freezev.

Brit.

/friːz/, U.S.

/friz/

Forms: Past tense froze /frəʊz/. Past participle frozen /ˈfrəʊz(ə)n/. Forms: infinitive Old English fréosan, Middle English fr(e)osenMiddle English–1500s fre(e)se(n, frise, (Middle English freys, 1500s freis, freze), 1500s, 1700s frieze, 1600s–1700s freez, (1600s freize), 1500s– freeze. past tense Old English fréas, Middle English fre(e)s(e, Middle English frore, frose, (1800s dialect friz), 1600s– froze; weak Middle English freesed, 1500s frised, 1800s freezed. past participle Old English froren, Middle English froren, froryn, Middle English–1500s, 1800s frorn(e, Middle English–1800s frore (Middle English froore, Middle English froare) also Middle English ifrore, yfrore. β. Middle English–1500s frosen, frosyn, (1500s frose), Middle English–1800s froze (now vulgar), (1800s dialect and vulgar friz), 1500s– frozen; weak 1500s frozed, 1600s–1700s freezed.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English fréosan = Middle Low German vrêsen, Dutch vriezen, Old High German friosan (Middle High German vriesen, modern German frieren), Old Norse friósa (Swedish frysa, Danish fryse), Gothic *friusan (inferred < frius frost) < Old Germanic *freusan, < root *freus-, fraus-, fruz- < pre-Germanic *preus-, prous-, prus-; compare Latin pruīna ( < ? *prusvīna hoar-frost), Sanskrit prušva drop, frozen drop, hoar-frost; less obviously connected in sense are Latin prūrīre to itch, prūna ( < *prusnā) live coal, Sanskrit pluš to burn; some scholars assume contamination with the Aryan root *qreus, qrus to freeze, whence Greek κρύσταλλος ice. The Old Germanic conjugation was *freus-, fraus, fruzum, frozono-, which is accurately represented in the Old English fréosan, fréas, fruron, froren. The later English form of the past participle frosen, frozen (whence past tense froze) is due to the analogy of the present-stem; similarly Old Norse has frosenn (possibly the source of the English form) beside the older frørenn, and Dutch has past tense vroor, past participle vrozen, as well as the correct vroos, vroren; the Middle High German infinitive vriesen, past tense vrôs, have become in modern German frieren, fror, through the analogy of the past participle gefroren.

I. intransitive uses.

1. impersonal. it freezes: the local temperature of the atmosphere is such that water becomes ice. †Also quasi-personal with a subject (frost, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > become cold > freeze

it freezes971

congealc1400

gealc1440

frigitate1635

conglaciate1646

take1781

catch1879

971 Blickl. Hom. 93 Men steorran magon geseon swa sutole swa on niht ðonne hit swiðe freoseþ.

a1000 Gnomic Verses (Bosw.) Forst sceal freosan.

c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) xxii. 128 Gelat, hit fryst.

a1250 Owl & Nightingale 620 An his hou never ne vor-lost, Wan hit snuith, ne wan hit frost.

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 69 When þe forst freseþ muche chele he byd.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 236 If the month of juil shall frese.

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A viii. 115 Whon þe Forst freseþ foode hem [þe foules] bi-houeþ.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 77 He shal neuer take harm by colde..thaugh it snowed stormed or frore neuer so sore.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccx^v Still it frised.

1649 R. Hodges Plainest Direct. 8 If it freez, put on your frees jacket.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 153 It snowed all night, and froze very hard.

1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville III. 40 A road in the wet snow, which, should it afterwards freeze, would be sufficiently hard to bear the horses.

a. Of a liquid, or liquid particles: To be converted into ice. Of a body of water: To become covered with ice. Occasionally with complement, as to freeze hard, to freeze solid.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > ice > turn to ice [verb (intransitive)]

freezec1290

ice1845

c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 317/608 Þe dropen bicometh to snowe, And þanne huy freosez adoneward are huy comen here ouȝt lowe.

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 121 Þe snowe lay in þe feld, þe water frese biside.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xi. 125 Thare ys a nother Ryvere, that upon the nygt freseth wondur faste.

?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Hiii ^v To frese, gellér.

1692 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 2) ii. 122 The aqueous Humor of the Eye will not freeze.

1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 222 The Dutch, who winter'd in Nova Zembla, took notice, that the salt Water freez'd.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 159 Port Wine froze solid.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 41 Some other liquor must be employed, which is not so subject to freeze.

1878 A. H. Markham Great Frozen Sea v. 60 The cold spray flew aft into our faces where it almost froze.

b. To become hard or rigid as the result of cold; esp. of objects containing moisture.

ΚΠ

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 22 Wherof art thou so sore afered, That thou thy tunge suffrest frese.

1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 208 Their Tackle was so frozen, and full of Isicles.

1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xix. 238 Snows collected on the mountain freeze.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 21 Our Ropes were now froze with Ice hanging on them.

a. To become fixed to (something) or together by the action of frost.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > join (together) [verb (transitive)] > become joined to by freezing

freezea1500

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > become cold > freeze > become frozen to something

freezea1500

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xiii. 129 When my shone freys to my fete It is not all esy.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. i. 6 Were not I..soone hot; my very lippes might freeze to my teeth.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. xxiv. 361 Their liquid liberty is destroyed, and the surfaces freeze together.

1898 N.E.D. at Freeze Mod. In Canada a child's tongue once froze to a lamp-post he was licking.

b. Originally U.S. and Australian. to freeze (on) to: to hold on to (a person or thing); to keep tight hold of; also, to become attached to (a person), ‘take to’. Cf. to stick to ——. Also, to freeze down.

ΚΠ

1840 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 3rd Ser. iii. 40 Do as I do, younker..freeze down solid to it.

1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. i. i. 22 I friz right down where I wuz, merried the Widder Shennon.

1876 W. Besant & J. Rice Golden Butterfly II. vii. 117 No, sir; I am of the children of Israel; and I freeze to that.

1882 G. A. Sala Amer. Revisited (1885) 193 ‘Freezing’ to him, as the Americans call it—was a tiny fellow of some eight years.

1883 P. Robinson Sinners & Saints 114 The better the Mormon, the harder he freezes to his religion.

1888 H. R. Haggard Col. Quaritch xvii He's a lawyer and he might not freeze on to you.

1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 189 Here, Jem!..freeze on to this brute.

1897 Westm. Gaz. 23 June 7/1 Londoners, when they get hold of a good thing, like to ‘freeze on to’ it.

1935 P. G. Wodehouse Blandings Castle i. 25 You won't mind if I freeze on to the two-seater for the nonce?

1960 M. Stewart My Brother Michael xv. 188 We'll freeze on to those facts, and let the rest develop as it will.

a. To be affected by, or have the sensation of, extreme cold; to feel very chill; to suffer the loss of vital heat; to die by frost. So to freeze to death.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > be cold or have sensation of cold > perish with cold

freeze1390

starve1602

perish1750

bestormed1837

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 38 Wether that he frese or swete..He woll ben idel all aboute.

1601 J. Marston et al. Iacke Drums Entertainm. ii. sig. D4^v Powre Wine, sound Musick, let our bloods not freeze.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. iv. 21 Nay, you must not freeze .

1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem (1751) 37 A..passage..he finds by the north-west, Where Davies freezed to his rest.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 318 We might sooner have frozen than kept our Innate Heat entire.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 176 By being thus hung in the Air, the Rabbit..freezes to Death.

1809 S. T. Coleridge Three Graves iii, in Friend 21 Sept. 91 Her limbs did creep and freeze.

1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 84 The sculptur'd dead, on each side, seem to freeze.

b. Of inanimate things: To be extremely cold; to be utterly devoid of heat.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > be intensely cold

freeze1623

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 4 Orpheus..made..the Mountaine tops that freeze, Bow themselues.

1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite ii, in Fables 44 Heav'n froze above, severe, the Clouds congeal.

1823 C. Lamb Old Benchers in Elia 199 His kitchen chimney was never suffered to freeze.

c. In non-material or figurative sense: To grow intensely cold; to lose warmth of feeling; to be chilled by fear, etc.; to shudder.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > lack sensitivity [verb (intransitive)] > grow cold

coolOE

keelc1325

coldc1374

freeze1557

colden1863

the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > be chilled by fear

freeze1557

coola1616

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. X.i I frise amids the fire.

1596 R. Linche Dom Diego in Diella sig. F2^v Thou then didst burne in loue, now froz'd in hate.

1607 T. Dekker Whore of Babylon sig. I4^v Courage, to kill Ten men I should not freeze thus.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 334 Gray-beard thy loue doth freeze .

1683 W. Cave Ecclesiastici Introd. p. lxvi Zeal against Paganism did not freeze.

1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xv. 756 Pale, trembling, tir'd, the Sailors freeze with Fears.

1874 J. P. Mahaffy Social Life Greece ix. 289 If I behold the tiny fish on which they put such a price I freeze with horror.

d. to freeze out: (of a plant) to die through freezing. U.S.

ΚΠ

1872 Trans. Dep. Agric. Illinois 73 They [sc. strawberry plants] dry out and freeze out worse in a loose and well aerated sand.

1872 1st Rep. Vermont State Board Agric. 1871–2 128 Alsike luxuriates in damp soils, and will not freeze out as red clover.

e. To make oneself suddenly rigid or motionless.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > cease to move or become motionless > suddenly

freeze1847

1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. iv. 105 The smile on his lips froze.

1865 Detroit Tribune 6 Oct. 3/1 The raiders remained in the back room some minutes without making any demonstration, and Smith in the meantime ‘froze’ to the door latch.

1908 S. E. White Riverman iii. 27 But Orde..had frozen in an attitude of attentive listening.

1916 H. Titus I Conquered ix. 109 Of a sudden the horse froze, stopped his breathing.

1931 D. L. Sayers Five Red Herrings xxviii. 334 The Chief Constable hurriedly snatched up the rug and froze.

1933 Brit. Birds 27 130 It ‘froze’ here for about five minutes and then started moving its head around.

1959 Listener 5 Mar. 414/2 Whenever a sentry appeared, they froze.

1969 I. Opie & P. Opie Children's Games vi. 193 As the person in front turns round, the players ‘freeze’, for if he sees anyone moving..he sends that player back.

f. Cinematography. (See quot. 1960.) Cf. freeze n.¹ 3.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > filming > special effect > special effects [verb (intransitive)] > freeze

freeze1960

1960 O. Skilbeck ABC of Film & TV Working Terms 59 Freeze, to arrest movement by successively Printing one Frame of Negative. Done, for instance, to extend a Shot for Optical purposes, as in a Title background; or for comedy effect.

1965 Movie Spring 29/1 Oval masking, ‘freezing’, multiple-image, slow-motion.

1965 L. Halliwell Film-goer's Compan. 157 Freeze frame, a printing device whereby the action appears to ‘freeze’ into a still, this being accomplished by printing one frame many times.

II. Transitive uses.

a. Of natural agencies: To change (a fluid) to a solid form by the action of cold; to congeal; to form ice on the surface of (a river, etc.). Also said causatively of personal agents.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > make cold [verb (transitive)] > freeze

congeal1393

engeal14..

freezea1513

glaciate1656

anneala1763

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. clxxxxiiii A Froste that..Frase y^e Thamys.

1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors iv. f. 54 The..Northern wyndes, doe fryese the vapors, and so it becommeth hoare froste.

1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. x. 325 The froist dois freis vp all fresche watter.

1651 J. French Art Distillation v. 164 It will..forthwith be freezed.

1729 R. Savage Wanderer i. 57 Far hence lies, ever freez'd, the northern main.

1781 T. Cavallo in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 71 516 I have froze a quantity of water with an equal weight of good ether.

1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage xxxvi. 507 We froze oil of almonds in a shot-mould.

b. With adverbs. to freeze over: to cover with a coating of ice. to freeze in, up: to set fast in ice. to freeze up: to obstruct by frost.

ΚΠ

1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Hist. Descr. Worlde 146 The riuers and other waters are frozen vppe a yearde or more thicke.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 433 The Ozera or lake before the toune was frozen over Octob. 13.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) v. i. 315 Though..all the Conduits of my blood [be] froze vp.

1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 28 Anvile, Smith's Tongs, and other Tools belonging to the Cookery were frozen up in the Ice.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 348 The Baltick would be frozen up.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 105 His Ship..was froze up.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 154 By the ninth the Creek was froze over from Side to Side.

1858 B. Taylor Northern Trav. xvi. 164 Six vessels lay frozen in, at a considerable distance from the town.

c. To congeal (the blood) as if by frost; chiefly as a hyperbolical expression for the effect of terror. Hence with personal object, to ‘make (one's) blood run cold’, to horrify intensely.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being horrible > horrify [verb (transitive)]

agrisec1225

uga1250

freeze1398

curl1530

abhor1531

to chill the (also a person's) blood1637

horror1642

horrorize1820

horrify1822

behorror1857

to curl (a person's) hair1949

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) vii. lxvi. 283 The venyme of a scorpion..closyth the herte atte the last and fresyth the blood with his coldenesse.

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Jan. 26 Such rage as winters raigneth in my hart, My life-bloud freesing with unkindly cold.

1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 16 A tale..whose lightest word Would..freeze thy yong blood.

1633 J. Ford Loves Sacrifice i. sig. C3^v Looke here, My bloud is not yet freez'd.

1639 T. B. tr. J.-P. Camus Certain Moral Relations in S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 347 The one inflamed me with love, the other freezed me with feare.

1707 tr. P. Le Lorrain de Vallemont Curiosities in Husbandry & Gardening 242 A cool and serious Air, capable of freezing his Readers.

1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxxi. 280 I should have melted her by Love, instead of freezing her by Fear.

1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 79 One Moment's Cold, like theirs, would..Frieze the Heart's Blood.

d. figurative. To chill, quench the warmth of (feelings, etc.); to paralyse (one's powers, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > make emotionally unfeeling [verb (transitive)] > make cold

coolc1330

frostbite1593

disinflame?1611

freezea1616

colden1860

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iv. 150 This Act..shall coole the hearts Of all his people, and freeze vp their zeale.

1751 T. Gray Elegy xiii. 7 Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul.

1793 E. Parsons Woman as she should Be III. 133 This paragraph froze his senses.

1842 E. Bulwer-Lytton Zanoni 25 That recent hiss froze up her faculties and suspended her voice.

e. To make (assets, credits, etc.) unrealizable. Also (nonce-use) intransitive, to become unrealizable.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (transitive)] > convert into cash or capital > make unrealizable

freeze1922

1922 Ann. Reg. 1921 ii. 71 Credits granted by banks and financial houses to merchants have been frozen in enormous amounts.

1931 Economist 1 Aug. 219/1 In so far as the President's plan hints at definite freezing of existing bank credit for an agreed period, it is not acceptable to bankers.

1936 W. H. Auden Look, Stranger! 43 Europe grew anxious about her health, Combines tottered, credits froze.

1941 Times (Weekly ed.) 30 July 5/2 The Chinese Government have officially requested the British Government to ‘freeze’ Chinese assets.

1942 Ann. Reg. 1941 63 Great Britain..promptly ‘froze’ Japanese assets.

1966 Listener 27 Oct. 606/2 They froze his money in the bank.

f. To fix (wages, prices, resources, etc.) at a stated level.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > wage structures and scales > [verb (transitive)] > preserve rate of pay of

freeze1933

red-circle1956

1933 H. L. Ickes Diary 12 Oct. (1955) I. 106 This contemplates the freezing of prices at their present level.

1940 Economist 16 Mar. 455/2 In addition to the reduction in wages, prices and employment were ‘frozen’.

1944 Ann. Reg. 1943 287 There should be less political difficulty in ‘freezing’ wages.

1956 Ann. Reg. 1955 135 Military budgets should be ‘frozen’ at the 1 January 1955 level.

g. To make immobile or inflexible; to arrest at a certain stage of development, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > make stable, establish [verb (transitive)]

fastenOE

grounda1300

confirmc1300

establec1386

settlec1386

establish1533

entrench?1587

fix1605

stabilitate1642

substantiate1792

stabilify1871

stabilize1875

freeze1936

1936 J. Gunther Inside Europe ix. 142 It would, by ‘freezing’ the present borders, prevent Anschluss, union of Germany and Austria.

1941 Time (Air Express ed.) 26 May 22/3 General Electric..had..frozen its models of receivers.

1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four ii. 204 The purpose of all of them was to arrest progress and freeze history at a chosen moment.

1958 New Statesman 12 Apr. 454/1 Co-op representation is to be ‘frozen’ at something like the present level of 20 MPs and 10 prospective candidates.

1958 Spectator 8 Aug. 185/1 This attempt to freeze frontiers and governments would be absurd coming from anyone.

1969 Daily Tel. 18 Jan. 1/6 A Federal Court judge in New York yesterday froze action on the merger of the Atlantic Richfield Company and Sinclair Oil Corporation.

6. To affect with frost; to stiffen, harden, injure, kill, etc. by chilling; to change into or to (something) and (figurative) to bring into a certain state by chilling. Also, to freeze to death: rare in active. Occasionally to allow to freeze.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > make cold [verb (transitive)] > affect or injure with intense cold or frost

frostbite1574

frostnip1600

singe1600

freezea1616

frost1623

touch1794

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. i. 33 My Master and mistris are almost frozen to death.

1637 J. Milton Comus 16 That snakie headed Gorgon sheild..Wherewith she [sc. Minerva] freez'd her foes to congeal'd stone?

1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 79 Sense fled before him [Death], what he touch'd he froze.

1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. Ded. sig. aii^v Severe Winters, that freez..and cut off many hopeful plants.

1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 163 And if close, the Snow lying there must freeze the Leg.

1855 C. Kingsley Heroes (1868) ii. 23 Will she not freeze me too into stone?

1878 H. B. Stowe Poganuc People xi. 115 He [sc.the bird] must have chilled his beak and frozen his toes as he sat there.

7. to freeze out:

a. literal in past participle or participial adjective: see frozen adj.

b. figurative (U.S. colloquial). To exclude from business, society, etc. by chilling behaviour, severe competition, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > exclusion from society > exclude from society [verb (transitive)]

seclude1498

refrain1547

ostracize1649

proscribe1680

to send (a person) to Coventry1765

taboo1791

blackball1821

blackbean1829

to freeze out1861

unworld1868

exostracize1872

boycott1880

1861 G. K. Wilder Diary (MS.) 20 July We finally froze him out.

1867 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Drolleries (1875) 62 They would let that man go on and pay assessments,..and then they would close in on him and freeze him out.

1869 C. L. Brace New West v. 69 They can..lay assessments to bring a stock down to the lowest point, thus ‘freezing out’ the unhappy stockholders.

1890 Daily News 25 Jan. 2/2 Part of the campaign for ‘freezing out’ the Rosario Company.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	freeze
释义	freezen.¹ Brit. /friːz/, U.S. /friz/ Etymology: < freeze v. 1. The action of freeze v.; literal and figurative. See also freeze-out n.; freeze-up n. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [noun] > freezing or frosty weather freezec1440 frostiness1653 freeze-up1876 the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > [noun] > sensation of cold > with fear freeze1866 c1440 York Myst. xiv. 72 Þe fellest frese þat euer I felyd. 1630 J. Taylor Wks. ii. 256/2 The Lord, the Lowne, the Sir, the Swaine Against the freeze, of Freeze make winter suites. 1866 C. Dickens Let. 6 Jan. (1999) XI. 133 I am charmed to learn that you have had a freeze out of my Ghost story. 1882 Garden 18 Mar. 177/2 The severe frost of Oct. 5..was an exceptional freeze. 1891 K. Field Washington IV. 383/2 During a freeze there is no comfort in a southern house. 2. Also in specific figurative uses, as: a. to do a freeze: to be overlooked or ignored. Australian and New Zealand slang. ΚΠ c1926 ‘Mixer’ Transport Workers' Song Bk. 23 ‘I know,’ said one, ‘I did a freeze Till I tumbled to the lurk.’ 1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 30 Do a freeze, to be overlooked, ignored. b. The fixing or establishing of assets, dividends, military strength, etc., at a certain level or figure. Cf. wage freeze n. and freeze v. 5e, 5f. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > [noun] > stabilization stabilization1887 stabilizing1909 freeze1942 1942 Business Week 11 Apr. 88/1 In wartime there is much to be said for a general price, wage, and profit freeze. 1948 Electronics Nov. 132/1 Television Application Freeze Announced. Recent action by the FCC temporarily halted any further authorization of new television stations... The freeze would remain in effect long enough for the commission to decide whether certain changes should be made. 1951 Economist 24 Nov. 1245 In the first twelve months since the end of the so-called freeze, wage rates have increased by 10 per cent. 1959 Daily Tel. 23 Mar. 14/4 Mr. Macmillan's plan for a controlled and inspected ‘freeze’ of forces in a prescribed area. 1962 Daily Tel. 26 Oct. 1/3 He has accepted the proposal..for a ‘freeze’ of two to three weeks. This will involve him in the suspension of all arms shipments to Cuba. 1965 New Statesman 9 Apr. 560/3 A socialist government should actively support a new nuclear freeze in Europe. 3. Cinematography and Television. A shot in which the movement is arrested by printing the same frame many times. Also freeze-frame n., freeze-shot n., frozen-frame Cf. freeze v. 4f. ΘΚΠ society > communication > broadcasting > television > production of television broadcast > [noun] > shot > types of shot long shot1858 close-up1913 medium shot1925 travelling shot1927 medium close-up1933 reverse angle1933 three-shot1934 tilt shot1934 reaction shot1937 tracking shot1940 Dutch angle1947 two-shot1949 mid shot1953 freeze1960 freeze-frame1960 freeze-shot1960 frozen-frame1960 pack shot1960 noddy1982 arc shot1989 society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > filming > special effect > [noun] > hold or freeze hold1940 freeze1960 freeze-frame1960 freeze-shot1960 frozen-frame1960 1960 O. Skilbeck ABC of Film & TV Working Terms 59 Freeze frame, T.V. term meaning a briefly Frozen Shot after the Jingle to allow ample time for Change over at the end of a T.V. ‘Commercial’. 1965 L. Halliwell Film-goer's Compan. 157 Freeze frame, a printing device whereby the action appears to ‘freeze’ into a still, this being accomplished by printing one frame many times. 1966 New Statesman 3 June 819/2 Daisy..breaks down but recovers in a frozen-frame finale. (Incidentally, The Moving Target ends on a freeze too: perhaps some more conventional way of signing off a story might be returned to.) 1969 New Yorker 17 May 127/1 The sound track uses the creak of the prison doors..and, finally, to accompany a freeze-shot of the start of a massacre, the Haydn tune that the Hapsburgs adopted as their anthem. 1969 New Yorker 20 Dec. 36/3 The freeze-frame of the dream resumes. 1970 A. Fowles Dupe Negative xiv. 190 I crashed berserkly through the door and a freeze frame was stamped obscenely on my mind. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † freezen.² Forms: Also frees. Obsolete. (See quots.) ΘΠ the world > food and drink > drink > water > [noun] > used to dilute liquors waterOE freeze-water1658 freeze1667 1667 in C. Mackay Coll. Songs London Prentices (1841) 155 Let me have but a touch of your ale..Or tinkers frees, Or vintners lees. 1698 In Vino Veritas 8 A Liquid nick-named Freeze, which is..but a hungry, thin, sorry kind of Cyder, which does us a..kindness in lowering our Wines. 1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth III. 104 They had fetched their Frees, And mired their Stomachs quite up to their Knees in Claret and good Cheer. Derivatives freeze-water n. water used for diluting wine. ΘΠ the world > food and drink > drink > water > [noun] > used to dilute liquors waterOE freeze-water1658 freeze1667 1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick xviii. 382 Freeze-water [orig. has aqua only] is thinner than new wine, and lighter. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2021). freezev. Brit. /friːz/, U.S. /friz/ Forms: Past tense froze /frəʊz/. Past participle frozen /ˈfrəʊz(ə)n/. Forms: infinitive Old English fréosan, Middle English fr(e)osenMiddle English–1500s fre(e)se(n, frise, (Middle English freys, 1500s freis, freze), 1500s, 1700s frieze, 1600s–1700s freez, (1600s freize), 1500s– freeze. past tense Old English fréas, Middle English fre(e)s(e, Middle English frore, frose, (1800s dialect friz), 1600s– froze; weak Middle English freesed, 1500s frised, 1800s freezed. past participle Old English froren, Middle English froren, froryn, Middle English–1500s, 1800s frorn(e, Middle English–1800s frore (Middle English froore, Middle English froare) also Middle English ifrore, yfrore. β. Middle English–1500s frosen, frosyn, (1500s frose), Middle English–1800s froze (now vulgar), (1800s dialect and vulgar friz), 1500s– frozen; weak 1500s frozed, 1600s–1700s freezed. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English fréosan = Middle Low German vrêsen, Dutch vriezen, Old High German friosan (Middle High German vriesen, modern German frieren), Old Norse friósa (Swedish frysa, Danish fryse), Gothic friusan (inferred < frius* frost) < Old Germanic freusan, < root freus-, fraus-, fruz- < pre-Germanic preus-, prous-, prus-; compare Latin pruīna* ( < ? prusvīna hoar-frost), Sanskrit prušva* drop, frozen drop, hoar-frost; less obviously connected in sense are Latin prūrīre to itch, prūna ( < prusnā) live coal, Sanskrit pluš* to burn; some scholars assume contamination with the Aryan root qreus, qrus* to freeze, whence Greek κρύσταλλος ice. The Old Germanic conjugation was freus-, fraus, fruzum, frozono-, which is accurately represented in the Old English fréosan, fréas, fruron, froren. The later English form of the past participle frosen, frozen* (whence past tense froze) is due to the analogy of the present-stem; similarly Old Norse has frosenn (possibly the source of the English form) beside the older frørenn, and Dutch has past tense vroor, past participle vrozen, as well as the correct vroos, vroren; the Middle High German infinitive vriesen, past tense vrôs, have become in modern German frieren, fror, through the analogy of the past participle gefroren. I. intransitive uses. 1. impersonal. it freezes: the local temperature of the atmosphere is such that water becomes ice. †Also quasi-personal with a subject (frost, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > become cold > freeze it freezes971 congealc1400 gealc1440 frigitate1635 conglaciate1646 take1781 catch1879 971 Blickl. Hom. 93 Men steorran magon geseon swa sutole swa on niht ðonne hit swiðe freoseþ. a1000 Gnomic Verses (Bosw.) Forst sceal freosan. c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) xxii. 128 Gelat, hit fryst. a1250 Owl & Nightingale 620 An his hou never ne vor-lost, Wan hit snuith, ne wan hit frost. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 69 When þe forst freseþ muche chele he byd. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 236 If the month of juil shall frese. c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A viii. 115 Whon þe Forst freseþ foode hem [þe foules] bi-houeþ. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 77 He shal neuer take harm by colde..thaugh it snowed stormed or frore neuer so sore. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccx^v Still it frised. 1649 R. Hodges Plainest Direct. 8 If it freez, put on your frees jacket. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 153 It snowed all night, and froze very hard. 1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville III. 40 A road in the wet snow, which, should it afterwards freeze, would be sufficiently hard to bear the horses. 2. a. Of a liquid, or liquid particles: To be converted into ice. Of a body of water: To become covered with ice. Occasionally with complement, as to freeze hard, to freeze solid. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > ice > turn to ice [verb (intransitive)] freezec1290 ice1845 c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 317/608 Þe dropen bicometh to snowe, And þanne huy freosez adoneward are huy comen here ouȝt lowe. c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 121 Þe snowe lay in þe feld, þe water frese biside. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xi. 125 Thare ys a nother Ryvere, that upon the nygt freseth wondur faste. ?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Hiii ^v To frese, gellér. 1692 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 2) ii. 122 The aqueous Humor of the Eye will not freeze. 1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 222 The Dutch, who winter'd in Nova Zembla, took notice, that the salt Water freez'd. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 159 Port Wine froze solid. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 41 Some other liquor must be employed, which is not so subject to freeze. 1878 A. H. Markham Great Frozen Sea v. 60 The cold spray flew aft into our faces where it almost froze. b. To become hard or rigid as the result of cold; esp. of objects containing moisture. ΚΠ 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 22 Wherof art thou so sore afered, That thou thy tunge suffrest frese. 1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 208 Their Tackle was so frozen, and full of Isicles. 1726 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xix. 238 Snows collected on the mountain freeze. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 21 Our Ropes were now froze with Ice hanging on them. 3. a. To become fixed to (something) or together by the action of frost. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > join (together) [verb (transitive)] > become joined to by freezing freezea1500 the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > become cold > freeze > become frozen to something freezea1500 a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xiii. 129 When my shone freys to my fete It is not all esy. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. i. 6 Were not I..soone hot; my very lippes might freeze to my teeth. View more context for this quotation 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. xxiv. 361 Their liquid liberty is destroyed, and the surfaces freeze together. 1898 N.E.D. at Freeze Mod. In Canada a child's tongue once froze to a lamp-post he was licking. b. Originally U.S. and Australian. to freeze (on) to: to hold on to (a person or thing); to keep tight hold of; also, to become attached to (a person), ‘take to’. Cf. to stick to ——. Also, to freeze down. ΚΠ 1840 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 3rd Ser. iii. 40 Do as I do, younker..freeze down solid to it. 1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. i. i. 22 I friz right down where I wuz, merried the Widder Shennon. 1876 W. Besant & J. Rice Golden Butterfly II. vii. 117 No, sir; I am of the children of Israel; and I freeze to that. 1882 G. A. Sala Amer. Revisited (1885) 193 ‘Freezing’ to him, as the Americans call it—was a tiny fellow of some eight years. 1883 P. Robinson Sinners & Saints 114 The better the Mormon, the harder he freezes to his religion. 1888 H. R. Haggard Col. Quaritch xvii He's a lawyer and he might not freeze on to you. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 189 Here, Jem!..freeze on to this brute. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 23 June 7/1 Londoners, when they get hold of a good thing, like to ‘freeze on to’ it. 1935 P. G. Wodehouse Blandings Castle i. 25 You won't mind if I freeze on to the two-seater for the nonce? 1960 M. Stewart My Brother Michael xv. 188 We'll freeze on to those facts, and let the rest develop as it will. 4. a. To be affected by, or have the sensation of, extreme cold; to feel very chill; to suffer the loss of vital heat; to die by frost. So to freeze to death. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > be cold or have sensation of cold > perish with cold freeze1390 starve1602 perish1750 bestormed1837 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 38 Wether that he frese or swete..He woll ben idel all aboute. 1601 J. Marston et al. Iacke Drums Entertainm. ii. sig. D4^v Powre Wine, sound Musick, let our bloods not freeze. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. iv. 21 Nay, you must not freeze . View more context for this quotation 1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem (1751) 37 A..passage..he finds by the north-west, Where Davies freezed to his rest. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 318 We might sooner have frozen than kept our Innate Heat entire. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 176 By being thus hung in the Air, the Rabbit..freezes to Death. 1809 S. T. Coleridge Three Graves iii, in Friend 21 Sept. 91 Her limbs did creep and freeze. 1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 84 The sculptur'd dead, on each side, seem to freeze. b. Of inanimate things: To be extremely cold; to be utterly devoid of heat. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > be intensely cold freeze1623 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 4 Orpheus..made..the Mountaine tops that freeze, Bow themselues. View more context for this quotation 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite ii, in Fables 44 Heav'n froze above, severe, the Clouds congeal. 1823 C. Lamb Old Benchers in Elia 199 His kitchen chimney was never suffered to freeze. c. In non-material or figurative sense: To grow intensely cold; to lose warmth of feeling; to be chilled by fear, etc.; to shudder. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > lack sensitivity [verb (intransitive)] > grow cold coolOE keelc1325 coldc1374 freeze1557 colden1863 the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > be chilled by fear freeze1557 coola1616 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. X.i I frise amids the fire. 1596 R. Linche Dom Diego in Diella sig. F2^v Thou then didst burne in loue, now froz'd in hate. 1607 T. Dekker Whore of Babylon sig. I4^v Courage, to kill Ten men I should not freeze thus. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 334 Gray-beard thy loue doth freeze . View more context for this quotation 1683 W. Cave Ecclesiastici Introd. p. lxvi Zeal against Paganism did not freeze. 1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xv. 756 Pale, trembling, tir'd, the Sailors freeze with Fears. 1874 J. P. Mahaffy Social Life Greece ix. 289 If I behold the tiny fish on which they put such a price I freeze with horror. d. to freeze out: (of a plant) to die through freezing. U.S. ΚΠ 1872 Trans. Dep. Agric. Illinois 73 They [sc. strawberry plants] dry out and freeze out worse in a loose and well aerated sand. 1872 1st Rep. Vermont State Board Agric. 1871–2 128 Alsike luxuriates in damp soils, and will not freeze out as red clover. e. To make oneself suddenly rigid or motionless. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > cease to move or become motionless > suddenly freeze1847 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. iv. 105 The smile on his lips froze. 1865 Detroit Tribune 6 Oct. 3/1 The raiders remained in the back room some minutes without making any demonstration, and Smith in the meantime ‘froze’ to the door latch. 1908 S. E. White Riverman iii. 27 But Orde..had frozen in an attitude of attentive listening. 1916 H. Titus I Conquered ix. 109 Of a sudden the horse froze, stopped his breathing. 1931 D. L. Sayers Five Red Herrings xxviii. 334 The Chief Constable hurriedly snatched up the rug and froze. 1933 Brit. Birds 27 130 It ‘froze’ here for about five minutes and then started moving its head around. 1959 Listener 5 Mar. 414/2 Whenever a sentry appeared, they froze. 1969 I. Opie & P. Opie Children's Games vi. 193 As the person in front turns round, the players ‘freeze’, for if he sees anyone moving..he sends that player back. f. Cinematography. (See quot. 1960.) Cf. freeze n.¹ 3. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > filming > special effect > special effects [verb (intransitive)] > freeze freeze1960 1960 O. Skilbeck ABC of Film & TV Working Terms 59 Freeze, to arrest movement by successively Printing one Frame of Negative. Done, for instance, to extend a Shot for Optical purposes, as in a Title background; or for comedy effect. 1965 Movie Spring 29/1 Oval masking, ‘freezing’, multiple-image, slow-motion. 1965 L. Halliwell Film-goer's Compan. 157 Freeze frame, a printing device whereby the action appears to ‘freeze’ into a still, this being accomplished by printing one frame many times. II. Transitive uses. 5. a. Of natural agencies: To change (a fluid) to a solid form by the action of cold; to congeal; to form ice on the surface of (a river, etc.). Also said causatively of personal agents. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > make cold [verb (transitive)] > freeze congeal1393 engeal14.. freezea1513 glaciate1656 anneala1763 a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. clxxxxiiii A Froste that..Frase y^e Thamys. 1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors iv. f. 54 The..Northern wyndes, doe fryese the vapors, and so it becommeth hoare froste. 1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. x. 325 The froist dois freis vp all fresche watter. 1651 J. French Art Distillation v. 164 It will..forthwith be freezed. 1729 R. Savage Wanderer i. 57 Far hence lies, ever freez'd, the northern main. 1781 T. Cavallo in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 71 516 I have froze a quantity of water with an equal weight of good ether. 1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage xxxvi. 507 We froze oil of almonds in a shot-mould. b. With adverbs. to freeze over: to cover with a coating of ice. to freeze in, up: to set fast in ice. to freeze up: to obstruct by frost. ΚΠ 1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Hist. Descr. Worlde 146 The riuers and other waters are frozen vppe a yearde or more thicke. 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 433 The Ozera or lake before the toune was frozen over Octob. 13. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) v. i. 315 Though..all the Conduits of my blood [be] froze vp. View more context for this quotation 1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 28 Anvile, Smith's Tongs, and other Tools belonging to the Cookery were frozen up in the Ice. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 348 The Baltick would be frozen up. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 105 His Ship..was froze up. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 154 By the ninth the Creek was froze over from Side to Side. 1858 B. Taylor Northern Trav. xvi. 164 Six vessels lay frozen in, at a considerable distance from the town. c. To congeal (the blood) as if by frost; chiefly as a hyperbolical expression for the effect of terror. Hence with personal object, to ‘make (one's) blood run cold’, to horrify intensely. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being horrible > horrify [verb (transitive)] agrisec1225 uga1250 freeze1398 curl1530 abhor1531 to chill the (also a person's) blood1637 horror1642 horrorize1820 horrify1822 behorror1857 to curl (a person's) hair1949 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) vii. lxvi. 283 The venyme of a scorpion..closyth the herte atte the last and fresyth the blood with his coldenesse. 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Jan. 26 Such rage as winters raigneth in my hart, My life-bloud freesing with unkindly cold. 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 16 A tale..whose lightest word Would..freeze thy yong blood. 1633 J. Ford Loves Sacrifice i. sig. C3^v Looke here, My bloud is not yet freez'd. 1639 T. B. tr. J.-P. Camus Certain Moral Relations in S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 347 The one inflamed me with love, the other freezed me with feare. 1707 tr. P. Le Lorrain de Vallemont Curiosities in Husbandry & Gardening 242 A cool and serious Air, capable of freezing his Readers. 1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxxi. 280 I should have melted her by Love, instead of freezing her by Fear. 1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 79 One Moment's Cold, like theirs, would..Frieze the Heart's Blood. d. figurative. To chill, quench the warmth of (feelings, etc.); to paralyse (one's powers, etc.). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > make emotionally unfeeling [verb (transitive)] > make cold coolc1330 frostbite1593 disinflame?1611 freezea1616 colden1860 a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iv. 150 This Act..shall coole the hearts Of all his people, and freeze vp their zeale. View more context for this quotation 1751 T. Gray Elegy xiii. 7 Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul. 1793 E. Parsons Woman as she should Be III. 133 This paragraph froze his senses. 1842 E. Bulwer-Lytton Zanoni 25 That recent hiss froze up her faculties and suspended her voice. e. To make (assets, credits, etc.) unrealizable. Also (nonce-use) intransitive, to become unrealizable. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (transitive)] > convert into cash or capital > make unrealizable freeze1922 1922 Ann. Reg. 1921 ii. 71 Credits granted by banks and financial houses to merchants have been frozen in enormous amounts. 1931 Economist 1 Aug. 219/1 In so far as the President's plan hints at definite freezing of existing bank credit for an agreed period, it is not acceptable to bankers. 1936 W. H. Auden Look, Stranger! 43 Europe grew anxious about her health, Combines tottered, credits froze. 1941 Times (Weekly ed.) 30 July 5/2 The Chinese Government have officially requested the British Government to ‘freeze’ Chinese assets. 1942 Ann. Reg. 1941 63 Great Britain..promptly ‘froze’ Japanese assets. 1966 Listener 27 Oct. 606/2 They froze his money in the bank. f. To fix (wages, prices, resources, etc.) at a stated level. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > wage structures and scales > [verb (transitive)] > preserve rate of pay of freeze1933 red-circle1956 1933 H. L. Ickes Diary 12 Oct. (1955) I. 106 This contemplates the freezing of prices at their present level. 1940 Economist 16 Mar. 455/2 In addition to the reduction in wages, prices and employment were ‘frozen’. 1944 Ann. Reg. 1943 287 There should be less political difficulty in ‘freezing’ wages. 1956 Ann. Reg. 1955 135 Military budgets should be ‘frozen’ at the 1 January 1955 level. g. To make immobile or inflexible; to arrest at a certain stage of development, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > make stable, establish [verb (transitive)] fastenOE grounda1300 confirmc1300 establec1386 settlec1386 establish1533 entrench?1587 fix1605 stabilitate1642 substantiate1792 stabilify1871 stabilize1875 freeze1936 1936 J. Gunther Inside Europe ix. 142 It would, by ‘freezing’ the present borders, prevent Anschluss, union of Germany and Austria. 1941 Time (Air Express ed.) 26 May 22/3 General Electric..had..frozen its models of receivers. 1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four ii. 204 The purpose of all of them was to arrest progress and freeze history at a chosen moment. 1958 New Statesman 12 Apr. 454/1 Co-op representation is to be ‘frozen’ at something like the present level of 20 MPs and 10 prospective candidates. 1958 Spectator 8 Aug. 185/1 This attempt to freeze frontiers and governments would be absurd coming from anyone. 1969 Daily Tel. 18 Jan. 1/6 A Federal Court judge in New York yesterday froze action on the merger of the Atlantic Richfield Company and Sinclair Oil Corporation. 6. To affect with frost; to stiffen, harden, injure, kill, etc. by chilling; to change into or to (something) and (figurative) to bring into a certain state by chilling. Also, to freeze to death: rare in active. Occasionally to allow to freeze. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > make cold [verb (transitive)] > affect or injure with intense cold or frost frostbite1574 frostnip1600 singe1600 freezea1616 frost1623 touch1794 a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. i. 33 My Master and mistris are almost frozen to death. View more context for this quotation 1637 J. Milton Comus 16 That snakie headed Gorgon sheild..Wherewith she [sc. Minerva] freez'd her foes to congeal'd stone? 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 79 Sense fled before him [Death], what he touch'd he froze. 1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. Ded. sig. aii^v Severe Winters, that freez..and cut off many hopeful plants. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 163 And if close, the Snow lying there must freeze the Leg. 1855 C. Kingsley Heroes (1868) ii. 23 Will she not freeze me too into stone? 1878 H. B. Stowe Poganuc People xi. 115 He [sc.the bird] must have chilled his beak and frozen his toes as he sat there. 7. to freeze out: a. literal in past participle or participial adjective: see frozen adj. b. figurative (U.S. colloquial). To exclude from business, society, etc. by chilling behaviour, severe competition, etc. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > exclusion from society > exclude from society [verb (transitive)] seclude1498 refrain1547 ostracize1649 proscribe1680 to send (a person) to Coventry1765 taboo1791 blackball1821 blackbean1829 to freeze out1861 unworld1868 exostracize1872 boycott1880 1861 G. K. Wilder Diary (MS.) 20 July We finally froze him out. 1867 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Drolleries (1875) 62 They would let that man go on and pay assessments,..and then they would close in on him and freeze him out. 1869 C. L. Brace New West v. 69 They can..lay assessments to bring a stock down to the lowest point, thus ‘freezing out’ the unhappy stockholders. 1890 Daily News 25 Jan. 2/2 Part of the campaign for ‘freezing out’ the Rosario Company. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.¹c1440n.²1658v.971
随便看	holophotal holophotally holophote holophotes holophotometer holophrase holophrases holophrasis holophrasm holophrastic holophyletic holophytic holophytism holoplankton holoplanktonic holoplanktons holoplexia holopneustic holoptic holorhinal holosaprophyte holosaprophytic holosericeous holosiderite holosiphonate

freezen.1

† freezen.2

Derivatives

freezev.

freezen.¹

† freezen.²