. (1883) 190 Þæt nan oþer ne moste gyldenne hring werian, buton he æþeles cynnes wære. c1205Lay. 17695 He weorede ane burne. c1290St. Patrick 506 in S.E. Leg. 214 Ech werede cloþes of þe en-taile þat heo wereden on eorþe here. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1928 He were a bleaunt of blwe, þat bradde to þe erþe. c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 139 If hire lust it [sc. this ring] for to were Vp on hir thombe or in hir purs it bere. c1450Mirk's Festial 197 He..werd þe her next to hys flesch. c1470Henry Wallace iii. 84 Gude souir weide dayly on him he wour. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 72 Though he ware the habit of religyon, yet his herte was in the worlde. 1535Coverdale 1 Macc. xi. 58 To weere a colar of golde. 1590Tarlton's Newes Purgatorie 35 A crewe of men that woare Baye garlands on their heads. 1601,1696[see truss n. 4]. 1657Howell Londinop. 319 These [Irons] he [sc. a prisoner] ware from Thursday till Sunday. 1707J. Stevens tr. Quevedo's Com. Wks. (1709) 355 Wearing Watches in their Pockets. 1721Berkeley Pres. Ruin Gt. Brit. Wks. III. 199 More fine linen is wore in Great Britain than in any other country. 1857W. A. Butler Nothing to wear 19 Miss McFlimsey..The last time we met, was in utter despair, Because she had nothing whatever to wear! 1879G. C. Harlan Eyesight vi. 78 In Germany..it has long been impossible to fill the ranks of the army without allowing soldiers to wear glasses. 1902J. Buchan Watcher by Threshold 289 He wears the same clothes for years. 1913M. Roberts Salt of Sea ix. 215 His ears had been pierced for earrings, though he wore none.
fig.1697Dryden Virg. Past. iv. 30 Each common Bush shall Syrian Roses wear. 1859FitzGerald Omar xviii, Every Hyacinth the Garden wears.
b. To dress oneself habitually or at a particular season in (a material, garment) of a particular sort or fashion. Also in pass., of the material or garment.
a1225Ancr. R. 418 Nexst fleshe ne schal mon werien no linene cloð. c1250Doomsday 28 in O.E. Misc. 164 Moni of þisse riche þat wereden foh and grei. a1300Cursor M. 11112 He..wered noþer wol ne line. 13..Sir Orfeo 241 (Sisam) He þat hadde ywerd þe fowe and griis. c1449Pecock Repr. v. xii. 543 The habitis, whiche..ben assigned to be worn of the religiose persoones. 1516Life of St. Bridget in Myrr. our Ladye lii, She weer euer rough & sharpe wolen cloth. 1535Coverdale 2 Sam. xiii. 18 Soch garmentes wayre y⊇ kynges doughters whyle they were virgins. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxv. §1 The Church..suffereth mourning apparell to bee worne. 1785G. A. Bellamy Apol. III. 50 Brown rateen, which at that time was much wore. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair lii, When the Court went into mourning, she always wore black. 1860O. W. Holmes Prof. Breakf.-t. vii. 136 She wears her trains very long, as the great ladies do in Europe. a1891R. W. Barbour Thoughts (1900) 66 Wearing scarlet is a badge of being in the Queen's service.
fig.1896A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad ii, Loveliest of trees, the cherry now..stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide.
†c. with on or upon adv. (= on one's person; cf. have on, put on). Obs.
a1366Chaucer Rom. Rose 564 A chapelet, so semly oon Ne werede neuer mayde vpon. c1386― Wife's Prol. 559, I..wered vpon my gaye scarlet gytes. 1387Trevisa Higden I. 239 Þis victor hym self schulde were on Iupiter his cote. 1567Harman Caveat 62 A lytle whystell of syluer that his mother dyd vse customablye to weare on. 1570Levins Manip. 209/43 To Weare on, ferre. 1579–80North Plutarch, Aristides (1595) 364 He weareth on a purple coloured coate.
d. said of an animal.
1486Bk. St. Albans, Hawking d iii, The bellis that yowre hawke shall wheer looke in any wise that thay be not to heuy ouer hir power to weyr. 1579W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love 13 b, A ring of gold..ceaseth not to be a ryng of gold though a swine weare it.
†e. absol. To dress, be clad (in a specified fashion). Obs. rare.
a1225Ancr. R. 4 Þet techeð al hu me schal beren him wiðuten, hu eten, drincken, werien, liggen, slepen, wakien. 1597J. Payne Royal Exch. 28 They walkinge and wearinge in that common place agreable to there caullinge and state.
f. intr. (for pass.) = to be worn; to be the fashion.
1601Shakes. All's Well i. i. 172 Virginitie like an olde Courtier, weares her cap out of fashion,..iust like the brooch and the toothpick, which were not now. 1888Quiller-Couch in Echoes fr. Oxf. Mag. (1890) 105 Are ‘hems’ wearing?
2. a. trans. To bear or carry (arms, also a stick or cane). † Hence, to display (a heraldic charge) on one's shield.
c1000Canons of ælfric xxx, Ne preost..wæpna ne weriᵹe. 1375Barbour Bruce i. 355 The byschop..gert him wer His knyvys, forouch him to scher. a1400Morte Arth. 3872 He was the sterynneste in stoure that euer stele werryde. 1456Sir G. Haye Law of Armys (S.T.S.) 276 Than will he declare the armes that all princis and nobleis and othir gentillis aw to were, and of thair colouris and discripciouns. 1463Bury Wills (Camden) 15 To Davn Willm Boxforde my knyves that I veryd my selfe. 1535Coverdale 1 Chron. vi. 18 Soch as were fightinge men, which wayre shylde & swerde, and coulde bende the bowe. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xvii. 19 b, [They had] sworne, at no time after to wear armes against the Turkish nation. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 131 marg. note, The ryd lyon he weires in his armes. 1604Shakes. Oth. v. i. 2 Weare thy good Rapier bare, and put it home. 1690in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874) 26 The said Lord William Murray is..to..bear and wear the armes and cognizance of the house and family of Nairne. 1749Chesterfield Lett. to Son 27 Sept., His cane (if unfortunately he wears one) is at perpetual war with every cup of tea or coffee he drinks. 1775Sheridan Duenna iii. vii, You shall know that I have a brother who wears a sword. 1819D. B. Warden Acc. U.S. III. 219 Both sexes..wear an umbrella in all seasons. 1847Mrs. A. Kerr tr. Ranke's Hist. Servia 270 Their small arms, which they had formerly been permitted to wear.
†b. To use, employ, handle. Obs.
a1400Nominale (Skeat) 138 F[emme] vse nase et criuere. W[oman] weruth seue and riddell. c1440Alphabet of Tales 367 He offerd vnto hym..a grete porcion of syluer vessell, & bad hym were þaim for his sake.
3. To allow (one's hair, beard) to grow in a specified fashion, or as opposed to shaving or to the use of a wig.
c1100O.E. Chron. (MS. C) an. 1056 Leofgar..se werede his kenepas on his preosthade oððæt he wæs biscop. c1449Pecock Repr. i. xx. 124 Noone wommen weriden thanne eny lynnen or silken keuercheefis, but weriden her open heer. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 55 Speake seldome, and weare a long beard. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. v. i. 158 The Clearke wil nere weare haire on's face that had it. 1624Capt. J. Smith Virginia 3 The women weare their haire long on both sides. 1697W. Dampier Voy. I. 407 Many of them have abandoned their Country to preserve their liberty of wearing their Hair. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xxx, Be so good as to inform me, if the fellow wore his own red hair. 1802Wordsw. Resol. & Independ. viii, The oldest man he seem'd that ever wore grey hairs. 1841Dickens Barn. Rudge i, He wore his own dark hair. 1862Queen's Regul. Naval Service 336 The Officers, Petty Officers, and Seamen of the Fleet are not to wear moustaches or beards. 1905H. G. Wells Kipps ii. ii. §1 She wore her hair in a knob behind.
4. Phrases (lit. and fig.).
a. to wear a crown, diadem, mitre, palm, wear the purple, etc.: to hold the dignity or office of which the ornament is a symbol.
c893ælfred Oros. vi. xxx. (1883) 280 Þæt hie woldon þa onwaldas forlætan, & þa purpuran alecgan þa hie weredon. 1382Wyclif 1 Esdras iii. 2 King Darie made a gret soper..to alle that wereden [v.r. werden] purper. c1393Chaucer Gentilesse 7 Al were he mytre, croune or dyademe. c1470Three Fifteenth-C. Chron. (Camden) 4 He was the fyrst kynge þat ever wered crowne of golde in this londe. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. i. i. 6 The last That wore the Imperiall Diadem of Rome. 1597― 2 Hen. IV, iii. i. 31 Vneasie lyes the Head, that weares a Crowne. 1797Burke Regic. Peace iii. Wks. VIII. 274 It is the power of winning that palm which ensures our wearing it. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 205 Degrading that crown which it was probable that he would himself one day wear. 1895‘H. S. Merriman’ Sowers i, He [the Emperor] is a gentleman, although he has the misfortune to wear the purple.
†b. to wear the horn(s: to be a cuckold. Obs.
c1530Hyckescorner 706 And, knyght of the halter, my fader ware an horne. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. ii. 14 Take thou no scorne to weare the horne. 1632Sir T. Hawkins Mathieu's Unhappy Prosperitie 98 By reason he was old, and without children,..his wife should doe well to make him weare the horne. 1639J. Clarke Parœm. 328 The good wife weares the breeches, the good man the hornes.
†c. to wear papers: (of an offender) To have a note of one's offence fastened on one's back or head. Obs.
a1529–1588: see paper n. 7 b.
a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 1 Sone after were apprehended diuerse called promoters..of the whiche, the moste part ware papers, and stoode on the Pillorie. 1552Huloet, Weare a paper for some infamye or offence, contamidio [read catomidio]. 1560–1Machyn Diary (Camden) 250 They ware paper a-pon ther hedes for pergure. 1616Breton Good & Bad 14 Lest when the Law indeede laies them open, in steade of carrying papers in their hands, they weare not papers on their heads.
d. to wear one's arm in a scarf or sling: to support it thus when injured. to wear one's heart upon one's sleeve: see heart n. 54 f.
1597,1600[see scarf n.1 4]. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 27 My companion was so bruised, that he wore his arm in a scarf for two months after. 1727Boyer Dict. Royal II. s.v. Sling, To wear one's Arm in a Sling, Porter le bras en écharpe. 1794[see sling n.2 3 c].
e. to wear the breeches: see breech n. 2. to wear yellow hose (or breeches): see yellow a. 2. to wear the willow: see willow. to wear the trousers: see trousers n. pl. 2 c. †
f. slang. (See quots.) Obs.
1812J. H. Vaux Flash Dict. s.v. Bands, To wear the bands, is to be hungry, or short of food for any length of time. Ibid. s.v. Wear it, to wear it upon a person, (meaning to wear a nose, or a conk,) is synonymous with nosing, conking, splitting, or coming it.
5. Of a ship (or its commander): To fly (a flag, colours).
† Formerly also, to carry (a mast).
1558in W. G. Perrin Brit. Flags (1922) 88 Mr. Broke, Captaine of the reed Gallie, who is apointed to ware the flagge of vize Admyrall for this present Jorney. 1575Fleming Virg. Bucol. iv. 12 No shyp that weares a maste, Shal make exchaunge of wares. 1627J. Smith Sea Gram. xiii. 62 Any ship..where he..resideth.., is to weare his flag in the maine top. 1666Lond. Gaz. No. 82/1 Thirteen French Gallies, wearing Swedes Colors. 1715Lond. Gaz. No. 5359/1 The Czar on board his Ship wears the Distinction of Vice-Admiral of the Blue. 1803in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1845) V. 287 note, Saint George's Ensigns are to be worn by every Ship in Action. 1862Queen's Regul. Naval Service 17 The Admiral of the Fleet, and the Admirals of the Red, White, and Blue, shall wear their proper Flag. 1881A. MacGeorge Flags 73 The other [pendant] is worn at the mast-head of all armed vessels in the employ of the government of a British colony.
6. transf. To bear or possess as a member or part of the body.
1513Douglas æneis viii. Prol. 156 Quhy the corn hes the caff, And kow weris clufe. 1591G. Fletcher Russe Commw. iii. 10 b, The fish that weareth it [the ‘fishe tooth’] is called a Morse. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 214 Who knowes not where a Waspe does weare his sting? In his taile. 1600― A.Y.L. ii. i. 14 Sweet are the vses of aduersitie Which like the toad, ougly and venemous, Weares yet a precious Iewell in his head. 1614Ralegh Hist. World Pref. D 2, Euery man weares but his owne skin. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. Democr. to Rdr. 34 To see a man to weare his braines in his belly, his guts in his head. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 531 Two Golden Horns on his large Front he wears. a1721Prior Turtle & Sparrow 132 All that wear Feathers first or last, Must one Day perch on Charon's Mast. 1794Godwin Caleb Williams 47, I will not put my estate to nurse to you, nor to the best he that wears a head. 1847H. Miller First Impr. Eng. xvii. (1861) 215 Fish that wear an armature of bone outside. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair liii, Steyne wore the scar to his dying day.
7. To exhibit or present (a particular look, expression, appearance, etc.).
1611Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 344 With a countenance as cleare As Friendship weares at Feasts. 1669Dryden Tyrannic Love i. i, When an action does two faces wear. 1749Fielding Tom Jones xi. vii, He now assumed a carriage to me so very different from what he had lately worn. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. iii, The world now began to wear a different aspect. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xviii. 48 There everything wore the appearance of a holiday. 1841Thackeray Gt. Hoggarty Diam. xi, Both wore very long faces. 1870Disraeli Lothair xli. 211 The countenance of Lord St. Aldegonde wore a rueful expression.
8. a. In various fig. uses: To carry about with one in one's heart, mind, or memory; to have as a quality or attribute; to bear (a name, title).
a1586Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 47 Let Aeneas be worne in the tablet of your memory. 1599Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 75 He weares his faith but as the fashion of his hat, it euer changes with y⊇ next block. 1602― Ham. iii. ii. 77 Giue me that man, That is not Passions Slaue, and I will weare him In my hearts Core. 1605― Macb. ii. ii. 65 My Hands are of your colour: but I shame To weare a Heart so white. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. 191 Suffragan of Nottingham, (the last I beleeve who wore that title). 1668Davenant Man's the Master v. i, He did wear your Brother in his bosome as his dearest Friend. 1777Thicknesse Journ. France (1789) I. 348 ‘Roach; an unfortunate name!’ said he;— ‘but, as it is my name, I will wear it.’ 1827in Scott Chron. Canongate Introd. App., He was vain of the cognomen which he had now worn for eight years. 1848Classical Museum V. 382 The dithyramb wore the same character as Pindar's ἆθλα. 1884Christian Commw. 21 Feb. 439/1 Those who wear His name.
b. To possess and enjoy as one's own. Chiefly in phr. to win and wear (a lady as one's wife).
The lit. reference may have been to a favour won in the tilt, or to a king's crown (cf. Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. v. 222).
1573G. Harvey Letter Bk. (Camden) 114 Thou hast woone her—weare her. 1588Greene Pandosto (1607) G j, Meliagrus is a Knight that hath wonne me by loue, and none but he shall weare me. 1599Shakes. Much Ado v. i. 82 Win me and weare me, let him answere me. 1611― Cymb. i. iv. 96 You may weare her in title yours. 1621Fletcher Wild-goose Chase ii. i, Win 'em, and wear 'em, I give up my interest. 1748Richardson Clarissa III. 350, I, who have won the gold, am only fit to wear it. 1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest xxvii, As for his daughter..you have yet to ‘win her and wear her’, as the saying is.
c. To tolerate, accept, or agree to (a proposal, etc.). Usu. in negative with it as obj.
1925Fraser & Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 301 To wear, to put up with, e.g., ‘I won't wear it’, I won't stand it. 1945C. H. Ward-Jackson It's a Piece of Cake! (ed. 2) 61 Wear it. Agree to it, accept it. Thus, ‘I've asked the old man for permission to keep the bar open an hour later, but he won't wear it.’ 1950C. MacInnes To Victors the Spoils i. 70 ‘The new Captain would never wear it.’ ‘Then it's up to you to put it to him the right way.’ 1961E. Waugh Unconditional Surrender iii. i. 203 Presently the Lieutenant came across to them bearing a cigar-case. ‘I can't wear them myself,’ he said. 1970P. H. Johnson Honours Board 61 The mother said this was very kind but that Peter would never—she was given to girlish slang—‘wear it’. 1981S. Jackman Game of Soldiers i. 53 No..Watson wouldn't wear it... Nor will I.
II. To waste, damage, or destroy by use.
9. a. To waste and impair (a material) gradually by use or attrition. ? Primarily with clothes as obj. = to damage them by ordinary wearing.
Perh. originally short for forwear, which is found earlier.
1382Wyclif Josh. ix. 13 Clothis and shoon..for the length of lenger weye ben to troden, and almeest wered. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xiv. iii. (1495) 469 Waters dygge and weer the nesshe partes of the erthe. c1400Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) xxiv (end), Whan his tuskes aboue beth..ywered of þe neyther tuskes. c1440Promp. Parv. 522/2 Weryn, or vson, as clothys and other thyngys, vetero. 1539Test. Ebor. (Surtees) VI. 89 If any of the said housholde stuf be worne or gone, then she to be resonablie recompensed. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 45 How it chaunced, that the philosophiers did frette and weare the threshholdes of riche mennes houses. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. Oct. 8, I haue pyped erst so long with payne, That all mine Oten reedes bene rent and wore. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 752 All the letters beside..are so worne and gone, that they could not be read. 1611Bible Ecclus. vi. 36 Let thy foote weare [ἐκτριβέτω] the steps of his doore. 1717Pope Eloisa 19 Ye rugged rocks, which holy knees have worn! 1764J. Ferguson Lect. 47 When the stone is considerably wore, and become light, the mill must be fed slowly. 1849M. Arnold Forsaken Merman 74 We climb'd on the graves, on the stones worn with rains. 1855Bohn Ray's Prov. etc. 339 Constant dropping wears the stone. 1872L. P. Meredith Teeth 112 When the teeth are crowded too closely together, they..wear one another. 1898‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner iv. 33 The house..is of dark red brick with facings of stone, long since worn by wind and weather.
absol.1478Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 212 He sal defend the watyr at it were na ferrar in, eftir vale and quantyte of his land.
b. with intensifying adv., as away, down, off, out.
1538Elyot Dict. Addit., Contero, to weare out with occupienge. 1561in Inuentaires de la Royne Descosse (Bannatyne Club) 33 Ane auld cannabie of grene serge worne away and brokin. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. iv. 4 Her lockes..Grew all afore,..But all behind was bald, and worne away. 1600Fairfax Tasso xviii. xxi, Downe fell the bridge, swelled the streame, and weard The worke away. 1647in Verney Mem. (1907) I. 373 All the linnen is quite worne out. 1674Boyle Corpusc. Philos. 28 Such an attrition, as wears off the edges and points. 1676J. Smith Art of Painting xvii. 75 Too frequent operations in this kind must needs wear off a little of the Colours. 1782F. Burney Cecilia v. viii, Never sweep a room out of use; only wears out brooms for nothing. 1835T. Mitchell Acharn. of Aristoph. 620 note, The metaphor is derived from a flute, the mouth-piece of which is worn out. 1852Lyell Elem. Geol. (ed. 4) iii. 25 These flinty cases and spiculæ..are..admirably adapted, when rubbed, for wearing down into a fine powder fit for polishing the surface of metals. 1885Law Rep. 15 Q.B.D. 316 The catch on the pin..was worn away. 1922C. Alington Strained Relations xiv. 222 If you can't get into Parliament without my wearing out your old suits.
c. with pred. extension, as to wear threadbare, wear smooth, wear blunt; to wear to rags or tatters, wear to the stumps. (Also in fig. context.)
c1520Skelton Magnyf. 223 Welth and Wyt, I say, be so threde bare worne, That all is without Measure. a1555–1732 [see stump n. 3 b]. 1575Gascoigne Weedes, Compl. greene Knt. 180 She did but weare Cosmanes cloutes, which she in spite had torne: And yet betwene them both they waare the threeds so neere [etc.]. 1639J. Taylor (Water P.) Part Summers Trav. 48 My Pen is worn blunt. 1661Boyle Style Script. (1675) 232 All his too frequent kisses have worn it to tatters. 1756T. Amory Buncle (1770) II. 69 There was no water dropping from the roof of this cave; but in a thousand places..it crept through the sides, and formed streams that ran softly over the ground and weared it smooth. 1765Foote Commissary i. 7 He'll stick to his honour too, till his cassock is wore to a rag. 1808Scott Marm. i. v, His forehead, by his casque worn bare. 1852Thackeray Esmond i. vii, She would wear a gown to rags, because he had once liked it.
10. a. To sap the strength or energy of (a person, his faculties, etc.) by toil, age, etc.; to fatigue, weary; † to exhaust (a soil).
1508Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 127 He is waistit and worne fra Venus werkis. 1523–34Fitzherb. Husb. §14 All these maner of otes weare the grounde very sore. 1585Higins Junius' Nomencl. 384/1 Ager effœtus,..a ground that by continuall fruitfulnes is quite spent, worne, and out of occupyeng. 1591–5C'tess Pembroke Lay of Clorinda 95 Thus do we weep and waile, and wear our eies. 1601Shakes. All's Well v. i. 4 Since you haue made the daies and nights as one, To weare your gentle limbes in my affayres. 1694Dryden To Congreve 66 Already I am worn with Cares and Age. 1825Scott Talism. iii, Both warriors, worn by toil and travel, were soon fast asleep. 1833H. Martineau Loom & Lugger ii. i. 7 He had brought me up to an occupation that wears the spirits. 1865M. Arnold Ess. Crit., M. de Guérin (1875) 121 Still the yoke wore him deeply, and he had moments of bitter revolt. 1870Bryant Iliad iv. 402 Age, the common fate of all, has worn Thy frame.
b. with adv., as away, out, down, † up. Also with advb. phr., as to wear to death.
c1524in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. I. 193 Ells they [the Irish] shall never be woren out, but increas more and more. 1577Wolton Cast. Christians F ij b, Peruerse affections, which doo euen weare awaye, and consume vs. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. i. ii. 109 You that haue worne your eyes almost out in the seruice, you will bee considered. 1607Norden Surv. Dial. v. 241 A weed that groweth commonly upon grounds ouertilled, and worne out of heart. 1672W. Walker Parœm. 56 They win by wearing their enemies out. 1691Sir T. P. Blount Ess. 165 In most of these Places the old Inhabitants, or their Breed, are quite wore away. 1701Collier M. Anton. (1726) 8 That she may not live too fast, wear up her constitution, and destroy the capacities of enjoyment. 1729Law Ser. Call xi. 169 She tells you that her patience is quite wore out. 1735Johnson Lobo's Abyssinia, Voy. viii. 42 The concern they shew'd at seeing us worn away with Hunger, Labour, and Weariness. 1783― Let. to Mrs. Thrale 23 July, Do not let your mind wear out your body. 1803Beddoes Hygëia ix. 105 At the close of the season in London women appear worn down, haggard and spent. 1840Arnold Hist. Rome II. 344 With these missiles [they] endeavoured to wear down the mass of their enemies. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop lxiv, This poor little Marchioness has been wearing herself to death! 1847W. E. Forster in Reid Life (1888) I. vi. 190 Found my father..pretty well, but worn up and worn down. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xiv, And still you go hanging on to my sister, who'll fling you off like an old shoe, when she's wore you out. 1872G. W. Dasent Three to One x, He always looks well when he doesn't wear himself down dancing all night. 1881Jowett Thucyd. I. 230 They carried on uninterrupted war against the new settlers until they completely wore them out. 1886‘Sarah Tytler’ Buried Diamonds xviii, To-night, when one is worn off one's feet already, with this miserable ball. 1904M. Hewlett Queen's Quair iii. xi. 500 She wore herself to thread, padding up and down the room. 1912World 7 May 700/1 As the soil..becomes worn out the farmers have to buy more artificial manure.
c. With on or upon. Of a circumstance: to affect (a person) adversely; to fatigue or debilitate. Cf. weigh v.1 22 a.
1864O. W. Norton Army Lett. (1903) 245, I did not suppose these things were serious enough to wear upon your health. 1901‘L. Malet’ Hist. Sir R. Calmady v. ii. 389, I have had a detestable winter... It wore upon me. It demoralised me. 1915D. H. Lawrence Let. ? 29 Apr. (1962) 335 You can't imagine how it wears on one, having at every moment to resist this established world.
11. a. fig. With object a quality, condition, activity, disease, etc.: To cause to weaken, diminish, or disappear gradually. Chiefly with adv. or advb. phr. (as above). to wear out: to efface, destroy, exhaust, abolish, by gradual loss or the lapse of time.
1390Gower Conf. I. 33 The world..welnyh is wered oute. a1400Morte Arth. 2930 Oure wages are werede owte, and thi werre endide. 1586A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. vi. (1595) 18 But that custome..is long since worne out. 1657in Verney Mem. (1907) II. 59 That acquaintance with you which time and far distance hath worne something out of our memories. 1663Butler Hud. i. i. 47 We grant, although he had much wit, H' was very shie of using it, As being loath to wear it out. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 6 All other Themes that careless Minds invite, Are worn with Use, unworthy me to write. 1705Addison Italy, Venice 100 By the Pompousness of the whole Phrase to wear off any Littleness that appears in the particular Parts that compose it. 1711― Spect. No. 39 ⁋1 Diversions of this kind wear out of our Thoughts every thing that is mean and little. 1751F. Coventry Pompey the Little i. x. 91 When he had a little wore off the Relish of Pleasure. 1831James Phil. Augustus xxii, As the fire wore away the strength of the wood. 1857B. Taylor Northern Trav. xii. (1858) 124 When the novelty of the thing is worn off. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. iv. xvi, As if Time alone could quite wear her injury out. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 145 He did not strike a blow till all the powers of diplomacy had been thoroughly worn out between himself and his rival. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 846 Repeated operations with the idea of ‘wearing out’ the disease.
b. to wear down: to blunt the force of and overcome by steady resistance or counter-attack. Also, to get gradually ahead of (a competitor in a race) by superior endurance.
1843R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. xix. 221 These medicines..remove the aguish fits..gradually, and as it were, by wearing down the paroxysms. 1851Dixon W. Penn viii. (1872) 66 The young Quaker..strove to wear down malice by his patient and forgiving mood. 1889Rider Haggard Allan's Wife 20 Be a man, and wear it down. 1895Daily News 27 Sept. 3/2 Macbriar..gradually wearing down Balm of Gilead, won by three-quarters of a length.
†c. to wear out: to forget, lose mental hold of, through disuse or lapse of time. Obs.
a1676Hale Prim. Orig. Man. To Rdr., My application to another Study and Profession, rendred my skill in that Language of little use to me, and so I wore it out by degrees. 1708Swift Sent. Ch.-of-Eng. Man §2 Misc. (1711) 131 When these Doctrines began to be Preached among us, the Kingdom had not quite worn out the Memory of that unhappy Rebellion.
12. To form or produce by attrition.
1597Drayton Heroic. Ep., Chas. Brandon 17 That Nectar-stayned way, The restlesse sunne by trauailing doth weare. 1697Dryden æneis ix. 520 Few Paths of Humane Feet, or Tracks of Beasts, were worn. 1726Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 74/1 Ants, with constant passing up and down, will wear traces even in flints. 1782F. Burney Cecilia iv. vii, Wish I had not come now; wore a hole in my shoe. 1834Pringle Afr. Sk. vi. 203 A steep and rugged path, worn by the boors' cattle.
III. intr. To suffer waste or decay by use or by lapse of time.
13. a. Of persons or living things, activities, qualities, etc.: To lose strength, vitality, keenness, sharpness, or intensity, by the decay of time; to waste, diminish, or fade by gradual loss.
c1275Serving Christ 68 in O.E. Misc. 92 Þer wereþ vre wlite in wurmene won. 1530Palsgr. 780/1 All thyng weareth save the grace of God. 1589R. Robinson Gold. Mirr. (1851) 28 Tyme is my name, young once I was, Though now, I weare and wast alas. 1595Daniel Civ. Wars iv. viii. [v. vii], How blessed they that gaine what neuer weares. a1600Montgomerie Misc. P. xii. 10 (Laing MS.) My eyes with tereis dois weir. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. ii. §5 It..refresheth their reputation, which otherwise would weare. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop liv, The deaf old man..muttered to himself..that the sexton was wearing fast. 1864Browning J. Lee's Wife iv. vii, Yet this turns now to a fault..That I..wait too well, and weary and wear.
b. most commonly with adv., as away, off, out, or advb. phr.
1377in Polit. Poems (Rolls) I. 215 Alle thing weres and wasteth away. 1390Gower Conf. I. 16 Bot whan god wole, it [the schism] schal were oute, For trowthe mot stonde ate laste. c1480Henryson Test. Cress. 467 All Welth in Eird away as Wind it weiris. 1547Boorde Brev. Health ccclxxix. (1557) 121 b, Were before the eyes a pece of blacke sarcenet..and it [‘a blast in the eye’] wyll were awaye. 1574tr. Marlorat's Apoc. 28 To the intent these things myght neuer weare out of minde. 1611Bible Exod. xviii. 18 Thou wilt surely weare away..: for this thing is too heauy for thee. 1697W. Dampier Voy. I. 282, I found that my strength increased, and my Dropsy wore off. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 247 In a little Time, however, no more Canoes appearing, the Fear of their Coming wore off. 1720S. Payne Bp. R. Cumberland's Sanchon. Pref. p. xiv, His usual Reply was, A Man had better wear out than rust out. 1742Kames Decis. Court Sess. 1730–52 (1799) 49 Hence the strict way of interpreting such clauses..wore by degrees out of use. 1759R. Brown Compl. Farmer 111 If clover is apt to wear out of your ground. 1789–96Morse Amer. Geog. I. 398 Many persons conjecture that the Cape [Cod] is gradually wearing away. 1798[see land n.1 3 c]. 1821Byron Sardan. i. ii. 112 Till summer heats wear down. 1842Dickens Amer. Notes ii, When its novelty had long worn off. 1843R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. xxviii. 362 He..seldom got any relief until the attacks were wearing off. 1859H. Kingsley G. Hamlyn xx, Her anger, so far from wearing out, grew on what fed it. 1872Black Adv. Phaeton ix, The chill of driving through the fogs of the plain had worn off. 1889S. Walpole Ld. John Russell xxi. II. 98 The strange distrust which had so frequently separated Sir Robert Peel and Lord John began visibly to wear away.
c. with predicative adj. rare.
1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. III. iv. viii, The chorus is wearing weak; the chorus is worn out. 1875Swinburne Ess. & Stud. 334 An old man of great strength now wearing weak.
†d. to wear out, wear forth, of something which holds good for a limited time: To determine, expire. Obs.
1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 2420 Whan þe trews þat þei had take Wer werid oute. c1420Wyntoun Cron. viii. 1682 Neuirþeles he was in dowt, Or his condyte was worne out. 1472Paston Lett. III. 73, I gat a lycence of hym for a yere, and it is nyghe woryn ought. 1525in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 1527 97/2 Gif ony feman of the said craft pass furth of the toun or his band of his service be worne furth. 1530Palsgr. 780/1, I weare out, as thynges do after their tyme prefyxed is passed, je me faulx... The pardons shall weare out within these thre dayes.
14. a. Of clothing and other material things: To suffer gradual destruction, loss, or decay from attrition or use.
1402Jack Upland 45 Maketh youre habit you men of religion, or no? If it do, than, ever as it weareth, your religion weareth; and, after that the habit is better, is your religion better. 1414Brampton Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.) 38 As clothys doth were with wedyr and wynde. c1440Promp. Parv. 522/2 Weryn or wax olde and febyl [by] vse, veterasco. 1530Palsgr. 780/1, I weare, as a garment or any other thyng weareth and consumeth with the tyme, je me vse. 1582N. T. (Rheims) Luke xii. 33 Make to you purses that weare not [Vulg. qui non veterascunt]. 1587Turberv. Trag. Tales 33 By lingring loue she made his monie mealte, As waxe doth weare against the flaming fire. 1836Penny Cycl. VI. 380/1 These milk-teeth..gradually wear and fall out, and are replaced by the second and permanent teeth.
b. with intensifying adv. or advb. phr., as away, down, off, out, † wear on or to the thread.
1414Brampton Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.) 38 Alle erthely thynges schul were owte; Castellys and towrys schul bende and breste. 1530Palsgr. 780/1, I weare awaye, as a scrypture, or thyng made for remembraunce weareth awaye with the weather or with the tyme, je me oblitere. 1566A. Edwards in Hakluyt Voy. (1599) I. 358 When it [cloth] commeth to weare on the threed, it renteth like paper. 1601Offic. Papers Sir N. Bacon (Camden) 117 Jettyes and pyles..to defend theis mershes and bankes from wearing awaye by the rage of the sea. 1643Caryl Expos. Job I. 104 Our flesh wears off quickly in the grave. 1687Miege Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, My Suit begins to wear out. 1793[Earl Dundonald] Descr. Estate of Culross 22 Many of the old established Collieries in the Firth are wearing fast out. 1836wear off [see c]. 1860W. W. Reade Liberty Hall II. 38 The gilt beginning to wear off. 1882[see thread n. 2 b]. 1886Manch. Exam. 22 Feb. 6/1 When their carts wear out they need the services of the wheelwright. 1886Besant Childr. Gibeon ii. xxiii, Her scanty wardrobe would wear out.
c. with predicative adj., as wide, flat, thin.
1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 7 Teeth blacke, wearinge wide. 1836Penny Cycl. VI. 380/1 After six years old the edges of the teeth begin to wear flat, and as they wear off the root of the tooth is pushed up in the socket. 1896A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad xxxiv, Where the standing line wears thinner and the dropping dead lie thick. 1931J. van Druten London Wall ii. i. 69 You must have known yourself it's [sc. a love affair] been wearing thin. 1942J. S. Huxley in Polit. Q. XIII. 384 The inter⁓war disputation between the ‘have’ and the ‘have-not’ powers is wearing a bit thin. 1982G. M. Fraser Flashman & Redskins 52, I knew Susie's first good opinion of Spring had worn thin.
IV.
15. intr. To last or hold out in use or with the lapse of time; to resist (well or ill) the attrition or waste of use and age; also, to stand the test of experience, criticism, etc.
a1568Satir. Poems Reform. xlviii. 19, I haif Quhyt off grit delyt,..Weill werand Reid, quhill ȝe be deid. 1687Miege Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, This Stuff wears very well. 1710Steele Tatler No. 208 ⁋1 The Flattery with which he began, in telling me how well I wore, was not disagreeable. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. i, I..chose my wife, as she did her wedding-gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well. 1771Junius Lett. liv. 286 These praises..will wear well, for they have been dearly earned. 1788Monthly Mag. Mar. 183 The natives [of New York]..do not appear to wear so well as the English. 1816Byron Siege Cor. xiv, Tyrant and slave are swept away, Less form'd to wear before the ray. 1833Dickens Sk. Boz, Mr. Minns, How are you, Minns? 'Pon my soul you wear capitally! 1875H. James R. Hudson i, Rowland examined the statuette at his leisure... He discovered its weak points, but it wore well. 1905M. Barnes-Grundy Vacill. Hazel 96, I am tired of old-fashioned, made-to-wear-for-ever clothes.
†16. trans. to wear out: to come safe through, ‘weather’ (a storm, an attack of sickness). Obs.
1617in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 252 She has fallen into it [the ague] again..but..I hope she may wear it out. 1645Bp. Hall Rem. Discontent. 63 The poor man..when hee foresees a storm to threaten him, puts into the next Creek; and wears out in a quiet security that Tempest, wherein he sees prouder Vessels..fatally wracked.
V. In reference to time, change, endurance, etc.
17. In pa. pple., of time, a period of time, a season: Past, spent, passed away. Also with adv., as out, † by, † forth. Now chiefly poet.
This use is found earlier than senses 18 and 19, and the vb. may here be regarded as either trans. or intr.
c1400Beryn 1090 Fawnus lyvid wyfles [till] thre yeer wer werid. c1420Wyntoun Cron. ii. 1301 Qwhen hir tyme was werit [Wemyss worne] out. c1470Henry Wallace ix. 659 Off tym that is by worn. 1472in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 1476, 258/1 Eftir the termes of 5 yeris are worne furth and bipassit. a1547Surrey ‘The soote season’ 12 in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 4 Winter is worne that was the flowers bale. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV 221 b, Mornyng in continuall sorowe, not so much for her selfe and her husbande, whose ages were almost consumed and worne, but for the losse of prince Edward her sonne. 1557Tusser 100 Points Husb. §83 Share not thy lammes, till mid July be worne. 1587Turberv. Trag. T. 55 And there he staied vntill such time as all his yere was worne. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 187 And for the morning now is something worne, Our purpos'd hunting shall be set aside. 1842Tennyson Love & Duty 69 Till now the dark was worn, and overhead The lights of sunset and of sunrise mix'd In that brief night. 1890Hall Caine Bondman ii. vii, The year was far worn towards winter.
18. a. trans. To spend, pass (one's time, a period of time). Chiefly poet. Cf. ware v.2 b.
1567Fenton Trag. Disc. xii. 263 b, She weard her youth in dule in steade of ioye. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. i. 31 To shew the place, In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare. c1750Shenstone Elegy i. 45 Where with Œnone thou hast worn the day. a1777T. Warton Suicide v. 26 He wore his endless noons alone, Amid th' autumnal wood. 1809Campbell Gert. Wyom. ii. ix, A deep untrodden grot Where oft the reading hours sweet Gertrude wore. 1821Clare Vill. Minstrel I. 18 Spinning long stories, wearing half the day. 1875Morris æneids xii. 398 He..speeding of a silent craft, inglorious life would wear.
b. with adv., as away, out, † by, † forth.
1535Coverdale Job xxxvi. 11 They shall weere out their dayes in prosperite. a1586Sidney Arcadia i. end (1598) 95 She, perceiuing the song had alreadie worne out much time. 1625Donne Serm. lxvi. (1640) 665 Let me wither and weare out mine age in a discomfortable..prison. 1669in Sturmy Mariner's Mag. a 4 b, No novel Romance, nor no paultry Plays, To wear out Time with, and mis-spend our Days. 1769E. Bancroft Guiana 384 They..thus wear out a life of solitude. 1773Life N. Frowde 150 In this Manner we wore away near seven Months. 1809Malkin Gil Blas vii. vii. (Rtldg.) 25 We wore away a good part of the night in laughing and drinking. 1821Clare Vill. Minstrel I. 174 There they their games..pursue, With chuck and marbles wearing Sunday through. 1842Manning Serm. xxi. (1848) I. 315 They wore out with patience the years of this toil⁓some life. 1852M. Arnold A Farewell xiii, And though we wear out life, alas!..In seeking what we shall not find.
c. To enable (a person) to last or hold out through a given period. Sc.
1815Scott Guy M. xxiv, She should have a pint bottle o' brandy and a pound o' tobacco to wear her through the winter.
19. a. intr. Of time, a period of time: To pass on or advance gradually to its conclusion; to pass away. Also, to wear late, † wear short.
1597E. S. Discov. Knts. Poste B 4 The day weares, and I haue farre to go. 1598Shakes. Merry W. v. i. 8 Away I say, time weares. 1637Rutherford Lett. (1664) 197 Your after-noon will wear short, and your sun fall low and goe down. 1763Foote Mayor of G. ii. i, Well said, Master Mug; but come, time wears. 1826Scott Woodst. I. iii. 98 It wears late, and gets dark. 1837J. E. Murray Summer in Pyrenees II. 213 It was now wearing late in the day. 1842Lever J. Hinton xix, As the evening wore late, the noise and uproar grew louder. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. xiii, Without that aid they would have known how the night wore, by the falling of the tide. 1870Morris Earthly Par. iii. II. 376 But time went on, and still the days did wear With little seeming change.
b. with adv., as away, on, out, through.
1526Tindale Luke ix. 12 The daye began to weare awaye [so 1611, 1882; Gr. κλίνειν]. 1600E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 183 The short season for galleies to liue in that sea began to weare away. a1764Lloyd Milk-maid 14 How slowly wears the time away! 1834Dickens Sk. Boz, Steam Excurs., The time wore on; half-past eight o'clock arrived. 1853Kingsley Hypatia xxii, And so the week wore out, in dull and stupified despair. 1865H. Phillips Amer. Paper Curr. II. 89 Three years had now worn away in the unequal conflict. 1872Black Adv. Phaeton ix, The afternoon is wearing on apace. 1879Meredith Egoist xlix, The night wore through.
c. to wear on, of an action or activity: To be prolonged or continued.
1886R. C. Temple in Folk-Lore Jrnl. IV. 193 What follows is meant to be merely the expression of my ideas for the time being, subject to modification as the discussion wears on.
20. a. To pass gradually into (a condition, etc.).
1555W. Watreman Fardle Facions i. v. 68 Estiemed but a villaine, vntill with his forwardnes and wel doyng, he could weare into estimacion again. 1805Foster Ess. ii. vi. 205 The mind should not be allowed, if I may so express it, to wear into a conclusion, by a slow imperceptible inclination.
b. trans. To bring (a person) gradually into (a habit or disposition). Also to instil (a view or opinion) gradually into the mind.
1690Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxi. §69 Trials..by Repetitions wear us into a liking of what possibly, in the first Essay, displeas'd us. 1712Addison Spect. No. 409 ⁋8 A Man who has any Relish for fine Writing..naturally wears himself into the same manner of Speaking and Thinking. 1871Morley Crit. Misc., Carlyle 225 Mr. Carlyle has done much to wear this just and austere view into the minds of his generation.
VI. With reference to movement in space.
21. a. intr. To go, proceed, advance; with adv. or advb. phr. indicating the direction. Usually of a slow or gradual movement. Chiefly Sc.
c1470Henry Wallace x. 355 Byschop Beik com with sic force and slycht, The worthy Scottis weryt fer on bak. 1581A. Hall Iliad i. 7 Pallas away she weares, She leaues the Greekes, to Gods aloft in Heauen she repaires. 1768Ross Helenore 70, I think I see't my sell, we'll wear in by, Gin we get there. 1821Clare Vill. Minstrel I. 210 [The bee] wearing home on heavy wing. 1821J. Baillie Metr. Leg., Wallace xxxiv, And mazy waters, slyly seen, Glancing thro' shades of Alder green, Wore eastward from the sight to distance grey. Ibid., Malcolm's Heir xxix, Faint, doleful music struck his ear, As if waked from the hollow ground. And loud and louder still it grew, And upward still it wore. 1876Black Madcap Violet xxi, The sun was wearing round to the west.
b. quasi-trans. To move over (a space or distance). poet.
1596Spenser F.Q. iv. ix. 19 Thus many miles they two together wore. 1623J. Taylor (Water P.) Discov. by Sea A 8 b, Thus we our weary Pilgrimage did weare.
†22. trans. To cause to fly or flutter out. Sc. Obs.
c1480Henryson Test. Cress. 165 His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir.
23. Sc. To conduct (sheep or cattle) gradually to the fold or other inclosure. Also with in, up.
a1724The Ew-Bughts, Marion 2 in Ramsay Tea-t. Misc., Will ye gae to the ew-bughts, Marion, And wear in the sheip wi' mee? 1725Ramsay Gentle Sheph. i. i, [She] bade me hound my dog, To wear up three waff ewes stray'd on the bog. 1767in R. S. Craig & A. Laing Hawick Tradition (1898) 246 He..thereby wore in the sheep and nolt..so that they could not get to the Common. Ibid. 247 Weiring his sheep and nolt from the Common. 1790A. Wilson Poems, Sheph. Dream, She..wore them homewards to the fold. 1827Ann. Reg., Chron. 48/1 Some [shepherds] perished in wearing their flocks from the weather-side of the hills. 1828W. McDowall Poems 23 An' my auld dog's nae worth a doit He winna wear the sheep. 1912A. McCormick Words fr. Wild-wood iii. 47 Or it may be the bark of a dog or the voice of a shepherd as they ‘wear’ the sheep down the mountain sides to the rees for the clipping.
▪ III. wear, v.2 Naut.|wɛə(r)|
Pa. tense and pple. wore |wɔə(r)|. Forms: 7 weare, warre, wayer, werr, 7–9 ware, 7– wear. pa. tense 8–9 wared, 7– wore. pa. pple. 9 weared, 8–9 wore.
[Of obscure origin; in sense it coincides with veer v.2 2, but the early forms seem to forbid the supposition of connexion with that verb unless they are due to association with wear v.1]
1. intr. Of a ship: To come round on the other tack by turning the head away from the wind. Often with round. Opposed to tack.
1614Gorges Lucan v. 200 To guide the helme the maister dreads: To port, to weare, or serue the seas, The labouring ship he cannot ease. 1626Capt. J. Smith Accid. Yng. Sea-men 28 The ship will not wayer. 1627― Sea Gram. ix. 37 Touch the wind, and warre no more. 1669Sturmy Mariner's Mag. i. ii. 18 Werr no more. 1697Lond. Gaz. No. 3318/3 They both wore round and Attackt us on the Starboard-side. 1761Brit. Mag. II. 535 The Bellona was made to ware round by means of her studding-sails. 1795Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 14, I saw the Sans Culotte, who had before wore with many of the Enemy's Ships, under our lee bow. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xi. 25 We wore round and stood off again. 1865W. G. Palgrave Arabia II. 203 Wearing slowly up with a side wind we anchored a little after sunset. 1880Times 25 Dec. 7/4 The ship sails well,..stays quickly and surely; also wears well.
2. trans. To put (a ship) about, bringing her stern to windward.
1719De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 519 We..war'd the Ship again, and brought our Quarter to bear upon them. 1726G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 261 They..wore ship, and hauled close on a wind to the westward. 1797Nelson in Duncan Life (1806) 40, I ordered the ship to be wore. 1820Scoresby Acc. Arctic Regions II. 374 The ship was instantly ‘weared’. Ibid. 440 When we attempted to ware the ship..she refused to turn round. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast x. 23 When the watch came up, we wore ship, and stood on the other tack. 1904Times 22 Mar. 9/5 The Mona continued to run before the wind, her crew having seemingly been unable to wear her.
▪ IV. † wear, v.3 north. dial. Obs.
[Of uncertain origin.]
trans. To cool.
1674Ray N.C. Words, To Wear the pot, to cool it. a1743Josiah Relph Misc. Poems (1747) 1 Thur callar blasts may wear the boilen sweat: But my het bluid, my heart aw' in a bruil, Nor callar blasts can wear, nor drops can cuil.
▪ V. wear
see weir. Also obs. f. ware n.1, a., v.2 |