请输入您要查询的英文单词：

　

单词 fine
释义

finen.1

Brit. /fʌɪn/, U.S. /faɪn/
Forms: Middle English fyyne, Middle English–1500s ffyn, Middle English–1500s fyn, Middle English–1600s ffyne, Middle English (1600s Scottish) fin, Middle English–1600s fyne, Middle English– fine, 1500s fynne, 1600s ffine, 1600s finne, 1600s fyine (Scottish).
Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French fin.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French fin (French fin) death (second half of the 10th cent.), limit, end (first half of the 12th cent. or earlier), remotest part (first half of the 12th cent. or earlier), extremity of a body or plant (first half of the 12th cent. or earlier), last part of a period or process (second half of the 12th cent. or earlier), outcome (c1170 or earlier), the whole (c1170), degree (c1170), end (of a period of time) (c1174), agreement, settlement, accord, peace (c1185), way, manner (late 12th cent.), fee, monetary payment (early 13th cent.), end (of the world) (1212 or earlier), goal (c1240 or earlier), limit, boundary, border (c1275 or earlier), penalty (1305 or earlier), money, wealth (c1350), last part of a text or document (a1410), (perhaps) dowry (1432), way, means (a1471) < classical Latin fīnis boundary, object, destination, goal, outermost point, extremity, end, finish, end of a person's life, death, last part (of a period of time), outcome, completion, fulfilment, purpose, in post-classical Latin also settlement of dispute (from 11th cent. in British and continental sources), form of conveyance involving settlement of a usually fictitious dispute as to title (frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), payment for release from prison (from 12th cent. in British sources), payment to a lord for a privilege or concession, pecuniary penalty for an offence (frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), of unknown origin. Compare Old Occitan fin, fi, fien, Catalan fi (12th cent.), Spanish fin (a1207), Portuguese fim (13th cent.), Italian fine (10th cent.).With to bring to fine at sense 1a compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French mener a fin (1366 or earlier). With to set the fine of at sense 1a compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French mettre fin (1212 or earlier). With to do fine at sense 2 compare Middle French faire fin (a1485 in this sense). With to take fine at sense 2 compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French prendre fin (c1100 in this sense).
I. Senses relating to an end or limit of something.
1.
a. A cessation, termination, end, or conclusion of something. Also in to bring to fine, to set the fine of. Now only in in (†the) fine at Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > [noun]
endc825
headOE
finea1300
nolla1387
extremityc1400
hinder end?1523
extreme1570
termininea1593
exit1615
outmost1634
terminus1704
knobhead1793
terminal1865
the world > action or operation > completing > [noun] > a conclusion or end
finea1300
head1340
conclusion1382
close1399
finishmentc1400
issue1479
pass1542
tittle est Amen1568
wind-up1573
wind-up-all1573
upshot1586
catastrophe1609
come-off1640
period1713
pay-off1926
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [noun]
endc1000
endingc1000
finea1300
conclusion1382
ooc1384
close1399
finance1449
terminationc1500
last?1520
winding up1560
wind-up1573
wind-up-all1573
conclusure1578
clause1581
upshot1582
desinence1598
omega1599
Godspeed1606
finis1682
finale1786
finish1790
tie-up1829
Z1877
curtains1912
taps1917
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 119 Þer is pine wid-ute fin.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8547 Þis stalwarde cristine volc þis worre broȝte to fine.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 635 Why schulde he not..pay hym [read hem] at þe fyrst fyne?
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) 536 (MED) The same hermyte...By deth is passed the ffyn of his labour.
a1500 tr. La Belle Dame sans Mercy (Cambr.) l. 594 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 102 When þat pite..hathe set þe fyn of all myn hevynesse.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iii. f. 48 And sa to bring my argument to fine, I can not find [etc.].
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iv. iv. 35 Still the fines the Crowne. View more context for this quotation
1664 Floddan Field i. 2 A lucky fine and end to make.
1848 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 3) 103/2 Open thine arms O death! thou fine of woe.
†b. The latter part or end of a specified period, esp. (in later use) a month. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [noun] > the latter part
eveningOE
enda1200
eventide?c1225
finea1350
tail1377
latter (last) enda1382
issue1484
latter day?1498
waning1561
last days1572
heel1584
sunsetting1593
fall1596
lag-end1598
posterior1598
sunset1599
dotage1606
exit1615
stern1623
waning timea1639
last1683
heel piecea1764
shank1828
tail-end1845
tailpiece1869
tag1882
teatime1913
end-point1921
a1350 (a1250) Harrowing of Hell (Harl.) (1907) l. 11 Ant he were at þis worldes fyne.
c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 306 (MED) The daie passed to the fyne.
1565 B. Garter Tragicall Hist. Two Eng. Louers f. 1 That ladie staide the fyne of March..: And lefte her seate to Estas then.
1599 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) II. i. 200 About the fine of September.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 101 Vntill the fine of December.
1621 Lawes E. India Co. § 306 They shall yearely deliuer vp vnto the Court at the Fine of Iune, a perfect Ballance of all Accompts.
†2. The end of a person's life; death; spec. (in Middle English) death considered in terms of punishment or reward in the afterlife (often with modifying word, as good fine, unhappy fine, etc.). Also in to do (or take) (one's) fine: to die. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [noun]
hensithOE
qualmOE
bale-sithea1000
endingc1000
fallOE
forthsitheOE
soulingOE
life's endOE
deathOE
hethensithc1200
last end?c1225
forthfarec1275
dying1297
finec1300
partingc1300
endc1305
deceasec1330
departc1330
starving1340
passingc1350
latter enda1382
obita1382
perishingc1384
carrion1387
departing1388
finishmentc1400
trespassement14..
passing forthc1410
sesse1417
cess1419
fininga1425
resolutiona1425
departisona1450
passagea1450
departmentc1450
consummation?a1475
dormition1483
debt to (also of) naturea1513
dissolutionc1522
expirationa1530
funeral?a1534
change1543
departure1558
last change1574
transmigration1576
dissolving1577
shaking of the sheets?1577
departance1579
deceasure1580
mortality1582
deceasing1591
waftage1592
launching1599
quietus1603
doom1609
expire1612
expiring1612
period1613
defunctiona1616
Lethea1616
fail1623
dismissiona1631
set1635
passa1645
disanimation1646
suffering1651
abition1656
Passovera1662
latter (last) end1670
finis1682
exitus1706
perch1722
demission1735
demise1753
translation1760
transit1764
dropping1768
expiry1790
departal1823
finish1826
homegoing1866
the last (also final, great) round-up1879
snuffing1922
fade-out1924
thirty1929
appointment in Samarra1934
dirt nap1981
big chill1987
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 2398 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 175 Atþe laste he let is lijf..And ȝif ore louerdes wille was he cam to guode fine.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3852 Alle [ð]he olde deden ðor fin.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21102 Þer tok he fine.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 189 Or I ȝit do my fyn, My dede salle I venge on Kalaphes Duryn.
a1425 (c1300) Assumption of Virgin (BL Add.) (1901) l. 777 He..wolde haue ben at hure fyne, Ȝif he myȝt haue come bi tyme.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 896 Þe meschef of her vnhappy fyne.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. xxxi. f. xiiiv I haue here shewed vnto you, the fyne [printed fyue] or ende of Brennius.
1556 W. Lauder Compend. Tractate Dewtie of Kyngis sig. Bv Geue ȝe Indure, vnto ȝour fyne.
1664 Floddan Field viii. 81 Thus Haburn through his hardy hart His fatal fine in conflict found.
†3. The extreme part or limit of anything; a boundary. Also figurative: an extreme case or measure. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > boundary > [noun]
goalc1350
bounda1387
list1389
finea1400
frontier1413
enda1425
limit1439
buttal1449
headroom1462
band1470
mete?1473
buttinga1475
bounder1505
pale?a1525
butrelle1546
scantlet1547
limesa1552
divisec1575
meta1587
line1595
marginc1595
closure1597
Rubicon1613
bournea1616
boundary1626
boundure1634
verge1660
terminary1670
meta1838
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > boundary > [noun] > utmost or extreme boundary
finea1400
outgoinga1425
outboundsc1540
verge1597
termination1603
outmost1634
out-limit1650
out-border1652
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > most extreme
worstc1275
extremityc1425
extreme fortune1531
exigents1588
fine1596
devil1681
limit1906
the end of the line1948
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [noun] > quality or fact of being extreme > highest, utmost, or extreme degree
heightOE
perfectiona1398
utterestc1410
uttermosta1425
tiptoec1440
pinnaclec1450
utmost1472
outmostc1535
extremity1543
abyss1548
top1552
furthest, utmost stretch1558
summa summarum1567
superlative1573
strain1576
extreme1595
fine1596
last1602
yondmost1608
super-superlative1623
pitch1624
utmostness1674
pink1720
supreme1817
ultima Thule1828
peak1902
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 23200 Þe pitt of hell pine It es suo depe, widuten fine, þat end ne bes þar neuer apon.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1558 Of the well this is the fyn.
1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 135/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II Vpon the fines and marches in Ulster.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 114 Our king nevir to that fine, at ony tyme to haue beine brocht, that [etc.].
1859 I. Taylor Logic in Theol. 139 The ‘settled fine’ to which each aspires to rise.
†4. A final consequence or outcome. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [noun] > outcome or that which results
issuea1325
outcominga1382
conclusionc1384
endc1385
fruita1400
finec1405
termination?a1425
sumc1430
succession1514
sequel1524
game1530
success1537
event1539
pass1542
increase1560
outgate1568
exit1570
cropc1575
utmosta1586
upshoot1598
sequence1600
upshot1604
resultance1616
upshut1620
succedenta1633
apotelesm1636
come-off1640
conclude1643
prosult1647
offcome1666
resultant1692
outlet1710
period1713
outcome1788
outrun1801
outcome1808
upset1821
overcome1822
upping1828
summary1831
outgo1870
upcomec1874
out-turn1881
end-product1923
pay-off1926
wash-up1961
c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer Monk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 160 Ne was ther noon That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 1800 (MED) Þe fyne of enmyte is deth.
a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. Prol. 130 Ȝit luffis ony to that fyne, quharby Thi self or thame thou frawartis God remufis.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) x. 66 Pirrus..past to the oracle of appollo til inquyre of the fyne of the veyris that vas betuix hym and the romanis.
1605 London Prodigall sig. D2 Nature Hath done the last for me, and thers the fine.
1653 T. Urquhart Logopandecteision iii. 43 These..summes were charged on me by those, to whom I was never obliged in a penny, nor whose money ever came to that fine, that it might be known to what good end, it was borrowed.
†5. A person's end, intention, or object in doing something; (also) the purpose for which something exists. Obsolete (Scottish in later use). Frequently in to what fine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > [noun] > intention or purpose > end, purpose, or object
willeOE
errand?c1225
purposec1300
endc1305
emprisec1330
intentc1340
use1340
conclusionc1374
studya1382
pointc1385
causec1386
gamea1393
term?c1400
businessc1405
finec1405
intentionc1410
object?a1425
obtent?a1475
drift1526
intend1526
respect1528
flight1530
finality?1541
stop1551
scope1559
butt?1571
bent1579
aiming point1587
pursuitc1592
aim1595
devotion1597
meaning1605
maina1610
attempt1610
design1615
purport1616
terminusa1617
intendment1635
pretence1649
ettle1790
big (also great) idea1846
objective1878
objective1882
the name of the game1910
the object of the exercise1958
thrust1968
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 862 She knew eek the fyn of his entente.
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 794 To what fyn is swych loue I kan not se.
?a1430 Compleynte Virgin (Huntington) l. 59 in Minor Poems T. Hoccleve (1970) i. 2 To what ende or fyn Broghten yee me foorth?
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 2816 (MED) I wyste nouht..What was the ffyn of my requeste.
c1540 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. ix. 51 To schaw to quhat fyne þai war cummyn.
1562 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 31 For thair abusing of the samyn to ane vther fine than He [sc. God] institute tham.
a1605 R. Bannatyne Memorials Trans. Scotl. (1836) 144 Hes thow not vfit the said castle and the kingis ordinance and munitiounes, being therin, to ane vther vse and fyne nor it was appointed, when the same was committed to thy traist.
c1626 H. Bisset Rolment Courtis (1920) I. 45 To that fyne, and end, that thai may the mair easelie serve God.
II. Senses relating to a fee or penalty.
6.
†a. A punishment, a penalty. Also in to pass a fine: to pronounce sentence. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > [noun] > penalty
finec1300
penalityc1429
penalty1459
law1470
amends1562
rendera1616
mulcta1625
poena1859
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > judge or act as judge [verb (intransitive)] > pronounce sentence
to pass a finec1300
c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 402 (MED) If a clerk hath a man aslawe other gret theofthe ido, And heo mowe be desordeyned and come to fyne so.
?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. bb.ivv Deth is fyne of euery synne.
1580 T. Lupton Siuqila 14 To pay the fine of damnation for euer.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 574 Too dear a Fine, ah much lamented Maid, For warring with the Trojans, thou hast paid.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 501 Fines..set upon Plays, Games, Balls and Feastings.
1749 H. Jones Poems Several Occasions 33 What Mulct more grievous than a Fine on Fame?
1876 J. S. Blackie Songs Relig. & Life 195 We stood for our faith, when our life was the fine.
†b. A sum of money offered or paid for exemption from punishment or by way of compensation for damage or loss caused. Cf. to make (a) fine at Phrases 2, fine and ransom at Phrases 3. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > compensation > [noun]
yield601
angildeOE
maegboteOE
allowancea1325
finea1400
boota1450
reparationa1460
contentation1467
disdomage1502
contention1516
regard1568
contentment1603
atonement-money1611
satisfaction1621
satisfaction money1651
content1689
compensation1804
smart money1817
hoot1820
indemnization1836
compo1941
MCA1973
society > authority > punishment > fine > [noun] > for exemption from punishment
finea1400
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 6753 If þef haue no fyn ny ȝift..he shal be solde.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 417 He made them pay a fyne for the iniury they had done vnto so worthy a person.
1629 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. (ed. 5) xxxvi. sig. G11v A harsh scholemaster, to whom he..payes a fine extraordinary for his mercy.
1693 J. Tillotson Serm. Sacrifice & Satisfaction Christ 43 To intercede for the Pardon of a Rebel, yea and..to pay a Fine for the obtaining of it.
1791 C. Hamilton tr. Hedàya IV. li. 460 Akilas are not to pay a fine for wilful murder.
1882 W. D. Hay Brighter Britain! I. 23 A man..on a subsequent conviction, might be sent to the Stockade (prison) without the option of a fine.
c. A sum of money exacted as the penalty for an offence, esp. by a court of law or other authority.Now the usual sense.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > fine > [noun]
witereden688
witec890
guiltwite964
ransom?c1225
amends1340
forfeiture1399
ush1417
recoverya1422
issue1424
unlaw1424
fine1430
forfeita1475
unlay1497
multure1533
estreatc1550
mulct1584
forfeitment1597
1430 in M. Sellers York Mercers & Merchant Adventurers (1918) 34 (MED) The small and easy fyn that he hath assessed in that cas.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 367 (MED) Forfetis, eschetis, and mercimentis, and fynys.
1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys i. f. viiiv The .v.C. poundis whych he payd for a fyne by the premunire.
1687 in J. H. Trumbull Public Rec. Colony of Connecticut (1859) III. 235 The master of every vessell that receives on board any timber without license..he shall pay a fine of forty shillings.
1718 W. Wood Surv. Trade 303 Which cannot fail of bringing many more to the Church, than is possible by Fines and Imprisonments.
1797 J. Wentworth Compl. Syst. Pleading IV. 346 A fine of eighty pounds was..imposed and laid upon the said inhabitants for the said offence.
1842 Mirror Lit., Amusem., & Instr. 24 Dec. 404/1 The clock at St. Mary's, Oxford,..was paid for by fines inflicted on the students of the university.
1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 415 A blow..subjected the offender to a fine.
1925 Rotarian Dec. 47/1 A fine of 10 cents from any member arriving late.
1962 V. J. K. Brook Life Abp. Parker vii. 113 These [officers] had no doubt paid for their posts... They..expected to re-imburse themselves through fees and fines for what they had paid.
2015 Daily Mirror 6 Aug. 9/1 The Home Office has been urged to drop fines for truckers caught carrying migrant stowaways.
†d. A person held in prison for non-payment of a penalty or fine. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1719 Repertory Corporation London (London Metropolitan Archives COL/CA/01/01/127) f. 427 The..Petition of several Fines to this City on the Common side of Newgate Complaining of several Hardships they suffer.
1763 Ordinary of Newgate's Acct. 12 Oct. As he could not read himself, he had a prisoner (one of the fines as they are called) to read to him in the cell.
1777 J. Howard State Prisons Eng. & Wales ii. 36 All that were in the County-Gaols..I have reckoned in the list of Felons. Although many were Petty Offenders and Fines.
1837 1836: Gaols: Copies Rep. & Schedules 59/1 in Parl. Papers (H.C. 108) XLV. 1 7th class, male fines charged with misdemeanors, want of sureties.
7. Law.
a. In feudal contexts: a fee (as distinguished from the rent) paid by a tenant or vassal to a landlord on some alteration of the tenancy, e.g. the transfer or alienation of the tenant right. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > hire or rent > rent (land or real property) > [noun] > payment on alteration of tenancy
finea1500
a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) xii. 65 Þe parties of þulke fins..ope suuche fins to voiden ant for te anenden weren isuffred.
1439 in A. F. Leach Educ. Charters (1911) 403 (MED) To graunte licence to your forseid besecher that he may yeue withouten fyne or fee a mansion ycalled Goddishous.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1086 Omage thou shalte none [nor] ffyne.
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng Prol. sig. B3 To cause them to pay more rent or a gretter fyne, than they haue ben acustomed to do in tyme past.
1625 Act 1 Charles I c. 2 §1 in Statutes of Realm (1963) V. 2 His Majestie, having received divers Fines, and sommes of Mony, according to the said Contracts.
1696 S. Carter Lex Custumaria xviii. 160 In case of a Surrender or Purchase, the Lord may take what Fine he will.
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes ii. 82 Reckoning in their Fines as well as their Rents.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. ii. 21 If the issue in tail be barred by the fine..of his ancestor..; he shall not be remitted to his estate tail.
1802 E. W. Brayley & J. Britton Beauties Eng. & Wales III. 20 The lands possessed by this kind of vassalage, are subject to the payment of fines and heriots, in addition to certain annual rents in corn, coal, &c. on every alienation by descent or purchase, and not unfrequently on the death of the lord.
1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. i. 9 The fines paid by his vassals on succession to or alienation of their fees.
1983 H. J. Berman Law & Revol. Notes 627 Fine on alienation,—a fee payable to the lord upon the sale or gift of the land by the holder to another.
1996 J. Breay Light in Dales xi. 7/1 The lord claimed an arbitrary fine upon every change of lord, be it by alienation, demise, death, or otherwise.
†b. A sum of money paid by a tenant on the commencement of a tenancy in order that his or her rent may be small or nominal. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > hire or rent > rent (land or real property) > [noun] > initial payment by tenant
out-toll1283
gersum1389
warisonc1450
fine1804
key money1832
in-toll1872
ingoing1905
1641 E. Udall Good Workes 4 That Fines may be cast up into the account of the Rent, that the Rich by paying great Fines and small Rents, doe not deceive the Minister.
1648 R. J. Compunction vii. 71 Such as pay a great fine and sit on a small rent.
1700 P. B. Help to Magistrates (ed. 2) lxxxiii. 195 Trustees of Lands given to the use of maintaining Pavements, Causways, Highways and Bridges, are obliged to Let them to Farm at the most improved Rent, without any Fine.
1737 W. Lee Ess. Value of Leases & Annuities 39 Would any Tenant of common Sense pay..a Fine for such Part of the improved Rent as was to be abated or discounted for the Land-Tax and Repairs?
1804 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. I. x. iv. 356 Where the fine is certain, the tenant is bound to pay it immediately upon his admittance.
1877 Act 40 & 41 Vict. c. 18 §4 On every such lease shall be reserved the best rent..that can be reasonably obtained..without taking any fine or other benefit in the nature of a fine.
†8. A fee or charge paid for any privilege. Obsolete.In quot. 1521: probate duty on a will.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for privilege > [noun]
tollc1000
trewagec1380
trowc1380
finec1436
seigniorage fine1800
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > types of tax > [noun] > estate or inheritance taxes
finec1436
legacy duty1786
probate duty1804
inheritance tax (or taxation)1841
death tax1850
death duty1852
succession duty1853
succession tax1859
testate duty1880
estate duty1889
capital transfer tax1928
c1436 Domesday Ipswich (BL Add. 25011) in T. Twiss Black Bk. Admiralty (1873) II. 151 (MED) By a newe fyne to the comoun for to have a ȝeyn [printed zeyn] his fraunchise.
1445 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 110 That the said Shipp, without any fyn or fee..may have licence..to make the furst viage unto St. James.
1521 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 120 Item to Mr. Miles, for the aquitans at thys cownt makyng in Fornham and for ye fyne of ye testament..v s̃. viij d̃.
1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 64 The Marchants of Normandie made fine for licence to harbor their woads, till it was otherwise prouided.
1656 W. Prynne 2nd Pt. Short Demurrer to Iewes sig. ggg2 The King for the fine of 1000 pound per annum.., granted them [sc. the Iews] this exemption from Taxes.
1670 T. Blount Νομο-λεξικον: Law-dict. at Maiden Rents I rather suppose it to be a Fine for the Licence to marry a Daughter.
c1744 Parl. Bill in J. Hanway Hist. Acct. Brit. Trade Caspian Sea (1753) II. xii. 64 All persons..should be admitted into the freedom of the said company, upon paying a fine of fifty pounds.
†III. Senses denoting an agreement, contract, or settlement. Obsolete.
9.
a. An agreement, a contract, esp. (in early use) a marriage contract. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal obligation > contract > [noun]
covenantc1330
contractc1386
finec1390
agreement1425
obligement1499
convention1513
achate1607
mail contract1843
punctation1855
pay-or-play1949
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. ii. l. 51 (MED) Meede In Mariage was [I-feffed], To beo fastnet with fals þe fyn was arered.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 106 Sir Henry mad þe fyne, & mad þe mariage.
1633 in A. Munday et al. Stow's Surv. of London (new ed.) 377/1 Master Peacocke.., had never doore into the Blacke Friers out of his house; but by fine and agreement, made for the same with the Prior.
b. A compromise made between parties in a fictitious or collusive lawsuit for the possession of land, formerly in use as a means of conveyance in cases where the ordinary means were unavailable or less effective. Obsolete.The procedure was as follows: the person to whom the land was to be conveyed sued the holder for wrongfully keeping him out of possession; the defendant (hence called the cognizor; see cognizor n.) acknowledged the right of the plaintiff (or cognizee; see cognizee n.); the compromise was entered on the records of the court; and the particulars of it were set forth in a document called the foot of the fine (see foot n. 20). This method of conveyance was resorted to by married women (who could not alienate land by any other process), and as a means of breaking an entail (entail n.2 1). The cognizor was said to levy, sue, or acknowledge a fine.Cf. fine and recovery at Phrases 5.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > [noun] > levying a fine > a fine
fine1404
render1594
society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > [verb (intransitive)] > levy a fine
fine1772
1404 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1865) III. 26 (MED) Ye forsaid londes on which she was unherit, and she and y yaim feoffede by fyne.
1484 Rolls of Parl.: Richard III (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1484 §25. m. 17 Notes and fynes to be levied in the kinges court..shold be openly and solempny radd.
1510 Act 1 Henry VIII c. 19 in Statutes of Realm (1817) III. 18 Your said Oratour..levyed severall Fynes of all the foresaid Manours.
1537 H. Polsted Let. 12 Nov. (Cleo. E.iv/2) f. 279 The Prior of Lewes hathe this present monday knolaged a ffyne..of Lewes.
1593 W. West Treat. conc. Forms of Fines §83. f. 37v In a recouerie with double voucher, the fine must be sewed first to make him tenant at the time of the writ of Entre brought.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 102 His Statuts, his recognisances, his fines, his double vouchers, his recoueries. View more context for this quotation
1629 Vse of Law 62 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light A Fine is a reall agreement, beginning thus, ‘Hæc est finalis Concordia &c.’
1751 Lady Luxborough Let. 14 July in Lett. to W. Shenstone (1775) 281 A lawyer..to see me execute a fine, in consequence of my parting with my house in London.
1772 E. Bonhote Rambles Mr. Frankly I. 70 He forbade me his house—sued a fine—and cut me off with a shilling.
1806 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. VI. 123 A fine was levied accordingly.
1902 Amer. Law Reg. May 259 In Griffin v. Tailor, 1629,..the Court of Chancery ordered a man to procure his wife to acknowledge a fine.
c. gen. An amicable settlement of a lawsuit (cf. quot. 1767). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > [noun] > amicable settlement
lovelOE
lovedayc1300
transactionc1460
finea1475
concord1530
accord1579
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1906) ii. 488 (MED) A fynall concorde..of the forsaid xx shillings of yerely rent..to the which fyne trewly to be levied they were I-constreyned by the trouthe.
1534 G. Ferrers tr. Bk. Magna Carta f. 66v Sometymes where peace is made betwene many claymyng one aduouzon and inrolled before the iustyces in the rolle, or by fyne in this fourme, that one shall present the fyrst tyme, and at the nexte aduoydaunce another.
1765 T. Cunningham New & Compl. Law-Dict. II. (at cited word) Forasmuch as Fines levied in our Court ought and do make an end of all matters, and therefore are called Fines..or the great Assise in their cases ever they hold the last and final place.
1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (ed. 2) II. xxi. 349 More particularly, a fine may be described to be an amicable composition or agreement of a suit, either actual or fictitious, by leave of the king or his justices.

Phrases

P1. in (†the) fine. Formerly also: †at fine. Cf. afine adv. [Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French en fin (also en la fin ) in the end, at last, finally, definitively, completely (1119; French enfin ), and the Anglo-Norman, Old French, and Middle French forms listed at afine adv. In later use (in form in fine) chiefly after classical Latin in fīnē.]
a. In the end; at last. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > the end [phrase] > in the end or at last
at lastlOE
at the lastlOE
afinec1325
in the lasta1382
for conclusionc1386
an-endc1390
the lasta1400
in (the) finea1500
at conclusiona1513
in conclusiona1513
at long last1523
at length1525
in (rarely at, upon) the upshot1577
in the final (also last) analysis1786
in the death1958
at the end of the day1974
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2034 Þe gode constantin, Þat was king here of þis lond, & emperour atte fin.
c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) l. 627 (MED) And that thou goo be good avyse, That in the fyn thou erre nought.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xviii. 286 But in the fyn he mote yeve grounde a litill.
a1570 R. Morice in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 24 In fyne he was perceyved to affixe one of the papers apon the dore.
1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely i. 41 In fine after a Months obstinate defence..the Turks took the Fort by assault.
1700 tr. F. P. Dalairac Polish Manuscripts: Secret Hist. John Sobieski III ii. 57 The Duke of Lorrain..threw all his Infantry.., into the Island of Leopoldstadt opposite to Vienna; and, in fine, marched them opportunely into the Town.
1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. I. xiv. 224 In fine, after a long and obstinate fight, the Grecian discipline prevailed.
1831 T. H. Ottley Rustum Khan I. vii. 174 In fine I quitted the scene, and regained the pagoda.
1903 H. James Ambassadors viii. xviii. 237 This, in fine, however, she would never tell him.
1930 ‘J. Bridie’ Sunlight Sonata in Switchback, Pardoner's Tale, Sunlight Sonata 123 (stage direct.) Beelzebub looks at the Sins and they look at Beelzebub. Accidia is the only Sin who is not entirely shamefaced. But in fine she knows that all this is none of her doing.
b. In conclusion, in sum; finally; (also) in short. Now somewhat formal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > the end [phrase] > finally or in conclusion
at lastlOE
for finalc1374
in final1393
in fine1545
for conclusion1550
in conclusionc1550
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > conciseness > [adverb] > in short
at a (also one) wordOE
at few wordsOE
shortly1303
in short wordsc1380
oncec1384
in short and plainc1386
in sum?a1425
at short wordsa1450
at short1513
briefly?1521
in a word1522
in one word1522
with a word1522
summa1535
to be short1544
in (the) fine1545
in few1550
summarily1567
in a sum1574
in shorta1577
in brief1609
briefa1616
in a little1623
tout court1747
sans phrase1808
in a nutshell1822
in nuce1854
1545 G. Joye Expos. Daniel (iv.) f. 55v In fine, he saith no nother wais to be to conserue a kingdom but to abyde in the feare of god.
1550 R. Crowley One & Thyrtye Epigrammes sig. Div Ye must saye as they saye, be it wrounge or ryght. Infine, ye must prayse them.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xiii. 134 In fine he accuses Pietie with the want of Loyalty.
a1704 T. Brown Satyr upon French King in Wks. (1707) I. i. 92 In fine, the Government may do its Will.
1799 A. F. M. Willich Lect. Diet & Regimen Introd. 1 When the most important sciences lay aside the garb of..mysticism; when, in fine, the access to information is open to every rank.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. vii. 195 We have, in fine, attained the power of going fast.
1889 Jrnl. Proc. & Addr. National Educ. Assoc. U.S. 1888 192 In divinity, in telegraphy, in telephony, in telephoty, in social science..and in fine, in every department of human learning, thought, and investigation, there is a marked necessity for higher study.
1911 H. O. Taylor Mediaeval Mind II. vi. xxxi. 159 The only trouble is stylelessness. In fine, an absence of quality characterizes Carolingian prose.
1948 A. C. Kinsey et al. Sexual Behavior Human Male ix. 325 In fine, the data add up as follows.
2009 Pratiyogita Darpan Oct. 734/3 In fine, the issue of medium of instruction in our educational institutions must be balanced.
P2. to make (a) fine: to make one's peace, to settle a matter; (also) to obtain exemption from punishment or release from captivity, esp. by paying a sum of money (cf. sense 6b). Frequently with with. Now historical and rare. [Compare post-classical Latin finem facere to settle a case before it comes to court (12th cent.), Anglo-Norman (also Middle French (Wallonia)) faire fin to reach an agreement (a1321 or earlier), to pay a fine (a1346 or earlier), to pay a fee (a1393 or earlier).]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement [verb (intransitive)]
accord?a1160
to make (a) finec1325
covenantc1330
compound1419
packc1450
patisec1475
conclude1477
compone1478
bargain1483
article1526
make1530
compact1535
to dispense with1569
temporize1579
to make termsa1599
to strike (a person) luck1599
to be compromised1600
compacka1618
stipulatea1648
to come to terms1657
sort1685
paction1725
to cry off1775
pact1904
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > compensation > pay compensation [verb]
to make (a) finec1325
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 10526 Some hii lete honge Bi hor membres an hey in pines wel stronge Vort hii adde fin imad.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1731 Ȝe mote furst..þe truwage make fyn þat to þis brigge longeþ..do tell me wat is þe trow.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 15246 Whan Penda had to Kadwalyn obligid him & mad his fyn.
?c1430 (c1400) in F. D. Matthew Eng. Wks. Wyclif (1880) 184 It is liȝttere to make a fyn for moche money þan to purge hym.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 204 And there this Mcmahons with dyuers othyr enemys, fynes with hym makid, Pees forto haue.
1574 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 351 Richard Lloyde..shall make fyne for his contemptuous..wordes.
1635 W. Lambarde & T. Lambarde Archeion (new ed.) 211 Then shall that Clarke both make Fine to the King, and satisfie the partie hurt, (if he be able).
1651 J. March tr. R. Brook Some New Cases of Time Hen. 8, Edw. 6 & Mary 109 If a man Indicted of Extortion, or Trespasse, puts himself upon the grace of the King, and makes a Fine, and after the party sues him for it.., and he pleades Not Guilty, hee shall have the Plea.
1746 C. Viner Gen. Abridgm. Law & Equity II. 447 Lord of a Leet made a Fine of 40s. because his Steward took Indictment of the Death of a Man in his Leet, which did not belong to his Leet.
1891 W. Page Three Early Assize Rolls Northumberland Pref. 25 The matter..settled by the Swethops making a fine with Dionisia for 20 marks.
1987 P. Morgan War & Society in Medieval Cheshire 1277–1403 i. 51 Radcliffe's complaints were by no means disinterested, for he had already made a fine with the king as a rebel.
P3. fine and ransom: a large sum of money paid as the penalty for a serious offence and for exemption from punishment (esp. imprisonment) for that offence; the payment of such a sum. Frequently in to make fine and ransom. Now historical.Cf. sense 6b. Sometimes understood as two separate payments; cf. quots. 1628 and 1651, and examples with both elements in plural form at ransom n. 1a.
ΚΠ
1413–19 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 227 (MED) Sir Richard..putteth hem to fyne & raunsomme.
1426 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Feb. 1426 §32. m. 7 And þei be found gylty, that þei make fyne and raunson with our lord þe kyng.
c1550 Order Mayor of London against Forstalynge & Regratynge (single sheet) For hys thyrde offence to be commytted to warde, ther to remayne vntyl he haue payd hys fyne and raunsome.
1628 E. Coke 1st Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. ii. xi. f. 127 In Legall understanding a fine and ransome are all one.., for if the fine and ransome were diuers, then should the partie..pay two summes.., which neuer was done.
1651 T. Ireland Exact Abridgm. Rep. Sir J. Dyer 164 When fine and ransome is imposed, ransome is treble, the fine is the lesse.
1815 J. Ritson Office Constable (ed. 2) 10 They took people to whom they bore evil will, and imprisoned them in their castles till they made fine and ransom for their deliverance.
1908 Green Bag Dec. 614/1 The attempt by false reports to enhance..the price of native commodities was punishable by fine and ransom at common law.
2009 Univ. Chicago Law Rev. 76 1095 In 1404..Sallage..was ordered to pay double damages, plus a fine and ransom to the Crown.
†P4. to be put to one's fine: to be punished by means of a fine. Obsolete.In quot. 1542-3 perhaps: a payment for exemption from punishment, as opposed to the punishment itself (cf. sense 6b).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > fine > [verb (transitive)]
mulct?a1475
gersum1483
unlaw1508
finea1513
check1526
to be put to one's fine1542
punish1552
forfeitc1592
tinsel1609
sconce1641
physic1821
to fix (a person) with liability1833
log1889
1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Henry VIII c. 26 §32 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 932 No persone..for Murther or Felony shall be put to his fyne, but suffre according to the Lawes.
1599 J. Hayward 1st Pt. Henrie IIII 66 The kings of Denmarke and of Sweueland, are oftentimes banished by their subiects; oftentimes imprisoned & put to their fine.
a1652 A. Wilson Hist. Great Brit. (1653) 98 Petrus de Rivallis..had taken Bribes in his Office... Of which being convicted, he..was put to his Fine and Ransom.
1736 G. Jacob Every Man his Own Lawyer 401 A Justice certifying into the King's Bench, that such a one broke the Peace.., the Party shall be put to his Fine.
P5. fine and recovery: the practice of commencing and then formally compromising a fictitious or collusive lawsuit to effect a curtailment of entail or the transfer of full ownership and title of land from one party to another; an agreement made in this way. Cf. sense 9b, recovery n. 2a. Now historical.This practice was abolished by the Fines and Recoveries Act of 1833.
ΚΠ
a1563 V. Leigh Moste Profitable Sci. Surueying (1577) sig. N.ii I Haue vnder correction partlye set out..certaine fourmes of suche estates by copy hold, and specially the leauiyng of a Fyne and recouerie in a custumarie Court for Barryng of an Entaile of Custumarie Landes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iv. ii. 197 If the diuell haue him not in fee-simple, with fine and recouery [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
a1707 A. Thornton Autobiogr. (1875) 80 The articles of agreement.., that all his estate should be passed by fine and recovery.
1805 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. V. 110 Lord Pembroke petitioned the House of Lords for a bill to set aside an amendment made in a fine and recovery, by the Court of Great Sessions in Wales.
1986 S. R. Frey & M. J. Morton New World, New Roles iv. 100 In England, transfer of the title to such land was accomplished by the complicated practice of fine and recovery: by a suit, either actual or fictitious, the wife formally surrendered her ownership rights and relinquished legal title to the marital property of her husband.
P6. Scottish (Orkney) to come to fine: to make a decision or come to an agreement to do something or about something; to make up one's mind. rare.
ΚΠ
1929 H. Marwick Orkney Norn 41/2 ‘He wad never come tae fine tae get his peats cut’..‘She wanted to get married, but he wad never come tae fine aboot it.’
1931 J. T. S. Leask Peculiar People 128 We niver cam' tae fine tae deu id dis year.
1996 M. Flaws & G. Lamb Orkney Dict. at Fine Tae come tae fine, to take a final decision about something.

Compounds

fine-setting n. the action or practice of fining someone (see fine v.2 4); (also) the action or practice of setting the amount of a fine or fines.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > fine > [noun] > infliction of
levy1463
unlawing1478
fining1548
fine-setting1657
1657 T. Burton Diary 23 Apr. (BL MS Add. 15860) 20 This fine setting is noe breach of priviledge.
1986 D. M. Provine Judging Credentials iv. 115 Fieldwork is not designed to reveal subtle biases in fine setting or in other aspects of case disposition.
2013 D. Geradin et al. in I. Lianos & D. Geradin Handbk. European Competition Law vi. 328 The issue of fine setting for antitrust infringements in the EU has not been the object of significant public debate.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

finen.3

Brit. /ˈfiːneɪ/, U.S. /ˈfineɪ/
Forms:

α. 1700s–1800s fin.

β. 1800s– fine.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Italian. Etymons: French fin; Italian fine.
Etymology: In α. forms < French fin end (see fine n.1), as used as a term in music (1699 or earlier in this sense, after Italian fine ). In β. forms directly < Italian fine (1626 or earlier in this sense: see fine n.1).
Music.
In a musical score: the point at which the performance of a piece of music is intended to finish (esp. when this is not at the end of the music as written or printed, but at the end of an earlier section which is repeated to conclude the piece). Also more generally: the end of a piece of music.
ΚΠ
1740 J. Grassineau tr. S. De Brossard Musical Dict. 75 Fin, Finale, or Final [Fr. Finale, veut dire Finalle], the end or last note of a piece of music.
1806 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music (ed. 2) Fine, or Fin..the End... Fine del Aria, End of the Air.
1871 H. S. Wright Introd. Stud. Music 23 (note) The repeated passage is to end at the word Fine.
1972 Hi-Fi News & Rec. Rev. Jan. 112/1 Many directions as to expression are written in; even the Fine is added at the end. In Schubert's mind the work was complete.
2003 B. Purse Finale NotePad Primer 110 D.C. al Fine directs the performer to go to the beginning and continue to the Fine.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

finen.4

Brit. /ˈfɪnə/, U.S. /ˈfɪnə/, Irish English /ˈfɪnə/
Inflections: Plural unchanged.
Origin: A borrowing from Irish. Etymon: Irish fine.
Etymology: < Irish fine family, kindred group, clan, (in legal use, now historical) particular kind of family unit (Early Irish fine ), cognate with Gaulish ueni- (in personal names), Old Breton -guen (in coguenou (plural); Middle Breton, Breton gouenn kind, type) < the same Indo-European base as wine n.2In quot. 1786 inaccurately translating an Early Irish text; the phrase fine túaithe literally means ‘fine of a tribe’, rather than ‘fine or tribe’. Compare tuath n.
Irish History.
In ancient and medieval Ireland: a family or sept (sept n.1 1); spec. a patrilineal family unit having particular legal rights and obligations.The fine was subdivided into smaller groups according to various degrees of consanguinity; cf. geilfine n., iarfine n., indfine n.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinship group > clan > [noun] > Irish
nation1423
sect1536
clana1687
fine1786
1786 C. Vallancey tr. Brehon Laws in Collectanea de rebus Hibernicis III. i. 121/2 Of the names of fine or tribes [Ir. fini tuaithe] in every district.
1875 H. J. S. Maine Lect. Early Hist. Inst. iv. 105 My own..opinion is that the ‘Fine’..is neither the Tribe..nor..the modern Family..but the Sept.
1878 Encycl. Brit. V. 304/2 Whether a single Fine or collection of ‘Houses’ forming a Tuath, or tribe, became Christian, they were all of the same blood, and the right of succession to the property and government of the church remained with the Fine or ‘House’ of the donor.
1903 P. W. Joyce Social Hist. Anc. Ireland I. i. v. 166 The adoption of strangers into the family or clan was common; but it required the consent of the finè or circle of near relations.
1985 Proc. Harvard Celtic Colloquium 5 51 After the death of the female heir.., the land was to be redistributed amongst the wider fine.
2001 D. W. Hollis Hist. Ireland ii. 17 The entire fine was liable for criminal acts of one of its members.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

finen.5

Brit. /fiːn/, U.S. /fin/
Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French fine.
Etymology: < French fine high quality brandy (see fine champagne n.).In fine de la maison (apparently not found in French) < French fine + de de prep. + la feminine definite article (see La adj.) + maison maison n., probably after spécialité de la maison n. In fine maison shortened from fine de la maison. Compare pâté maison n.
High quality brandy; spec. = fine champagne n. Also more fully fine (de la) maison.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > brandy > [noun] > types of brandy
Nants1653
French brandy1655
snapdragon1676
Cognac brandy1687
guildive1698
aguardiente1752
cognac1755
Armagnac1797
Jew brandy1817
pisco1825
Cape smoke1846
marc1848
fine champagne1864
burnt brandy1880
dop1889
grape-brandy1892
grappa1893
beno1903
V.S.O.P.1907
jackass brandy1909
fine1923
Napoleon brandy1930
Remy Martin1932
framboise1933
mampoer1934
witblits1934
Metaxa1938
Soberano1963
Napoleon1968
1923 E. E. Cummings Let. 15 Sept. (1969) 103 I prefer fine to calvados.
1927 E. Hemingway Fiesta i. 12 We had several fines after the coffee.
1928 A. E. W. Mason Prisoner in Opal xxiii. 273 So! Some coffee and some fine de la maison?
1928 Observer 11 Mar. 12/2 The wine waiter has had the habit of insidiously proposing a ‘fine maison’ to the customer who wants an old brandy.
1964 E. Kelen Peace in their Time xiii. 350 He was afraid that if he bought somebody a fine he would one day die of starvation.
2013 K. R. Bhat Beverages xiii. 135 What is a Fine? Fine is a cognac.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

fineadj.adv.n.2

Brit. /fʌɪn/, U.S. /faɪn/
Forms: Middle English ffyn, Middle English fin, Middle English fyin, Middle English fynn, Middle English 1600s ffyne, Middle English 1600s fyn, Middle English–1700s fyne, Middle English– fine, 1500s fynne, 1500s (Hampshire) 1800s– (regional) foine, 1700s (1800s– regional) foin, 1700s–1800s vine (English regional (south-western)), 1800s fhyne (Irish English (Wexford)); also Scottish pre-1700 fayn, pre-1700 feyne, pre-1700 fin.
Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French fin.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman fin, fyn and Old French, Middle French fin (French fin ) perfect, splendid (c1170 or earlier), (of liquid) clear (early 12th cent.), (of weather) bright, clear (12th cent.), (of metal) pure, refined (12th cent.), (of love) pure (12th cent.), (of an item) of superior quality (12th cent.), furthermost, last (12th cent.), faithful (12th cent.), utter, sheer (12th cent.), complete, whole (12th cent.), consummate (late 12th cent.), wise, intelligent, insightful (late 12th cent. or earlier), pleasant (1212 or earlier), certain, sure (1212 or earlier), cunning (1212 or earlier), subtle (c1235 or earlier), sincere (c1235 or earlier), noble, virtuous (early 13th cent. or earlier), delicate (13th cent. or earlier), thin (13th cent. or earlier), true, genuine (13th cent. or earlier), (of precious stones) without blemish or fault (a1391), composed of small particles (a1392), (of smell, taste) delicate (19th cent. or earlier), (of senses) acute (19th cent. or earlier), made of thin or closely set elements (20th cent. or earlier) < fin fine n.1; the semantic development was probably from ‘furthermost, extreme’ (which would arise readily from the meanings of the noun) to ‘complete’ and ‘best’ (compare ultimate adj., utter adj.).Compare post-classical Latin finus of excellent quality (12th cent.; frequently from 13th cent. in British sources), (of metals) refined (1300 in a British source), Old Occitan fin , Catalan fi (1094), Spanish fino (early 13th cent.), Portuguese fino (13th cent.), Italian fine , fino (a1294). The French word was borrowed into all Germanic languages at an early stage: compare Old Frisian fīn (West Frisian fijn ), Middle Dutch fijn (1260–70; Dutch fijn ), Middle Low German fīn , Middle High German fīn (12th cent.; German fein ), Old Icelandic fínn , Old Swedish, Swedish fin , Old Danish fiin (Danish fin ). In fine love , fine amour at A. 1a after Old French fin amur (12th cent.; compare amour n.). In by (also with, by) fine force at sense A. 1b, after Anglo-Norman, Old French, Middle French a fine force, de fine force (13th cent.). In branch A. II. often rendering French beau (compare notes at senses A. 9a, A. 13b, Phrases 3, and fine world n. at Compounds 4).
A. adj.
I. Pure, perfect; of the best or very high quality.
†1.
a. Of a quality or attribute: perfect, pure, genuine; utter, sheer. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > perfection > [adjective] > perfect
finea1300
perfecta1398
crownedc1405
absolute?a1425
obsolute1522
quintessential1551
absolentc1560
fashionate1593
omniperfect1678
quadriform1679
exemplary1709
perfick1771
puffick1858
twenty-twenty1875
copybook1908
perfecto1941
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 73 (MED) He is i-don in heouene golde and is ful of fyn amur.
?a1300 Iacob & Iosep (Bodl.) (1916) l. 58 (MED) Þat ich & þi moder..Moten for fine nede comen to þine fet.
c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) l. 1402 Neuer fader for no childe Of fyn loue nas so freo ne mylde.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 35 Kymak kyng of Scotland, he com for fyne awe.
c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 132 (MED) His feith..so pure and so fyne fro al falsheede.
a1500 Partenay (Trin. Cambr.) l. 3831 Whom I so loued with hert Fyn.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin x. 156 By fyn strengthe.
1578 T. Blenerhasset 2nd Pt. Mirrour for Magistrates Cadwallader f. 38v They onely doo excel for fine felicitie.
1654 R. Codrington tr. Queen Margaret of Valois Heptameron i. vii. 38 By fine strength they forced the poor old woman from between the Arms of the Merchant.
1664 H. Bold Poems 41 His fluent Eyes, Spake, such fine Amours and so void of lust.
?1705 E. Hickeringill Surv. Earth 30 Fine Love, foul Lust are Twins.
b. fine force: sheer force of reasoning; (also) absolute necessity. Chiefly in by (also with, by) fine force. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > necessity > [noun]
fine forcea1375
necessitya1425
the mind > will > necessity > [adverb] > by absolute compulsion or obligation
by (also with, by) fine forcea1375
afforcec1380
by or in perforce1525
imperiously1534
bindingly1851
perforcedly1855
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [phrase] > by violence or force
strong handOE
by forcec1320
through, with, of forcec1320
by or with strifec1330
by way of feat1362
by (also with, by) fine forcea1375
by mighta1425
by force and armsa1481
by way of deed1535
by (the) head and shoulders1571
by (the) head and ears1590
sting and ling1816
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [noun] > absolute or superior force
fine forcea1375
vis major1601
force majeure1883
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [adverb] > forcibly
needlingOE
by (also with, by) fine forcea1375
perforcec1425
in violentc1450
by or in perforce1525
by (also with) main forcec1540
by (also with) main hand1567
vi et armis1618
enixly1671
par force1819
the mind > will > necessity > [noun] > necessity of circumstances
necessitya1382
fine forcec1400
constraint1607
necessity1629
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1217 (MED) Þei wiþ fyn force for-barred his strokes.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1239 Me be-houeȝ of fyne force Your seruaunt be.
a1550 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Wemyss) cxx. 2538 In Sanct Mergretis Hope belif Off fyne fors þaim behuffit arif.
1564 N. Haward tr. Eutropius Briefe Chron. vii. sig. L.vv Cesar..of fine force caused the Romaynes to create hym consull.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon ii. 45 To effect that by fine Force, he could not obtain by the more moderate ways of Addresses, and Treaty.
1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke sig. F4v It was..meer fine force and fear of Punishment that brought them to Church.
1734 Def. Ess. for Rev. Bk. Common Prayer Ep. Ded. 61 The cunning Sects of the World..did more prevail by Whispering to Ladies than all the Church of England and the more sober Protestants could do by fine Force and Strength of Argument.
1833 R. Southey Lives Brit. Admirals I. iv. 233 He laid about with his battleaxe, cleared the place by fine force, raised him from the ground, and set him again safe at the head of his own people.
2.
a. With reference to metals and the assay of metals.
(a) Of a metal, esp. gold or silver: separated from dross or other extraneous material; refined; pure. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > types of metal generally > [adjective] > fine or pure
finea1325
utter-fine1562
unalloyeda1672
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2370 Fif weden best bar beniamin, Ðre hundred plates of siluer fin.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16453 Quen þai þe fine gold for-soke.
c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 1160 This reuerent throne was made..of fynest gold.
c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 1348 Of gold..As fyne as ducat in venyse.
a1500 (?a1325) Otuel & Roland (1935) l. 357 (MED) An haketon of fyn styl.
1557 Bible (Whittingham) Rev. i. 15 And his fete lyke vnto fyne brasse.
1611 Bible (King James) Ezra viii. 27 Two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. View more context for this quotation
1665 Golden Coast or Descr. Guinney iii. 42 Some also wear on their legs great Shackles of fine Copper.
1732 A. Pope Strange Relation E. Curll in J. Swift et al. Misc.: 3rd Vol. 39 Mixing a greater Quantity of the fine Metal of other Authors with the Alloy of this Society.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. v. 51 In the market of Europe,..an ounce of fine gold exchanges for about fourteen ounces of fine silver. View more context for this quotation
1806 Repertory of Arts 2nd Ser. 8 359 The clear liquor is afterwards drawn off with a syphon, and is passed into a retort, containing some fragments of fine silver at the bottom.
1867 Chambers's Jrnl. 16 Feb. 105/1 ‘Fine’ gold being purer than ‘standard’.
1938 R. Hum Chem. for Engin. Students xviii. 472 The anode is made of fine silver.
1980 S. China Morning Post 2 Jan. (Business News Suppl.) 12/5 From the start of the year, all Swiss and foreign coins as well as fine gold in ingots or any other form will be subject to sales tax.
2015 S. Thompson Fine Art Wire Weaving 9/1 The copper content in sterling silver means it oxidizes much more quickly than fine silver does.
(b) With preceding number or quantifier and (usually) unit of measurement. Containing or characterized by the specified proportion of pure gold or silver. Also figurative.The proportion of pure metal in gold and silver is now typically expressed in carats (see carat n. 3) and ounces per pound troy, respectively.Also in prepositional phrases with of.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > precious metal > [adjective] > containing given portion of pure metal
fine1552
1552 R. Record Ground of Artes (rev. ed.) ii. sig. X.v A mynt maister hath 6 ingottes of siluer, of sundry finenesse, some of 4 vnces fyne.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella (1591) 7 Beauties which were of many Carrects fine.
1603 G. de Malynes Englands View 175 If we made the monies of gold to be 23 carrats, then the Standard for the siluer (after two carrats of gold for an ounce of siluer) should be 11 ounces ½ fine.
1694 W. Salmon Pharmacopœia Bateana i. ix. 576/1 The Nitre is put into the second melting of the Regulus.., whereby you have a well purified Regulus, even Gold of 24 Carats fine.
1728 W. Betagh Voy. round World 296 To the eastward of Serena are the washing places of Andacol, whose gold is twenty three carats fine.
1767 J. Steuart Inq. Princ. Polit. Oecon. II. iii. vii. 72 The standard of French gold is the same with that of silver, to wit, 11/12, or 22 carats fine.
1820 G. G. Carey Guide Publ. Funds 95 Gold of twenty two carats fine signifies that twenty two parts of the whole mass is pure gold and two parts of some other metal.
1872 E. W. Robertson Hist. Ess. i. i. 3 The purest gold, 24 carats fine.
1901 A. Del Mar Hist. Monetary Syst. xiii. 315 During the Burgundian period, some of the Dutch ducats now called double ducats weighed 67 grains.., and were 23 carats 3½ grains fine.
1913 E. A. Smith Sampling & Assay Precious Metals xix. 291 The greatest differences occur in low-grade bullion below 400 fine.
1970 D. S. Ault & S. H. Steinberg tr. P. Dollinger German Hansa ix. 208 Until the sixteenth century Lübeck kept firmly to the model of the high-grade Italian florin of 23⅓ carats fine.
2006 N. Holmes Sylloge Coins Brit. Isles 58 14 The new rider was to be 22 carats fine and circulate at five pounds.
b. Of a liquid: free from turbidity or impurity, clear; (formerly also) †undiluted (obsolete). Also of the air: pure, fresh.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > freedom from impurities > [adjective]
fairOE
unfiledc1200
purec1300
undefouled13..
unfouledc1380
fresha1393
finec1440
filthless1532
taintless1590
virgin1596
untainted1609
indevirginate?1624
unpolluted1771
germless1869
Diana1870
sterile1877
aseptic1883
pristine1910
the world > matter > liquid > [adjective] > qualities of liquid > clear or translucent
finec1440
clear1483
limpid1609
c1440 (?a1400) St. John Evangelist (Thornton) l. 226 in G. G. Perry Relig. Pieces in Prose & Verse (1914) 104 (MED) Als faste als þay felyd it [sc. the poison], downe dede gun þay falle..þe fylthe was so fyne.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde i. i. sig. a6v The good wyn that is aboue abideth alway clere and fyn.
a1566 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) sig. Cijv Mee thinkes, this is a pleasant Citie..The Ayre subtle and fine.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 27 Ane..spring, of fyne, freshe and fair water.
1672 N. Grew Anat. Veg. ii. 49 Which transient Sap..thus becomes fine.
1692 tr. B. Jonson Leges Convivales in Wks. sig. Bbbbb6 Let our Wines without mixture, or Stum be all fine.
1735 J. Swift Stella at Wood-Park in Wks. II. 213 She view'd the Wine, To see that ev'ry Glass was fine.
1745 R. Pococke Descr. East II. i. 5 They..brought fine oil of olives.
1803 R. Couper Tourifications II. xvi. 121 The extremity of this avenue was crossed by a fine little clear trundling rivulet.
1860 Times 26 Dec. 11/5 All the comforts of a country home, fine sea air, a private beach, and the services of an efficient resident governess.
1919 G. Lemcke Preserving & Pickling 88 Add it [sc. milk] to 40 gallons of wine or liquor you wish to clarify, and in the course of 4 days it generally becomes fine and clear.
2011 R. Bok Horsekeeping xxii. 323 The cerulean sky pushed bleached clouds, and the fine air filtered my lungs and thoughts clear and clean.
3.
a. Of good or excellent quality; superior, select.Sometimes as part of a formal grading system.fine chemicals: see chemical n. 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > surpassing excellence > [adjective] > and superior in quality
higheOE
finec1330
supreme1567
uppera1586
nature-graceda1618
de luxe1819
nature-favoured1877
c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) l. 4609 (MED) A faire chapel of marbel fin.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 2870 Men findes lumpes o þe sand, O þer nan finer in þat land.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 673 Sche..made..a schryne Of alle the rubyis & the stonys fyne In al egypt that sche coude espie.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 161 Fyne wyne, falernum.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 3371 Fonde of þe fyneste..And reche to the ripeste.
1576 T. Twyne Schoolemaster i. xix. sig. Cij.v Aboue all foules these are the finest the Stare, younge Pertredges, and house chickens.
a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. D1v The streetes straight forth, and pau'd with finest bricke.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 130 Certain fields..make the Sheep that graze upon them..bear finer Wool. View more context for this quotation
1678 J. Worlidge Vinetum Britannicum (ed. 2) 208 The Devonshire Quarrington is also a very fine early Apple.
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. at Cheddar The most noted place in all England for making large, fine, rich, and pleasant cheese.
1776 R. E. Raspe tr. J. J. Ferber Trav. Italy v. 57 I do not say that all agates,..and finer precious stones, have been prepared by volcanic fire.
1845 Man. Homœopathic Cookery 118 Boil in a pint of good cream five squares of fine chocolate.
1872 J. Yeats Growth Commerce 31 Elba remarkable to this day for the fine iron it produces.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 480/1 The finest teas are produced at high elevations in Darjeeling and Ceylon.
1956 I. Fleming Diamonds are Forever ii. 22 Now this is a ‘Top Crystal’, ten carats, baguette-cut. Very fine stone.
2002 W. Self Dorian (2003) viii. 102 No drugs at all to speak of, just a little weed, a few hallucinogens and some fine wines.
b. Of printing: intended for display as much as for reading; decorative, ‘ornamental’.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > edition > [adjective] > printed on better quality paper
fine1725
society > communication > printing > printed matter > arrangement or appearance of printed matter > [adjective] > fine printing
fine1725
1725 Addit. Bk. Rates Goods & Merchandizes 165 (table) Paper, vocat...Fine Printing Crown..Fine Printing Fools Cap..each Ream v s...Second Ordinary Printing Crown..Second Ordinary Printing Fools Cap..each Ream iij s. ix d.
1841 W. Savage Dict. Art of Printing 469 It is to be observed, that fine work cannot be made upon bad paper, or with old worn types.
1867 W. T. Brande & G. W. Cox Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art (new ed.) III. 54/1 By fine presswork is meant work printed with the best paper and ink, and with the utmost care at a hand press.
1927 Pop. Mech. Oct. 59/2 (advt.) Printing—Stationery, Circulars, Booklets. Fine work: prices right.
1957 R. L. Collison Bk. Collecting 197 Formerly very popular, this process [sc. marbling] is now mostly confined to account books and ledgers, though since the war it has also been used in fine printing.
2002 L. P. Glazier Digital Poetics i. 33 Those who work in fine printing can speak of sensuous relations between text and materials.
†4. Of a colour or pigment: bright, deep, intense, pure. Obsolete.In later use merging with sense A. 7a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [adjective] > intense
strongOE
richc1330
finea1387
stark1547
deep1555
full1599
saturate1669
generous1710
lush1744
saturated1791
lushy1821
robust1826
raised1846
high-keyed1879
acid1916
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 15 (MED) Schellefische þat me dyeþ wiþ reed fyn; þe redenesse þerof is wonder fyn [L. pulcherrimus] and stable.
a1475 Recipe Painting in Archæol. Jrnl. (1844) 1 155 (MED) Lapus lazuly that be a fyne blew colour..grinde it and drie it evermore to the colour be as fyn as thou wilt have it.
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 59 Ye Maydens..of Athens..tooke more delyght to see a fresh and fine colour, then to taste a sweete and wholesome siroppe.
1610 R. Snawsel Looking Glasse for Maried Folkes sig. A7v Truely it is a most gallant gowne..: and what a fine purple colour is it of.
1681 D. Papin New Digester vii. 45 I found..that Currants, instead of making a finer colour than Goose-berries, had but a pale liquor.
1738 J. Hoofnail New Pract. Improvem. Exper. Colours xlix. 53 There are many other Vegetables..from which Yellow Colours can be produced..; but few of them are fine and lasting.
1828 J. Stark Elements Nat. Hist. I. 257 Plumage green on the back..; tail..consisting of sharp-pointed feathers of the finest yellow.
5. Of a person.
†a. Perfect in virtue; truly excellent. Chiefly used for the sake of rhyme. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > [adjective]
goodeOE
dowingc1175
well-theweda1200
thewful?c1225
goodfulc1275
flourisheda1375
virtuousc1390
honesta1393
fine?a1400
theweda1400
well-manneredc1400
well-conditioneda1425
moralc1443
mannerlya1500
virtuala1500
graceful1611
well-moralized1624
well-principled1635
morate1652
unlicentious1737
respectable1750
nice1799
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. 6210 Þe ersbisshop of Deuelyn, he was chosen his pere, a baron bold & fyn, Sir Hugh Despensere.
c1450 (?a1400) Duke Rowland & Sir Otuell (1880) l. 14 The sone of le Roy Pepyn, Þat was Sir Cherlles gud & fyne.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 1901 Twa halymen and fyne, Saint benet and bischop Marcellyne.
b. Modifying a depreciative designation: egregious; absolute, downright. In later use chiefly as an intensifier; cf. right adj. 13e. Cf. sense A. 7c.In later use apparently only in fine fool, perhaps after Shakespeare (see quot. a16161).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute
shirea1225
purec1300
properc1380
plainc1395
cleana1400
fine?a1400
entirec1400
veryc1400
starka1425
utterc1430
utterlyc1440
merec1443
absolute1531
outright1532
cleara1535
bloodyc1540
unproachable1544
flat1553
downright1577
sheer1583
right-down?1586
single1590
peremptory1601
perfecta1616
downa1625
implicit1625
every way1628
blank1637
out-and-outa1642
errant1644
inaccessional1651
thorough-paced1651
even down1654
dead1660
double-dyed1667
through stitch1681
through-stitched1682
total1702
thoroughgoing1719
thorough-sped1730
regular1740
plumb1748
hollow1751
unextenuated1765
unmitigated1783
stick, stock, stone dead1796
positive1802
rank1809
heart-whole1823
skire1825
solid1830
fair1835
teetotal1840
bodacious1845
raw1856
literal1857
resounding1873
roaring1884
all out1893
fucking1893
pink1896
twenty-four carat1900
grand slam1915
stone1928
diabolical1933
fricking1937
righteous1940
fecking1952
raving1954
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 11746 Modrede hight þat traitour fyn.
a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) vi. l. 478 A schrewe fyne.
1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau ii. ii. sig. C.ij Is not that a fine knaue?
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. i. 147 I was a fine foole to take it. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) v. i. 18 That same knaue (Ford hir husband) hath the finest mad diuell of iealousie in him..that euer gouern'd Frensie. View more context for this quotation
1723 A. Smith Lives & Adventures Bayliffs 62 A fine Rogue indeed! said the Constable.
1732 London Mag. May 67/2 To pass my Days with a fine Ideot, would be a Purgatory on Earth.
1814 H. L. Piozzi Let. 6 June in Piozzi Lett. 1811–16 (1999) 265 What a fine Fool should I have been to wait another Week or fortnight for Mr. Oldfield!
1907 J. Barlow Irish Neighbours 267 It's the quare fright I got that time, and it's the fine fool I was.
1993 J. Steele Ital. Invader (Electronic ed.) viii He had played her for a fine fool that weekend.
6. colloquial (chiefly Scottish and Irish English) fine and ——: (as an intensifier of an adjective) very, exceedingly; completely.Cf. nice and —— at nice adj. 14b, good and at good adj. 12c.
ΚΠ
1665 C. Cotton Scarronnides 27 Dido and Bilbo, in this Case Shall finde a Cave as fit a place For such an use, so fine and dark, That..They there..may take a gentle Touch together.
1787 G. Colman Inkle & Yarico iii. i. 56 Wows comes on fine and fast in her lessons.
1877 F. Ross et al. Gloss. Words Holderness 58 Ah's fine an hung-ry.
1885 R. L. Stevenson Let. Apr. in Lett. to C. Baxter (1956) 161 When I read him my Sculduddry Sangs, he seemed fine an' pleased wi' them.
1915 J. Wilson Lowland Sc. Lower Strathearn 195 It's fine and easy to talk, But not so easy to act.
1921 H. Chapman Philosopher of Butterbiggins 18 Puir wee man. I tellt ye he was greetin', John. He's fine an' disappointed.
1968 I. McGregor Edinb. Reel i. 13 You've grown fine and bonny, my dear.
1999 F. McCourt 'Tis ii. 19 The way they eat all the time in America..I'll be fine and fat, as they say in Limerick.
2005 A. Fenton Buchan Words & Ways iv. 88 She made er tae in a wee roon metal tae-pot... It got fine an black an strong.
II. Admirable, attractive, and related senses.
7.
a. As a general term of approbation: admirable; excellent; of notable merit or distinction.fine and dandy: see dandy adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
?c1335 (a1300) Land of Cokaygne l. 45 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 146 (MED) Þer beþ riuers gret and fine.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1385 Elmes grete and stronge..Fyne ew popler and lyndes faire.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 161 Fyne, or ryght goode.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. v. sig. R2v To my conceite the fine cleernes of bearing it was exceeding delightfull.
1671 Lady M. Bertie Let. in Hist. MSS Comm.: 12th Rep. App. Pt. V: MSS Duke of Rutland (1889) 23 in Parl. Papers (C. 5889–II) XLIV. 393 Two very fine new plays.
1729 W. Law Serious Call i. 11 You see them..pleas'd with fine preachers.
1751 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) ii. 7 They [sc. Homer and Virgil] contain the finest lessons for your age to imbibe.
1797 R. Southey Botany Bay Eclogues in Poems 88 'Tis a fine thing to fight the French for fame!
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Devereux I. i. iii. 34 Candour no longer seemed to me the finest of virtues.
1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) i. 9 Shake hands, my fine fellow.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies i. 5 He thought of the fine times coming, when he would be a man.
1911 Times 18 Oct. 7/6 (advt.) There is no finer collection of Replica Furniture to be seen anywhere than at Whiteley's.
1946 R. Genders Mod. Greyhound Racing xiii. 134 He has been one of the finest sprinters this country has ever seen.
1970 E. Pace Saberlegs (1971) xiv. 132 A fine man. So many-sided. What I believe you would call a Renaissance man.
2003 Independent 7 Jan. 3/1 This tale of corporate intrigue and back-stabbing could make a fine novel.
b. Of ideas, speech, or writing: well thought out or expressed; apposite, effective; elegantly composed.Cf. sense A. 12 for depreciative use with similar collocates.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > specifically of thoughts or sayings
fine1557
1557 J. Gwynneth Playne Demonstr. Prol. sig. ☞❧ What..louers of trewth shall we recken all these, which wyll thynke it..to be the lesse worthy good acception, for lacke of some fyne and curious expression?
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. iv. xli. 165 Tempanius made..no fine Oration, but a grave pithie speech like a souldiour.
1675 T. Hobbes in tr. Homer Odysses To Rdr. sig. B7v Two or three fine sayings are not enough to make a Wit.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 288. ⁋1 Saying as many fine Things as their Stock of Wit will allow.
1751 London Mag. Apr. 169/1 M. Barbeirac..has quoted a fine passage from Libanius.
1800 V. Knox Ess. Moral & Literary III. clxxiii. 318 A fine expression, a truly poetical thought, an harmonious couplet.
1851 Times 10 Apr. 5/5 ‘After me the deluge,’ said Prince Metternich—a fine saying, but a false prophecy we trust.
1881 University (Univ. Mich.) 12 Mar. 14/2 Both orations were excellent, showing fine thought.
1922 Boys' Life Apr. 5/3 ‘Be Prepared’ is a fine motto at all times..but it's particularly good when photographing big game!
1964 Negro Digest Feb. 19/1 He spoke clearly in a language full of powerful metaphor, the speech of a man who admired fine words and fine expression.
2015 Times (Nexis) 8 Dec. 35 The trick of a fine speech is to compress the meaning of the whole into an easily remembered part.
c. Often used ironically. Cf. you're (also he's, she's, etc.) a fine one to talk at Phrases 8, all very fine at all adj., pron., n., adv., and conj. Phrases 27b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [adjective] > of inferior quality or value or appearance
poorc1300
vile1526
mangya1529
fine1565
palterlya1637
scrubby1754
nice1798
shabby1805
waff-like1808
neat1824
chronic1861
tacky1862
shamblya1937
tatty1940
low-rent1966
scrungy1974
1565 N. Sanders Supper of Our Lord vii. xxi. f. 393v This is a fine kind of Rhetorick, to make D. Harding beleue he will not say that, which he doth say.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 36 How say you fine man?
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. iii. 68 Y'haue made a fine hand fellowes?
1680 R. Mansell Exact & True Narr. Late Popish Intrigue 40 You are a fine Fellow; first to come to His Majesty, and there to tell him one Story.
1683 in A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 70 That ‘to execute penal lawes upon dissenters was’—speaking ironically—‘a fine way to unite us’.
1733 H. Fielding Miser (Edinb. ed.) iv. viii. 64 A fine Excuse indeed.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. v. 171 Fine plots they would lay.
1815 J. W. Croker in L. J. Jennings Croker Papers (1884) I. iii. 59 Of all this fine story I believe little more than the last part.
1855 R. Browning Fra Lippo Lippi in Men & Women I. 45 A fine way to paint soul, by painting body So ill.
1901 F. Norris Octopus i. i. 25 There was a fine way for a man to waste his time and his good money, lallygagging with a lot of feemales [sic].
1943 K. Tennant Ride on Stranger xix. 210 I have some fine times, I can tell you, getting the Dad's bulbs through the Customs.
2015 Independent (Nexis) 30 June 2 With the fine mess that pro-European Europeans are making of Europe, who needs Eurosceptics?
d. Amongst collectors, of a coin, stamp, book, etc., or its condition: displaying a state of good but not excellent preservation.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > hobby > collecting other articles > [adjective] > relating to state of preservation of object
fine1773
1773 Catal. Medals, Medallions & Coins of James West (Langford's) 19 Jan. 3 An Otho, and 4 more Paduans, very fine.
1827 Catal. Coins & Medals Col. Thomas (Sotheby) 23 Apr. 5 Edward the Confessor, with Paxs.., fine and rare.
1879 H. Phillips Notes Coins 14 A number of fine proof-sets and coins of the United States mint.
1919 Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News 13 Sept. 309/3 (advt.) Remember I want stamps in fine condition only.
1952 J. Carter ABC for Book-collectors 120 The man who buys a brilliant copy of a second-rate book he does not really want rather than a merely fine copy of an important book he wants very badly.
1984 Coin Monthly Jan. 72/1 (advt.) 9 Roman silver coins..—fair to almost fine.
2012 Stamp Mag. Nov. 116/3 (advt.) Included are..a wide range of Definitives and Commemorative stamps in unmounted and fine condition.
e. In weakened use: satisfactory, acceptable; ‘OK’, all right. Frequently in predicative use or as int.In recent use sometimes implying the speaker does not in fact agree with the preceding statement, or is not happy with the situation in question.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [adjective]
wellOE
sufferablea1340
worthy1340
sufficient1489
paregala1500
competent1535
something like?1556
right1567
sweet1577
fairish1611
all right1652
fair1656
comfortable1658
decent1711
respectable1750
unrepulsive1787
decentisha1814
fair-to-middling1822
fine1828
christena1838
OK1839
tidy1844
not (or none) so dusty?1856
sweet1898
oke1928
okey-doke1934
okey-dokey1936
tickety-boo1939
cool1951
aight1993
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [interjection]
fine1828
OK1839
orright1874
oke1929
okey-dokey1932
okey-doke1934
okle-dokle1947
1828 T. Flint Condensed Geogr. & Hist. Western States I. 130 Some of the kinds and sizes of the cat fish are fine for the table.
1877 Titusville (Pa.) Morning Herald 6 Mar. His speeches are fine, but not in any sense great.
1917 A. G. Empey Over Top 311 Thumbs up, Tommy's expression which means ‘everything is fine with me’.
1930 D. Mackail Young Livingstones xi. 271 ‘Thanks awfully,’ said Rex. ‘That'll be ripping.’ ‘Fine!’ said Derek Yardley. ‘Great! Terrific!’
1960 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 30 Apr. 8 He is regarded as a youngish-type people's critic..and this is fine by Mr. Fiedler.
1977 Rolling Stone 7 Apr. 45/4 They wanted someone to take the leadership role. Fine, I am glad to do it.
2015 Daily Oklahoman (Nexis) 26 Mar. The guy fouled me. And I looked at the ref and he was, like, ‘Just keep playing.’ I was, like, ‘OK. Fine. That's whatever.’
8. Modifying an agent noun or its equivalent: who or which performs the specified action with great skill or aptitude; highly accomplished; consummate; (modifying a noun of action) performed with great skill.Now only as a contextual use of sense A. 7a: admirably skilful.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > very or highly skilled
finea1350
exquisite1530
well-skilled1533
virtuoso1842
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 61 (MED) Nis þer no leche so fyn oure serewes to bete.
a1500 Sir Orfeo (Harl.) (1966) 265 Þey comyn aboute hym þere To her harpyng þat was fyne [c1330 Auch. harping a-fine].
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 118v A fyn archer.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 436 To seik him leichis that wer fyne and gude, To heill his woundis.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. i. 10 In respect of a fine Workman, I am but..a Cobler. View more context for this quotation
1673 tr. E. de Refuge Art of Complaisance 131 To pass simply for a good horseman, or a fine dancer.
1744 Scots Mag. Nov. 514 A mad unexperienced fellow running headlong on a fine fencer.
1788 A. Jardine Lett. from Barbary, France, &c. I. xxi. 401 To shine in execution is too often their object; they have not always the taste..to prefer fine music to fine playing.
1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 20 A fine musician.
1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope v. 133 Pope was a really fine judge of literature.
1910 C. F. Holder Channel Islands Calif. 112 One of the owners of the island, Captain William Banning, is probably the finest amateur six-in-hand driver in the United States.
1960 Western Folklore 19 297 Especially fine is the Bushwhackers' rendition of ‘Brisbane Ladies’.
2009 New Yorker 5 Oct. 39/2 Negin is a fine drafts-woman, with a subtle sense of color.
9.
a. Of a person or thing: remarkably attractive; good-looking. Now somewhat dated, except U.S. slang (originally and chiefly African-American), of a person: sexually attractive. [In the 18th cent. frequent in general use modifying woman, girl, etc., in contexts where the usual term would now be ‘beautiful’ or ‘pretty’, equivalent to French une belle femme in similar use.]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adjective]
smickerc725
faireOE
lieflyOE
sheenOE
wenlichc1000
wlitic1000
lovesomec1175
lustya1240
flourisheda1375
lovelya1400
weenc1400
beauteous1435
beautifulc1443
finec1450
pulchriousa1500
speciousa1513
shanda1525
speciosea1525
pulchrousc1540
bonny1580
beauty1598
lovelike1621
killing1634
florid1642
beautied1830
stunning1849
fairsome1862
pulchritudinous1877
beaut1894
loverly1907
c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) l. 591 Gravus of gret prys ȝe grayþe ȝou tille, And but hit fair be and fin folie ȝe holden.
1588 A. Fraunce Lawiers Logike ii. ix. f. 100 Women of middle beautie, neyther so fine, as to make euery man to loue, nor so foule, as to make euery man hate them.
1696 G. Granville She-gallants i. 2 In this wicked Age, a young, spruce, handsom Fellow, is become a Rival for a fine Woman.
1726 B. Franklin Jrnl. in Wks. (1887) I. App. 106 From the battlements of this upper castle..you have a fine prospect.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest II. x. 90 She is a fine girl.
1833 H. Martineau Brooke & Brooke Farm (ed. 3) iv. 43 As fine a set of lads and lasses as could be seen.
1868 J. N. Lockyer Elem. Lessons Astron. i. 34 The finest ring-nebula is the 57th in Messier's catalogue.
1892 I. Zangwill Children of Ghetto I. 147 The real ‘Reb’ was a fine figure of a man.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers i. iv. 82 He was a fine fellow, big, straight and fearless-looking.
1959 A. Anderson Lover Man 115 ‘She was fine, wasn't she?’... ‘I got a gal..that's finer than that.’
1991 N. Sperry Neil Sperry's Compl. Guide Texas Gardening 51/1 That special sculpture or the striking sundial may just be the finishing touch for a fine landscape.
2015 Chapel Hill (N. Carolina) Herald (Nexis) 31 May a1 Ooooh, my sisters, he is just SO fine!
b. Of a person's features, deportment, etc.: attractively noble or dignified.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > of fine or dignified appearance
manfulc1425
handsome1590
fine-looking1754
fine1777
1777 Mutability Human Life II. 13 Lord Villars has certainly altogether a fine noble form.
1801 R. Southey Thalaba II. ix. 139 Her fine face raised to heaven.
1849 C. Brontë Shirley I. ii. 34 He seems unconscious that his features are fine.
1878 R. H. Hutton Scott i. 4 His father was a man of fine presence.
1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey i. i. 1 Sir Lawrence Mont, ninth baronet, set his fine nose towards the east wind.
1986 C. Lassalle Breaking Rules 11 Miss Denison had what are called ‘fine’ features: thin aquiline nose, almost invisible lips, and the round eyeballs of a marble statue.
2015 K. A. Nier et al. Encycl. Mass Spectrometry IX. 54/2 Dempster had a fine bearing, although he was short in stature.
10. Of dress: elaborate; showy; smart. Hence of a person: smartly or showily dressed (now chiefly in historical contexts).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > flashiness or gaudiness > [adjective]
fine1526
garish1545
flaunting1567
gawish1567
taffety1597
showful1607
flaming1609
flaring1610
over-brave1620
showish1675
rantingc1685
gaudy1709
showy1712
tinselled1738
kicky1790
flaunty1796
flashy1801
slangish1813
florid1815
tigerish1831
flash1836
flary1841
loud1850
flashy-looking1852
splurgy1852
cheesy1858
flagrant1858
jingo1859
cheesy1863
orchidaceous1864
flamboyant1879
vociferous1883
voyant1906
grandstanding1908
floozy1911
ritzy1919
like a (or the) dog's dinner1927
plush horse1936
kitsch1953
zazzy1961
pizzazz1969
the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [adjective] > smart
gallantc1420
galliard1513
fine1526
trickly1580
pink1598
genteel1601
sparkful1605
sparkish1657
jaunty1662
spankinga1666
shanty1685
trig1725
smartish1738
distinguished1748
nobby1788
dashing1801
vaudy1805
swell1810
distingué1813
dashy1822
nutty1823
chic1832
slicked1836
flash1838
rakish1840
spiffy1853
smart1860
sassy1861
classy1870
spiffing1872
toffish1873
tony1877
swish1879
hep1899
toffy1901
hip1904
toppy1905
in1906
floozy1911
swank1913
jazz1917
ritzy1919
smooth1920
snappy1925
snazzy1931
groovy1937
what ho1937
gussy1940
criss1954
high camp1954
sprauncy1957
James Bondish1966
James Bond1967
schmick1972
designer1978
atas1993
as fine as fivepence-
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > fine, elegant, or smart
quaintc1330
nice1395
merryc1400
featc1430
elegant?c1500
mannerly1523
fine1526
neat1566
trim1675
smart1704
dressy1785
natty1794
good1809
dossy1889
dicty1932
whip-smart1937
zooty1943
sharp1944
preppy1963
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > smartly or elegantly dressed
well-arrayeda1387
well-clada1400
well-apparelledc1450
well-dressed1484
fine1526
point-devicea1529
feat1560
tiffety-taffety1595
well-gowned1632
well-rigged1741
neat-dressed1757
smartc1778
well-turned-out1825
well-tailored1828
upholstered1892
whip-smart1937
sharp1944
pressed1963
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. DDiiii With fayre..and fyne clothes.
?1569 T. Underdowne tr. Heliodorus Æthiopian Hist. i. f. 11 Make ready your selfe, saide shee, you muste be fine.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 313 I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine . View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. v. v. sig. Kk7v A Colour'd suit, that, but last Week, would have been thought a fine one.
1735 J. Swift Death & Daphne in Wks. II. 404 Fine as a Col'nel of the Guards.
1771 Mrs. J. Harris in Private Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870) I. 214 A dress which was pretty and fine.
a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. ii. 18 She had a most harmless delight in being fine . View more context for this quotation
1872 C. D. Warner Saunterings 192 It must be a sublime feeling to one in the procession to walk about in such monstrous fine clothes.
1915 T. Burke London Nights 254 Music, gaiety, sparkle, fine dresses,..and all the rest of it.
1977 P. O'Brian Mauritius Command iii. 54 Jack, already fine in his best uniform, stood by the starboard rail of the quarterdeck.
2013 D. S. Peterson Field of Flowers 2 He was dressed as Anselmo was dressed; in a fine suit, with a fresh white shirt open at the collar.
11. Characterized by or affecting refinement or elegance; (affectedly) dainty or genteel; fastidious, prim.See also fine gentleman n., fine lady n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adjective]
chisa700
estfula1000
esquaymous1303
squeamousc1325
overnicec1350
curiousc1380
dangerousc1386
delicatea1393
preciousc1395
nicec1400
skigc1400
over-delicatea1425
daintethc1430
ticklec1456
quaint1483
dauncha1500
pickinga1500
feat?1529
elegant?1533
queasy1545
fine1546
fine-fingered1549
fastidious?1555
fine-mouthed1559
chary1567
weamish1571
saucy1573
dainty1576
superfine1576
niced1577
overcurious1579
nicing1581
fineish1582
prick-me-dainty1583
daint1590
finical1592
tiptoe-nice1593
nice1594
nicking1598
choice1601
squeamish1608
marchpane1609
hypercritical1611
particular1616
finicking1661
overcritical1667
just so1696
penurious1703
fal-lal1747
ogertful1754
nackety1756
quiddling1789
pernickety1808
pershittie1808
taffety1814
hypercritic1820
faddy1824
finicky1825
meticulous1827
daintified1834
squeamy1838
picksome1855
choosey1862
picky1867
hyperaesthetic1879
persnickety1885
précieux1891
perskeet1897
tasty1905
Nice Nelly1922
perfectionist1942
snicketya1960
perfectionistic1968
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vii. sig. Iiv Lyke one of fonde fancy so fyne and so neate, That wold haue better bread than is made of wheate.
a1555 H. Latimer Frutefull Serm. (1572) ii. f. 166v Those fine damsels thought it scorne to do any such thyng vnto Mary.
a1626 F. Bacon Advt. Holy Warre in Certaine Misc. Wks. (1629) 104 They were a Fine, and Dainty People; Frugall, and yet Elegant, though not Militar.
1673 R. Baxter Christian Directory i. vi. 311 He is too fine to serve him, who saith, I will serve thee in the Magistracy or Ministry, but not at Plow or Cart.
1733 A. Pope Of Use of Riches 4 Soft Adonis, so perfum'd and fine.
1786 R. Burns Holy Fair xv, in Poems 47 His English style, an' gesture fine, Are a' clean out o' season.
1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion vi. 264 Yet farther recommended by the charm Of fine demeanor. View more context for this quotation
1853 J. O. Halliwell Nursery Rhymes (ed. 5) 97 Elsie Marley is grown so fine, She won't get up to serve the swine.
1886 W. Besant Children of Gibeon III. ii. xxxii. 249 He's only a working man, you see. He hasn't got your fine ways.
1939 H. A. Saintsbury & C. Palmer We saw him Act xxx. 248 All that Irving did was ‘fine’, so fine that, at times, it came near to defeating his end. Doctor Primrose, for example, was too fine for a country parson.
1997 Y. M. Murray Locas 52 They're too polite and not sure and get too freezed up with their fine manners to act fast enough.
12.
a. Flattering, complimentary; deceptively or insincerely approbatory; (also) of the nature of empty rhetoric.See also fine words butter no parsnips at butter v. Phrases 3. Cf. also sense A. 7b for non-depreciative use with similar collocates.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > compliment > [adjective] > of the nature of or expressing compliment
fine1568
complemental1604
complimentary1715
complimentala1745
complimentative1778
flatteringa1797
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [adjective] > of words or manners
fairOE
honeyed1435
glozed1509
fair-tongued1541
fine1568
smoothed1568
smoothinga1592
sugary1591
slicked1594
rose water1598
rose-watered1599
candied1604
soft1609
courtlya1616
smooth-faced1626
oileda1640
blandished1671
sugar1687
fair-spoken1704
smooth-tongued1761
silky1778
pill-gilded1822
blarneyfied1830
greasy1848
blarneyed1861
soothering1866
soothing-syrupy1902
1568 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Dial Princes (rev. ed.) iv. xvii. f. 160v They [sc. women] wt their fyne words [Sp. halagos] & franke offer of there parsons obtayned that, wc many tymes to men of honor & great autorytye was denyed.
1655 J. Naylor Answer Bk. Quakers Catech. 39 The Spirit of God, which comes not to cover the lyar,..nor gild his works with a fine name.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 300. ⁋2 There are some so weak as to be imposed upon by fine Things and false Addresses.
1763 S. Greenaway Addr. Honest Eng. Hearts 58 They suffer themselves to be duped by those they treat with, and be put off with fine words, while they give up solid advantages.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 168 When this haggling was very obstinate and very skilful it was called by some fine name.
1865 J. S. Mill in Morning Star 6 July 2/3 I hope you don't suppose that I think all the fine things true about me which have been said and written with so much exaggeration.
1874 J. Morley On Compromise 131 Hardly..more than a fine name for self-indulgence.
1962 A. Fineberg & J. Katzer tr. V. Lenin Coll. Wks. IX. 460 Without serious guarantees, all these fine things are but hollow phrases.
2001 A. Beaton Feelgood ii. iii. 104 What's going to feed the hungry is not talk, not meetings, not fine words from the world's politicians.
b. Of language, speech, or writing: affectedly or excessively elaborate; ornate, florid.Cf. sense A. 7b for non-depreciative use with similar collocates.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [adjective] > euphuistic or precious
quaintc1395
fine1576
romantic1653
precious1712
précieuse1785
tortuous1801
euphuistical1823
euphuistic1828
précieux1891
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. 357 (margin) Curiositie in speaking, or fine and affected speach.
1686 J. Cockburn Jacobs Vow Pref. sig. A3 Plainnesse and Perspicuity, rather then fine Language, or quaint Expressions.
1697 T. D'Urfey Intrigues at Versailles ii. i. 13 You..care so little for Corupting a Language with fine Epithites, that you give it us as 'tis primitively spoke.
1773 H. Chapone Lett. Improvem. Mind II. 113 Idle gallantry and unmeaning fine speeches.
1806 H. K. White Let. 15 Aug. in Remains (1807) I. 241 Never make use of fine or vulgar words.
1885 Mag. Art Sept. 450/2 Much frothy fine writing.
1923 M. Cowley Let. 17 Mar. in Sel. Corr. K. Burke & M. Cowley (1988) 140 It was insufferably pompous, full of fine writing..and generally too gushy-blah.
1960 Punch 16 Mar. 383/2 Students are advised to omit fine language, puffs for the product, or any form of cosy get-togetherness.
2004 M. Swales in J. J. Long & A. Whitehead W. G. Sebald i. iii. 26 His..fondness for ‘fine writing’, for a certain spaciousness and stateliness of expression.
13.
a. Nautical. Of the wind: (originally) favourable to sailing; fresh, fair; (later) gentle, light; spec. that requires the kites (kite n. 5a) of a vessel to be set.
ΚΠ
1589 T. F. Copie Let. from Sea sig. Aiv The gallies made all the hast they could to recouer Cast Cales..but we had so fine a gale of winde, that we made two of them carie the third betweene them.
1633 T. James Strange Voy. 15 This morning, there sprung vp a fine gale at E.
1694 Marquis of Caermarthen Jrnl. Brest-Expedition 20 A fine Breeze sprung up at North-West, which set us apace into the Bay.
1704 J. Cuningham in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 24 1688 Fair and pleasant weather, with fine gales at S E.
1773 E. Ives Voy. India i. xiv. 204 At eight o'clock we got under sail again with a fine easterly wind.
1836 M. Scott Cruise of Midge ii. 23 A fine breeze, that..was nearly a fair wind up the river.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fine breezes, said of the wind when the flying-kites may be carried but requiring a sharp look-out.
1921 Forest & Stream Nov. 486/1 With a fine wind we sailed up the lake on the lookout for a good place to camp.
2002 M. Hordern Sailing Pacific (2003) vi. 127 In the Gulf of Panama..there is often a fine northerly breeze.
b. Of the weather, a day, etc.: bright, clear; free from rain or fog; (now often) pleasantly warm and sunny. Cf. fair adj. 7a(a). [Compare French beau (14th cent. in this sense in Middle French) and also un fin temps (17th cent. or earlier).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [adjective]
fairOE
merry1214
clearc1384
well-disposed1477
fine1595
blue-sky1852
1595 F. Sabie Pans Pipe iii. sig. D O, tis a fine weather... And lesse I be deceiu'd, this day will prooue verie faire too.
1618 B. Holyday Τεχνογαμια v. iv. sig. N2 A fine Sun-shine day.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. i. 67 The Weather was so fine they had a mind to spend the Day abroad.
1867 Ld. Tennyson Window 153 ‘Cuck-oo! Cuck-oo!’ was ever a May so fine?
1872 J. G. Wood Insects at Home iii. 337 On a fine day, it is very interesting to watch the ants [etc.].
1911 D. H. Lawrence White Peacock ii. iv. 272 Unfortunately, as the evening was so fine, the roads were full of strollers.
1957 J. Kirkup Only Child ix. 120 If..the weather was fine, we would be allowed to have tea in our tent.
2004 Independent on Sunday (Nexis) 1 Aug. 4 Forecasters predicted temperatures could rise as high as 29C in London, with the fine weather lasting until Tuesday.
14.
†a. Of good size; showing healthy growth. Obsolete.Now merged in sense A. 7a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [adjective]
unlittleeOE
mickleeOE
greateOE
mucha1154
mainc1275
boldc1300
fadec1330
largec1392
tallc1430
big1444
masterfula1450
grand1452
largy1558
fine1590
bonnya1600
large-sized1628
roomly1682
lumping?1706
maun1743
strapping1827
barn door1829
serious1843
jumboesque1893
jumbo1897
economy-sized1930
L1942
jumbo-size1949
economy size1950
1590 R. Greene Neuer too Late i. 3 The finest buds are soonest nipt with frosts.
1652 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved vi. xxv. 171 It thriveth exceeding well upon midling land, makes a fine flourishing Tree.
a1679 R. Wild Benefice (1689) 21 Mar. Christmas is coming... Watch. 1. I have a couple of fine Fowl for your Worship.
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 39 Orange Trees..all of so fine a growth..that one cannot imagine any thing more perfect in this kind.
1798 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening (ed. 2) xvii. 268 Some sorts [of fruit trees] grow finest in..a warm soil.
1821 C. Hatchett Let. 23 Apr. in J. Haggard Rep. Consistory Court (1822) 2 App. 173 The oak trees, although of fine growth and healthy, are found to be red-hearted.
1870 Mrs. H. Wood George Canterbury's Will II. i. 9 He is not a fine child, for he is remarkably small; but he is a very pretty one.
1920 Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. 27 88 On the extreme margin..is a fine flourishing colony of Mesembryanthemum acquilaterale, a strange plant.
b. Very large; substantial. In later use chiefly preceding a partly synonymous adjective, passing into a simple intensifier.With use as intensifier cf. sense A. 6.
ΚΠ
1739 J. Oldmixon Hist. Eng.: Henry VIII 89 William Petre had a fine Share of the Abbey-Lands.
1800 J. Money Let. Norfolk Farmers 32 A fine slice off a shoulder of mutton.
1833 H. Martineau Berkeley the Banker i. iii. 53 You had a fine slice of bread and honey just before Miss Berkeley came in.
1891 Mrs C. V. Jamison Lady Jane iv. 27 I've a fine large cage. It was my parrot's cage.
1924 Crisis Feb. 188/1 (advt.) You'll be delighted with our low prices and fine big, all wool samples.
1995 N. Thayer Belonging ii. 20 Joanna and Carter began to reap rewards: great leaps in salary,..industry awards, a fine fat share of fame and fortune.
15. Originally Scottish and English regional (northern). In good health, well; in good spirits; (in later use often in weakened sense) all right, ‘OK’; often as a conventional response to ‘How are you?’ and similar enquiries. Cf. sense B. 1.as fine as a fiddle, as fine as fivepence: see the final element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > healthy
wholeeOE
isoundOE
i-sundfulc1000
ferec1175
soundc1175
fish-wholea1225
forthlyc1230
steadfasta1300
wella1300
safec1300
tidya1325
halec1330
quartc1330
well-faringc1330
well-tempered1340
well-disposeda1398
wealyc1400
furnished1473
mighty?a1475
quartful?c1475
good1527
wholesomea1533
crank1548
healthful1550
healthy1552
hearty1552
healthsome1563
well-affected?1563
disposed1575
as sound as a bell1576
firm1577
well-conditioned1580
sound1605
unvaletudinary1650
all right1652
valid1652
as sound as a (alsoany) roach1655
fair-like1663
hoddy1664
wanton1674
stout?1697
trig1704
well-hained1722
sprack1747
caller1754
sane1755
finely1763
bobbish1780
cleverly1784
right1787
smart1788
fine1791
eucratic1795
nobbling1825
as right as a trivet1835
first rate1841
in fine, good, high, etc., feather1844
gay1855
sprackish1882
game ball1905
abled1946
well-toned1952
a hundred per cent1960
oke1960
1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 265 A' wi' us are hale an' fine.
1882 ‘J. Strathesk’ Bits from Blinkbonny 67 Tell your mother that..Willie's fine.
1892 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words (at cited word) ‘Hoo are ye thi day?’ ‘O, lad, aa's fine.’
1920 Trans. Luzerne County Med. Soc. 21 56 The cyanosis cleared up and for thirty-six hours she seemed fine, after which she failed rapidly.
1959 Listener 9 July 59/1 The sleepy subjects felt fine during the complex interesting tests.
2015 Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Nexis) 11 Aug. 6 ‘Hi, how are you?’ Being embarrassed but polite, he replied: ‘I'm fine, thank you very much.’
III. Delicate, subtle, thin.
16.
a. Exquisitely fashioned; delicately beautiful.With reference to a part of the body, sometimes with overtones of sense A. 17c(a), implying a delicate or graceful slenderness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > delicate or dainty
finea1375
dely?c1400
delicate?a1425
minionate1496
minion1528
minion1529
gingerly1534
daintyc1540
minikin1545
daint1590
inconyc1592
minic1598
delicated1605
minical1668
finickingc1749
minionette1749
dinky1788
daintified1834
airy-fairy1837
mignon1837
minny1942
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2220 A cite nobul, enclosed comeliche a-boute wiþ fyn castel-werk.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 170 Her fygure fyn.
c1475 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 141 (MED) I fylle Among the herbes fresche and fyne.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 312/2 Fyne as any worke that is small and subtylly wrought, soubtil.
1596 E. Spenser Prothalamion 27 They..with fine fingers cropt..The tender stalks.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 319 Fine apparision: my queint Ariel, Hearke in thine eare. View more context for this quotation
1696 tr. J. Dumont New Voy. Levant xii.153 The Vault of the Mosque retains almost all its ancient Beauty; 'tis enrich'd with a very fine Mosaick Work.
1728 Life Lavinia Beswick 40 You have a very fine Hand, which adds a great Grace to your Person.
1783 Crit. Rev. Public Buildings London (new ed.) iv. 107 The head of the principal figure in the fine alt relief on Sir Isaac Newton's urn is gone.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. i. 62 Warp those fine limbs To loathed lameness.
1876 Shamrock 15 Apr. 464/1 Mary Queen of Scots wrote a fine, graceful feminine hand, indicating sweetness and nobility.
1907 E. Rowe Pract. Woodcarving 16 Boxwood, pearwood, sandalwood and satinwood are best suited to figures and fine, delicate work.
1955 R. K. Dell Native Shells (1957) 48 A good specimen of this delicate little shell with its fine structure and pink flushed surface ensures for it a place of honour in the collection.
2011 Y. Edwards Cupboard Full Coats x. 195 Delicately breaking ginger root with her fine, slim fingers.
b. Of immaterial things, esp. emotions or feelings: elevated, refined. Cf. the finer feelings at Phrases 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > [adjective]
kindly1340
heroical?a1475
heroicc1550
high-set1597
fine1598
unbase1601
exalteda1616
noblea1616
spiritful1631
raised1662
high-toned1770
lofty1776
etherealized1846
upward1850
unsordid1857
high-tone1864
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective] > pure or refined (of joy)
fine1598
1598 B. Yong tr. G. Polo Enamoured Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 438 Loue is a daintie milde, and sweet, A gentle power, a feeling fine and tender [Sp. vn sentimiento Blando, dulce, y regalado].
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iii. ii. 21 Some ioy to fyne..For the capacity of my ruder powers. View more context for this quotation
1712 Spectator No. 502. ¶3 Those who improve or command corporeal Pleasures by the Addition of fine Sentiments of the Minds.
1755 J. G. Cooper Lett. conc. Taste i. 1 You, who are feelingly alive to each fine Sensation that Beauty or Harmony gives the Soul.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Locksley Hall in Poems (new ed.) II. 96 What is fine within thee growing coarse to sympathise with clay.
1883 Cent. Mag. Aug. 502/1 This he has done by the aid of his..exquisite taste, and that finer wisdom which resides in the artist.
1922 S. Villa Unbidden Guest 4 He is capable of the finest emotions that ever moved human heart.
1962 Rotarian Oct. 58/1 Every individual has something fine and great in his personality.
2008 R. Smoley Conscious Love i. 13 The seeker passes from love of the flesh to the more abstract but finer love of the intellect.
17.
a. Delicate in structure or texture; made or formed of minute particles or slender threads or filaments; not coarse or rough. Frequently of a garment or fabric.Often merging with sense A. 3a, having implications of superior quality.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > other specific kinds of texture > [adjective] > fine
smalleOE
subtlea1382
subtilea1398
finec1400
tearc1400
delicate?a1425
fine-spuna1555
filmy1604
cypress1605
thin-spun1638
curious1665
filmlike1804
feathery1864
pinpoint1899
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 4978 Wiþ golde and siluer and skarlet pure fyne.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 455 Hir Couerchiefes ful fyne weere of grownd.
c1440 (?a1400) Sir Perceval (1930) l. 453 He fande a lofe of brede fyne.
1519 W. Horman Vulgaria viii. f. 80v Fyne and thynne papyr, seruynge for myssyue letters.
1558 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 151 J fyne hone.
a1600 T. Deloney Pleasant Hist. Iohn Winchcomb (1619) iv. sig. Giij [They] put an hoste cloath about his necke in stead of a fine towell.
1660 Act 12 Charles II c. 4 Rates in Statutes of Realm (1963) V. 185 Fine or head brushes.
1721 G. Berkeley Ess. Preventing Ruine Great Brit. 9 More fine Linnen is wore in Great Britain than in any other Country.
1789 Edinb. Mag. Nov. 320/1 The surface began to be covered with an extremely fine tissue, which rose to the height of an inch.
1842 J. Bischoff Comprehensive Hist. Woollen Manuf. II. 192 The wool is fit for clothing purposes or for making fine flannels.
1884 A. R. Pennington Wiclif vi. 187 They were..written on fine vellum.
1913 Concrete-CementAge Oct. 157/1 The block was originally cast perfectly plain and square, using a fine stone aggregate.
1935 E. Bowen House in Paris ii. ii. 100 Her hair, fine and limp as silk, was built up elaborately in an Edwardian manner.
1962 G. Murchie Music of Spheres xii. 453 The artist who wants to paint a Persian miniature..looks for a fine camel hair [brush] suited to the delicate texture of his work.
2006 Bicycling May 106/2 The liner is made from a fine, silky mesh that's comfortable and breathable.
b. Esp. of air or a liquid: having low density; rarefied, thin.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > lack of density > [adjective]
thin849
subtilea1393
airya1398
subtlea1398
rarea1400
shirec1400
finea1425
solutec1440
intenuate1471
slender1528
ethereal1590
tenuous1597
spare1602
unsolid1611
unsolute1612
tenuious1634
etherical1656
airlike1821
wire-drawn1876
a1425 (a1399) Forme of Cury (BL Add.) 121 in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 125 Boile it tendre in fyne broth oþer in water.
1534 W. Marshall tr. Erasmus Playne & Godly Expos. Commune Crede f. 68v The water raryfied, and made fyne and subtyle, is tourned into ayer [L. aqua extenuata in aerem].
1551 T. Raynald tr. A. Vesalius Compend. Declar. Vertues Oile Imperial sig. Divv It is the most daintie, thin, fine, and simple liqeur that by mans wit can be inuentid.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §761 When the Eye standeth in the Finer Medium.
1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike xi. 69 Gas is a far more subtile or fine thing than a vapour, mist, or distilled Oylinesses.
1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) ii. 14 Transparent Forms, too fine for mortal Sight, Their fluid Bodies half dissolv'd in Light.
1783 P. Pott Chirurg. Wks. (new ed.) II. 219 The exudation of a fine fluid.
1837 C. Lofft Self-formation I. ii. 68 Intellectually I loved a higher region and purer air, too fine and rarefied for their breathing.
1860 D. M. Mulock Parables 30 in Poems 273 Air so rare and fine.
1991 T. Dunlap tr. B. Duden Woman behind Skin ii. 52 The idea that the heavenly constellations and diabolical powers could have effects in the body via extremely fine liquids that formed the nervous system.
c.
(a) Very small in bulk, diameter, or thickness; extremely thin or slender.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > condition of being long in relation to breadth > slenderness > [adjective]
subtlea1382
subtilea1393
subtilec1392
smiltc1400
fine?a1425
thina1425
exile?1440
slender1444
tenuious1495
jimp?a1513
lenye1513
fine-spuna1555
nice1567
spindled1584
gracile1590
snever1640
tenuous1656
slim1657
gracilious1688
gracilent1727
twittery1819
flitterya1834
attenuate1848
spiry1849
low-profile1906
matchlike1906
slimline1949
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 11 (MED) Vpon the body lay a fyn plate of gold.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Fine threde, arachnion.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 67 Make..a fine hole..in the stocke.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. D3 Like a crane his necke was long and fyne.
1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 72 The Indians..spin it into fine thred.
1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. xi. 196 The Point cuts a fine Hollow Circle or Swage in the Flat of the Board.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. 12/2 A sort of wooden pattens with a very fine thin bottom of steel.
?1790 J. Imison School of Arts (ed. 2) 223 The fine membranes between a frog's toes.
1821 London Jrnl. Arts & Sci. 2 179 The filament becomes finer and finer as it passes through the whole system of drawing-rollers.
1883 T. H. Huxley & H. N. Martin Course Elem. Biol. xii. 157 Each of the hairs..is..seen to be covered over its whole surface with innumerable very fine secondary hairs.
1908 Pop. Sci. Monthly Aug. 116 The shale has to be split with a knife into fine layers.
1954 Farmer's Guide (Jamaica Agric. Soc.) 710 The Pimply Cut Worm..is about one-third of an inch long and very fine.
2007 Eve July 168/3 Don't worry, it's a very fine needle!
(b) figurative and in figurative contexts. Cf. a fine line at Phrases 7, and sense A. 20a.
ΚΠ
1539 R. Morison Invective ayenste Treason sig. Cii The byshop of Rome & his godly sowers of treson, thought they had spun a wonderful fine threde.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. i. 17 He draweth out the thred of his verbositie, finer then the staple of his argument. View more context for this quotation
1616 T. Adams Dis. Soule vii. 29 Some spinne Usurie into such fine threeds of distinction, that they take away all the names whereby it offends.
1632 R. Sanderson 12 Serm. 268 Hypocrisie is spunne of a fine threed, and is not easily discerneable.
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. at Too Pleased with the Conceit of their own Wit, they..draw it out to that Length 'tis so fine that no Body can perceive it but themselves.
1778 Monthly Rev. 58 App. 565 With great fancy, and even with a fine vein of poetry, he describes a path.
1845 Ld. Houghton Let. 25 Dec. in T. W. Reid Life Ld. Houghton (1890) I. viii. 360 I think my own finer [lines of judgment] just as distinct.
1884 Manch. Examiner 26 May 5/1 Margins of profit are so fine.
1904 T. Raymont Princ. Educ. 24 The mere theorist, who spins fine webs of doctrine that collapse on contact with the hard facts of experience.
1956 C. C. Walcutt Amer. Lit. Naturalism vii. 170 In the description of passionate love scenes the reader is apt to feel that his subtlety has passed over the fine boundary into confusion.
2004 V. Alexander Sadika's Way ix. 55 Ashfaaq Beebee had cultivated a fine veneer of softness and civility.
d. In the state of, consisting of, or reduced to minute particles or droplets.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > granular texture > [adjective] > powdery or dusty > fine
fine1425
impalpable1594
1425 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 187 (MED) iij pekkes of Flour fyn.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Lev. ii. 1 A meat offerynge..of fyne floure.
1589 J. Lyly Pappe with Hatchet D ij b They haue..got themselues the fine meale.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 103 Full of fine durt. View more context for this quotation
a1672 P. Sterry Rise Kingdom of God (1683) 268 The skilful Apothecary beateth his Spices to a small, and fine powder.
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 45 Put into it..some very fine Brick-Dust.
1778 Glasse's Art of Cookery (new ed.) 390 Take one pound of bitter-almonds, blanch and beat them very fine in a mortar.
1815 N. Amer. Rev. May 124 During most of this day, a fine mist continued to fall.
1882 A. G. Lock Gold 141 Ströbel, who has been for many years a purchaser of gold-dust at Michigan Bluff, states that the fine gold is always richer than the coarse.
1934 A. E. Newton Derby Day x. 189 Think of the miles of alkali desert with dust as fine as flour.
1979 Cape Times 1 Dec. 11 Mandrax tablets ground to a fine white powder.
2014 E. J. Burton et al. in K. Waldron Adv. in Biorefineries xxiv. 785 A nozzle or atomiser is used to convert the liquid input into a fine spray.
e. Of a sieve, etc.: having or composed of closely woven mesh; perforated with small holes. Of a comb, rake, saw, etc.: having slender and narrowly spaced teeth or projecting parts.
ΚΠ
1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount vi. f. 112v Let the poulder dry.., the whiche afterwarde you shall braye well once agayne, and passe it thorow a fyne sieue.
1662 tr. F. Plater et al. Golden Pract. Physick (new ed.) ii. xiii. 681/2 A very fine Comb will take them [sc. lice] out of the Head.
1767 J. Rutter & D. Carter Mod. Eden i. xxi. 99 Level the surface perfectly... In the evening, rake it well with a fine rake.
1841 Western Farmer & Gardener Mar. 137/2 Give occasionally a gentle sprinkling of water, from a watering pot with a fine rose.
1880 Harper's Mag. July 214/2 With a net of fine mesh he insnared the little troutlings.
1954 Househ. Guide & Almanac (News of World) 159/2 After a good stir and two minutes brewing, it [sc. coffee] is poured out through a fine strainer.
1970 Hardware Retailing May 110/1 A coarse..saw with 5½ points per inch is best for fast work.., while a fine saw with 10 or 11 points is best for smooth, accurate cutting.
2008 BBC Good Food Sept. 146/4 Halve the watermelon and..mash the flesh to a pulp and squeeze through a very fine sieve.
f. Of a ship's bow: long and tapered; slender.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > fore part of vessel > [adjective] > slender (of bow)
fine1777
1777 D. Lescallier Vocabulaire des Termes de Marine i. 26/2 This Ship has a fine entrance.
1822 Philos. Mag. 60 121 The vessel should be formed with a fine entrance and run; sharp raking bow both below and above; a broad transom not too high placed.
1883 H. Stewart Ocean Wave xi. 337 The Discovery..had less beam and a finer bow, and was consequently better adapted for ice-navigation.
1908 J. H. Biles Design & Constr. Ships II. xiii. 203 It seems that the least resistance at practical speeds for the given fineness of form is given by a vessel with full stern and fine bow.
1960 New Scientist 17 Mar. 647/1 This very fine entry reduces the bow wave and hence the wave-making resistance of the ship.
2009 Y. Okumoto et al. Design Ship Hull Struct. 306 A high speed container ship has a very fine bow form.
g. Chiefly Boxing. Having lost (superfluous) body fat through training; lean, thin. Cf. fine-drawn adj. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [adjective] > condition or fitness
unexercised1562
fine1815
well-girt1816
fit1869
questionable1941
match-fit1960
on-form1965
the world > life > the body > bodily substance > fat > [adjective] > reduced in fat by training
fine1815
1815 Sporting Mag. Apr. 44 The gentleman who brought him so fine into the ring in his combat with Painter.
1897 L. Hoffmann Every Boy's Bk. Sport & Pastime 376 Immediately a race is over wrap yourself up and keep warm, for when exhausted and drawn fine by training one is very sensitive to cold.
1962 New Yorker 10 Nov. 213/1 He was not letting Tiger do any sparring that day,..because he had had him exactly right for Tuesday, and to continue at the same rate for the extra week would bring him down too fine.
2015 W. Dettloff Ezzard Charles xi. 138 That and being trained ‘too fine’ for the fight. A man needs a break, especially one who makes a living with his fists.
†18. Intellectually subtle; clever, ingenious. Often in negative sense: cunning, crafty. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adjective]
keena1000
nimbleOE
wittya1100
smeighc1200
understandingc1200
aperta1330
skillwisea1340
witted1377
intelligiblea1382
well-feelinga1382
knowinga1398
finec1400
large?a1425
well-knowingc1425
of understanding1428
capax1432
sententiousc1440
well-wittedc1450
intellectual?a1475
clean1485
industriousc1487
intellective1509
cleanlyc1540
ingenious?a1560
fine-headed1574
conceited1579
conceitful1594
intelligenced1596
dexter1597
ingenuous1598
intelligent1598
senseful1598
parted1600
thinking1605
dexterical1607
solert1612
apprehensivea1616
dexterous1622
solertic1623
intelligential1646
callent1656
cunning1671
thoughtful1674
perceptive1696
clever1716
uptaking1756
spiritual1807
bright1815
gnostic1819
knowledgeable1825
brainy1845
opulent1851
opening1872
super-cerebral1916
brainiac1976
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective]
warec888
craftyOE
hinderyeapc1000
yepec1000
foxc1175
slya1200
hinderc1200
quaint?c1225
wrenchfulc1225
wiltfula1250
wilyc1330
subtle1340
cautelous138.
sleightful1380
subtile1387
enginousa1393
wilfula1400
wilyc1407
sleighty1412
serpentinec1422
ginnousa1425
wittya1425
semyc1440
artificial?a1475
sleight1495
slapea1500
shrewdc1525
craftly1526
foxy1528
gleering?1533
foxish1535
insidious1545
vafrous1548
wily beguile1550
wilely1556
fine1559
todly1571
practic1585
subdolous1588
captious1590
witryff1598
cautel1606
cunninga1616
versute1616
shiftfula1618
artificious1624
insidiary1625
canny1628
lapwing-like1638
pawky?a1640
tricksome1648
callid1656
versutious1660
artful1663
slim1674
dexterous1701
trickish1705
supple1710
slid1719
vulpinary1721
tricksy1766
trickful1775
sneck-drawing1786
tricky1786
louche1819
sneck-drawn1820
slyish1828
vulpine1830
kokum1839
spidery1843
dodgy1861
ladino1863
carney1881
slinky1951
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > very great or extreme > specifically of something bad or reprobated
woefula1400
mortalc1425
preciousc1475
fine1559
trim1569
gay1581
unconscionable1590
pocky1601
abominable1612
fearful1634
handsome1638
plaguey1694
dreadful1700
awfy1724
murrain1728
diabolical1750
deuced1782
dire1836
sinful1863
sodding1881
blooming1882
flaming1895
ruddy1896
abysmal1904
awful1916
hellishing1927
right1958
steaming1962
schwag1993
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 247 Had neuere freke fyne wytte þe feyth to dispute.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 7870 In all doyng discrete and fyne.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Tresilian xii To crepe into whose fauour we were full fyne and slye.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 203 Sone after he vnderstoode they were counterfeate letters, made by Hannibals fine deuise to haue drawen him out.
1610 G. Carleton Iurisdict. 6 Some of the finer Iesuits..are growen more cunning in the manner of deliuering it.
1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 53 The wisedome of all these latter times, in Princes affaires, is rather fine deliveries, and shiftings of dangers and mischiefes..then solide and grounded courses to keep them aloofe.
1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother ii. ii. 942 One fine project of the Statesman's Brain.
1766 C. Anstey New Bath Guide viii. i. 50 Men of fine Heads, and nice Calculations.
19.
a. Of a tool, weapon, etc.: having a sharp edge or point. Of the edge or point of a blade: sharp, penetrating.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > [adjective]
finec1400
keen-edgeda1616
shrewd1878
c1400 Brut (Rawl. B. 171) 120 An Archire, wiþ a bowe bent in his honde, & in þe bowe a fyne Arwe.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 90v He..frusshit at philmene with a fyn launse.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 8v The finest edge is made with the blunt whetstone.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) v. iii. 78 What fine Chizzell Could euer yet cut breath? View more context for this quotation
1690 J. Tillotson Serm. preach'd before House of Commons 13 A fine Razor is admirable for cutting hairs, but the dull Hatchet much more proper for hewing a hard and knotty piece of timber.
1720 J. Strype Stow's Surv. of London (rev. ed.) II. v. xii. 211/2 The Skill of making fine Knives, and Knive-hafts.
1751 S. Whatley England's Gazetteer at Swindon (Stafford.) Blade-mills, where scythes, axes, reaping-hooks, &c...are ground to a fine edge.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 342 Those exquisitely fine blades which are required for operations on the human frame.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 8 A fine sword, very fatal to those who [etc.].
1875 T. Seaton Man. Fret Cutting 145 One of the best instruments to use as a pricker is a bit of a knitting needle put into a stout handle, and ground to a fine point.
1946 Life 28 Oct. 51/2 (advt.) It has a sharp-cutting blade of chrome plated Vanadium Steel that holds a fine edge.
2006 Pop. Sci. May 103/1 (advt.) A selection of diamond sharpening pads ideal for putting a fine edge on woodworking tools.
b. In figurative contexts. See also to put too fine a point on (also upon) at point n.1 Phrases 3g.
ΚΠ
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. 154 Those wittes..may..proue sharp in time & shew a finer edge.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets lii. sig. D3v For blunting the fine point of seldome pleasure. View more context for this quotation
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 51 The finer edges or points of wit.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 6. ¶2 Blunting the fine Edge of their Minds.
1835 Rural Repository 13 June 15/1 That fine edge of the feelings could not ever be utterly proof against the corrosions of such an atmosphere.
1890 I. Donnelly Caesar's Column xxxv It was a capital joke; and you will now feel the finest point of the witticism.
1930 M. G. Eberhart While Patient Slept v. 88 ‘Was he cruel to you?’ said O'Leary softly, but with a fine edge to his quietly uttered words.
1953 R. Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 ii. 94 By the time I was forty my blunt instrument had been honed to a fine cutting point for me.
2015 Times Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) (Nexis) 30 Aug. d6 The increase of drinking and smoking among the young has dulled the fine edge of many a mentality.
20.
a. Of an abstract or immaterial thing: not easily perceptible; subtle; minute, precise.Sometimes with negative connotation: extremely or excessively precise or subtle. Cf. the finer points at Phrases 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > difference > [adjective] > subtle or fine of difference or distinction
fine1546
1546 S. Gardiner Declar. True Articles f. xlvii They trouble the people with a fyne distinction of offices.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie F 518 A subtile and fine distinction. Distinctio tenuis & acuta.
1693 J. Dryden Disc. conc. Satire in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires p. xli The..most delicate touches of Satire consist in fine Raillery.
1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty x. 64 Their regularities are much more easily seen and copied than their fine variations.
1763 J. Mills & T. Blackwell Mem. Court Augustus III. x. 73 His Art in conducting them is too fine to be perceived..by the learned Vulgar.
1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. iii. 127 The subtle sounds, Too fine for mortal sense.
1858 Monthly Intelligencer Aug. 180/1 The electricians, from the fine calculations which their sensitive instruments allow them to make, were able to declare such to have been the fact.
1885 Law Times 79 171/2 The distinction between motive and intention is perhaps a little fine.
1891 Jrnl. Compar. Pathol. & Therapeutics 4 207 The slightest oscillations of the trunk call forth correspondingly fine changes in the form of the coronary edge.
1928 J. K. Folsom Culture & Social Progress ix. 220 To be fussy about the finer details of table service is considered a sign of good breeding.
1951 Toledo Blade 2 Feb. 26/2 Crowds watching our great national pastime miss the fine points of what is called inside baseball.
1989 D. H. Maling Measurem. from Maps iii. 36 This allows fine measurements and settings to be made against a scale.
1997 Times Educ. Suppl. 18 July 28/5 Mr Taylor said the fine details of the Derby merger were still to be established, but students on access courses upwards would be students of the university.
2014 Guardian 15 May (G2 section) 9/1 These distinctions may seem fine or petty but they matter.
b. Of a sense, physical faculty, measuring instrument, etc.: capable of delicate perception or discrimination; sensitive.In later use sometimes merging with sense A. 7a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adjective] > with delicacy
delicatea1533
finea1566
fine-headed1574
nice1593
refining1595
choice1601
refined1607
point-device1639
exquisite1643
nice-discerning1745
feelingful1943
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] > of tools, materials, etc.: accurate
truec1392
just?1556
precise1561
finea1566
delicate1581
nicea1628
exact1665
sensible1678
sensitive1820
precision1875
pin-sharp1933
a1566 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) sig. Bjv Now mens eares are finer.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 332 For here the Troyans tast our deerst repute, With their fin'st pallat. View more context for this quotation
1698 Earl of Orrery Dr. Bentley's Diss. Examin'd 70 This made their Ear just, and fine.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 409. ¶1 Gratian very often recommends the fine Taste, as the utmost Perfection of an accomplished Man.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 562 Grac'd with polish'd manners and fine sense.
1864 A. Bain Senses & Intellect (ed. 2) i. ii. 186 The part endowed with the finer tactile power feels the other.
1879 W. Thomson & P. G. Tait Treat. Nat. Philos. (new ed.) I: Pt. i. §431 A fine balance should turn with about a 500,000th of the greatest load which can safely be placed in either pan.
1917 Harper's Mag. Apr. 693/1 All sound is accompanied by color, as all light gives forth a sound, if only our senses were fine enough to perceive the wonders around us.
1979 China Q. No. 77. 94 Applying the political techniques of mass mobilization to improve upon the predictive accuracy achievable with fine instruments and professional methods alone.
2006 S. R. Sharma et al. Encycl. New Methods Educ. Res. IX. i. 26 He has a fine ear attuned to dissonant words and phrases, a fine eye for the detection of misplaced marks of punctuation.
c. Designating small, precise movements, esp. ones made by the muscles of the hand; of, relating to, or involving such movements.
ΚΠ
1784 J. Douglas Cook's Voy. Pacific I. ii. v. 251 They also made several very fine motions with their hands, but different from those made by the women.
1786 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 76 459 The instrument was, by means of a fine motion under my hands, either lowered or raised about 8 or 10 minutes.
1824 C. Coffyn & G. Calvert tr. X. Bichat Gen. Anat. I. 50 In a strong and athletic subject, we do not observe this unhealthy fulness which would conceal the fine movements of muscle.
1896 Amer. Physical. Educ. Rev. Sept. 68 In manual training there are fundamental exercises which must precede those involving fine motor perceptions and complex motor adjustments.
1912 Med. Rec. 18 May 934/2 In addition to the gross movement of the eyes there are the well-known fine adjusting movements.
1998 Financial Times (Electronic ed.) 3 Dec. 17 Researchers in the US are now experimenting with an adjustable antenna that would be able to make fine movements on its own.
2002 Times Educ. Suppl. 27 Sept. 25/1 It [sc. colouring in] develops children's hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.
21. Of a person or a person's physical constitution: susceptible to illness or injury; easily affected by hardship or adverse conditions; delicate, weak. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > of constitution
neshOE
tender?c1225
softa1387
delicatea1398
nicec1450
slendera1500
weak?1523
dainty1562
fine1562
cockney1573
weakly1577
dough-baked1592
lax1732
flimsy1742
lax-fibred1762
doughy1763
dauncy1846
fragile1858
slim1877
chétif1908
1562 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes f. xxviiv, in Bulwarke of Defence Thesame [medicine] in some other is waistyng, and right abstersiue, specially, if the bodie be soft and fyne.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 754 Some fine or delicate person which cannot endure so grosse a Medicine.
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia sig. C3v [Meats] fit for fine complexions, idle and tender persons.
1741 Memorials & Characters 262 Having a tender and soft, a delicate and fine Constitution and Breeding, she was tender to Pain.
1796 Universal Family Physician iv. xv. 348 Persons of hasty tempers, fine parts, and delicate sensations.
1898 H. James Turn of Screw iv, in Two Magics 37 He was only too fine and fair for the little horrid, unclean school-world.
2006 D. Biow Culture of Cleanliness in Renaissance Italy 183 If a physician of any standing in Renaissance Italy saw or heard about a person of fine and delicate constitution actually rising up from a sewer, he would certainly have advised that person to refrain from such an activity.
22. Cricket. Of a fielding position: behind the wicket and close (typically closer than usual) to the area lying straight behind the wicketkeeper. Chiefly premodifying the name of a more established fielding position, as long leg, slip, third man, etc. Cf. fine leg n. at Compounds 4 and sense B. 5.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > [adjective] > fielding positions
silly1862
deep1867
fine1882
backward point1904
1882 Marlburian 14 June 93/2 Rowe sent the fast bowler for 4 to fine long leg.
1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iii. 147 It is a golden rule for every bowler..on these wickets to have a short-slip ‘finer’ than on ordinary occasions.
1928 Times of India 26 Jan. 6/3 Nicholson was caught by Hammond at fine slip off Astill.
1939 Manch. Guardian 17 May 4/1 His second ball was hit for four to very fine long leg by Washbrook.
1978 D. Frith Golden Age of Cricket vi. 115 (caption) Here..he is dropped by Albert Relf at fine gully.
2002 Times 9 Feb. 28/4 [His] lofted strokes..fell short of fielders, snicks went racing to fine third man for fours and seven runs were donated by over-throws.
B. adv.
1. Completely, fully; thoroughly; very well, perfectly well; (also in weakened use) satisfactorily, ‘OK’. Cf. to know fine well at Phrases 11. In later use chiefly colloquial and regional (chiefly Scottish and Irish English).Formerly also in †full fine, †well and fine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb]
fairlyOE
goodlyc1275
finec1330
properlyc1390
daintily?a1400
thrivinglya1400
goodlily?1457
excellent1483
excellently1527
excellently1529
curiously1548
jollilyc1563
admirably1570
beautifully1570
singularly1576
bravelyc1600
famouslya1616
manlya1616
primely1622
prime1648
eximiously1650
topping1683
egregiously1693
purely1695
trimmingly1719
toppinglya1739
surprisingly1749
capitally1750
brawly1796
jellily18..
stammingly1814
divinely1822
stunningly1823
rippingly1828
jam up1835
out of sight1835
first-rately1843
first rate1844
like a charm1845
stunning1851
marvellously1859
magnificently1868
first class1871
splendidly1883
sterlingly1883
tip-top1888
like one o'clock1901
deevily1905
goodo1907
dandy1908
bonzer1914
great1916
juicily1916
corkingly1917
champion1925
unbeatably1928
snodger1946
beaut1953
smashingly1956
groovily1970
awesome1984
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > thoroughly
well-a-finec1330
well and truly1348
well and finec1430
of all four sides1490
à fond1813
all to splinters1884
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb]
fullyeOE
allesOE
fullOE
rightc1175
everydealc1300
wholec1300
whollya1325
finelyc1330
fairly1340
completec1374
gainlya1375
clearly1377
freelya1393
plaina1393
entire?a1400
entirelyc1400
oddlyc1400
sufficientlyc1440
expressc1475
totally1509
completely1526
finec1530
exactly?1531
sincerely1576
start1599
fillingly1611
circularly1618
solid1651
out-over1745
rotundly1775
roundedly?1802
whole hog1840
clear-away1883
whole cloth1917
righteous1948
c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 94 Hye..held hir þere fine fast.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 10026 Ohel..of his sekenes warissed fyn.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 1715 The husbonde knew the estris wel & fyn.
c1530 Enterlude of Youth p. vii Your brother and you togyder Fettred fyne fast.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 110v Iche freike was fyn hole of þere fell hurttes.
1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 184 Rulyng that lande in peace and lawe full fine.
1694 N. H. Ladies Dict. 205/1 Mix them well and fine together.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery ix. 95 Mix it fine with a Spoon in a little White Wine.
1842 Children's Employm. Comm.: 1st Rep.: Mines ii. in Parl. Papers XV. 31 His master, Andrew Pott, told him to say he liked the work fine.
1889 J. M. Barrie Window in Thrums xviii. 168 I believe fine ye mean what ye say.
1910 Keystone Mag. Optometry Oct. 1066/2 Yes, I can see fine they fit ye.
1986 R. Sproat Stunning the Punters 132 ‘I can walk fine,’ says Block o' Wood, squaring himself up to leave.
2009 E. Thom Tin-kin 165 ‘I can probably mend that for you there, if you prefer it neat,’ I mumble, pointing at the wee hole in the slipper. But Lolly likes it fine how it is.
2. In a fine manner; elegantly, splendidly; with refinement of speech, behaviour, dress, etc. colloquial and regional in later use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > elegance > [adverb]
finec1400
worthilyc1400
nicelyc1450
handsomely1530
smicklyc1639
elegantly1753
neat1755
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adverb]
featouslya1375
rhetoricly1481
elegantlya1492
facundiously1509
comptly1611
fine1735
posh1957
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1737 (MED) A mery mantyle..furred ful fyne.
a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 3368 (MED) A granate þat glowys all þar fynest.
a1513 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen in Poems (1998) I. 41 Annamalit fine with flouris, Off alkin hewis under hewin.
1584 T. H. True Discription Tryumphes & Pastimes in tr. F. de Billerbeg Most Rare & Straunge Disc. Amurathe sig. D.iv A turning rounde of all his whole bodie, together, so fyne, and artificiallie.
1649 T. Wincoll Plantagenets Tragicall Story To Rdr. sig. A5v To learne to dresse their bodies fine.
1708 London Gaz. No. 4496/4 A strong Bay Horse that..goes fine.
1735 J. Swift Panegyrick on D— in Wks. II. 287 The Neighbours who come here to dine, Admire to hear me speak so fine.
1751 tr. Female Foundling II. 46 Nothing could be imagined finer turned than the Praises which he gave me.
1812 L. Hunt in Examiner 14 Dec. 785/2 They spoke finest.
1882 E. F. Turner T Leaves (ed. 2) 105 It ain't no good trying to act fine with some parties.
1936 Trans. Philol. Soc. 80 The dialect speaker acquires a consciousness of ‘correctness’ in speech accompanied by a powerful objection to being caught..‘talking fine’.
2011 L. Morning Lesbian Relationships 77 Tell your loved one to dress fine! You should dress to knock their socks off, too!
†3. Delicately, subtly; with nicety. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > affected behaviour or affectation > [adverb] > with affected delicacy
fine1579
minikinly1580
mincingly1596
miniardly1653
finically1659
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adverb]
over-delicately1357
preciouslyc1430
daintethlyc1440
pickedlya1528
finely1542
nicely1547
fastidiously?1555
daintily1561
curiously1573
sizely?1578
fine1579
overnicely1582
squeamishly1606
finically1659
just so1683
superfinely1693
hypercritically1715
meticulously1900
1579 A. Munday Mirrour Mutabilitie ii. ii. sig. A.iv I, so fine had playd this drift, This Ionathas for Prisoner I did stay.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. i. 20 Such rackers of ortagriphie, as to speake dout fine, when he should say doubt.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. i. 85 Dissembling Curtesie! How fine this Tyrant Can tickle where she wounds? View more context for this quotation
1676 C. Cotton Compl. Angler v. 35 To fish fine, and far off is the..principal Rule for Trout Angling.
1704 J. Trapp Abra-Mule iii. i. 1191 Thy Plot was wrought Too fine for my dull Sight.
4. With very little margin (of time, space, etc.), esp. in to cut it (also things) fine, to run it (also things) fine and variants.
ΚΠ
1842 in J. W. Carleton Sporting Sketch Bk. 60 I generally run things pretty fine; but it's a consolation that I never am too late, notwithstanding.
1846 R. S. Surtees Handley Cross II. iii. xi. 255 Captain Slasher..nearly scatters his cargo over the road, by cutting it fine between Squire Jorum's carriage and the post.
1871 Chambers's Jrnl. 9 Sept. 563/1 If once the water should come in at the top of either funnel, we were done for. Nevertheless, for purposes of concealment we sometimes ran it very fine.
1884 Boy's Own Paper Christmas No. 40/2 In endeavouring to round a headland the Crystal cut matters too fine, got on to rough ice.
1892 Eng. Illustr. Mag. 9 800 One cart-load was run so fine that partner and superintendent were constrained to lend a hand to finish the packing.
1913 W. M. Raine Crooked Trials & Straight i. i. 19 They shaved it fine, for as they rode away two men were coming down the street.
1930 W. S. Churchill My Early Life vii. 107 This was running things very fine, but it was not until my journey was half completed that I realised that I should be almost certainly late for dinner.
1992 Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 9 Feb. With only five weeks for a lot of them to qualify they could be pushing it fine.
2014 H. MacDonald H is for Hawk xxix. 270 I'd some freelance teaching in town that afternoon, and I knew I was cutting it fine.
5. Cricket. In or to a position behind the wicket and close (or closer) to the area lying straight behind the wicketkeeper. Cf. fine leg n. at Compounds 4 and also sense A. 22.Contrasted with square adv. 5b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [adjective] > parts of field
fine1866
out1875
1866 Land & Water in Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 9 May 4/4 His [sc. the fieldsman] own judgement will tell him..to play fine at one time, and square at another.
1895 Sunlight Year Bk. Sports 13 The batsman is in a better position for cutting late or ‘fine’.
1935 Times of India 11 Dec. 4/2 Kadri..either turned the ball neatly to square leg or glanced it fine with equal confidence.
1981 Guardian 19 Dec. 19/4 The little dasher casually flicked Emburey's first ball fine of leg slip for four.
2002 Advertiser (Austral.) (Nexis) 1 Apr. 62 ‘He kept walking right across the stumps to try and hit it really fine,’ Australian captain Ricky Ponting said of Lehmann.
C. n.2
†1. Pure gold or silver. Cf. sense A. 2a. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1469 in Archaeologia (1806) 15 167 (MED) xxiii carattis, iii greynes of fyne.
1572 T. Wilson Disc. Vsurye f. 113v One buyeth clothe in Blacwel hall, for .iiij. l. x.s. in Angels, which holde xxxvi carrets fine, saue three graines of alley.
1606 R. Knolles tr. J. Bodin Six Bks. Common-weale vi. iii. 695 For being conuerted into French Testons out of ten thousand pounds starling, they did gaine six hundred and fiftie pounds, nothing impairing the goodnesse of the Teston of Fraunce, which holds ten deniers 17 grains of fine.
1618 E. Howes Abridgem. Eng. Chron. 399 One cuppe of siluer with a couer, weighing 137 ounces of fine, better then the Sterling.
†2. A beautiful woman. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > beautiful thing or person > beautiful person > beautiful woman
clearc1330
comelya1375
wlonk?a1400
brightc1400
gayc1400
sheenc1400
violet1412
berylc1440
blossomc1440
bonnya1529
pertc1540
bonylasse1546
Venus?1572
spark1575
bellibone1579
bonnibel1579
nymph1584
cheruba1616
lily1622
bellea1640
fine1639
toast1700
houri1745
belle dame1768
peri1813
beauty queen1835
stallion1970
1639 J. Ford Ladies Triall iii. sig. E4 Faires, fines, and honies, are but flesh and bloud.
†3. The fine part of anything. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1660 T. Morford Baptist & Independent Churches set on Fire 8 And so [thou] hast clothed thy self with the fine of the wooll.
1886 G. Allen For Maimie's Sake xviii The fine of the day will all be gone by that time.
4. With the: that which is fine; (with plural agreement) fine people or things as a class.
ΚΠ
1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike xxxii. 245 For the severing of the grosse from the fine, and the hard from that which is less soundly durable.
1696 J. F. Merchant's Ware-house 15 What it wants in the fine, you have compleated in the strength.
1765 T. Cunningham New Treat. Laws conc. Tithes iv. 85 To pick or assort their hops into different pokes, according to their different degrees of fineness and colour, to wit, the fine, and the brown.
a1834 S. T. Coleridge Specimens of Table Talk (1835) I. 158 It shows the general want of any sense for the fine and the subtle in the public taste, that this romance made no deep impression.
1871 E. S. P. Ward Silent Partner xv. 298 Don't you suppose he knows how the world is all a tangle, and how the great and the small, and the wise, and the foolish, and the fine and the miserable, and the good and the bad, are all snarled in and out about it?
1926 Independent (N.Y.) 28 Aug. 241/1 It was our belief that..we could make his mind instinct with a love and appreciation of the fine and the beautiful.
2014 M.-K. Lee Strategies of Argument ii. v. 117 It is distinctive of the virtuous agent that she aims at the fine or the noble.
5.
a. In plural. White cotton or linen rags, used as a material for making paper. Now historical.
ΚΠ
1794 R. Johnson New Duty on Paper f. 13 The London fines sorted fit for the Engine, which will buy 4000lb. of Rags to make Writing Paper.
1880 J. Dunbar Pract. Papermaker 14 Fines consist of fine white cottons [sc. rags].
1911 Paper Maker's Monthly Jrnl. 16 Oct. 356/2 (advt.) Our Specialities include:—New White Tabs & Cuttings, New Print Tabs & Cuttings. Superfines, Fines, Outshots, Light Prints, &c.
1981 Fine Print 7 42/2 ‘Fines’ were used cotton rags and were subdivided into No. 1 Fines, No. 2 Fines, ‘Outs’, etc.
2013 J. Bidwell Amer. Paper Mills 1690–1832 p. xxiv/2 They assigned the women and children of the rag room to sort their stock of rags into various categories: Fines—‘white rags, linen, or cotton’ [etc.].
b. In plural. Very small particles or fibres. Also (as a mass noun): material composed of such particles or fibres.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit > a particle > very small particles
fines1885
1885 Engin. & Mining Jrnl. 2 May 296/1 A trial of the comparative amount of fines produced by machine and hand breaking was carried out on three different varieties of sulphureted copper ores.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 22 Oct. 13/1 All fines are discharged into the tank over the head of the funnel with great force.
1957 Brit. Commonw. Forest Terminol.: Pt. II (Empire Forestry Assoc.) 73 Fines, in pulping, the very short or fragmented fibres.
1965 G. J. Williams Econ. Geol. N.Z. xvi. 266/2 Many of the quartz sand deposits contain too much fines (i.e. passing 100 mesh BSS) for glass manufacture.
2013 New Yorker 18 Nov. 34/1 Raw grease contains ‘heavies’ (big chunks of food and garbage) and ‘fines’ (silt-like sediment made up of food particles).
6. Fine weather, esp. in rain or fine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [noun]
fine1829
Queen's weather1851
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun] > excellent part
flower1568
fine1829
high spot1894
1829 C. Lamb Let. 10 Apr. (1935) III. 214 You go about, in rain or fine at all hours.
1879 Rep. Trade at Treaty Ports (Statist. Dept. Inspectorate Gen., Shanghai) 108 (table) Fine and cloud alternating. 4 days' snow.
1905 P. Gibbon Vrouw Grobelaar's Leading Cases 110 Every day and all day, come fine or rain, sun or storm, there she would sit in the drift.
1949 H. Hare Swinburne ix. 202 At eleven he would go across Putney and Wimbledon Common on a walk which lasted two hours, winter and summer, rain or fine.
2013 S. S. O'Connor Prisoner's Dilemma iv. 41 Snow, rain or fine, however, trade was the lifeblood of the great city.

Phrases

P1. Proverb. fine feathers make fine birds and variants: smart, elegant clothes make a person appear attractive or of high status. Frequently ironically, or with disparaging implication. [Probably after French les belles plumes font les beaux oiseaux (1512 in Middle French).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [phrase] > be dressed in specific way
fine feathers make fine birds1652
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > [phrase] > outward appearance reflecting excellence
fine feathers make fine birds1652
1652 ‘Junius Anonymus’ Alazono-mastix 3 They no small paines doe take, Thinking fine Feathers gallant Birds doe make.
1658 E. Phillips Myst. Love & Eloquence 162 Fine feathers make fine birds. As you may see in Hide Park.
1785 F. Pilon Barataria ii. 29 I see plain enough, mother, that dress is every thing; fine feathers make fine birds.
1879 Judy 30 Apr. 196/1 That poor foreign gentleman's feet were simply enormous; fine feathers didn't make him a fine bird.
1940 A. Christie Sad Cypress i. i. 21 Nurse O'Brien pursed her lips... ‘But Mary hasn't got the style!’ Nurse Hopkins said sententiously: ‘Fine feathers make fine birds.’
2012 Namibian (Windhoek) (Nexis) 14 Sept. I do not think that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder anymore because the eye can be tricked into believing otherwise. The saying; ‘Fine feathers make fine birds’, is becoming all too true nowadays.
P2. the (also one's, etc.) finer feelings: feelings of honour, loyalty, duty, love, etc., regarded collectively; appreciation of what is good or right; delicacy of feeling, emotional sensitivity.
ΚΠ
1745 J. Thomson Tancred & Sigismunda ii. viii. 34 These finer feelings, that ne'er vex the common mass of mortals, dully happy.
1768 Monthly Rev. Dec. 546 [These laws] under pretence of raising men above the infirmities of their species,..exclude all the..finer feelings of human nature.
1857 Tait's Edinb. Mag. 24 6 Those vegetising friends, whose finer feelings are said to be distressed horribly at the smell of hot joints.
1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xi. 133 A page boy replete with the finer feelings would have been useless in this crisis. Albert..would not recognize the finer feelings if they were handed to him on a plate.
1991 M. Stock & P. Waterman Finer Feelings (song) in K. Minogue Let's get to It (CD booklet) But what is love without the finer feelings? It's just sex without the sexual healing.
2015 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) (Nexis) 11 Mar. 15 Whereas most people have some sort of finer feelings, a reluctance to exploit the weakness of others,..a corporation..does not.
P3. In various phrases denoting some unspecified or unknown time, typically in the future, esp. as one of these fine days, one (also some) fine day. [After French un beau jour, un beau matin (1646 or earlier).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > particular time > [adverb] > at some time
somewhilea1240
somewhilec1250
somewhen1297
sometime1600
first and last1719
one of these fine days1762
some fine day1762
somewhere along the line1962
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [noun] > one day in the future
odd-come-shortly1738
some fine day1762
odd-come-short1832
1762 W. Kenrick tr. J.-J. Rousseau Emilius & Sophia II. iii. 81 Say to him some fine morning, Where shall we dine to day?
1846 G. E. Jewsbury Sel. Lett. to J. W. Carlyle (1892) 189 Some fine day she will let you inside that moral mystery, and will hate you for it afterwards.
1854 C. Dickens Hard Times i. xi. 89 You'll get yourself into a real muddle one of these fine mornings.
1919 D. Ashford Young Visiters viii. 69 Ethel he said blushing a deep red I always wished to marry you some fine day.
1932 Extension Mag. Feb. 34/1 One fine day when he was busy with the plasters he was brought down to earth by the sound of a horse coming on the dead run.
1966 ‘A. Hall’ 9th Directive iv. 42 One fine day he would catch me wide open and slam me down.
1994 J. Kelman How Late it Was 252 Then of course one of these fine days the heavy squad from the housing depot would appear and turf him off the premises.
2000 A. Sayle Barcelona Plates 75 I met the burger chef who one fine day might be the Minister for Information Technology.
P4. the finer points (of something): the more complex or detailed aspects of something, esp. as recognized and appreciated only by those very familiar with the subject or field (now often used ironically).
ΚΠ
1835 Public Ledger (London) 15 May The composer [of a ballad] has..a good conception of the finer points of his art.
1882 R. Harris Hints on Advocacy 123 Unless they understand the nature of the charge, they will never appreciate thoroughly the finer points of the evidence.
1914 St. Nicholas June 710/1 Acquainting his young catchers with..the finer points of the back-stopping game.
1976 T. Stoppard Dirty Linen 42 Her experience of committee work is not extensive and I was just explaining one or two of the finer points.
2013 Radio Times 9 Nov. (South/West ed.) 80/3 Struggling with the finer points of romance;..he forgot to break up with Heather before locking lips with Josie.
P5. the finer things in (also of) life: those things (as possessions, experiences, etc.) regarded as particularly desirable or rewarding, or as being enjoyed by people of refinement or cultivated taste, esp. fine food and drink, expensive clothing, or other material luxuries.
ΚΠ
1852 Democratic Rev. June 524/2 She..was remarkable for her attachment to the fine things of life.]
1858 A. S. Roe True to Last xx. 267 Must he forever relinquish the thought of rising above his present condition of dependence! He loved the finer things of life. Was that wrong?
1899 Concord (Mass.) Enterprise 4 May The American people, being thoroughly housed and clothed, are now seeking the finer things in life.
1920 Labor Digest May 35/1 An appreciation of the finer things in life, the learning to know the beauties of literature and art and music, will help any man in his career.
1933 Times 13 June 6/6 (advt.) Among the finer things of life... Player's No. 3 Virginia Cigarettes.
1986 National Rev. 20 June 65/2 I'm 39.., attractive, lively, and looking for a nice guy with whom to share the finer things in life.
2011 N.Y. Times 15 May (Late ed.) (Front section) 8/6 The couple are known to enjoy the finer things in life.
P6. one's finest hour: the time of one's greatest, most noble, or most admirable achievement. Now often in negative contexts, as not one's finest hour.After a speech made by Winston Churchill (1874–1965) on 18 June 1940 (see quot. 1940).
ΚΠ
1940 W. S. Churchill in Hansard Commons 18 June 61 So bear ourselves that if the British Commonwealth and Empire lasts for a thousand years men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’
1977 R. Ludlum Chancellor Manuscript (1978) 166 ‘What about..the lies out of Saigon?’ Alison looked away... ‘I'm afraid it wasn't my finest hour.’
1992 Empire Apr. 60/3 It is, perhaps, his finest hour since first bursting into an unprepared Hollywood more than 30 years ago.
2002 Esquire Mar. 182/3 He shouldn't have had those materials with him in the first place... Let's just say it was not John O'Neill's finest hour.
P7. a fine line: a subtle distinction between two (apparently similar) actions, concepts, situations, etc., esp. one which is nonetheless (felt to be) important. Often (and in early use) in to draw a fine line.
ΚΠ
1848 Musical World 8 July 440/1 Mr. Charles Kean drew a fine line between real and assumed drunkenness. The slight exaggeration..was just and natural.
1898 A. H. L. Hastling Hist. Kingswood School 164 It is common enough in schools..to draw a fine line between what may and what may not be considered as justifiable action.
1901 Sunday Post (Boston) 27 Jan. 31/2 [The ideal man] is capable of drawing a fine line between devotion and servility [in a woman].
1984 New Yorker 13 Feb. 40/2 In decisions about restoration, there is a fine line.
2007 Eve July 63/1 There's a fine line between a compliment and a cheap shot.
P8. you're (also he's, she's, etc.) a fine one to talk (of or about something): used ironically to indicate that someone is not in a position to criticize or give advice, usually because he or she is in a similar or worse situation, or prone to the same behaviour. Cf. sense A. 7c.
ΚΠ
1874 ‘Miss Ellis’ After Holidays i. 3 ‘It's a shame that we should have so much more work than play.’‘..You're a fine one to talk of too much work,’ said David.
1916 R. H. Davis White Mice 261 Why should I not get married?.. You're a fine one to talk! You're the most offensively happy married man I ever met.
1982 P. Redmond Brookside (Mersey TV shooting script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 4. 13 Annabelle. She doesn't want us ‘making a fuss’. Paul. Huh..she's a fine one to talk.
1997 A. Khan-Din East is East (rev. ed.) i. i. 7 As for being sat around well you're a fine one to talk, ever since this trouble started in Pakistan, you're never away from the telly.
2008 S. A. Witmore Wheels of Danger 19 He's a fine one to talk about stubbornness; he always has to have his own way.
P9. Originally U.S. New York's finest: the New York police department; New York police officers collectively. Hence similarly Boston's finest, Montreal's finest, etc.
ΚΠ
1883 Boston Daily Advertiser 9 Jan. 4 Several years ago a local orator dubbed the New York police ‘the finest in the world’.]
1884 G. Williams Songs & Recitations 5 To New York's 'Finest', remember I belong... If on my beat there is a row, I gently stroll away.
1895 Merck Market Rep. 1 Feb. 53/2 A raid on venders of this product [sc. rice wine] who were not licensed was recently made by Boston's ‘finest’.
1933 S. Walker Night Club Era 215 A member of New York's ‘Finest’, Detective John J. Walsh.
1987 E. E. Smith Miss Melville Returns (1988) xxiii. 195 ‘Ah, yes, the police... They must be demons of efficiency’... ‘They're not called New York's Finest for nothing’.
1990 P. Edwards Blood Brothers i. ii. 15 Montreal's finest had been tipped off to the armoured car hold-up.
2004 Time 1 Mar. 42/3 Iraq's newly reformed police force is..trying to return security... [Those] behind the violence..have Baghdad's finest in their sights.
P10.
a. colloquial. to do fine: to be suitable or adequate for a purpose.
ΚΠ
1887 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Mona's Choice I. xii. 228 ‘When will a note reach him?’ ‘I daresay at ten to-morrow morning.’ ‘That will do fine.’
1941 N. M. Gunn Silver Darlings xix. 409 He showed him a skirt [for his wife] and Callum thought that would do fine.
1972 G. Friel in Glasgow Trilogy (1999) 474 ‘I can fry you a sausage and an egg if you like,’ she said humbly. ‘That'll do fine,’ said Gerald agreeably.
2005 Independent 2 Apr. (Mag.) 40/1 If you're struggling with St George's mushrooms then..Portobello..will do just fine.
b. colloquial (chiefly British). to do (a person) fine: to suit or be enough for a person.
ΚΠ
1894 G. A. Henty Dorothy's Double II. x. 62 Three pennyworth a day would do me fine.
1919 ‘B. M. Bower’ Thunder Bird xxii. 280 He..pulled a handful of silver from his pocket... ‘Four bits more will do him fine.’
1991 J. Galloway Scenes from Life No. 24 in Blood (1992) 96 Some tea, maybe... A wee doughnut would do me fine.
2006 A. Ihnatko iPod Fully Loaded 7/2 You specify how much music you'd like [to download]... One hour will do me just fine.
P11. colloquial and regional (chiefly Scottish and Irish English). to know fine well: to know perfectly well, to be very aware that something is the case (often with the suggestion that the person addressed or mentioned is affecting ignorance).
ΚΠ
1941 P. Boyle in J. Lehmann Folios New Writing Autumn 109 Sure ye know fine well the whole business was a bit of play-actin'.
1966 B. Friel Loves of Cass McGuire (1967) 17 You know fine well you're not allowed in your bedroom between breakfast and teatime.
1984 J. Kelman Busconductor Hines iii. 138 She knows fine well why he is not to amount to anything.
2005 N. Brooks My Name is Denise Forrester 16 You knew fine well she'd have it back on the minute you were out the door.
P12. I'm fine: (used in response to an offer, esp. of food or drink): no, thank you; I'm not in need of anything; I don't want any more (of the thing being offered).
ΚΠ
1959 G. Karminski tr. F. Dürrenmatt Episode on Autumn Evening 15 Author. Sebastian, give Mr. Hofer a cigar... Visitor. No, no.., I'll just puff one of my hometown weeds... Author. But of course... A light? Visitor. Thank you, I'm fine.
1978 R. Ribman Cold Storage i. 8 Miss Madurga... Can I get you anything before I go, Mr. Landau? Landau. No, I'm fine, thank you.
1993 C. MacDougall Lights Below 229 Fenian looked at Andy and smiled. ‘Can I get you anything?’ ‘I'm fine.’
1996 C. Cail If Two of them are Dead x. 133 ‘Do you want some more tea, Maxey?’ ‘No thanks, I'm fine.’
2014 C. Benjamin Anat. of Dreams vi. 96 ‘Coffee?’ ‘I'm fine,’ I said.

Compounds

C1.
a. Parasynthetic, as fine-skinned, fine-threaded, fine-witted, etc.
ΚΠ
1540 J. Wallop Let. 5 July in State Papers Henry VIII (1849) VIII. v. 379 These thinges theye gathered of suche brewtes as they had hard of the said Prevey Seal, before knowing hym to be fyne witted.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. iv. sig. Kk4 My fine-witted wench Artesia.
1630 M. Drayton Noahs Floud in Muses Elizium 97 The fine-furd Ermin.
1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes i. ii. 69 in Wks. II A fine pac'd gentleman.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. vi. 118/2 A Grafting Knife, and a fine pointed Pen-Knife.
1701 London Gaz. No. 3748/4 A black Gelding..fine Skin'd.
1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins I. xxix. 285 A very fine feathered Creature.
1833 J. F. W. Herschel Astronomy ii. 84 A fine-threaded screw.
1849 J. H. Parker Introd. Study Gothic Archit. ii. 45 Fine jointed masonry.
1920 S. Lewis Main St. iii. 21 A black haired, fine skinned girl whose pumps rested on an immaculate horsehide bag.
1940 G. H. J. Adlam & L. S. Price Higher School Certificate Inorg. Chem. (ed. 2) xiii. 83 By enclosing the mercury in a fine-meshed bag and hanging it in silver nitrate solution, a silver ‘tree’ is formed.
2009 P. Glennie & N. Thrift Shaping Day ix. 346 The last fine adjustment of its position was carried out by means of a fine threaded side-screw.
b.
fine-boned adj.
ΚΠ
1722 J. Jones tr. Oppian Halieuticks iii. 134 The fine-bon'd Pilchard.
1839 R. S. Ford Let. 6 May in C. Darwin Corr. (1986) II. 188 The finest-boned and smallest-headed males being selected.
1959 J. Wain Travelling Woman iii. 22 The chin..at the same time fine-boned and intellectual.
2012 S. Townsend Woman who went to Bed for Year i. 2 A woman of fifty with a lovely, fine-boned face.
fine-eyed adj.
ΚΠ
a1682 Sir T. Browne Certain Misc. Tracts (1683) i. 79 The beauteous and fine ey'd Doves of Syria.
1771 New Hist. Biogr. & Classical Dict. at Andromache She was tall, fair, fine eyed and handsome.
1815 J. Keats Epist. to G. F. Mathew in Poems 55 The fine-eyed maid.
1962 Life 26 Oct. 34/2 A fast-acting camera recorded, with fine-eyed clarity, the launch of the big Atlas rocket.
2012 S. Fraser Infamous Marriage 14 This wasn't the beauteous, fine-eyed new Mrs. Hamilton Giles's letter had led him to expect.
fine-featured adj.
ΚΠ
1582 R. Stanyhurst in tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis 98 In bodye fine fewterd, a braue Brownnetta.
1657 A. Cokayne Obstinate Lady iii. i. 28 Fine-featur'd Mars.
1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 181 A fine featured, shapely, healthy, country lad.
1882 Cent. Mag. June 254/1 Handsome fair-skinned, fine-featured people all.
1978 B. Freemantle Clap Hands iv. 26 A fine-featured..man who affected pastel coloured shirts with matching socks.
2003 Field & Stream June 70/2 Samuel is soft-spoken and fine-featured, with the bearing and appearance of a campus intellectual.
fine-leaved adj.
ΚΠ
1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania 1 The tree with full, and fine leaued branches, growing proud.
1733 Pract. Husbandman & Planter I. 1470 The fine leaved Accacia, and sensitive Plants of all sorts.
1885 T. Baines (title) Greenhouse & stove plants, flowering and fine-leaved, palms, [etc.].
1952 A. G. L. Hellyer Sanders' Encycl. Gardening (ed. 22) 174 [Edraianthus] tenuifolius, blue, fine-leaved.
2014 Sunday Express (Nexis) 24 Aug. Mag. 50 Fine-leaved varieties rustle gently, while those with larger, coarser leaves..give off a faint rattle.
fine-spirited adj.
ΚΠ
1725 J. Draper Ess. upon Friendship 30 Horace, that open, free, fine spirited Antient.
1890 F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads IV. vii. ccxi. 145/2 It is a fine-spirited ballad as it stands.
1952 Billboard 23 Aug. 40/2 The ork [= orchestra] generates a fine-spirited play and sets a solid beat.
2000 Network World 22 May 63/2 Embar, fine-spirited public figure that he is, has gone even higher in our estimation by releasing the programs to the public for free.
fine-textured adj.
ΚΠ
1700 J. Jones Myst. Opium Reveal'd xv. 202 It causes ill Symptoms oftner..in fine textur'd Men, than the robust.
1810 T. Mortimer Gen. Dict. Commerce, Trade, & Manuf. at Norwich manufactories The gravity of the Spaniard was suited in his plain, but fine-textured camblett.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 3 Oct. 3/2 The addition of some very fine textured lace.
2004 Hairstyle Summer 13 Straight, fine-textured hair receives catwalk-ready panache thanks to a skilful cut.
fine-toned adj.
ΚΠ
1740 Catal. Particulars Dwelling House J. Eyles 5 A fine ton'd harpsichord.
1870 D. Rock Textile Fabrics (S. Kensington Mus.) Introd. p. lxvii A fine toned yellow as a ground.
1950 Life 5 June 4/1 (advt.) It's a fine-toned radio and a G-E electric clock that tells time in the dark.
2010 Sowetan (Nexis) 1 June You'd be hard-pressed to recall names other than these well-paid, fine-toned athletes.
fine-tubed adj.
ΚΠ
1841 London Med. Gaz. 29 Oct. 845/2 The suspected liquid is introduced by the open tube through a fine-tubed funnel.
1915 Jrnl. Morphol. 26 81 The anterior conical extremity of the tooth is formed of osteodentine... Immediately posterior to this begins the true fine-tubed dentine.
1999 Functional Ecol. 13 180/1 The internal reproductive organs, excluding testes and fine-tubed vas deferens, were dissected out and weighed.
C2. With present participles, forming adjectives, as fine-appearing, fine-dividing, fine-smelling, fine-tasting, fine-tapering, etc.Sometimes with adverbial force; cf. Compounds 3.
a.
ΚΠ
1585 Queenes Maiesties Entertainement at Woodstock sig. Cv There was deuised many excellente and fine smelling Nosegayes.
1663 T. Southland Love a la Mode iv. i. 50 A fine appearing gloss of sanctity.
1744 J. Thomson Spring in Seasons (new ed.) 18 The Rod fine-tapering with elastic Spring.
1793 J. Thelwall Peripatetic III. 15 Superstition's self Could turn warm Nature's fine-vibrating throb To dreams of antic Mysticism.
1807 T. Martyn tr. J.-J. Rousseau Lett. Elements Bot. (ed. 7) xii. 310 Of this genus is the very fine-smelling plant vulgarly called Baum of Gilead.
1879 ‘G. Eliot’ College Breakfast Party in Macmillan's Mag. July 174 Brains and fine-dividing tongue.
1936 Life 21 Dec. 29/2 (advt.) With mild, fine-tasting Camels, you keep in tune with the cheery spirit of Christmas-tide.
1959 Pop. Mech. June 241 (advt.) Each type gives you a weatherproof, paint-saving, long-life, fine-appearing exterior.
2003 Horticulture Mar. 66/1 The cloudlike masses of fine-flowering tufted hair grass.
b.
fine-feeling adj.
ΚΠ
a1764 C. Churchill Journey (1765) 6 Fine feeling creature, all in tears.
1817 Ld. Byron Let. 4 June (1976) V. 235 I have had a letter from Mr. Hodgson—maudlin & fine-feeling.
1946 Life 22 July (verso front cover) (advt.) A fine-feeling, perfectly-balanced, man's sized pen that performs the way he wants it to.
2014 Sun (Nexis) 17 Oct. The interior is typically Volkswagen—fine-feeling material quality, durable build and user-friendliness.
fine-looking adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > of fine or dignified appearance
manfulc1425
handsome1590
fine-looking1754
fine1777
1754 E. Kimber Hist. Life & Adventures Mr. Anderson 176 Ten minutes brought down stairs a fine looking man.
1842 Mag. Hort. Dec. 459 A fine looking winter pear, of aristocratic origin, from an ancient tree.
1934 Pop. Sci. May 71/1 (heading) Fine-looking hand-wrought hardware.
2002 Washington Post (Nexis) 26 May w3 Your average Washingtonian is a fine-looking individual: modestly proportioned, pleasant-featured, alert, at least moderately graceful.
fine-sounding adj.
ΚΠ
1672 J. Davies Anc. Rites Durham 9 Very fine sounding silver Bells.
1759 B. Stillingfleet tr. Misc. Tracts Nat. Hist. 9 Fine sounding, and empty words.
1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 35 The names of the animals are always fine-sounding.
1919 Music News 21 Mar. 26/3 The church and a fine-sounding $4,000 organ were dedicated last Sunday.
2015 Canberra Times (Nexis) 23 July Fine-sounding rhetoric without a sound basis.
C3. Adverbial.
a. With past participles, forming adjectives, as fine-bred, fine-dressed, fine set, etc.
ΚΠ
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 2766 (MED) Fyne wroȝt fellis.
1600 J. Lane Tom Tel-Troths Message 235 These mincing maides and fine trict truls, ride post To Plutoes pallace.
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. vi. Explan. Terms 109 Fine set, the Irons of Plains..are set fine, when..in working they take off a thin shaving.
1691 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. 239 As the laborious Spider weaves her fine-wrought Web.
1710 S. Palmer Moral Ess. Prov. 111 Many a fine-bred gentleman has been ruin'd by a title.
1778 Encycl. Brit. III. 2292/2 With some fine-pounded charcoal..rub over the pierced lines.
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 185 The fine sifted mould of the shrubberies.
1879 Pet-stock, Pigeon & Poultry Bull. 9 30/1 Not measuring so long in feather, but..with excellent shaped, fine set legs.
1951 R. P. Hobson Grass beyond Mountains (2004) x. 96 He's too small and fine-built for any stud we want.
1980 Newsweek (Nexis) 14 Jan. 81 A foxy, fine-bred face whose sensitive eyes and alert, sharp nose are somewhat negated by a weak, thin mouth.
2015 EKantipur.com (Nepal) (Nexis) 18 Jan. This modus operandi worked well as guards did not suspect that this fine-dressed man could resort to stealing.
b. With verbs, forming verbs, as fine-burnish, fine-finish, etc. See also fine-draw v., fine-tune v., etc.
ΚΠ
1818 J. H. Reynolds in Yellow Dwarf 28 Feb. 68/1 Mr. White called forth all his sweetest words, and fine-pointed his sentences.
1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 40 Women, who carefully fine-burnish the bows with a polished steel instrument.
1870 J. H. Ewing Brownies 196 Nurse must sit up..fine-darning great..holes in Amelia's muslin dresses.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXIX. 162/1 The interior of the jacket and other hoops are..finished before the exterior of the barrel is fine-turned.
1979 M. Palin Diary 2 Feb. in Python Years (2006) 532 Julian is finding it almost impossible to spend any time on his own fine-cutting the movie without constant interruptions.
2005 A. St. John Clapton's Guitar xxi. 194 Wayne devoted more time and obvious care to fine-finishing the braces than he did to..putting the inlays on the fingerboard.
C4.
† fine-arch n. Glass-making Obsolete a furnace in which sand and other ingredients are calcined to form a frit.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > furnace or kiln > furnace > [noun] > glass-making furnaces > specific areas
fine-arch1816
pot arch1819
bank1828
siege1839
glass-oven1875
1816 Edinb. Encycl. (1830) X. 309/1 The mixture is then put into the fine arch, where it is again calcined during the working journey.
1828 S. F. Gray Operative Chemist 556 The pots are re-filled with the red hot materials out of the fine arch, which takes about six hours to melt.
a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 847/1 Fine-arch, the smaller fritting-furnance of a glass-house.
fine-axe v. Building (now rare) transitive to smooth the surface of (stone) by tapping with a mason's axe; usually in passive.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or constructing with stone > build or construct with stone [verb (transitive)] > other processes
raggle1525
pin1680
rusticate1715
heart1776
tool1815
boast1823
fine-axe1834
ashlar1836
riprap1837
stroke1842
ditch1865
wraggle1875
bush-hammera1884
thorough-bind1884
1834 Standard 10 Apr. Its surface throughout is, according to technical language, ‘fine-axed’ (not polished or rubbed).
1895 Daily News 18 June 6/4 All kinds of Scotch granites, polished and fine-axed.
1923 Construction Aug. 290/2 To fine axe the surface by a series of taps given at right angles to the surface previously operated upon.
1967 I. H. Seeley Munic. Engin. Pract. iii. 69 1967 I. H. Seeley iii. 69 Stone kerbs can be finished in various ways on their exposed faces, for instance..sandstone kerbs may be fine axed, coarse axed, rough punched or sawn.
fine-axed adj. Building (of stone) that has had the surface smoothed by tapping with a mason's axe.
ΚΠ
1840 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. Sept. 308/2 (table) 9,370 cubic feet of Aberdeen granite, with a fine axed face, joints and beds included.
1906 Reporter (Chicago) Aug. 81/4 (advt.) Fine axed work a specialty.
2013 Warrnambool (Austral.) Standard (Nexis) 9 Oct. 2 Rock-faced and fine-axed basalt was used in the additions, with the slate roof accented by half gables.
fine boring n. the action or process of smoothing the inside of a bore (bore n.1 2a) in a metallic object, esp. the barrel of a gun.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > production and development of arms > [noun] > manufacture of firearms and ammunition > processes in
fine boring1789
chambering1827
percussioning1846
coiling1862
reinforcing1868
actioning1871
blowing1881
tubage1882
flint-knapping1887
chase-hooping1888
zeroing1908
sighting-in1958
1789 tr. G. F. Magné De Marolles Ess. Shooting ii. 20 It now remains to smooth the inside of the barrel, and remove the marks left by the boring instrument. This operation is termed fine boring. [No corresponding sentence in the French original.]
1813 ‘T. Martin’ Circle Mech. Arts 393/1 The French use hard solder that requires great heat, which is apt to injure the inside [of the gun] so much as to require a repetition of fine-boring.
1890 Stevens Indicator Oct. 299 The next step in construction is the fine boring which is accomplished by a succession of reamers used with a special lubricant, which insures the hole to be the exact size of the reamer.
1919 Amer. Machinist 3 July 14/2 For fine boring a head of the type illustrated..is employed.
1991 Metalworking Production Sept. 86 (advt.) Our finishing processes produce very tight tolerance bores..very tight finishes..and very fast stock removal rates (faster than reaming and fine boring).
2005 H. Yamagata Sci. & Technol. Materials in Automotive Engines ii. 38 To expose Si particles, the bore surface is chemically etched or mechanically finished after fine boring.
fine dining n. (esp. in early use) the action or practice of eating well; (in later use chiefly) the action or practice of dining in a formal setting (typically an expensive restaurant) where high quality or gourmet food is served; frequently attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > gastronomy > [noun]
lickerousnessc1380
lickerousheadc1450
lickerishness1580
friandise1603
epicurisma1620
gastrology1810
gastronomy1814
gastrophilism1814
gormandize1814
esuriency1819
gourmanderie1823
deipnosophism1824
gastrosophy1824
aristology1835
gourmandism1850
gourmetism1853
opsophagy1854
fine dining1940
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > gastronomy > [adjective]
deipnosophistic1661
apician1699
esurient1821
gastronomic1828
gastronomical1842
gastrological1851
aristological1873
fine dining1940
1940 Life 8 Jan. 35/2 (advt.) The flavor of Swift's Premium Frankfurts is famous among people who appreciate fine dining!
1970 Arizona Republic 2 Mar. 39/7 (advt.) Rodehouse Restaurant, Phoenix' newest fine dining restaurant.
1979 J. S. Clancy Not Station but Place 72 Reading M. F. K. Fisher on food may be an even richer experience than fine dining.
1986 Cincinnati Mag. Sept. 132/3 Benjamins is fast becoming one of Cincinnati's most popular fine-dining restaurants.
1994 Sunday Times (Nexis) 18 Dec. The Lobster Pot is the best in town, seafood as a ‘fine dining’ experience.
2015 P. Scanlan Time for Friends v. 46 He had reservations for dinner in Guilbaud's, but tonight she wasn't in the mood for fine dining, hovering waiters, and overrich food.
† fine-edge v. Obsolete rare transitive to give a fine edge to; to sharpen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > sharpen (a thing) [verb (transitive)] > sharpen edge
edgea800
feather-edge1648
feather1782
fine-edge1824
1824 Mechanic's Mag. No. 46. 280 Easy mode of fine-edging a Razor.
fine-edged adj. (of a knife or tool) that has a fine or sharp cutting edge, also figurative and in figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Acûtus Sharpe, fine edged.
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. xi. 299 He became dull and blunt in manner of a keene and fine edged sword.
1770 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (ed. 5) iv. 114 Cut them with a fine edged knife in thin round slices.
1857 Repertory Patent Inventions 30 350 A composition for sharpening and setting fine edged cutting instruments.
1948 E. E. Dale & M. L. Wardell Hist. Okla. xix. 418 Whetstones..used by men who work with small-pointed or fine-edged tools.
2006 New Yorker 13 Mar. 88/3 The..transcript of the trial enraged him, and his pardoning statement is strong and fine-edged.
fine etcher n. Printing and Photography (now historical) a person whose job involves skilled or complex etching; cf. etch v.2 1a.
ΚΠ
1895 Standard 3 July 11/6 (advt.) A photo-enlarging firm in Edinburgh Requires a really good Fine Etcher, one accustomed to the enameling process.
1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) § 526 Fine etcher,..an experienced etcher capable of undertaking all etching processes except line etching.
2011 G. Saxby Sci. Imaging (ed. 2) xii. 174 For the finest quality color work most of the final correction was entrusted to the skill of a fine-etcher, who worked from the proofs and made small corrections to the printing plates with a fine paintbrush and nitric acid.
fine-fibred adj. (a) (of a substance, material, etc.) having fine fibres, fine-grained; (b) figurative (of a person) having a fine or delicate nature or constitution, refined (now rare).Opposed to coarse-fibred adj. at coarse adj. Compounds 3.
ΚΠ
1811 Mem. Philadelphia Soc. for Promoting Agric. 2 216 Some fleeces..consisting of very fine-fibred wool.
1872 O. W. Holmes Poet at Breakfast-table x. 323 Coarse-fibred and fine-fibred people.
1918 Christian Reg. (Boston) 19 Sept. 914/2 They [sc. humble men and women] are fine-fibred through and through; even if..rough bark still may cling.
1986 J. F. Gracey Meat Hygiene (ed. 8) xiii. 250/1 Curing..is best adapted to those [meats] with a high fat content, e.g. pork or fine-fibred beef.
2014 Proc. National Acad. Sci. Amer. 107 8685 (caption) Brightfield and polarized images of..caudal vertebrae... Fine-fibered bone.
fine food n. high quality, luxury, or gourmet food, esp. as appreciated by those of sophisticated or refined taste; (in plural, often in commercial contexts) items or types of such food collectively.
ΚΠ
1762 T. Smollett et al. tr. Voltaire Wks. XXXIII. 2 You tasteless guests, to you fine food [Fr. l'aliment le plus doux] seems vile.
1839 W. Chambers & R. Chambers Moral Class Bk. 58 One who is fond of fine food, is called an epicure.
1899 Outlook 6 May 94/2 Swift' s Fine Foods... Nothing but the best prepared the best.
1932 Collier's 9 Jan. 41/2 A fine food shop in New York..sells..kangaroo-tail soup, shark's-fin soup..and snails in shells.
1991 Down East July 14/1 (advt.) Indulge in a variety of fine foods served with the same measure of perfection you'll find in everything our staff does.
2008 Observer 10 Feb. 3/1 Among those anointed by her new book is Fratelli Camisa, an Italian fine food supplier, for its martelli pasta.
fine granular adj. composed of small grains, granules, or particles.
ΚΠ
1798 G. Mitchell tr. D. L. G. Karsten Descr. Minerals in Leskean Mus. I. ii. 121 Pinchbeck brown Mica, with partly small, partly fine Granular [Ger. fein-körnigen] distinct concretions.
1870 F. Prime tr. B. von Cotta Treat. Ore Deposits 106 Quartz..often occurs as grains, without crystalline structure, in the fine granular rock.
1921 Evening Gaz. (Xenia, Ohio) 16 May 8 Fine granular cereals may be mixed first with a small amount of cold water to prevent lumping; then add boiling water.
1959 Jrnl. Range Managem. 12 239/3 The surface soils are about 12 inches thick, with a dark grayish-brown color, sandy-loam texture, and a weak fine-granular structure.
2015 J. Tobias & D. Hochhauser Cancer & its Managem. (ed. 7) xii. 214/1 Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by a diffused growth of small cells with fine granular nuclei, inconspicuous nucleoli and scanty cytoplasm.
fine-groove n. the narrow groove on a long-playing record; frequently attributive, esp. in fine-groove record.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > a sound recording > [noun] > record or disc > groove
groove1902
track1904
fine-groove1948
microgroove1948
locked groove1956
coarse groove1958
run-in1962
1948 Audio Engin. Sept. 47/2 (advt.) Clarkstan High Fidelity Wide Range Pickup..plays new fine groove long playing records.
1960 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. IV. 241/2 The coarse groove is used in 78-rpm records, the fine groove in 45- and 33⅓-rpm records, and the ultrafine groove in 16⅔-rpm records.
2009 G. Brock-Nannestad in N. Cook et al. Cambr. Compan. Recorded Music vii. 167 The development of fine-groove records meant that all development of equipment suitable for reproducing coarse-groove records, in particular pickups, was halted.
fine-haired adj. †(a) having a good or attractive head of hair (obsolete); (b) having slender or downy hairs, soft-haired (cf. fine hair n.); (c) colloquial (chiefly U.S.) excessively refined or fastidious; snobbish, self-important, ‘stuck up’ (now somewhat rare).
ΚΠ
1706 M. Drift Greek Gram. 55 Fine hair'd..from..caput comatum habeo to have a lovely head of Hair.
1868 Amer. Agric. Mar. 81/3 Experiments in introducing the fine-haired goats of Cashmere and Thibet into Southern India, to produce this fine fleece, have failed.
1872 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Sentinel 27 July The fine-haired chaps in Des Moines wear corsets.
1917 Shoe & Leather Reporter 27 Sept. 246/1 Outersoles..to be cut from fine haired, dry or green salted hides.
1994 R. Hendrickson Happy Trails 94 I despise all you fine-haired sons of bitches.
2007 Pop. Photogr. June 61/2 You can remove it with a small fine-haired paintbrush—if you're skillful.
fine-headed adj. †(a) having a fine mind, clever; subtle or ingenious in argument; given to making fine distinctions (obsolete); (b) having an attractive, well-formed, or fine-featured head (in various senses) (now somewhat rare).In sense (b) originally and frequently with reference to livestock and other domesticated animals, as having a head showing traits regarded as particularly desirable.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adjective]
keena1000
nimbleOE
wittya1100
smeighc1200
understandingc1200
aperta1330
skillwisea1340
witted1377
intelligiblea1382
well-feelinga1382
knowinga1398
finec1400
large?a1425
well-knowingc1425
of understanding1428
capax1432
sententiousc1440
well-wittedc1450
intellectual?a1475
clean1485
industriousc1487
intellective1509
cleanlyc1540
ingenious?a1560
fine-headed1574
conceited1579
conceitful1594
intelligenced1596
dexter1597
ingenuous1598
intelligent1598
senseful1598
parted1600
thinking1605
dexterical1607
solert1612
apprehensivea1616
dexterous1622
solertic1623
intelligential1646
callent1656
cunning1671
thoughtful1674
perceptive1696
clever1716
uptaking1756
spiritual1807
bright1815
gnostic1819
knowledgeable1825
brainy1845
opulent1851
opening1872
super-cerebral1916
brainiac1976
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adjective] > with delicacy
delicatea1533
finea1566
fine-headed1574
nice1593
refining1595
choice1601
refined1607
point-device1639
exquisite1643
nice-discerning1745
feelingful1943
1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. St. Paule to Galathians i. f. 24v Heere S. Paule sheweth that he ment not..to haue it sayd of him that he was a fineheaded fellow [Fr. subtil], or a wyze and excellent man.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie li. 307 Some..which are so fine headded [Fr. subtils] that they will make God a lyer.
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xvii. 376 The finer-headed [L. versutior], and more subtle-brained a man is.
a1652 R. Brome Court Begger ii. i. sig. O6, in Five New Playes (1653) A fine-handed, and a fine headed fellow he is.
1721 Evening Post 28 Oct. (advt.) Stray'd or Stolen.., 1 fine headed Heifer, all Black, coming 3 Years old.
1844 B. R. Haydon Lect. Painting & Des. vii. 314 A friend may have a very fine head, use it of course, but do not paint a fine-headed friend..charging at the battle of Cheronea.
1907 Country Gentleman 3 Oct. 930/3 Fine-headed lettuce commands about 50 or 60 cents a dozen at wholesale.
2009 Toronto Star (Nexis) 8 Aug. s4 The founding father of North American harness horses was a handsome, fine-headed bay named Hambletonian.
fine herbs n. Cookery a mixture of delicately flavoured herbs (now typically parsley, tarragon, chervil, and chives) used finely chopped or whole in (esp. French) cooking, as a flavouring or garnish; = fines herbes n.In quot. 1584 not a fixed collocation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > herb > [noun] > bunch or mixture of herbs
fine herbs1584
ravigote1733
fines herbes?1750
bouquet1846
bouquet garni1846
1584 A. W. Bk. Cookry f. 6v Take your Coney.., and take..Coraunce and some fine herbs, Peniriall, winter sauery, Parsley, Spinage or beets, sweet margerum, and chop your hearbes fine.
1653 I. D. G. tr. F. P. de la Varenne French Cook 24 Take some Veal.., mince it, and season it according to your liking with Salt and Spice, or fine Herbes.
?1781 L. Montague Housewife 43 Take away the fillets [sc. of a cod], and fill up the void space with a good fish farce, fine herbs, or chippings of bread and butter.
1898 F. K. Stanton Pract. Housekeeper & Cycl. Domest. Econ. 292/2 Scollops of calf's liver with fine herbs.
1999 Your Garden June 28/4 Parsley..is one of the main ingredients in ‘bouquet garni’ and ‘fine herbs’.
2001 Fodor's Healthy Escapes (rev. ed.) 255 Seafood cocktail, seviche of marinated sea bass and shrimp, chicken with fine herbs.
fine leg n. Cricket a fielding position behind the wicket on the leg side, close to the area lying straight behind the wicketkeeper and typically near the boundary; (also) a fielder in this position. Cf. sense A. 22.
ΚΠ
1886 Times of India 13 Aug. 6/3 After several singles another 4 came from Spofforth, placed to fine-leg by Shrewsbury.
1897 K. S. Ranjitsinhji Jubilee Bk. Cricket ii. 42 A fine leg is very nearly as useful for saving byes, and can also stop snicks to leg.
1963 A. Ross Australia 63 vii. 129 Harvey swung across the line of the next ball, and it went straight in and out of Sheppard's hands at short fine leg.
2012 Cricketer July 10/2 Most of my runs came through third man and fine leg, so why not post a man at fly slip?
fine-line adj. consisting of, composed of, or using a thin or delicate line or lines.
ΚΠ
1921 A. Skinner Notes Iroquois Archeol. 77 Fine-line etching on bone objects seems to have been a favorite mode of embellishment.
1994 Skin & Ink Nov. 16 Linda..describes her favorite style of [tattooing] work as fine-line realism.
2001 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 14 Sept. d26/1 [A] real estate photographer..distinguished by his fedora, fine-line mustache and healthy length of nose.
† fine marjoram n. Obsolete sweet marjoram, Origanum majorana.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > herb > [noun] > oregano or marjoram
organOE
marjorama1393
origanuma1398
organuma1450
marjoram gentle1538
orgament1552
english marjoram1578
pot marjoram1578
fine marjoram1597
winter marjoram1597
orgamy1609
winter sweet marjoram1640
origany1728
oregano1959
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > culinary herbs > sweet or pot marjoram
marjorama1393
origanuma1398
organuma1450
marjoram gentle1538
orgament1552
english marjoram1578
pot marjoram1578
fine marjoram1597
winter marjoram1597
orgamy1609
winter sweet marjoram1640
origany1728
wintersweet1846
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 539 Marierome is called..in English Sweete Marierome, Fine Marierome, and Marierome gentle; of the best sort Maiorane.
1655 Natura Exenterata 398 Then take Lavender speck, fine Marjoram and Basill, the leaves of each mingled together.
1856 J. C. Oehlschlager tr. W. Vollmer U.S. Cook Bk. vi. 54 Stir together half a pound of melted butter, eight whole eggs, some salt, grated nutmeg, fine marjoram and thyme.
1907 Country Gentleman 24 Jan. 91/2 Add the pepper pulp and three tablespoonfuls of fine marjoram.
fine-palated adj. †(a) having a pleasant taste, palatable (obsolete rare); (b) having a sophisticated palate (palate n. 2a); appreciative of fine food and drink.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [adjective]
likingeOE
goodOE
lickerousc1275
deliciousa1325
daintya1382
dainteousc1386
daintiful1393
delicatea1398
merrya1398
savourlyc1400
liciousc1420
savourousa1425
daintethc1430
lustyc1430
feelsomea1450
nuttya1450
seasonablea1475
delicativec1475
unctuous1495
well-tasteda1500
daintive1526
savoury1533
exquisite1561
spicy1562
well-relished?1575
finger-licking1584
toothsome1584
taste-pleasinga1586
daint1590
relishsome1593
lickerish1595
tastesome1598
friand1599
tooth-tempting1603
relishing1605
well-relishing1608
neat1609
hungry1611
palate-pleasing1611
tasteful1611
palatea1617
tastya1617
palatable1619
toothful1622
sipid1623
unsoured1626
famelic1631
tasteablea1641
piquant1645
sapid1646
saporousa1670
slape1671
palativea1682
flavorous1697
nice1709
well-flavoured1717
gusty1721
flavoury1727
fine-palated1735
unrepulsive1787
degustatory1824
zesty1826
peckish1845
mouth-watering1847
flavoursome1853
unreasty1853
unrancida1855
relishy1864
toothy1864
flavoured1867
tasty-looking1867
hungrifying1886
velvety1888
snappy1892
zippy1911
savoursome1922
delish1953
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > delicious or tasty
likingeOE
deliciousa1325
liciousc1420
ambrosial?1578
finger-licking1584
toothsome1584
well1598
tastya1617
toothful1622
fine-palated1735
toothy1864
scrum1877
scrumptious1894
nummy1923
delish1953
shiok1978
bess2006
1735 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer I. x. 63 The desired end of enjoying fine palated wholsome Drink.
1856 J. Henry Poems, Chiefly Philos. 202 Coarse minded, fine palated, choleric, and short breathed.
1930 Week-end Rev. 13 Sept. 345/1 Why one man should enjoy a food which repels his equally fine-palated neighbour.
2008 Advertiser (Austral.) (Nexis) 30 July 7 The often fatty roasted meats such as pork, crispy skin chicken and duck dishes that so many fine-palated people order.
fine paper adj. (of an edition of a book) printed on good quality paper, esp. in fine paper copy.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > copy > [noun] > other types of copy
fine paper copy1789
review book1796
advance copy1837
reading copy1847
manifold1852
review copy1859
press copy1891
working copy1897
file copy1899
binding copy1936
desk copy1942
ideal copy1949
?1720 Proposals printing Eleven Dialogues (single sheet) No more of the Fine Paper to be Printed than Subscrib'd.
1789 in J. Home Douglas (end matter) Price 6s. in Boards the common, and 9s. the fine paper copies.
1828 Rep. Proc. Subscribers Oriental Transl. Fund 20 The Subscribers of Ten guineas each are entitled gratuitously to a fine-paper copy of every work published by the Committee.
1952 E. J. Labarre Dict. Paper (ed. 2) 104/1 Fine paper,..indicates the printing of a book on better paper than the bulk of the edition.
2013 P. Hoftijzer in M. F. Suarez & H. R. Woudhuysen Book xxv. 359 Prices ranging from three and a half guilders for a copy on ordinary paper, bound in cardboard, to seven and a half guilders for a fine paper copy, bound in satin with a slipcase.
fine sight n. now rare and chiefly historical the use of the fine tip of the foresight in alignment with the base of the notch of the backsight when aiming a rifle (which results in the gun shooting lower); an instance of this; a shot aimed in this way.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > use or operation of small arms > [noun] > of musket > aim of musket
fine sight1855
1855 Instr. Musketry 19 The instructor will also explain the difference between fine sight and full sight in aiming.
1902 Mil. Rifle Shooting (U.S. Cartridge Company) 108 It should be explained that the medium sight guides the bullet higher than the fine sight, and that the coarse sight places the shot still higher.
2002 J. P. Jones Three across Montana 174 I pulled a fine sight just above the rag, blinking my eyes.
fine-spoken adj. using or characterized by pleasing, courteous, or eloquent speech; that speaks in a manner considered to be educated or refined; well-spoken.
ΚΠ
1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Duties ii. f. 89v The pleading of a finespoken man.
1666 S. Pepys Diary 1 Apr. (1972) VII. 87 I find him a very fine-spoken gentleman.
1750 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 26 Apr. in Lett. to Son (1774) II. 4 Be cautiously upon your guard against the infinite number of..fine-spoken chevaliers d'industrie..which swarm at Paris.
1853 T. T. Lynch Lect. Self-improvem. v. 105 The talk and airs of fine-spoken reputable people.
1929 J. H. Frere tr. Aristophanes Frogs in P. Landis Four Famous Greek Plays 273 Begin then with these same fine-spoken prologues.
2005 R. G. Wallace Tradin' Shoes iii. 37 Jesse was captivated by this fine spoken individual, listening intently to his every word.
fine stuff n. Plastering plaster made with finely particulate lime and other materials, used to create a smooth finishing coat.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > plaster > [noun] > fine
stucco1598
stuc1632
fine stuff1700
stookie1796
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 12 They finish the Plastering when it is almost dry..by laying a thin Coat of fine Stuff made of clean Lime, and mixt with Hair without any Sand, and setting it.
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Fine-stuff, the second coat of plaster for the walls of a room, composed of finely sifted lime and sand mixed with hair.
1905 F. W. Booker Elem. Pract. Building Constr. xi. 139 The student should observe a good plasterer..using his darby to form the floating coat, scratching it over with a broom, and finally putting on the setting coat of fine stuff.
2007 G. Lynch Hist. Gauged Brickwork v. 291 The final 'setting coat' of fine stuff..is often wrongly being thought of as consisting of lime putty alone.
fine-toothed adj. †(a) (of a person) having a delicate or sophisticated sense of taste (obsolete rare); (b) (of a file, saw, comb, or other toothed implement) having thin, closely set teeth; (also figurative of a search or analysis) very thorough, rigorous; cf. fine-tooth adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > shaping tools or equipment > file > [adjective] > types of file
fine-toothed1601
round-off1801
cross-cut1827
superfine1872
double-cut-
society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > saw > [adjective] > type or quality of
fine-toothed1601
rectilinear1847
tight1889
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > gastronomy > [adjective] > devoted to gastronomy
lickerousc1315
lickerish?a1500
epicure1545
friand1598
fine-toothed1601
tender-mouthed1620
turtle-eating1760
gastronomous1828
turtle-feeding1834
gastrophilite1835
turtle-fed1847
turtly1868
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 430 As they say that be fine-toothed, and have a delicate tast. [No corresponding sentence in the French original.]
1664 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense 6 in Sylva Cover them very well with a Rake, or fine-tooth'd Harrow.
1742 J. Martyn & E. Chambers tr. Philos. Hist. & Mem. Royal Acad. Sci. Paris I. 86 The bottom of the four slits is smoothed with a fine-toothed file.
1837 Hort. Reg. Feb. 52 Any damaged roots are finished with clean cuts, either by a knife or fine toothed saw.
1908 Sewanee Rev. 16 491 His fine-toothed search for a little spot upon which to stand in his support of Mr. Bryan.
1990 S. Chatman Coming to Terms vi. 98 Neither his fine-toothed examination of the notebooks nor his equally close reading of the novel enabled him to determine whether Stepan is redeemed or not.
2000 Working Mother Sept. 107/2 (advt.) Use a fine-toothed comb to remove nits and eggs.
fine wool n. and adj. (a) n.wool having fine (sense A. 17a) fibres; a sheep producing such wool; (b) adj.= fine wooled adj.The fibres of fine wool typically have a diameter of 20 microns or less. There are various breeds of sheep producing fine wool, foremost of which is the Merino sheep, which spread from Spain throughout Europe, and remains prominent today (chiefly in cross-breeds).In early use frequently difficult to distinguish from sense A. 3a, since wool having fine fibres was also highly prized. [Compare French laine fine (1547), Italian lana fina (1540), Spanish lana fina (1550).]
ΚΠ
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Lana Tenuis lana,..Fine woull.
1660 J. Childrey Britannia Baconica 71 The hilly part of this County (called Castwald [sic]) abounds with fine wool, small sheep which are long-necked, and square of bulk, and bone) and hath a very pleasant air.
1788 A. Jardine Lett. from Barbary, France, &c. II. xxi. 210 We met some of the ganado merino, or fine wool sheep, in large straggling flocks.
1848 Berrow's Worcester Jrnl. 17 Feb. Fine wools have produced 2d., other qualities from 1d. to 1½d. per lb. more money than at the previous auctions.
1949 G. Wythe Brazil iv. 114 Fine wools are imported by the domestic woolen industry. Rio Grande do Sul growers have introduced desirable strains from Uruguay and Argentina.
2001 Jrnl. Range Managem. 54 84/2 Twenty-one cross-bred fine-wool lambs (1 year old) were each placed in an individual pen (1.5 x 2 m) and fed a basal ration of ground alfalfa hay.
fine wooled adj. (of a sheep or sheepskin) having or producing fine wool; now chiefly historical.
ΚΠ
1651 R. Child Large Let. in S. Hartlib Legacie 97 I wonder that some of our Sheep-masters have not procured of those exceeding fine-woolled Sheepe of Spaine.
1775 Scots Mag. Apr. 184/1 A particular breed of fine-wooled sheep may be really of a more tender and delicate constitution, more difficult to keep, and less profitable to the owner.
1859 Daily Evening Bull. (San Francisco) 21 Mar. 21 pure bred, fine wooled merino rams, imported from Australia, and which can now be seen at our stores, corner of Front and Vallejo streets.
1916 Jrnl. Amer. Leather Chemists Assoc. 11 286 The pelts from fine wooled skins are usually only fit for the production of low grade leather.
2010 M. Pearson & J. Lennon Pastoral Austral. vi. 146 Growing sheep for meat on mixed farms was more profitable than clips from small fine-woolled flocks.
fine world n. now historical fashionable society; = beau monde n. [After French beau monde beau monde n.]
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > fashionable society > [noun]
higheOE
high life?a1518
towna1616
world1618
grand monde1673
society1693
beau monde1712
fine world1740
monde1765
tonc1770
high society1782
fashion1807
all the world1808
society1840
smart set1851
swelldom1854
Fifth Avenue1858
fashionabledom1859
haut monde1864
the big cheesea1910
higlif1911
haute Bohème1925
café society1937
jet set1949
beautiful people1950
1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber xii. 226 Their Novelty..drew vast Audiences of the fine World.
1801 H. More Wks. VIII. 181 Persons who are pleased exclusively to call themselves..the fine world.
1902 J. Sully Ess. on Laughter 331 It is pleasant to a humorous contemplation to note the high pretensions of the ‘fine world’.
2005 V. Irvine King's Wife ii. 21 By far the most fashionable musical venue was the Royal Italian Opera at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Here all the fine world listened to operas and observed one another.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

† finev.1

Forms: 1. Middle English fyn, Middle English–1500s fine, Middle English–1500s fyne; Scottish pre-1700 fine, pre-1700 fyne. 2. Past tense.

α. Middle English ffynd, Middle English finede, Middle English fynet (in a late copy).

β. Middle English fan (northern), Middle English fane (northern), Middle English fone (north-west midlands); Scottish pre-1700 fane, pre-1700 fayne; N.E.D. (1896) also records a form late Middle English fyne.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French finir; French finer.
Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman and Old French fenir, finir (Middle French fenir , Middle French, French finir ) to die (11th cent.), to bring to an end, complete (c1100), to come to an end (1119 or earlier), to stop (1139 or earlier), to kill (mid 12th cent.) < classical Latin fīnīre < classical Latin fīnis end (see fine n.1), and partly (ii) < Anglo-Norman, Old French, Middle French finer to bring to an end, complete (c1100), to die (c1150), to stop, cease (c1165), to come to an end (c1177), to make payment (12th cent.), to obtain (?c1265), to pay a sum (by way of a fine or settlement) (13th cent. or earlier), to make peace, settle a matter (13th cent.), to hold to ransom (a1385), < Old French fin fine n.1 Compare fine v.2 With Old French fenir, compare Old Occitan fenir, Catalan finir (11th cent.), Spanish †finir, †fenir (1385), Italian finire (a1292). With Old French finer, compare Old Occitan finar, Catalan finar (14th cent.), Spanish finar (a1207), Portuguese finar (13th cent.), Italian †finare (13th cent.).Forms 2β. arose on the analogy of strong verbs of Class I (such as shine v.); compare strive v.
Obsolete.
1. intransitive. To come to an end, pass away; to cease to exist. Also: to come to the end of one's life; to die.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]
forsweltc888
sweltc888
adeadeOE
deadc950
wendeOE
i-wite971
starveOE
witea1000
forfereOE
forthfareOE
forworthc1000
to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE
queleOE
fallOE
to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE
to shed (one's own) blood?a1100
diec1135
endc1175
farec1175
to give up the ghostc1175
letc1200
aswelta1250
leavea1250
to-sweltc1275
to-worthc1275
to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290
finea1300
spilla1300
part?1316
to leese one's life-daysa1325
to nim the way of deathc1325
to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330
flit1340
trance1340
determinec1374
disperisha1382
to go the way of all the eartha1382
to be gathered to one's fathers1382
miscarryc1387
shut1390
goa1393
to die upa1400
expirea1400
fleea1400
to pass awaya1400
to seek out of lifea1400–50
to sye hethena1400
tinea1400
trespass14..
espirec1430
to end one's days?a1439
decease1439
to go away?a1450
ungoc1450
unlivec1450
to change one's lifea1470
vade1495
depart1501
to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513
to decease this world1515
to go over?1520
jet1530
vade1530
to go westa1532
to pick over the perch1532
galpa1535
to die the death1535
to depart to God1548
to go home1561
mort1568
inlaikc1575
shuffle1576
finish1578
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
relent1587
unbreathe1589
transpass1592
to lose one's breath1596
to make a die (of it)1611
to go offa1616
fail1623
to go out1635
to peak over the percha1641
exita1652
drop1654
to knock offa1657
to kick upa1658
to pay nature her due1657
ghost1666
to march off1693
to die off1697
pike1697
to drop off1699
tip (over) the perch1699
to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703
sink1718
vent1718
to launch into eternity1719
to join the majority1721
demise1727
to pack off1735
to slip one's cable1751
turf1763
to move off1764
to pop off the hooks1764
to hop off1797
to pass on1805
to go to glory1814
sough1816
to hand in one's accounts1817
to slip one's breatha1819
croak1819
to slip one's wind1819
stiffen1820
weed1824
buy1825
to drop short1826
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839
to get one's (also the) call1839
to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840
to unreeve one's lifeline1840
to step out1844
to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845
to hand in one's checks1845
to go off the handle1848
to go under1848
succumb1849
to turn one's toes up1851
to peg out1852
walk1858
snuff1864
to go or be up the flume1865
to pass outc1867
to cash in one's chips1870
to go (also pass over) to the majority1883
to cash in1884
to cop it1884
snuff1885
to belly up1886
perch1886
to kick the bucket1889
off1890
to knock over1892
to pass over1897
to stop one1901
to pass in1904
to hand in one's marble1911
the silver cord is loosed1911
pip1913
to cross over1915
conk1917
to check out1921
to kick off1921
to pack up1925
to step off1926
to take the ferry1928
peg1931
to meet one's Maker1933
to kiss off1935
to crease it1959
zonk1968
cark1977
to cark it1979
to take a dirt nap1981
the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > come to an end [verb (intransitive)]
finea1300
cease1382
fall1523
to break up1544
to blow off1633
subside1654
peter1846
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 20 (MED) Pine ðat neure sal fine.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 262 (MED) Hire soreȝe ne hire pine Ne miȝte neure fine.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 22268 Sua sal cristen kingrik fine.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 328 Schal I efte forgo hit er euer I fyne?
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 6083 (MED) Þe sege..gan to fyne.
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 2081 This Is his mycht that neuer more shall fyne.
a1535 T. More Boke Fayre Gentylwoman (a1556) sig. B.iv Here Fineth Lady Fortune.
2. intransitive. To stop, desist; to cease to do something. Also: to refrain from doing something.In Middle English also with of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)]
i-swikec893
swikec897
atwindc1000
linOE
studegieOE
stintc1175
letc1200
stuttea1225
leavec1225
astint1250
doc1300
finec1300
blina1325
cease1330
stable1377
resta1382
ho1390
to say or cry ho1390
resta1398
astartc1400
discontinuec1425
surcease1428
to let offc1450
resista1475
finish1490
to lay a straw?a1505
to give over1526
succease1551
to put (also pack) up one's pipes1556
end1557
to stay (one's own or another's) hand1560
stick1574
stay1576
to draw bridle1577
to draw rein1577
to set down one's rest1589
overgive1592
absist1614
subsista1639
beholdc1650
unbridle1653
to knock offa1657
acquiesce1659
to set (up) one's rest1663
sista1676
stop1689
to draw rein1725
subside1734
remit1765
to let up1787
to wind (up) one's pirna1835
to cry crack1888
to shut off1896
to pack in1906
to close down1921
to pack up1925
to sign off1929
c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 129 (MED) This ȝunge wyf nolde fyne on hire louerd to grede.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2965 Hii ne finede neuermo ar þe oþere were at grounde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3309 Bot ai þe quils he ne fan To be-hald þat leue maidan.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 388 He nolde fyne Pleynly to wirke to his confusioun.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1990 (MED) Fyne, fole, of þi fare.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 135 Lampis..þat fynet notto bren.
c1550 Clariodus (1830) v. 2063 To ryn at other did thay never fine.
1573 T. Twyne in tr. H. Llwyd Breuiary of Britayne Pref. to Rdr. sig. Aviv Here.., accordyng vnto the custome of some translatours, I should fine; and picke my penne, to set foorth the commendation of mine authour.
3.
a. transitive. To bring to an end; to complete, conclude.With quot. c1300 cf. quot. c1300 at sense 1, showing the equivalent passage from a different manuscript of the same text.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > completing > complete (an action or piece of work) [verb (transitive)] > bring to an end or conclusion
finec1300
finisha1375
concludec1430
determine1483
to wind off1650
parclose1667
to wind up1780
eventuate1816
to round out1856
mop1859
to wrap up1922
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > bring to an end or conclude [verb (transitive)]
yendc1000
abatec1300
finec1300
endc1305
finisha1375
definec1384
terminec1390
achievea1393
out-enda1400
terminate?a1425
conclude1430
close1439
to bring adowna1450
terma1475
adetermine1483
determine1483
to knit up1530
do1549
parclose1558
to shut up1575
expire1578
date1589
to close up1592
period1595
includea1616
apostrophate1622
to wind off1650
periodizea1657
dismiss1698
to wind up1740
to put the lid on1873
to put the tin hat on something1900
to wash up1925
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) l. 271 Hire sorwe and hire pyne Nolde he neuere fine.
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iv. l. 26 Fader of Quyryne This ilke ferþe book me helpeth fyne.
a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 2860 (MED) I am comen..Thy werre for to hende and fine.
a1500 ( J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 616 All oure trouble to enden & to fyne.
1533 Fabyans Cronycle (new ed.) II. f. ccxxixv An ende of thys boke..Here is now fyned, wherof the sence precedyth.
b. transitive. To finish off (part of a building). Also: to make or manufacture (something).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > completing > complete (an action or piece of work) [verb (transitive)] > put the finishing touch to
fine1387
crown1509
finish1551
to top out1834
top1892
1387 in J. D. Marwick Charters Edinb. (1871) 38 The buteras [sal be] fynyt wp als hech as the laue of that werk askys.
1448 Will of Henry VI in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 369 (MED) Euery boterace fined with finialx.
1464 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 160 (MED) To pay the chandeler that ffynd my lordys candyllis.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

finev.2

Brit. /fʌɪn/, U.S. /faɪn/
Forms: Middle English–1600s fyne, Middle English– fine, 1500s ffine; U.S. regional 1800s– found (past tense), 1900s– founded (past tense).
Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: French finer ; fine n.1
Etymology: Partly (chiefly in senses 1 and 2a) < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French finer (see fine v.1), and partly < fine n.1In the past tense form found after the past tense forms of find v. (compare pronunciations of the present stem of find v. with loss of the final consonant, giving a pronunciation identical to that of this word).
†1. transitive. To pay or agree to pay as a fine or composition (composition n. 25b). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > compensation > pay as compensation [verb (transitive)]
finec1325
society > authority > punishment > fine > [verb (transitive)] > pay fine
finec1325
forfeit1466
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 10865 So þat vor þe manslaȝt..Þe clerkes finede wiþ him gret raunson inou.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V iv. vii. 67 Knowst thou not That we haue fined these bones of ours for ransome?
2.
a. intransitive. To pay a penalty, ransom, or composition (composition n. 25b). Frequently with with the person paid. Also figurative and in extended use. historical in later use.In quot. 1831 punning on either fine v.3 or fine adj. (and recover v.1 9b); compare fine and recovery at fine n.1 Phrases 5.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > fine > [verb (intransitive)] > incur a fine
to be in mercyc1325
finec1325
to lose (= incur) a fine1498
forfeit1727
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > pay ransom [verb (intransitive)]
finec1595
financec1616
ransom1722
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 10520 & wo so nolde aȝen hom at hor wille fine, Hii barnde hous & oþer god.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 2078 (MED) He made his chalenge, his eyen for to have; Or els he shuld for hem fyne, yf he wold hem have, And ligg for hem in hostage til þe fynaunce cam.
1556 Surv. Calais in Archaeologia (1893) 53 App. ii. 373 Unto that theie have ffined wt him for theire trespas.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lv. 49 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 56 Hee ransom'd me, hee for my saftie fin'd in fight.
1637 J. Shirley Example iv. sig. Fv A challenge! some young Gentlemen that have Strong purses and faint soules, do use to fine for't.
1657 W. Prynne Exact Abridgem. Rec. Tower of London 306 Such Clarks..shall be imprisoned for one whole year, and Fine with the King.
1732 N. Tindal in tr. P. Rapin de Thoyras Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) I. viii. 317 This same Aaron the Jew, fined with the king in one hundred marks a year.
1831 W. Scott Jrnl. 27 Apr. (1946) 164 I believe I have fined and recoverd, and so may be thankful.
1836 E. Baines Hist. Lancaster (new ed.) IV. 491 Helewise, daughter of Stuteville..fined with king John, that she might not be married against her own will.
1923 Eng. Hist. Rev. 38 434 Henry de Coleville fined with the king that he might hold the shires of Cambridge and Huntingdon.
1983 J. S. Roskell Parl. & Politics in Late Medieval Eng. III. vii. 136 John Holland, earl of Huntingdon, was admitted to fine with the Crown for £800 for marrying the widow of the late earl of March.
2011 H. Mayr-Harting in C. Leyser & L. Smith Motherhood, Relig. & Society in Medieval Europe vi. 114 She fined with the king for the custody of her land and her sons.
b. intransitive. spec. To pay a penalty in order to be granted exemption from the duties of an office, esp. that of alderman or sheriff. Also in later use transitive (in passive): to exempt (a person) from the duties of an office on the payment of a penalty. Frequently with for (the office of). Also in to fine off. Also figurative. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > pay ransom [verb (intransitive)] > to escape duties of an office
fine1637
society > authority > punishment > fine > [verb (intransitive)] > pay fine > for absence or exemption
fine1637
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > get exemption [verb (intransitive)] > pay in order to escape duty
fine1637
1637 J. Shirley Gamester ii. sig. C4 This is old Barnacle... One that is to fine for alderman.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 1 Dec. (1971) IV. 404 Mr. Crow, who hath fined for Alderman.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 82 So sadly dull And stupid, as to fine for Gull.
1680 L. Jenkins Let. 26 Aug. in State Papers Domest. Charles II (P.R.O.: SP 44/62) f. 67 He hath given his Word to some friends yt if Bethel did hold he would fine off.
1682 Modest Enq. Election Sheriffs London 41 Charlton..chose rather to Fine than to run the risk of being confirmed by the Commons to hold.
1690–1700 Order of Hospitalls sig. Bvi Except he be such a one as have borne th' Office of an Alderman,..or hath fined for the same.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 116. ⁋3 Some have fined for Sheriffs.
1853 J. Mills Brit. Jews ii. ii. 89 No person can be elected Warden unless he has served, or has been fined for the office of Treasurer.
1960 C. Blagden Stationers' Company xiii. 253 These Liverymen..were not called upon to serve or fine for the office of Renter Warden.
1986 T. Liu Puritan London ii. 80 Fined for the office of Alderman in 1654, White was chosen master for the Grocers' Company in 1659 and Common Councilman in 1659–60.
2002 E. Cruickshanks et al. House of Commons, 1690–1715 II. 383/1 Despite such immediate success, both fined off, evidently aware that the office might have precluded their candidacy at the forthcoming general election.
†3. intransitive. Scottish. Esp. of a magistrate: to settle with a thief or other offender by requiring him or her to pay a fine. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1510 in M. Livingstone Reg. Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (1908) I. 306/2 We..remittit the said Alexander and finit with him in jugement.
1535 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1535/17 It sall nocht be lesum to the thesaurar and compositouris in tymes cuming to compone or fyne with the brekaris of this act for less than the pane and unlaw contenit in the samin.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 135 Gif any Lord of Regalitie sells any theif: or fines with him for theift done.
1686 G. Mackenzie Observ. Acts Parl. 30 There are two kinds of Theft-boot declared by this Act, to be punishable,..to Fine with a Thief, that is to take a share of what he has stoln, and so dismiss him.
1811 J. Burnett Criminal Law vii. 159 Fining with a thief (finem faciens cum fure) is the compounding or ending matters with him. The phrase is often used in our old laws.
4. transitive. To punish (a person) for an illegal or illicit act by requiring him or her to pay a sum of money. Frequently with the penalty or amount of money expressed as a second object or (in early use) introduced by in.Now the usual sense.Formerly also more generally: †to punish (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > fine > [verb (transitive)]
mulct?a1475
gersum1483
unlaw1508
finea1513
check1526
to be put to one's fine1542
punish1552
forfeitc1592
tinsel1609
sconce1641
physic1821
to fix (a person) with liability1833
log1889
society > authority > punishment > [verb (transitive)]
threac897
tighta1000
beswinkc1175
punisha1325
chastise1362
paina1375
justifya1393
wage1412
reformc1450
chasten1526
thwart over thumba1529
chastifyc1540
amerce?1577
follow1579
to rap (a person) on the knuckles (also fingers)1584
finea1616
mulcta1620
fita1625
vindicate1632
trounce1657
reward1714
tawse1790
sort1815
to let (a person) have it1823
visit1836
to catch or get Jesse1839
to give, get goss1840
to have ita1848
to take (a person) to the woodshed1882
to give (one) snuff1890
soak1892
give1906
to weigh off1925
to tear down1938
zap1961
slap1968
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. clxxxxviiv Of the whiche prysoners some were after Fyned and some punysshed by longe Inprysonment.
1587 R. Greene Euphues sig. I The Senators..fined him in a some of money for his rashnesse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 114 If it were damnable, he being so wise, Why would he for the momentarie tricke Be perdurablie fin'de ? View more context for this quotation
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. i. §11 He was..fined five talents.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 153 They were fined for not taking off their hats.
1794 S. Williams Nat. & Civil Hist. Vermont 294 Others have been fined in large sums.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xiii. 349 It was against law to fine a jury for giving a verdict contrary to the court's direction.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iv. §5. 198 The King was strong enough to fine and imprison the Earls.
1914 J. H. Parnell C. S. Parnell ii. iii. 85 The Marshal said he would have to fine him, and ordered him to come to the police-room.
1958 Connecticut Hist. Soc. Apr. 49 Kimberly and three other students were fined four shillings each for firing pistols in the college yard.
2012 Independent 15 Feb. 36/1 A streaker was fined AU$750..yesterday for mooning at the Queen and Prince Philip on a royal visit.
†5. intransitive. To pay a sum of money for a particular privilege or appointment to an office. Chiefly with for. Also transitive with the sum of money as object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for privilege > pay for privilege [verb (intransitive)]
fine1548
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. John xviii. f. 13 Beeyng a benefice sette to sale, it [sc. the dignitie of bishop] was fined for euery yere to the prynces.
1632 T. E. Lawes Womens Rights iv. vii. 255 Woman Ioynt purchaser with her husband is not within this Law to fine for her marriage, when she becomes a widdow.
1650 G. Walker Anglo-Tyrannus 9 Forcing all..to renew their Patents, fining at the pleasure of the Chief Iusticiarie.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. x. 154 Such adulterine guilds..were..obliged to fine annually to the king for permission to exercise their usurped privileges. View more context for this quotation
1813 W. Scott Rokeby ii. xxxi. 97 Nobles and knights..Must fine for freedom and estate.
1818 H. Hallam View Europe Middle Ages II. viii. 171 In England, women, and even men, simply as tenants in chief, and not as wards, fined to the crown for leave to marry whom they would.
1884 S. Dowell Hist. Taxation in Eng. I. ii. ii. 26 The Londoners fined, in the fifth year of Stephen's reign, a hundred marks of silver that they might have sheriffs of their own choosing.
†6. transitive. To impose (a tax) upon. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > taxation > levy (a tax) [verb (transitive)]
taxc1290
araisec1386
levy1388
raise1389
cess1495
fine1570
cut1596
impose1600
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 420/2 Shortly after a taxe also was fined, vpon the countrey of Northfolke.
7.
a. intransitive. To pay a fee on the commencement or renewal of a tenancy. Also transitive with the sum of money as object. Cf. fine n.1 7. Somewhat rare. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > hire or rent > rent (land or real property) > [verb (intransitive)] > pay fee on renewal
fine1658
1658 I. Walton Life of Donne (ed. 2) 68 Our Tenant being very rich, offered to fine at so low a rate as held not proportion with his advantages.
1857 R. W. Eyton tr. Fine Roll Wenlock Priory, 1321–2 in Antiq. Shropshire IV. 9 A Tenant fines 20s. for a certain enclosed Croft called Olderugges..;—to hold for life at 12d. rent.
2003 J. Mullan in R. H. Britnell Winchester Pipe Rolls & Medieval Eng. Soc. v. 95 Transactions in which the new tenant fined for a small plot, usually an acre, ‘to appropriate the remainder when it should fall due’ and transactions in which the new tenant is said to have ‘previously fined’ may also be attempts to bolster the principle of inheritance.
†b. transitive. to fine down (also off): to reduce rent by (a certain amount or part) on payment of a fine (fine n.1 7b). Also: to reduce (rent) or the rent relating to (a property or lease) in this manner. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > hire or rent > rent (land or real property) > [verb (transitive)] > reduce on payment of fee
to fine down (also off)1705
1705 London Gaz. No. 4183/3 The Tenant fining down a Part.
1709 London Gaz. No. 4540/5 Fining off part of the Rent after the rate of ten Years Purchase.
1736 Rep. Comm. Petition Samuel Low 4 Having fined down Six Pence per Acre at the Time of taking his Lease.
1742 J. Anderson Geneal. Hist. House of Yvery II. vi. xi. 393 Having..fined down for a long Term of Years divers large Estates.
1800 M. Edgeworth Castle Rackrent 30 Then fining down the year's rent came into fashion.
1832 Q. Jrnl. Agric. 3 No. 17. 743 Some proprietors will fine down a lease whenever a tenant pleases, and will renew the lease from the period of fining down.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

finev.3

Brit. /fʌɪn/, U.S. /faɪn/
Forms: Middle English fyn, Middle English–1500s fyne, Middle English– fine.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: fine adj.
Etymology: < fine adj. Compare post-classical Latin finare (frequently from 1286 in British sources) and Anglo-Norman and Middle French, French finer to refine, to make more delicate, thin, or pure, to reduce to small particles (13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, 1466 in Middle French; < fin fine adj.). Compare later affine v., refine v.In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix).
1.
a.
(a) transitive. To make pure or clear; to remove extraneous matter from; to clarify (a liquid, esp. wine or beer); to refine (metal). Also with down.Formerly also with †from, †of the extraneous matter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > freedom from impurities > removal of impurities > remove impurities from [verb (transitive)]
mereeOE
spurge1303
fine1340
sendre1340
purea1350
purgec1350
purifya1398
depurea1400
clarifyc1430
expurge1483
defecatec1487
subtiliate1551
refine?1572
neatify1581
distil1599
sublimate1601
sweeten1601
depurate1620
infresh1635
lustre1645
lustrate1653
freshen1710
chasten1715
epurate1799
enchastena1806
dispollute1862
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > refine
fine1340
concoct1555
refine1579
maturate1651
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 106 Ase deþ þet uer [þet] clenzeþ and fineþ þet gold.
1394 in C. Innes & P. Chalmers Liber S. Thome de Aberbrothoc (1856) II. 43 Willam sal haf alsua for ilk stane fynyne that he fynys of lede iij d.
?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) f. 101 (MED) Assone as þe wyne is fyned & clered, þan standiþ it stil.
1489–90 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VII (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1489 §12. m. 4 To fyne and parte all golde and sylver.
1520 R. Whittington Uulgaria sig. D.iiij This rynlet of maluesye is not fyned.
1586 T. Newton tr. Olde Mans Dietarie sig. C3 Let their bread be..moderately salted, reasonably boulted and fined from the Branne.
1613 J. Rovenzon Treat. Metallica sig. D3v The Sow-Iron may bee fined at one time.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. ix. 338 They have a knack of fineing it [sc. ale] in three days time to that degree, that [etc.].
1737 A. S. Catcott Exercises performed Visitation Grammar-school of Bristoll 50 He'll fine the metal, if you furnish Ore.
1797 J. Downing Treat. Disorders Horned Cattle 22 That will help to fine and thin the blood.
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 103 To ‘fine down’ Spirits.
1893 H. O. Hofman Metall. Lead & Desilversization Base Bullion (ed. 3) xi. 379 The amount of silver sulphate required to fine the silver is about 1½ times the total quantity base metal present.
1903 Jrnl. Federated Inst. Brewing 9 71 This is generally done by fining the beer at racking with ordinary gelatine finings.
1955 H. J. Grossman Guide to Wines, Spirits & Beers (rev. ed.) ix. 112 The final step, before bottling or shipping the wine, is to fine it, in order to insure clarity and brilliance.
2007 Technol. & Culture 48 786 At Lapphyttan,..metal was fined manually at eight small hearths.
(b) transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 2634 For in heven may na saul be sene, Unto it be fyned and clensed clene.
c1450 (c1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) (1942) 105 (MED) We mowe be fyned as gold and y-made clene of alle foulenesses.
1582 R. Parsons First Bk. Christian Exercise i. ii. ii. 251 The fyre of tribulation, whose propertie is..to purge and fyne the soule.
1628 E. Coke 1st Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. 97 a The Law of England..hath beene fined and refined by an infinite number of graue and learned men.
a1666 R. Blair Life (1848) (modernized text) ii. 49 The Lord is pleased by trials to fine the faith of his servants.
1735 H. Brooke Universal Beauty vi. 7 The five Principles so oft transpire, Fin'd, and refin'd, amid the tort'ring Fire.
1845 tr. St. Gregory Morals Bk. Job II. xviii. 344 Ye are minded to be ‘fined’ by the afflicting of the flesh, nay even by martyrdom, but the place where ye must be fined, ye know not.
1871 R. Browning Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau 91 Fined and thrice refined I' the crucible of life.
1910 E. C. Booth Doctor's Lass xvii. 134 He rallies as she rallies,..clasping this small residue in his arms, that has been vouchsafed fined and purified from the crucible of suffering.
1960 V. Williams Walk Egypt 205 Babies is like a sifter... They fine a woman's grain.
2001 T. Dykstal Luxury of Skepticism i. 127 Innumerable similar instances of commerce over time have fined and refined the useful fiction that keeps society going.
b. intransitive. To grow or become pure or clear. Also with down. Also figurative. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > [verb (intransitive)] > become clear
finea1425
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > freedom from impurities > removal of impurities > become free from impurities [verb (intransitive)]
finea1425
refine1604
reclear1615
purify1645
depurate1768
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 3338 (MED) Whar it [sc. gold] put in fire to fyn mare, Yhit suld it leve sum dros þare.
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) xi. l. 292 (MED) Oon yeer they lete it [sc. water] fyne.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Fine, reste, or settle, as wine dothe or other licoure, sido.
1664 P. Neil in J. Evelyn Pomona in Sylva 37 It will work so long that when it fines the Cider will be hard.
1719 Free-thinker No. 134. 2 The perpetual violent Motions..hinder his Mind from fining.
1740 J. Andree Acct. Tilbury Water (ed. 2) 18 It boiled white, and fined down with white Wine and Acids.
1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters i. 46 Water..which..appears muddy and foul, will fine..upon standing.
1822 T. Webster Imison's Elem. Sci. & Art (new ed.) II. 159 The liquor is now suffered to stand for some time to fine (or become transparent).
1859 T. Hughes Scouring of White Horse iv. 62 [The ale] hadn't had quite time to fine down.
1933 J. A. Grohusko Jack's Man. (rev. ed.) 29 If the draught is slow, give it time to fine without venting.
†c. transitive. To remove (chaff) from grain, in the process of threshing or winnowing. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation of grain > [verb (transitive)] > thresh
threshOE
tread1382
stampa1425
berry1483
fine1579
thrash1594
to beat out1611
flack1743
cob1796
flail1821
scutch1844
strip1861
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation of grain > [verb (transitive)] > free from chaff
cavec1420
fine1579
chave1652
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Dec. 125 As the chaffe should in the fan be fynd.
†2. transitive. To make beautiful or elegant; to smarten up. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautify (the person) [verb (transitive)]
highta1200
atiffe?c1225
tiff?c1225
wyndre?a1366
kembc1386
picka1393
prunec1395
tifta1400
varnishc1405
finea1425
tifflea1425
quaint1484
embuda1529
trick?1532
trick1545
dill1548
tricka1555
prink1573
smug1588
sponge1588
smudge1589
perk1590
primpc1590
sponge1592
tricksy1598
prime1616
sprug1622
briska1625
to sleek upa1625
trickify1678
prim1688
titivate1705
dandify1823
beflounce1824
befop1866
spry1878
lustrify1886
dude1899
doll1916
tart1938
youthify1945
pansy1946
spiv1947
dolly1958
zhuzh1970
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1696 For it so well was enlomyned With colour reed as well fyned As nature couthe it make faire.
a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 3 Mannys heuene, wole be maad fair wiþ þe sunne mineralle, fynyd, schynynge, incorruptibile.
1567 Triall of Treasure sig. Aiiv Though ye style be barbarous, not fined with eloquence.
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xxviii. sig. N4v Hee does fine vp his homely house.
1658 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 2nd Pt. 130 To bestow a great deal of cost in fining up an old suit.
1664 J. Wilson Cheats ii. iv. 25 He does not fine up himself, as he was wont.
1703 W. Freke Divine Gram. iii. 86/1 She saw her Brother's Wife settling there, and fining up the House.
†3. transitive. To break or grind into small pieces or minute particles. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > separate into constituents [verb (transitive)] > make into (small) pieces
offe?1440
fine1548
flake1632
fritter1780
fragmentize1815
fragment1818
macadamize1825
fraction1841
morselize1894
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke Pref. 9 b They fyne and beate to powder [L. terunt]..not receiptes of theyr owne, but of Christes.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 32 Neyther can it [sc. Panicum] as Millet be fined without parching.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Ploughing of Land If the Land mounts full of Clots..you must fine it by harrowing it when Rain comes.
1800 European Mag. & London Rev. Apr. 280/2 The mole hills have been levellled,..and the coarse and mossy parts fined by repeated harrowing and rolling.
1880 J. Lomas Man. Alkali Trade i. 9 The large pieces must first be..fined by the small tods used for road metal.
1914 G. Lowther & W. Worthington Encycl. Pract. Hort. II. 743/2 The plowed land must be closely harrowed behind the plow,..and should be closed up by fining the soil on top.
4. transitive. To make (a material or immaterial thing) keen or sharp; to sharpen, hone.
ΚΠ
1567 G. Turberville Epitaphes, Epigrams f. 46 I neede not tell the names of Authors which I read, Of Proes and Verse we had inough to fine the dullest head.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxvi. 101 To cleare the body, or to prouoke appetite, or to fine the senses.
1824 Family Oracle of Health 1 80 A strop which will fine the edge of your razor beyond conception.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 361 Senses fined, And pointed brilliantwise.
1893 Trans. & Proc. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 19 346 He used a leather strop to fine the edge of the plane iron after it came from the hone.
1914 B. Stoker Dracula's Guest & Other Weird Stories (1990) 112 The long sharp knife..seemed to be like a butcher's sharpening iron fined to a keen point.
1994 J. Solomon in R. Levinson Teaching Sci. 21 Within science, this wayward faculty needs to be fined and sharpened to a purpose.
†5.
a. transitive. To improve in quality. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [verb (transitive)]
beetc975
betterOE
goodOE
sharpa1100
amendc1300
enhance1526
meliorate1542
embetter1568
endeara1586
enrich1598
meliorize1598
mend1603
sweeten1607
improve1617
to work up1641
ameliorate1653
solace1667
fine1683
ragout1749
to make something of1778
richen1795
transcendentalize1846
to tone up1847
to do something (also things) for (also to)1880
rich1912
to step up1920
uprate1965
up1968
nice1993
1683 W. Penn Let. Free Soc. Traders 4 Whether it be best to fall to Fining the Fruits of the Country..or send for forreign Stems and Sets, already good.
1712 J. Mortimer Art of Husbandry: Pt. II v. 23 It fines the Grass, but makes it short, tho' thick.
1799 A. Young Gen. View Agric. County Lincoln 862 You may fine a breed till you produce a beautiful animal.
b. transitive. To bring into a good or better condition. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > make healthy [verb (transitive)] > bring into good condition
season1601
brace1736
fine1835
tonify1858
tonicize1884
1835 G. Stephen Adventures in Search of Horse ii. 27 ‘He was brought out half an hour before, Sir, with legs like millstones..They trotted him up and down..just to fine his legs.’
6.
a. transitive. Chiefly with away, down. To make (gradually) thinner or smaller; to reduce (an immaterial thing) in extent, intensity, or degree; to whittle away, pare down, cause to taper off.
ΚΠ
1750 T. R. Blanckley Naval Expositor 172 Tin Plates..are used for..fining Oars.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod Introd. §33. 39 The author..endeavours to fine away the objections of its opponents.
1826 T. H. Lister Granby II. iii. 34 You fine down her good qualities so dexterously.
1866 J. F. Ferrier Lect. Greek Philos. I. v. 34 So imperceptibly are they [sc. the changes] fined away into each other.
1868 A. Helps Realmah II. xvi. 259 Fining down his original statement.
1913 Marine Rev. Jan. 21/3 The longitudinal or prismatic coefficient has been reduced by increasing the area of the midship section and fining the ends of the vessel.
1977 L. Bickel Mawson's Will vii. 129 By the time they collapsed, the huskies were fined down to furry skeletons.
2007 in P. Fryer Opera in Media Age 130 He knew how to spin out an effortless legato and to fine away his tone to delicate pianissimo.
b. intransitive. Chiefly with away, down, off. To become gradually thinner, smaller, weaker, etc.; to dwindle away; (also) to become more refined.
ΚΠ
1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall vii. 198 It [sc. a conglomerate of rock] becomes thin and fines off by Thorn Farm towards Crossway House.
1858 H. Bushnell Serm. for New Life 416 The low superstitions, the coarse and sensual habit..have gradually fined away.
1873 C. M. Yonge Pillars of House xlvii. 332 Matilda was..better looking at two-and-thirty than at two-and-twenty, for she had somewhat fined down.
1889 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Dec. 255 The wind fined into light, delicate curls of shadow upon the sea.
1935 J. R. Allan Farmer's Boy vi. 147 The sound of the games fined away into a remote music that died into the muted undertones of the river.
1967 R. Lehmann Swan in Evening iii. 101 She was..rather fat and greedy;..though in her eighteenth year she began to fine down and achieved a lovely long-legged slim-waisted figure.
2002 J. Bailey Where to fly fish in Brit. & Ireland (2008) 80 All four are spate rivers and fine down quickly after rain.
7. intransitive. Chiefly Nautical outside Australian use. Of the weather: to become fine; to clear up. Also with down, away, up. Now chiefly Australian (with up).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (intransitive)] > become fine
fair1635
settle1719
fine1883
1883 Essex Standard 17 Mar. 3/3 The weather fined down a little, and the wind came more in our favour.
1888 Sc. Leader 12 July 7 [Sailor says] The weather fined a bit.
1913 J. E. Patterson His Father's Wife xxxiv. 354 As the weather somewhat fined away during the evening after Roger's three calls on Foulness, he found no discomfort in staying aboard.
1926 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Feb. 24/1 What cares the cook if it don't fine up?
1974 M. Frost Boadicea Ck 123 (2007) xxiv. 210 During the evening the weather fined a little but by next morning was just as bad again.
2015 Border Mail (Austral.) (Nexis) 26 Jan. 28 Fortunately the weather fined up relatively quickly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1a1300n.31740n.41786n.51923adj.adv.n.2a1300v.1a1300v.2c1325v.31340
随便看

　

英语词典包含1132095条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。

　

Copyright © 2004-2022 Newdu.com All Rights Reserved
更新时间：2025/1/24 14:03:33