> as lemmas

in (or †of) weight

a. in (or †of) weight, added to adjectives such as heavy, light, great, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > in respect of heaviness [phrase]

in (or of) weightc1400

c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 4662 Semely dyght..With eglis faire and riche In syght, Off riche gold and mechel of wyght.

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope vi Thow wenest that within my bely shold be a precious stone more of weyght than I am.

1486 Bk. St. Albans d iij That noon be heuyer then an other bot like of weyght.

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xlvij^v/1 The said bales..were myche heuyar In weight than they shulde naturally haue ben.

1910 W. Parker in Encycl. Brit. XI. 352/1 They [opossum skins] are..not only very light in weight and warm, but handsome.

figurative.1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome i. f. 13^v The Dorekeeper instructed than, what things he ought to do, When as this office great of waight, he there doth come unto.

extracted from weightn.¹

of weight

†b. of weight (as adjectival phr.): Heavy. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > in respect of heaviness [phrase] > heavy

of weight1374

1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Campsall MS.) ii. 1385 For swyfter cours cometh þyng þat is of wighte Whan it descendeth þan don þynges lyghte.

c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 739 Any thinge that hevy be As stoon or lede or thynge of wight.

a1400–50 Wars Alex. 5473 Lamprays of weȝt Twa hundreth pond ay a pece.

1599 A. Hume Hymnes sig. F3 Crosbowes of waight, and Gnosik gainyeis kein.

1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 47 Materials of weight, as Sauder, wherewith an unconscionable Plummer can ingrosse his Bill.

extracted from weightn.¹

of weight

†c. of weight: of full or standard weight. Scottish.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > as determined by weighing [phrase] > of full or standard weight

of weight1500

1500 A. Halyburton Ledger (1867) 253 [Certain coins] all of vycht.

1524 in Acts Parl. Scotl. (1875) XII. 41/1 Þe gold sall have comone coursse..þe Hary noble of Weiht for xl^b..þe scottis demy of wecht xviij^b.

1597 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 228/2 Rois nobilis of gold and wecht.

extracted from weightn.¹

of weight

(b) Esp. in of weight, of great (little, etc.) weight.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective]

important1444

substantious1483

sore1530

relevantc1540

importing1579

of great (little, etc.) weight1581

grave1594

dear1598

consequentious1634

concerning1641

of concern1651

consequent1659

weighty1662

interesting1711

capital1724

consequential1728

magnitudinous1777

makulu1899

operative1955

1581 N. Burne Disput. Headdis of Relig. To King a v As the importance and vecht of the mater requyris.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxv. 158 Ceremonies haue more in waight then in sight.

1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. iv. vii. §2. 299 Considering better..the weight of the businesse, which he had taken in hand.

1662 J. Howell New Eng. Gram. 16 In French she [the letter Y] is of that weight that she makes somtimes a whole word of her self.

1709 J. Swift Let. conc. Sacramental Test 11 But there is no great weight in this.

a1738 I. Watts Improvem. Mind ii. iv, in Coll. Wks. (1753) V. 334 The weight and force of argument which should influence the mind.

1830 A. Cunningham Lives Brit. Painters (ed. 2) I. 223 Yet weight must be allowed to the opinion of Northcote.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 513 Weight of moral character was indeed wanting to Edward Seymour.

1861 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. (1869) III. v. 324 Having no wealth to give him weight.

1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. I. viii. 106 The two elections of General Grant..are the best evidence of the weight of this consideration.

extracted from weightn.¹

of weight

19. Influence or authority (of a person) due to character or ability, position, office, wealth, or the like. Frequently in phrases of weight, of (great, etc.) weight; also to throw, put, one's weight behind something, and variants.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > influence or authority

gravity1534

weight1710

society > authority > power > influence > [noun]

powerc1300

authorityc1405

voice1433

swaya1510

gravity1534

force1582

bias1587

interest1600

prevalence1612

prevailance1631

pondus1638

prevailancya1649

prevailency1650

influence1652

prevalency1652

weight1710

prevailingness1757

holding1770

mojo1923

clout1958

muscle1965

society > authority > power > influence > of influence [phrase]

of weight1710

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 4. ⁋7 Those Persons at the Helm are so useful, and in themselves of such Weight.

1747 Frauds & Abuses Coal-Dealers (ed. 3) 5 In all popular Assemblies, it has been found necessary to place some Man of Weight and Dignity in the Chair.

1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France (1789) I. iv. 25 Their opinions have considerable weight on the manners and opinions of people of rank.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 253 It could hardly be doubted that they were directed by some leader of great weight.

1885 Manch. Examiner 6 Nov. 5/3 Political economists of weight refused to join the Commission.

1938 ‘G. Orwell’ Homage to Catalonia v. 65 The Communist Party, with Soviet Russia behind it, had thrown its whole weight against revolution.

1951 C. P. Snow Masters xxxiii. 268 I can't do as much as I should like, but I shall throw in my weight wherever I can.

1976 Southern Evening Echo (Southampton) 11 Nov. 1/1 The floodgates opened on the fluoridation of water supplies..when the..Regional Health Authority put their weight behind the scheme.

extracted from weightn.¹

of (great, etc.) weight