| 释义 |
▪ I. wink, n.1|wɪŋk|
Forms: see wink v.1; also 7 whinke.
[f. wink v.1]
1. A closing of the eyes for sleep; a (short) spell of sleep, a nap. rare exc. as in b, c.
In Shakes. in phr. referring to death.
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 3 Þenne Wakede I of my wink. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machor) 1204 Till þai þe seruice all had mad, Þat to sic deide men suld parteyne, Or ony wink come in þar eyne. c1450Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 343 Here I Aske To go to taske A wynke. 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 285 Whiles you doing thus, To the perpetuall winke for aye might put This ancient morsell. 1611― Wint. T. i. ii. 317 Thou..might'st be-spice a Cup, To giue mine Enemy a lasting Winke. 1869Mrs. A. Whitney We Girls vi, ‘What is it, dear?’ asked Mrs. Hobart, rousing from a little arm-chair wink.
b. Phr. (not) to sleep a or one wink, (not) a wink of sleep, etc.
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 9146 Þey..Ne mete ete, ne drank drynke, Ne slepte onely a-lepy wynke. c1325Metr. Hom. 79 That might he nouther ete ne drink, Ne have night rest, ne slepe no wynk. 1508Dunbar Poems vi. 14 This night I myght nocht sleip a wink. 1513Douglas æneis iv. x. 15 For neuir mair may scho sleip a wynk. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 316 marg., Reuilus a vigilaunte consul, for ne neuer slept wynke in his consulship. 1611Shakes. Cymb. iii. iv. 103 Since I receiu'd command to do this businesse, I haue not slept one winke. 1682N. O. Boileau's Lutrin ii. 22 My aking head can get no wink of Sleep! 1740Richardson Pamela II. 167, I will go to-bed; but not one Wink, I fear, shall I get this Night. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop v, Whether Mr. Quilp took any sleep by snatches of a few winks at a time. 1883R. Broughton Belinda i. ix, He has slept no wink all night. 1891Kipling Light that Failed xiii, I can't sleep a wink with you at the window.
c. forty winks: a very brief sleep, a short nap. colloq.
1828Egan Finish to Tom & Jerry iii. (1871) 87 The uncommonly big gentleman, told out, taking forty winks. 1851Westm. Rev. July 326 His quiet ‘forty winks’ after dinner. 1890J. Hatton By order of Czar ii. iv, ‘Well, I declare, Dolly, you are going to sleep!’ ‘I am very tired; only forty winks. Is there time?’
2. a. A glance or significant movement of the eye (often accompanied by a nod) expressing command, assent, invitation, or the like. Obs. exc. in the proverb a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse (see also nod n.1 1), and phr. to tip, give, or get the wink (now apprehended as sense 5).
1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxxiv. 35 Ȝitt women sould..Thair vertewis all mak of na availlis, Be subtill winkis, and thair desaitfull talis. 1540Elyot Image Gov. xxxviii. (1541) 94 Of a mayster sturdy and fierce, a lyttell wynke to his seruant is a fearefull commaundement. 1583B. Melbancke Philotimus S j b, I am not so blind, that thou canst make me beleue with a winke, it is midnight at noone day. 1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. v. 24 Thou eternall Father, at whose wink The wrathfull Ocean's swelling pride doth sink. 1602Shakes. Ham. iv. v. 11. a 1631 Donne Poems, Sunne Rising 13 Thy beames, so reverend and strong Why shouldst thou thinke? I could eclipse and cloud them with a winke. 1676G. Etherege Man of Mode i. i, I only tip him the wink, he knows an Ale-house from a Hovel. 1710S. Palmer Proverbs 100 A nod and a wink are very often treacherous and false. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) III. 313 At last..he gave him the wink. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 139 Harry, upon a wink, stepped out. a1774Goldsm. tr. Scarron's Com. Romance (1775) II. 262 The surgeon, who had previously got the wink, confined him to his bed. 1809Malkin Gil Blas iv. v. ⁋11 Don Felix thinks a wink as good as a nod. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xvi, A wink's as gude as a nod to a blind horse. 1832H. Martineau Each & All v. 69 On this, the wink went round, and the neighbours dropped off. 1872C. Gibbon For the King xvii, He gave me the wink that the lady was a friend of his.
b. A glance or glimpse. (Cf. blink n.2 2.)
[1598–1868: see eye-wink a.] 1848Dickens Dombey xii, A trifle of orthography, a glance at ancient history, a wink or two at modern ditto.
3. transf.
a. A moment of time, as being that occupied by a glance of the eyes; phr. in a wink († with or at a wink), in a trice. (Cf. eye-wink b.)
1585Montgomerie Sonn. xiii. 4 Bright Apollo..Quhais glorious glance ȝit stoutly skaillis the skyis, Quhen with a wink we wonder vhair they war. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 206 How..radie to do the king pleisour, at a wink quhen he wald charge. 1633Earl of Manchester Al Mondo (1636) 31 Man is only a winke of life. 1658J. Robinson Endoxa 33 The rest..were coexisting with their first Being; or, upon the least Wink of Opportunity, prest to be drawn forth. 1693Southerne Maid's last Prayer iii. ii, The company will be here in a wink, as a body may say. 1790D. Morison Poems 7 Then aff a' wallop in a wink. 1826Hood I Remember 5 He [sc. the sun] never came a wink too soon. 1859Tennyson Vivien 701 For in a wink the false love turns to hate. 1893Stevenson Catriona xxx. 362 The next wink of time their blades clashed together.
b. (not) a wink: (not) the slightest amount; esp. in not to see a wink.
1596Nashe Saffron Walden S 3, Hath he..exprest in his countenaunce the least wincke of dislike of them? 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 242 Ambition cannot pierce a winke beyond. 1621Molle Camerar. Liv. Libr. ii. xiii. 117 He was shut into a hole where he saw not a whinke. 1706Estcourt Fair Example v. i, Whims. Look up, I say... Sym... In Sincerity, Sir, I can't see a Wink. 1841Thackeray Gt. Hoggarty Diam. v, At least in my bed-room..I could not see a wink.
c. In Work Study, a unit of time equivalent to one two-thousandth of a minute. Also Comb., as wink-counter. orig. U.S.
1937R. M. Barnes Motion & Time Study ix. 72 There are 100 equal divisions on the dial of the clock; therefore, time is indicated directly in 1/2000 of a minute by the large hand. This time interval of 1/2000 of a minute was called a ‘wink’ by Gilbreth. 1946R. L. Morrow Time Study & Motion Economy ix. 90 The wink-counter..is a small motor driven device, originated by Professor David B. Porter..to be used for both motion and time studies. In appearance it resembles a ‘speedometer’. 1961Engineering 15 Sept. 352/1 A very early type of micromotion filming was used by the Gilbreths in the early days of motion study, and the unit of time which they employed, a two thousandth of a minute or a ‘wink’, is still often used for detailed motion analysis.
4. A nictitation of the eyelid; a blink.
1611Shakes. Wint. T. v. ii. 119 Euery winke of an Eye, some new Grace will be borne. 1825Scott Talism. xvii, Mark me the smallest twitch of the features, or wink of the eyelid. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xi, Sir Giles Wapshot had a particularly noisy manner of imbibing his soup, and her ladyship a wink of the left eye.
5. An act of winking (see wink v.1 8).
1837Dickens Pickw. ix, Jingle..then..added, with a knowing wink, and a jerk of the thumb towards the interior of the chaise [etc.]. Ibid. lvi, He had been much struck with Mary's appearance; having, in fact, bestowed several very unfatherly winks upon her, already. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xiv, ‘That is, if you're not on duty to that pretty Miss Sedley,’ Crawley said, with a knowing wink. 1851D. Jerrold St. Giles vii. 60 [He] gave a saucy wink to the servant, and bounded..up stairs. 1891Earl Rosebery Pitt xiii. 227 Facts of this kind can of course be always dismissed by a knowing wink or a sarcastic smile.
6. attrib. and Comb.
1708Cibber Lady's Last Stake i. i. 9 Tea!.. Heart-opening, Wink-tipping Cordial. 1775S. J. Pratt Liberal Opin. lxxiv. (1783) III. 51 Upon mention of the wink money, he was driving off as fast as he could. 1902Monkshood & Gamble Kipling 191 One of Mr. Kipling's jaunty,..wink⁓tipping sketches. 1903Hardy Dynasts i. vi. i, Should issues stand at pause But for a wink-while.
▪ II. wink, n.2
s.w. dial. Var. winch n.1
1847Halliwell, Wink..(2) A winch, or crank. West. 1873Williams & Jones Gloss. Som., Wink, an excavated or sunken well. 1878D. Kemp Yacht & Boat Sailing 380 Wink, a west country term for a kind of winch used in the bow of a boat by fishermen to raise the anchor. 1886Elworthy W. Som. Word-bk., Wink, a well from which the water is drawn by a winch, chain, and bucket. 1919R. P. Chope Some Old Farm Implem. 23 The apparatus for spinning rope was known as a wink (winch) or spinner.
▪ III. wink, n.3 slang.
Short for winkle n.
1851Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 76/1 The ‘wink’ men, as these periwinkle sellers are called. Ibid. 479/2 Salt (or fresh) herrings, winks, or shrimps.
▪ IV. wink, n.4
Shortening of tiddlywink 2 c. orig. U.S.
1890Game of Tiddledy Winks (McLoughlin Bros., New York) 1 Its great interest and success lies in the novel feature of jumping the Winks into the Wink-pot. 1957Times 17 Dec. 9/4 Tiddlywinks does not yet qualify for a ‘blue’, or even half a one, but it is nice to know that the club has a tie, dark blue with a blue cup and a wink rampant. 1979F. R. Shapiro Encycl. Tiddlywinks 8 The Silver Wink, donated by Prince Philip, is awarded to the winner of an annual elimination tournament for universities.
▪ V. wink, v.1|wɪŋk|
Forms: 1 wincian, 3 winken, 4–6 wynk(e, 4–7 winke, winck, 6–7 wincke, (4 Sc. vynk, 5 wynkyn, pa. tense wanke, wonk, 6 wynck(e, 9 pa. tense and pa. pple. wunk), 4– wink.
[OE. wincian wk. vb. = OS. wincon to nod, MLG., MDu. winken, related to OHG. winchan str. vb. (MHG., G. winken) to move sideways, stagger, nod; cf. OHG. winch (MHG. winc, G. wink) m. nod, OE. wince winch n.1: f. Teut. wiŋk-, older weŋk-:—Indo-Eur. weŋg-.
Other formations on the base wiŋk- (weŋk-): waŋk-:—weŋg-: woŋg-, to move sideways or from side to side, are OHG. wanc, wanch, MHG. wanc turning, return, instability, OS., OHG. wankôn (MLG., MDu., MHG. wanken); OHG. wenkan, OS. wenkean to waver, vacillate (MLG., MDu., Du. wenken to nod), whence OF. guenchir winch v.1; Lith. véngiu to do unwillingly, avoid, vangùs inactive, vìngis m. bend, curve, Albanian vank (vang-) felloe. See also wankle a., wenchel.
Examples of a strong conjugation in English (pa. tense wank, wonk) are very rare. The modern pa. tense and pple. wunk are jocular.]
†1.
a. intr. To close one's eyes. (Also in fig. context: cf. 5, 6.) Obs.
c897ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxix. 287 Se stæpð forð mid ðam fotum & wincaþ mid ðæm eaᵹum [orig. oculos claudit]. c1000ælfric Gram. xxvi. (Z.) 156 Ic winciᵹe, conniueo. a1225Ancr. R. 288 Hwon þe heorte draweð lust into hire, ase þing þet were amased, & foð on ase to winken & forte leten þene ueond iwurðen. c1374Chaucer Troylus iii. 1537 Al for nought he may wel lygge and wynke But slep ne may þere in his herte synke. c1386― Nun's Pr. T. 486 He wolde so peyne hym, that with bothe hise eyen He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen. Ibid. 611 For he that wynketh whan he sholde see, Al wilfully god lat him neuere thee. 1390Gower Conf. I. 54 For ofte, who that hiede toke, Betre is to winke than to loke. c1480Henryson Two Mice 333 Quhylis wald he lat hir rin vnder the stra; Quylis wald he wink, and play with hir buk heid. c1500in Rel. Ant. I. 289 Sore me for-thinked, that I so moche wynked, For had I never more nede than nowe for to loke. a1542Wyatt in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 57 For cause your self do wink, Ye iudge all other blinde. 1562[see winking ppl. a. 1]. 1584Lyly Campaspe v. iv. 4 Though I winke, I sleepe not. 1611Shakes. Cymb. v. iv. 194 There are none want eyes, to direct them the way I am going, but such as winke, and will not vse them. 1621in Kempe Losely MSS. (1836) 454 When you see ym [sc. the nuns] they must winke and not speake to you. a1631Donne Serm., John x. 10 (1640) 70 That man that is blinde, or that will winke, shall see no more sunne upon S. Barnabies day, then upon S. Lucies. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Collar 26 Good cable, to enforce and draw, And be thy law, While thou didst wink and wouldst not see. 1664Tillotson Wisdom of being religious 44 Men are not blind, but they wink, and shut their eyes; they can understand, and will not. 1700S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 236, I open'd my Eyes..and [they] said, it was high time for me to open 'em; for if I had winck'd but a little longer, over I had gone. 1784Cowper Tiroc. 255 To follow foolish precedents, and wink With both our eyes, is easier than to think. 1816Scott Bl. Dwarf v, I thought I saw him still, though I winked as close as ever I could.
winking pres. pple.: with the eyes shut (or blindfolded).
c1375Cursor M. 23462 (Fairf.) Als wele þen saltow se Wincande als wiþ opin eye. 1390Gower Conf. II. 189 Thoas..Whan Anthenor this Juel tok, Wynkende caste awei his lok. 1538Elyot Dict. Addit., Andabatę, certayne men that faughte with swordes wynkynge. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 332 Burg. They are then excus'd, my Lord, when they see not what they doe. King. Then good my Lord, teach your Cousin to consent winking.
†b. Said of the eyes, occas. transf. of other things: To close. Obs. or rare arch.
In quots. 1598, 1898, said of the closing of the day.
1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 4970 In als short whyle als hert may thynk, Or mans eghe may open or wynk. 1576Gascoigne Steele Glas 683 That one eye winks, as though it were but blynd. 1577Grange Golden Aphrod. I ij, Yet coulde he not perswade himselfe whether he dreamed..(although he knew of a certentie his eyes winked not). 1598Mucedorus iv. i. 38 The christall eye of Heauen shall not thrise wincke,..Till we salute the Aragonian King. 1642H. More Song of Soul ii. i. ii. i, While the Evening keen With sharper air doth make his pores to wink. 1649Davenant Love & Hon. iii. iv. 44 Where shadows vanish when the world's eye wincks Behind a cloud. 1898Meredith Odes Fr. Hist. 69 The sister Hours..Are gone on flow with the day that winked, With the night that spanned at golden gates.
†c. In association with drinking off at a draught.
1548Elyot Dict., Amystis, a..drynke, which the Thracians vsed to drynke vp at one draughte, wynkyng. 15..Wyf of Auchtirmwchty 76 in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Club) 344 Ay scho winkit and scho drank. 1692Bentley Boyle Lect. ii. 37 And yet these same cautious and quick⁓sighted Gentlemen can wink and swallow down this sottish Opinion about Percipient Atoms.
2. a. To open and shut one's eyes momentarily and involuntarily; to blink, nictitate.
a1300Cursor M. 341 All his comament was don, Suiftliker þen hee may wink. c1440Promp. Parv. 530/1 Wynkyn, idem quod twynkelyn. a1450Knt. de la Tour xii, She loked small and wynked ofte,..euer beting her eyelyddes togedre. c1500Lancelot 1058 When that he felt the vatter that vas cold, He wonk, and gan about hyme to behold. 1582Stanyhurst æneis iv. (Arb.) 108 At my tears showring dyd he sigh? dyd he winck with his eyelyd? 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. Disc. ix. 122 It is impossible to prevent them..any more than we can refuse to winke with our eye when a sudden blow is offered at it. 1703Lond. Gaz. No. 3892/4 Robert Stephens,..Stammering Speech, winks on the left Eye. 1819Shelley Cyclops 631 Dare not to breathe, Or spit, or e'en wink, lest ye wake the monster. 1842Dickens Amer. Notes iii, The white wooden houses (so white that it makes one wink to look at them). 1853― Bleak Ho. xxi, He..adjusts his skull-cap with such a rub, that the old man winks with both eyes for a minute afterwards. 1916Q. Rev. July 227 When there is a loud report close at hand we instinctively wink.
b. Said of the eyes or eyelids: To blink. Also occas. of other things: To open and shut quickly. Now rare.
1661Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. Isagoge b 3, Amongst Birds..The eyes, are as those of other creatures,..but they winke, a membrane passing from the angle. 1668Culpepper & Cole Barthol. Anat. ii. vii. 111 The trebble⁓pointed valves do not only wink, but they are close shut by the blood distending the Heart. 1710J. Clarke tr. Rohault's Nat. Philos. i. xxxv, When we look upon a lighted Candle at a little Distance with our Eyes winking. 1814Scott Ld. of Isles vi. xv, The eye-lid scarce had time to wink. 1905A. T. Sheppard Red Cravat i. ii. 24 The eyes winked-to again and closed for ever.
c. Of a light, a burning or glowing object, etc.: To emit quick intermittent flashes; to twinkle. (Now associated with sense 8.) Also with advbs.: to go out or off suddenly; to come on suddenly.
1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. ii. 665 Like as a coal, that winkt [orig. qui dort] On a stick's end (and seemed quite extinct). a1633Austin Medit. (1635) 81 [The Light of Nature] is no Starre indeed, but a Candle: and..it winkes in the Socket too. 1707E. Smith Phædra & Hipp. i. i. 5 Feed with new Oil the wasting Lamp of Life, That winks and trembles, now, just now expiring. 1802Wordsw. Sonn., ‘Fair star of evening’, Thou..shouldst wink, Bright Star! with laughter on her banners. 1820Keats To a Nightingale ii, A beaker..With beaded bubbles winking at the brim. 1848Thackeray Lett. Nov., The candles are just winking out. 1851Meredith Love in Valley xvii, A rill where on sand the minnows wink. 1876M. E. Braddon J. Haggard's Dau. x, The polished grate winking and twinkling in the red light from a neat little fire. 1883Hardy Wessex Tales (1888) I. 16 Beyond all this winked a few bleared lamplights through the beating drops. 1930W. Faulkner As I lay Dying 244 He locks the door. Dewey Dell is inside. Then the light winks out. 1972Sci. Amer. Jan. 108/3 An observer who is a few miles away but within the shadow sees the star wink off and five minutes later reappear slightly west of the moon. 1979Tucson (Arizona) Citizen 20 Sept. 7b/6 (heading) ‘Buck Rogers’ no supernova, but it won't wink out, either. 1982Washington Post 21 Mar. 3/2 Bleuzinski perched on the pool table, leaned forward and looked directly into the camera. The red light winked on.
†3. To have the eyes closed in sleep; to sleep; sometimes, to doze, slumber. Obs.
1375Barbour Bruce vii. 182 The kyng than vynkit a litill we. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 2384 Ofte he waketh whan he sholde winke. c1430How Wise Man Tauȝt his Sonne 72 in Babees Bk. 50 And go to bedde bi tymes, & wynke. c1480Henryson Want of Wyse Men 22 For warldly wyn sik walkis, quhen wysar wynkis. 1535Goodly Primer L ij b (Ps. cxxi. 4), Loo, neyther wyll he slepe, nor yet ons wynke, that kepeth Israell. 1553Respublica 1135 Repose yourselfe, Madame, a while & winke. 1602W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 19 Yes, our law in this case hath not either slumbred or winked. 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 216 Thou let'st thy fortune sleepe: die rather: wink'st Whiles thou art waking. 1616T. Scot Philomythie B 6 b, When others soundly sleep, he must but winke. 1649J. Taylor (Water P.) Wand. Wonders West 8 Wearinesse..began to inforce sleep upon me, so that..I began to winke.
†4. To close one eye, as in aiming at a target; hence, to aim: usually to wink with the one or the other eye. Obs.
c1340Nominale (Skeat) 180 Homme doile clune, M[an] with ee wynkyth. c1460Frere & Boye (Ritson) 89 Yf thou shote and wynke, The prycke thow shalt hytte. c1480Henryson Trial of Fox 959 His Hude he drew laich attour his Ene, And, winkand with ane Eye, furth he wend. 1530Palsgr. 782/2 He that wynketh with one eye and loketh with the tother, I wyll nat trust hym and he were my brother. 1538Elyot Dict., Collimare, to wynke with one eye. 1594Blundevil Exerc., Navig. xxii. (1597) 329 Mooue the Transame..vntil you may see with the one eye (winking with y⊇ other) the one end of the transame to meete iust with the centre..of the Sun. 1638Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 20 The Arimaspi (who from wincking when they shoot are said to be Monoculi). a1680Butler Rem., Satyr Imperfect. Hum. Learn. i. 55 As Men, that wink with one Eye, see more true, And take their Aim much better, than with two.
5. a. To ‘shut one's eyes’ to something faulty, wrong, or improper; to be complaisant. (Now rare exc. as in 6.)
c1480Henryson Cock & Fox 571, I wes vnwyse that winkit at thy will. 1562Cooper Answ. Def. Truth 61 b, Some learned and holy men for the time did winke and beare with suche thinges. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Miserie xi, And yet as though he knew it not, His knowledge winks and lets his humours reigne. 1781Cowper Expost. 256 Too just to wink, or speak the guilty clear. 1859Tennyson Vivien 630 Is he man at all, who knows and winks? 1861Reade Cloister & H. xlvi, Many is the time I have winked and wouldn't see too much.
b. Phr. to wink hard. Now rare or Obs.
1620Quarles Feast for Wormes iii. Med. iii. 38 Hard must he winke, that shuts his eyes from heau'n. 1790Burns Prol. Suthld. 40 And aiblins when they winna stand the test, Wink hard and say, the folks hae done their best! 1831Scott Ct. Rob. ii, The Emperor, who will rather wink hard than see disagreements. 1866Geo. Eliot F. Holt ii, Jermyn must be his [election-]agent; Harold must wink hard till he found himself safely returned.
6. a. to wink at. (a) To ‘shut one's eyes to’ (an offence, fault, defect, impropriety, or irregularity); to connive at.
1537Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 108 Persons that..by..wynkyng at his preparacions..encoraged hym to be the bolder. 1540Elyot Image Gov. xxxiii. (1541) 76 b, Ye secretely winkyng at the sayd faultes. 1644Milton Judgm. Bucer xlvii. 24 When as all kind of unchastity is tolerated, fornications and adulteries winkt at. a1708T. Ward Eng. Ref. i. (1710) 112 If I this saucyness in you, Shou'd seem to wink-at or allow. 1775Sheridan Rivals iii. iii, Suppose you were to wink at her corresponding with him for a little time. 1815Scott Guy M. xxxiv, You had the price of half a cargo for winking at our job. 1861Trollope La Beata I. ix. 250 A very evident tendency..to wink at the shortcomings of their friends.
(b) To disregard, overlook, pass unnoticed (a fact or occurrence). Now rare or Obs.
1535Joye Apol. Tindale (Arb.) 32 He stretched forth his penne agenst me as farre as he dirst,..at the whiche chaleng I winked. 1568Bible (Bishops') Acts xvii. 30 And the tyme of this ignoraunce God wyncked at. a1656Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 371 We do willingly wink at the rest of the differences of like nature. 1691Weesils Postscr. 13 Some, who,..either wink at, or absolutely forget her admirable, tho plain Principles. 1848Schomburgk Ralegh's Discov. Guiana (Hakl. Soc.) 172 It is..evident that they winked at consequences which they must have foreseen.
† (c) To be complaisant with (an offending or contumacious person); to connive at the doings of.
1567Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 516 Seing the saidis rebellis ourlukit and winkit at be sic as duellis maist ewest to thame. 1605Shakes. Macb. i. iv. 52 Let not Light see my black and deepe desires: The Eye winke at the Hand. 1674Jackson's Recantation C 2, My other two Comerades [in thieving] lay in an Inn where they..were winkt at by the Master of the House. 1703De Foe More Reform. 37 Thou art blam'd for Winking at a L--d Whose Rapes and Vices stand upon Record.
†b. (a) to wink on, wink upon: = a (a), above. Obs.
1546J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 19 She can wynke on the yew, and wery the lam. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iv. 98 Vpon a homely obiect, Loue can winke. 1634Milton Comus 401 You may as well..bid me hope Danger will wink on Opportunity. 1824Landor Imag. Conv. I. Cromwell & Noble 59, I acknowledge his weaknesses, and cannot wink upon his crimes. 1835Lytton Rienzi i. v, Justice must never wink upon great offenders.
† (b) to wink against: = a (b), above. Obs.
1653H. More Antid. Ath. iii. xv. §4 He that denies this seems to me wilfully to wink against the light of Nature. 1741Watts Improv. Mind i. i. (1786) 21 Having asserted his former opinions in a most confident manner, he is tempted now to wink a little against the truth.
†c. trans. = a (a), above. Obs. rare.
1570Satir. Poems Reform. xviii. 58 Trow ȝe..that God omnipotent Will wynk vnsene sic wickitnes and wrang? 1695Kennett Par. Antiq. ix. 301 This cheat was winkt in the times of ignorance.
†7.
a. intr. To give a significant glance, as of command, direction, or invitation: usually const. on, upon, later to, at. Obs.
c1100Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 118/15 Annicto uel annuto, ic wincie. 13..Minor Poems of Vernon MS. xxxvii. 680 Whon þei comen togedere, eiþer on oþer wynkeþ. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. iv. 152, I seiȝe mede in the moot-halle on men of lawe wynke, And þei lawghyng lope to hire. Ibid. xiii. 85 Pacience perceyued what I thouȝt, and wynked on me to be stille. c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 340 The Norice of digestioun the sleepe Gan on hem wynke. c1400Gamelyn 453 Whan I wynke on the loke for to gone. 14..K. Edw. & Shepherd in Hartshorne Metr. T. (1829) 79 Oure kyng on the schepherde wanke, Priuely with his eye. c1520Skelton Magnyf. 2023 Syr, remembre the tourne of Fortunes whele, That wantonly can wynke, and wynche with her hele. 1530Palsgr. 782/2 He hath wynked upon me thrise, what so ever he meaneth. 1552Huloet, Wyncke at one, adnicto. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 333, I will winke on her to consent, my Lord. 1623Middleton More Dissemblers iii. i, Then cast she up Her pretty eye and wink'd. 1640tr. Verdere's Rom. of Rom. II. xxxiii. 124 She winked to him, whereupon he approaching with a great deal of respect unto the Queen [etc.]. 1671Caryl Sir Salomon ii. 30 Why could not you tell me on't? Single. I wincked, and wincked upon you, and did all that I could. 1711Addison Spect. No. 57 ⁋7, I winked upon my Friend to take his Leave. 1782F. Burney Diary 4 Nov., Mrs. Thrale winked at him to give up the place. 1819Sporting Mag. (N.S.) IV. 236 Davis winked to his friends that it was all right. 1821Moncrieff Tom & Jerry ii. iii. 43 Winking at me not to take any notice. 1835Dickens Sk. Boz, Astley's, Ma having first nodded and winked to the governess to pull the girls' frocks a little more off their shoulders.
†b. ? To ‘give the tip’. Obs. rare.
c1460Towneley Myst. xii. 244 Haue good aylle of hely; bewar now, I wynk, For and thou drynk drely, in thy polle wylle it synk.
†c. transf. To make a sign. Obs. rare.
1738[G. Smith] Curious Relat. II. 337 The Image of Sichæus which stands on the Altar, winks with its Hand.
†d. trans. To bring into a specified state by a glance or nod. Obs.
1633G. Herbert Temple, Home vii, What is this woman⁓kinde, which I can winke Into a blacknesse and distaste? 1728Swift Jrnl. Mod. Lady 193 They..Convey a Libel in a Frown, Or wink a Reputation down.
†e. phr. wink all hid [see hide v.1 1 e, and cf. OF. clignemusset]: hide-and-seek. Obs.
1609J. Davies Humour's Heaven ii. iv, So that he did Driue them from dancing vnto Winck-all-hid.
8. intr. To close one eye momentarily, in a flippant or frivolous manner, esp. to convey intimate information or to express good-humoured interest.
1837Dickens Pickw. xxxiii, Mr. Weller..winked so indefatigably..that Sam began to think he must have got the tic doloureux in his right eye-lid. 1838― Nich. Nick. xvi, He winked towards Nicholas with a degree of familiarity which he, no doubt, intended for a rather flattering compliment. 1886Kipling Departm. Ditties etc. (1888) 73 An' Jock he sniggered, an' Jock he smiled, An' ower the card⁓brim wunk. 1912G. B. Shaw Pygmalion ii. 142 He winks at Higgins.
9. a. trans. To close (an eye, the eyes) for a moment, either voluntarily (sense 8) or involuntarily (sense 3).
Colloq. phr. to wink the other eye, to treat what has been said with flippant disregard.
1838Buckstone Shocking Events 11 Hollo! hollo! he's winking his eye at my maid. 1846James Step-mother liv. III. 8, I shouldn't have winked an eye all night if you hadn't been here. 1849Thackeray Pendennis xxv[i], Lady Clavering, giving the young gentleman a delighted tap with her fan, winked her black eyes at him. 1872Earl Pembroke & G. H. Kingsley S. Sea Bubbles viii. 228 There was my princess..winking winks that ought never to have been wunk. 1883D. C. Murray Hearts xiv, Lording's eyes tingled with tears. He winked both eyes together and blew his nose with violence. 1898‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner xxxii, The lighthouse winked a glaring eye that seemed to stare over their heads far out to sea.
b. to wink away: to remove (tears) by blinking one's eyes.
1876R. Broughton Joan ii. i, Joan, trying to smile, and to wink away the two large tears that have rushed to her eyes. 1892Mrs. S. Batson Dark I. v. 105 She winked away a few hot tears of shame that rose to her eyes.
c. To move swiftly, cause to flicker like an eyelid.
1883Bridges Prometheus 1464 Like butterflies, that..upon a wall Winking their idle fans at pleasure sit. 1897S. Crane Third Violet xxviii. 190 He told me you swore like a drill-sergeant if the model winked a finger.
d. To give (a signal), express (a message), etc. by means of flashlights.
1918Glasgow Herald 22 Nov. 5 Their flagship's great..eye of flame winking out a message. 1919Ibid. 21 Apr. 7 H.M.S. Glory..winked us welcome from the mast-head.
Add:[9.] e. To convey (a message) by means of a wink of the eye.
1985G. Greene Tenth Man xvii. 152 He smiled with triumph and winked a secret message.
▪ VI. † wink, v.2 Obs. rare.
[var. winch v.1 Cf. wink n.2]
intr. To shrink, wince.
1598Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. i. Eden 145 That boistrous Adam's body did not shrink For Northren Windes, nor for the Southren wink. 1677[see winking vbl. n.2].
▪ VII. wink, v.3 orig. U.S.
[f. wink n.4]
intr. To play tiddlywinks. Freq. as vbl. n. Occas. trans. (in quot. fig.).
1955V. Nabokov Lolita i. v. 26 This is all very interesting, and I daresay you see me already frothing at the mouth in a fit; but no, I am not; I am just winking happy thoughts into a little tiddle cup. 1958Sunday Times 2 Mar. 16/3 While practising secretly, I pulled an important muscle in the second or tiddly joint of my winking finger. 1962Boston Globe 14 Oct. 81 The Crimson tiddlers winked their way to a 23 to 12 victory over a green Purple team. 1979Harvard Mag. May–June 38 They went to many carpet stores to find the perfect surface for winking.
▪ VIII. wink
obs. form of winnock Sc., window. |