openingn.
/ˈəʊp(ə)nɪŋ/, /ˈəʊpnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈoʊp(ə)nɪŋ/ I. Senses relating to the action of making open or not closed or shut. † 5. With reference to hounds: the raising of a cry. Cf. open v. 16. Obsolete.
1. † c. Surgery. The action or an act of opening a blood vessel. Obsolete.
a. The action of making open; an instance of this. Also in extended use: the opening of a shop for business, the opening of an area for trade, etc.
ΚΠ
OE Arundel Psalter cv. 17 Aperta est terra et deglutiuit dathan : openung is eorþan & forwealh dathan.
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 123 (MED) Þe openyng of þe temple bitokneþ þe pryuetes of holy chirche þat ben shewed.
1560 in Trans. Shropshire Arch. Soc. (1880) 3 71 The sayde accomptaunt dothe charge hym selfe wth money due vpon Jeu'n ap Ellys for oppenynge of his shope & sellinge of wares.
1568 T. Hill Proffitable Arte Gardening (rev. ed.) ii. xxxi. f. 107 This flower [sc. the marigold]..is named the husbande mans Dyall, for that the same soo aptly declareth, the howers of the morning and eueninge, by the openynge and shuttynge of it.
1593 in S. Ree Rec. Elgin (1908) II. 34 Accusit of..oppining of his buyth dur that daye [sc. Sunday].
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 204 By Opening, you must now understand removing the Quoins, till they stand loose.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Opening of Trenches,..the first breaking of Ground made by the Besiegers, in order to carry their Approaches to the place besieged.
1792 T. Paine Rights of Man: Pt. Second v. 166 The opening of South America would produce an immense field of commerce, and a ready money market for manufactures.
1884 Harper's Mag. May 870/2 The settlement had no growth until the recent impetus given it by..the opening of coal seams.
1900 J. E. Ellis in Corr. rel. Polit. Situation S. Afr. 12 We want a stream of facts concerning suppression of telegrams, opening of letters, arbitrary arrests, [etc.].
1990 ‘A. Cross’ Players come Again (1992) i. 6 They were interrupted by the waiter with their lunch, and the ceremonial opening of Kate's wine bottle.
b. spec. The action of opening an orifice of the body.
ΚΠ
OE tr. Defensor Liber Scintillarum (1969) xxiv. 188 Apertio oris illius infamatio est : openung muþes his widmærsung ys.
a1425 (a1400) Northern Pauline Epist. (1916) Eph. vi. 19 þe woord be gyfen to me in þe openyng of my mowþ.
a1450 St. Katherine (Richardson 44) (1884) 27 (MED) Iesu..be bore of hir wyth oute openynge of hir wombe.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. UUUiiv Vnto the openyng of the forsayd closed & festred woundes.
1547 Certain Serm. or Homilies sig. F ij Evenso went he vnto his death without any repugnaunce or opening of his mouthe to sei any euill.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 105 Not onely the opening of the eye, but also the rowling of it about.
1739 H. Baker & J. Miller Cit Turn'd Gentleman ii. vi. 100 The opening of the Mouth makes exactly a little Ring, which resembles an O.
1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit xxxvi. 420 An involuntary opening of his eyes.
1981 Oxf. Compan. Animal Behaviour 563/2 The opening of the mouth that precedes biting has evolved into a ritualized baring of the teeth that is characteristic of threat in many mammals.
ΚΠ
?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 54v ȝif a man blede inmoderately..be cause of openynge of a veyne oþer off ane arterie..it is good for to kitte þe veyne o brede.
1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xvii. lix. 692 Arteriotomie, is the opening of an Artery.
a1788 P. Pott Chirurg. Wks. (1790) II. 448 An abscess, or imposthumation which may be relieved or cured by an opening.
d. An evacuation of the bowels. rare. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > defecation or urination > defecation > [noun]
purgationa1387
shitting1386
officec1395
outpassinga1398
subduction?a1425
easementa1438
cuckingc1440
siegea1475
evacuation?1533
stool1541
egestion1547
dunging1558
purging1579
stooling1599
cackc1600
motion1602
dejection1605
excretion1640
exclusion1646
purgament1650
exoneration1651
disenteration1654
orduring1654
crapping1673
passage1681
seat1697
opening1797
defecation1825
excreting1849
poopc1890
movement1891
job1899
shit?1927
crap1937
dump1942
soiling1943
gick1959
jobbie1981
pooh1981
1679 M. Waite Warning to All Friends 2 In the openings of the bowels of his endlesse love, he shewed me, a Terrible day drew near.]
1797 M. Underwood Treat. Dis. Children (1799) III. 192 They should..not [be] suffered to play until they have had an opening.
1990 Times 30 June 20/4 It was discovered that a daily pint and a half of the water was sufficient to give the King ‘two openings’.
2. The action of opening a gate or door. Cf. open v. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > [noun] > action or process of opening
openinga1425
unclosinga1475
reseration1548
unlocking1568
reserating1598
apertion1615
aperture1669
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 8 In openyng of hevene ȝatis.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares 27 b The East-gate..(the dry rusty creeking of whose hookes and gymmes as it was in the opening, might be heard a myle of).
1633 in J. Cranna Fraserburgh (1914) 37 For oppning of..his pantrie and houis durris with ane wrang key.
1665 J. Spencer Disc. Prodigies (ed. 2) 247 Whereas both Tacitus and Josephus relate the sudden opening of the doors of the Temple,..they appear to me very much to Ethnicize in all these stories.
1796 M. Hays Mem. Emma Courtney II. xv. 135 I was roused from this reverie by the sudden opening of the door.
1827 W. Clarke Every Night Bk. 108 It is..necessary..to procure tickets of admission prior to the opening of the doors.
1991 H. Barty-King Worst Poverty 89 Though the law prohibited the forcible opening of a door, yet the bailiffs found means to evade that prohibition.
3. The process of loosening matted fibres with an opener.In quot. 1486, referring to the unwinding of old ropes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > treating or processing textile materials > treating or processing cotton > [noun] > separating or cleaning
opening1844
1486 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 13 The..openyng and newe leying of old Ropes.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 289/1 The Preme is made of white Wands, this is for the opening of the Yarn..so that each thred may pass clearly through the Reed.
1704 Dict. Rusticum at Loom Preme, is also an appurtenance, and is made of white Wands for the opening of the Yarn from the Beam.
1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. Great Brit. i. 25 This opening of the matted cotton is first partially effected by the process of ‘picking’... Women and children partially disentangle the cotton.
1901 T. Thornley Cotton Spinning I. iii. 64 Q. Give a statement of the objects aimed at in the operation of opening... A. This process first opens out the matted masses of fibres to a very fleecy, soft condition.
1963 A. F. W. Coulson et al. Man. Cotton Spinning II. ii. vi. 129 Better opening and cleaning will be obtained if the machines can be kept working and operating on the cotton continuously in a rather small quantity.
4.
a. The action of beginning, starting, setting in action, or inaugurating; a beginning, a start, an inauguration; the part, act, words, etc., with which something opens; the initial steps or stage in a course of action.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > initiating or causing to begin > [noun]
opening1531
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun]
ordeOE
thresholdeOE
frumthc950
anginOE
frumeOE
worthOE
beginninga1225
springc1225
springc1225
commencementc1250
ginninga1300
comsingc1325
entryc1330
aginning1340
alphac1384
incomea1400
formec1400
ingressc1420
birtha1425
principlea1449
comsementa1450
resultancec1450
inition1463
inceptiona1483
entering1526
originala1529
inchoation1530
opening1531
starting1541
principium1550
entrance1553
onset1561
rise1589
begin1590
ingate1591
overture1595
budding1601
initiationa1607
starting off1616
dawninga1631
dawn1633
impriminga1639
start1644
fall1647
initial1656
outset1664
outsettinga1698
going off1714
offsetting1782
offset1791
commence1794
aurora1806
incipiency1817
set-out1821
set-in1826
throw-off1828
go-off1830
outstart1844
start1857
incipience1864
oncome1865
kick-off1875
off-go1886
off1896
get-go1960
lift-off1967
1531 W. Tyndale Answere Mores Dialoge f. ix If stories be true, wemen haue preached sens the openynge of the new testament.
1558 Queen Mary I (title) By the Kynge and the Quene where at the openyng and begynnyng of the warres with the Frenche, the Queenes Maiestie caused her proclamation to be made.
1620 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. V. N.T. ii. 475 The opening of the malady was a crauing of cure.
1684 J. Dryden (title of poem) Prologue and epilogue spoken at the opening of the new House [sc. the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane].
1705 C. Blount Coll. Poems 19, in Misc. Wks. Duke of Buckingham II. (title of poem) Opening of the Session, 1691.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 412. ¶3 In the opening of the Spring.
1724 J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. p. ix In the opening of the reign of Nerva.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia III. vi. iv. 253 She came running into Cecilia's room, saying she had very good news for her. ‘A charming opening!’ cried Cecilia, ‘pray tell it me.’
1789 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) I. 306 At the opening of the States-General.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 509 The days which..preceded the opening of the session.
1887 Grove's Dict. Music IV. 415 The opening of the opera was originally intended to be quite different from what it is now.
1896 Eastern Morning News (Hull) 22 Feb. 1/2 St. Thomas's Church. Opening of the New Lectern.
1909 ‘A. Hay’ in Granta 11 June 11 I attempted one or two conversational openings of a nature which I considered suitable to her intellectual standard.
1961 Guardian 13 Oct. 5/2 As if this were the opening of a..television programme, you ‘dolly up’ to its owner.
1989 Japan Times 15 May 7/8 The opening of the new Paragnayan-Japanese Center for the Development of Human Resources took place in August 1988.
b. Law. The action of stating a case, etc., to a court before adducing evidence or calling witnesses; a preliminary statement of this type. Cf. open v. 18a.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > pleading > [noun] > introductory statement by parties or counsel
opening1660
inducement1800
1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides (new ed.) 77 [We] cannot hear you to speak that upon your opening, which is treason.
1682 J. Dryden Medall Epist. Whigs sig. a1 You retain'd him onely for the opening of your Cause..your main Lawyer is yet behind.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) i. ii. §80. 72 It was the Case of a Peer..else the Pretence had been refelled upon the Opening; but, for the Cause afore hinted, the Judges thought fit to give their Judgments, seriatim, after solemn Argument had.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) VI. 132 Lord Chief Justice Eyre said, it was manifest from the opening, that it was intended to be insisted on, that..Sir T. C. lost his old estate.
1881 Spectator 30 Apr. 573 Like the opening of an advocate who has not mastered his brief.
1982 M. M. Belli Mod. Trials III. 490 An effective opening should have the jury seeing the entire case through plaintiff's eyes.
c. Chess. A particular sequence of moves at the beginning of a game.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > part of game
opening1735
endgame1749
development1820
middle game1848
1735 J. Bertin Noble Game of Chess Pref. p. iv Particular instructions..how the player may make the proper openings, to attack, or defend.
1750 tr. G. Greco (title) Chess made easy..with additional games and openings, illustrated with remarks and general rules.
1845 Souvenir Bristol Chess Club 59 This move produces the opening known by the name of ‘The two Knights' game’.
1871 M. Collins Marquis & Merchant III. iv. 120 She remembered it was an evening for chess, and wondered what opening Miss Griffin would choose.
1889 Chambers's Encycl. 166 All openings of repute have distinctive titles, often being named after their inventors.
1915 J. Du Mont tr. E. Lasker Chess Strategy iv. 26 Each opening is characterised by a well-defined pawn formation.
1984 B. Breytenbach Mouroir 19 We placed the chesspieces on the board and started playing. Rab was very keen on the so-called Polish opening.
d. Theatre. The introductory or burlesque part of a traditional pantomime preceding the harlequinade. Now historical.The pantomime was first separated into two parts (burlesque and harlequinade) in the early 19th cent. By the end of the 19th cent. the harlequinade had been almost entirely supplanted by the burlesque.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > pantomime > [noun] > part of
harlequinade1780
opening1825
rally1853
transformation1859
1825 P. Egan Life of Actor vii. 264 To get up splendid Spectacles; write openings for Pantomimes.
1838 Mem. Grimaldi II. xxii He played Fribble in the opening, and afterwards the Lover.
1859 Illustr. London News 8 Jan. 34/1 The introduction or opening, which, but for the comic masks, differs little from the burlesque or extravaganza.
1894 J. A. Cave Jubilee Dramatic Life (ed. 2) xix. 177 For the openings of my pantomimes I was able, as opportunity occurred, to secure the services of such inimitable burlesque performers as the Vokes family.
1983 Oxf. Compan. Theatre (ed. 4) 635/1 The success of the fairy-tale openings..caused them to be spun out for so long that the harlequinade was relegated to a short scene at the end.
e. Originally U.S. The social occasion marking the start of an art exhibition, fashion show, or the like.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > exposure to public view > an exhibition > [noun] > opening of exhibition
opening1851
1851 J. P. Kennedy (title) Address delivered before the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanical Arts, on the occasion of the opening of the Fourth Annual Exhibition, on the 21st October, 1851.
1870 Chicago Tribune 22 Mar. 1/5 (advt.) Grand Opening of French Millinery..hats, bonnets, latest fashions of the cream of the European ‘Beau Monde’.
1905 E. Wharton House of Mirth ii. ix. 442 Beings without definite pursuits or permanent relations, who drifted on a languid tide of curiosity from restaurant to concert-hall.., from ‘art exhibit’ to dress-maker's opening.
1952 D. L. Ames Murder, Maestro, Please xxxv. 255 Geoffrey insists on taking me to Paris for the autumn dress openings.
1972 P. Marks Collector's Choice ii. 62 He never went to museums except for openings.
2000 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 4 Aug. (Arts section) e5 Following the opening of the exhibition tomorrow, from noon to 4 p.m., Melo is offering a jam session on Aug. 12, starting at 8 p.m.
f. Theatre, etc. (originally U.S.). The first performance of a play, etc.; a première.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > [noun] > a performance > première
opening1855
première1877
preem1936
1855 W. B. Wood Personal Recoll. Stage ix. 191 The loss we sustained was less important in a pecuniary view..than in rendering our opening still more embarrassing.
1916 Variety 27 Oct. 12/1 Openings here next week include Marie Tempest in ‘A Lady's Name’ (Plymouth); ‘Sybil’ (Colonial); [etc.].
1923 H. Ruby Let. 16 Aug. in G. Marx et al. Groucho Lett. (1967) 183 The out-of-town opening..occurred in Fairmont, West Virginia.
1959 J. Thurber Years with Ross xv. 247 I'm having dinner with Aleck and he's taking me to an opening.
1991 Vox July 109/3 French critic Phillippe Garnier described Oliver Stone's film The Doors on its Paris opening last month as ‘un gross merde’ [sic].
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > hound > [noun] > sound made by > making sound
abayc1330
yearning1531
babbling1568
earning?1578
chiding1600
opening1662
tonguing1851
tolling1869
1662 J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Trilinguis 86/1 Hounds..seek out by opening [L. nictendo], and chase them [sc. wild beasts] out of the..coverts.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. v. i. 266 We heard a confused Noise of the opening of Hounds, the winding of Horns, and the roaring of Country Squires.
1826 J. F. Cooper Last of Mohicans I. ix. 127 They sent up a howl, like an opening from so many hounds who had recovered a lost trail.
6. An opportunity; a chance for advantage, success, gratification, etc.; spec. a job vacancy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > an opportunity > [noun]
chance1297
occasiona1382
leisurec1386
opportunitya1387
advantage1487
portunity1516
in the nick1565
mean1592
vantage?1592
occasionet1593
overture1610
hinta1616
largeness1625
convenience1679
tid1721
opening1752
offer1831
slant1837
show1842
showing1852
show-up1883
window of opportunity1942
op1978
the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > [noun] > chance or opportunity
chance1297
occasiona1382
opportunitya1387
fair play?a1500
main chance1577
venturea1625
opening1752
ettle1768
slant1837
sporting chance1897
open go1918
a fair crack of the whip1929
society > occupation and work > working > labour supply > [noun] > a vacancy
vacation1535
vacand1567
vacancy1693
opening1752
1752 Let. 9 Sept. in Pennsylvania Gaz. 12 Oct. 2/1 This Island is so infested with Privateers, that there is scarce any Openings for Commerce.
1789 J. Bentham Introd. Princ. Morals & Legisl. Pref. 2 Every opening, which promised to afford the lights he stood in need of, was still pursued.
1793 E. Burke Let. to G. Elliot in Corr. (1844) IV. 153 Here is an opening which, if neglected by our government,..they will one day sorely repent.
1805 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1956) II. 1171 I had lately a fine Opening in America, which I was much inclined to accept.
1855 J. F. Stephen in Cambr. Ess. 178 She might have made him miss one or two openings in life.
1888 J. Ruskin Præterita III. ii. 69 D'Israeli saw his opening in an instant.
1917 S. Leacock Frenzied Fiction xvi. 250 He had had some training in the iron and steel business, and when I knew him was on the look-out for an opening.
1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 13 June 23 There will be many openings for pilots when the war is over.
1988 G. Swift Out of this World 80 She looked at me as if this was an opening to tell her the whole story of my life.
7. Canadian. A period of fixed length during which fishing (esp. for herring) is permitted.
ΚΠ
1986 W. Clement Struggle to Organize iii. 40 All three techniques are used for salmon; boats using gillnets and seines often catch herring as well during a very short fall opening.
1990 A. Wilkinson Uncommitted Crime in Riverkeeper (1991) 144 Under this new practice fishing seasons were called openings.
1994 Beautiful Brit. Columbia Spring 18/4 (caption) A total tonnage is set for an opening, and the officers need to get estimated catches from the fishboats before they close the opening.
II. Senses relating to the action or fact of disclosure.
8. † a. A manifestation, revelation, uncovering; (also) a disclosure, publication. Cf. open v. 6. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > [noun]
keyeOE
undoinga1330
expositiona1340
declarationc1374
declaringc1374
clearingc1380
expoundingc1380
explanationa1382
interpretation1382
exploitingc1390
unfolding1483
explicating1531
explication1537
clearance?1548
elucidation1570
explaining1576
manifestation1576
untwining1577
illustration1581
untwisting1591
eviscerating1599
unclouding1601
enodation1603
opening1611
dilucidation1615
unsnarling1640
declarement1646
enucleation1650
illumination1656
dilucidatinga1660
luciferousness1665
clarifying1677
unravelling1713
disentanglement1751
exegesis1770
disambiguation1827
evisceration1831
keyword1848
clarificationa1866
exponence1880
exponency1880
straightening1900
demystification1964
OE Blickling Homilies 91 Seo openung þæs dæges is swiþe egesfull eallum gesceaftum.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 49 Þu schalt ȝelde þe best for þe puttes openunge.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. xxii. 27 Þer is forsoþe acording, out taken putting to of vice & dispit..& openyng [L. revelatione] of priuyte & treccherous veniaunce.
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1906) ii. 401 (MED) The forsaid ij placis of good pastures..longe afore þe publisshyng or openyng of the statute aforsaid, were I-gote of olde fundacion to the chirche.
1543 J. Bale Yet Course at Romyshe Foxe (title page) A dysclosynge or openynge of the Manne of synne.
1560 in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde (new ed.) sig. A.iv In the other printes, there lacked matter necessary to the openyng and declaration of the figures.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 2 If it pertaine..to the opening and clearing of the word of God.
1701 T. Beverley Grand Apoc. Question 42 All which speak the Openings, and Glancings [printed Glaneings] out of the Kingdom of Christ.
b. In Quaker use: a divine disclosure or revelation; an intuitive insight (into the nature of God, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > inspiration or revelation > [noun] > among Quakers
opening1650
light1653
1650 I. Penington (title) An eccho from the great deep: containing further inward openings, concerning divers other things, upon some whereof the principles and practises of the mad folks do much depend.
1663 W. Gibson (title) A salutation of the Fathers love, unto the young men and virgins, who are in the openings of the prophesies in visions and in revelations.
c1675 G. Fox Jrnl. (1952) i. 11 After I had received that opening from the Lord that to be bred at Oxford or Cambridge was not sufficient to fit a man to be a Minister of Christ, I regarded the priests less.
a1713 T. Ellwood Hist. Life (1714) 45 I now saw, in and by the farther Openings of the Divine Light in me.
1786 J. Scott Jrnl. (1798) 130 The Lord my gracious Preserver..is learning me to depend on and attend to his shuttings as well as his openings.
1855 Friends' Intelligencer 12 May 113/2 It was as though it had been spoken to me, ‘If I restore thee, go to Pennsylvania’. To which, the answer of my soul was,—Wherever thou pleasest. This opening appeared strange to me at that time.
1947 Friends' Q. Jan. 9 The Puritans..distrusted the ‘openings’ and the ‘experiences’ by which the Quaker claimed to receive revelation.
1975 R. Hetherington Sense of Glory vi. 64 The Society of Friends has never had a priesthood. Instead, they have put the ‘openings’ of individuals within the context of the group.
1987 D. A. Hart in C. Jones et al. Stud. Spirituality 477 [Woolman] slowly learned the art of speaking lucidly and concisely in Quaker meetings, rising only when he was convinced he was responding to a divine ‘opening’.
III. Physical senses.
9. † e. The width of an arch between its pillars. Obsolete. rare.
a. A vacant space between portions of solid matter; a gap, hole, or passage; an aperture. Also: †a wound (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun]
holec725
thirla900
eyeOE
opena1200
opening?c1225
overturec1400
overta1425
wideness?c1425
howe1487
hiatus1563
vent1594
apertion1599
ferme1612
notch1615
sluice1648
gape1658
aperture1661
want1664
door1665
hiulcitya1681
to pass through the eye of a needle (also a needle's eye)1720
vista1727
light1776
ope1832
lacuna1872
doughnut hole1886
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 202 Þi flesch hwet frut bereð hit inalle his openunges.
a1250 Lofsong Lefdi (Nero) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 207 (MED) Ich bide þe..bi þe sore wunden..bi his side openunge.
c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 119 (MED) [Christ] of hyre y-bore he was, Ase þe sonne passeȝt þorȝ þe glas Wyþ-outen on openynge.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) Amos iv. 3 By opnyngis ȝe shuln go out.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 259v Þe openynge of þe owelis yhe is moche, and þe openynge of þe egles yhe is litel.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 109 Quhen thai the douglas saw at hand Thai wandyst and maid ane opnyng.
a1560 Arundel MS in J. A. W. Bennett Devotional Pieces (1955) 242 Þe..maist largnes of thy marcy quhilk thow furth schaw in þe opnyng of þi syd.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 51 A..hood which covers the face, saving the eyes; for whose use there is an opening.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xi. 72 Methinks, the Understanding is not much unlike a Closet wholly shut from light, with only some little openings left, to let in external visible resemblances, or Ideas of things without.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Opening, a passage, or streight, between two adjacent coasts or islands.
1858 D. Lardner Hand-bk. Nat. Philos.: Hydrostatics, Pneumatics, & Heat (new ed.) 141 This lateral circular opening is surrounded by a horizontal wheel.
1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 160 Openings, the parts of coal mines between the pillars, or the pillars and ribs.
1965 J. Kosinski Painted Bird (1972) viii. 84 I pried off a board in the rear of the barn and squeezed through the opening.
1996 P. Trynka Rock Hardware 140/1 (Gloss.) Keywork, mechanism which opens or closes openings in the body of a woodwind instrument.
b. An aperture in the body; a bodily orifice.† opening of the head n. Anatomy Obsolete = open of the head n. at open n. 1a.
ΚΠ
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 544 By mesure large were The openyng of hir yen clere.
1568 T. Hacket tr. A. Thevet New Found Worlde xx. 32 This fish is named Marsouin,..he hath..on the heade a certayne cundite or opening, by the which he yawnneth or purgeth, euen as the Whale.
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 443/1 Vulneris os,..the mouth, opening, or widenesse of a wound.
1684 tr. S. Blankaart Physical Dict. 281 A pair of Muscles that proceed from the Cartilage..and extending themselves forward to the Sides of the Arytænoides..serve to..close the opening of the Larynx.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 45 The blood..goes through the..heart, by an opening called the foramen ovale.
1851 W. D. Esrey Treat. Anat. & Physiog. 44 The fontanelles are six in number, two on the middle line of the head above, and two on either side. The anterior, known in common language as the ‘opening of the head’, is the largest.
1866 T. H. Huxley Lessons Elem. Physiol. (1869) vi. 166 The opening of the gullet into the stomach, termed the cardiac aperture.
1898 B. P. Colton Physiol. vii. 215 Such rings of muscular fibers, guarding openings, are called Sphincter Muscles.
1899 Proc. Philos. Soc. Glasgow 31 39 The openin' o' the heid is in the infant anterior fontanelle.
1941 R. Headstrom Adventures with Microscope xl. 148 Tracheæ..receive the air through a number of outside openings (spiracles) placed along each side of the body.
1993 Guardian 21 Sept. i. 4/8 Endocoscopes—fibre optic viewing tubes linked to television monitors—can be passed through the mouth or other openings.
c. An aperture in a building; a door or gateway.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > [noun] > door > doorway
door1382
openinga1450
door-place1552
door-stead1552
doorway1799
door-arch1886
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xvii. 381 A chambre..he let Ordeyne The most Merveillous that men herd of seyne, That non Man Cowde knowen the openinge, Nether thenre ne Owt-Goyng.
a1500 ( in J. S. Brewer Monumenta Franciscana (1858) 525 (MED) [No] wyndoys ne opynyng shall be made in the forsayd walls toward the sayd churche ȝarde.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida ii. iii. 83 We saw him at the opening of his tent. View more context for this quotation
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §274 The center stone was made large enough to admit of an opening, from floor to floor, or Man-Hole, to be made through it.
1851 T. H. Turner Some Acct. Domest. Archit. I. 14 At Coningsburgh castle the opening of the chimney is square, with shafts in the jambs.
1921 Conquest May 291/2 Houses built on the ‘Unit’ construction system... The concrete blocks are made of a standard size, the dimensions of windows and door openings being made multiples of the block size.
1990 Field Feb. 94/2 Along one of the side walls below the penthouse are a number of openings called galleries—obviously corridor openings or doors in the original building.
d. The mouth or estuary of a river; a bay, a gulf. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > bend in coast > [noun] > bay or gulf
bay1385
bosomc1400
gulfc1400
gouffre1477
break?1520
reach1526
bight1555
opening1576
sine1605
breach1611
cod1611
traversea1645
sinus1684
embayment1815
1576 R. Hakluyt Voyages (1889) XII. 35 To proue by experience of Sundry Mens trauiles the opening of this Northwest Passage, whereby good hope remaineth of the rest.
1587 R. Hakluyt tr. R. de Laudonnière Notable Hist. Voy. Florida 9 [Captaine Ribault] commanded the ankers to be weighed and to set things in order to returne vnto the opening of the river.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. vi. 124 Six Leagues West..there is another large Opening out into the Sea; and it is reported to have a Communication by a small Creek with this River of Alvarado... And at this Opening is a small Fishing Village.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 83 Entring that Opening of the Sea.
1763 W. Roberts Acct. First Discov. Florida 13 There is some difficulty in finding this opening, by reason of the many islands and lakes before and about it.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. 159 These bays, or openings, are formed in the ice, merely by the influence of the nearest adjacent lands.
1803 A. Ellicott Jrnl. 266 We sailed into a large opening which we supposed led into the Sound.
1855 H. D. Thoreau Cape Cod (1862) 851 An opening in the beach, forming the entrance to Nauset Harbor.
1962 M. N. Hill Sea xvi. 635 If the wind blows from the side of the main opening of the sea, the water flowing inward from the opening during the rising stage of the surge will experience a Coriolis force.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > parts of
coin1350
pendant1359
voussoir1359
springer1435
spandrel1477
spring?1553
pitch1615
kneeler1617
gimmalsa1652
face1664
of the third point1672
turn1677
sweep1685
hance1700
skew-back1700
summering1700
springing1703
tympan1704
hip1726
reins1726
rib1726
third point1728
quoin1730
archivolt1731
opening1739
soffit1739
shoulder1744
extrados1772
intrados1772
haunch1793
arch-stone1828
twist1840
coign1843
architrave1849
escoinçon1867
pulvino1907
pin1928
1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 44 The lower an Arch is, in proportion to its Opening.
f. A pair of facing pages in a book.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > leaves or pages of book > [noun] > page > two pages facing one another
opening1906
1906 E. Johnston Writing & Illuminating vi. 110 Parchment sheets should have their smooth sides so placed together that each ‘opening’ of the book has both its pages rough or both smooth.
1914 Trans. Bibliogr. Soc. 12 239 A line of type at the top of a page..is called a ‘head-line’; or, if it consists of the title of the book..on every page or every ‘opening’ (i.e., two pages facing one another), sometimes a ‘running-title’.
1963 Listener 21 Mar. 522/1 A good example of his elaborate book-production is The Book of Ruth, with alternate openings in full colour and in golds and greys.
a1995 Guidebk. Trinity Coll. Lib., Dublin (BNC) There are normally two volumes [of the Book of Kells] on display.., one opened at a completely illuminated page and the other showing pages of text. The openings are changed regularly.
10. † a. North American. A place in a swamp where a crossing may be made. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > land with vegetation > [noun] > clearing
sladec893
riddingOE
wood lay?c1225
wood lind?c1225
wood rise?c1225
laund1340
cockshoot1353
gladea1535
cock-glade1574
nether vert1598
cock-roada1613
opening1678
opening1743
patana1854
1678 Hempstead Rec. (1896) I. 319 To John Bedell all the comon medow betwen the hether-must spring at the first oponing and the spring at Cos medow.
1685 in Early Rec. Town of Providence (Rhode Island) (1895) VIII. 149 A highway shall be & Remaine from the Lane..Eastward through the place called the second opening of the great swampe.
1704 in Early Rec. Town of Providence (Rhode Island) (1894) V. 206 The place comonly Called the first opening of the great swampe.
1839 in Michigan Agric. Soc. Trans. 7 358 Ridges of sandy ‘openings’ and detached prominences or islands..are intersected by long bands of marsh.
b. Chiefly North American. A tract of ground in a wood or forest, having widely spaced trees; a glade. Cf. oak opening n. at oak n. Compounds 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > land with vegetation > [noun] > clearing
sladec893
riddingOE
wood lay?c1225
wood lind?c1225
wood rise?c1225
laund1340
cockshoot1353
gladea1535
cock-glade1574
nether vert1598
cock-roada1613
opening1678
opening1743
patana1854
1743 M. Catesby Nat. Hist. Carolina II. ii In woods of Pine-Trees are frequently seen Glades or Openings, occasioned by the Fall of Trees.
1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 35 Hills..covered with..Groves of Trees, interspersed with many Openings and ever-green Valleys.
1798 C. Williamson Descr. Genesee iv The openings, or large tracts of land, found frequently in this country free of timber, and showing great signs of having been once in a state of cultivation, are singularly curious.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe II. vi. 85 The servants of Cedric..arrived at a small opening in the forest, in the centre of which grew an oak-tree of enormous magnitude.
1839 F. Marryat Diary in Amer. II. 46 The term used here to distinguish this variety of timber land from the impervious woods is oak openings.
1851 M. Reid Scalp Hunters II. ix. 150 We debouched through the mountain pass into a country of ‘openings’.
1900 E. Bruncken N. Amer. Forests 9 There were also light groves, called openings, in many places in the uplands.
1952 D. F. Putnam Canad. Regions 434/2 Grassy openings are found also in the intermountain sections, throughout the northern Cordillera.
1993 Equinox Oct. 22/1 The mountain—its alpine meadows, lodgepole forests, prairie openings, aspen-covered alluvial fans, its bighorn sheep and prairie falcons—had been placed on the altar of development.
IV. With adverbs, corresponding to phrasal verbs s.v. open v.
11.
a. opening up n. the action of opening something up. Cf. to open up at open v. Phrasal verbs.
ΚΠ
1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. ii. xiii. 244 The English writers on agriculture, when giving directions about the opening up of grass-ground, always suppose that the land is to be summer-fallowed.
1887 Spectator 4 June 759/1 The opening-up of a market almost as great as India itself.
1932 Ann. Reg. 1931 ii. 47 ‘Cimarron’..a fine dramatisation of the opening up of Oklahoma.
1988 J. Frame Carpathians x. 67 In every street there were groups who sat talking about ‘caring’ and ‘parenting’ and ‘opening up.’
b. opening out n. the action of opening something out. Cf. to open out at open v. Phrasal verbs.
ΚΠ
1846 Southern Q. Rev. Jan. 164 I wish a man could see..from some observatory, these formidable Jesuits; perhaps, in their free cordiality, in their simple openings out, in the loyal joy of their conversations, he would no longer recognize them.
1931 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 18 370 The next stage involves a very rapid shortening of the spireme, the opening out of the spirals, and the transition to an interwoven thread system.
1993 C. Tilley Interpretative Archaeol. 20 This constitutes a move towards a deterritorialization of the past as traditionally constituted, a fresh opening out of that past to the desiring machine of the present.
Compounds
(Cf. also opening adj. Compounds.)
opening hours n. the times during which something is regularly open; esp. the times (often as permitted by law or licence) during which a shop, public house, etc., is open for business.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop hours of business
early closing1825
opening hours1849
Sunday closing1850
1849 Amer. Rev. Jan. 83/1 Teach me to know the gaudy flowers; Their slumber times, and opening hours.
1936 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. 99 93 [Cinemas] substantially group themselves into two principal categories—the one in which the opening hours are from about 2 p.m. to nearly 11 p.m., and the other [etc.].
1996 New Statesman 26 July 54/2 Day trippers could come from Cologne to Sunday-shop in Bluewater, escaping Germany's Lutheran opening hours.
opening machine n. any machine for opening; spec. = opener n. 3a.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1561/2 Opening-machine for loosening the tussocks of cotton as it comes from the bale.
1969 A. J. Hall Standard Handbk. Textiles (ed. 7) iii. 116 In opening machines the cotton is assisted in its travel by suction.
1989 W. Flynt Poor but Proud ii. iii. 104 Three men, called ‘openers’, unwrapped the bale, picking and cleaning debris from the outside. An opening machine started the cleaning process.
opening time n. (a) the time at which a shop, office, public house, etc., opens for business; (b) the time that a device takes to open.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [noun] > drinking intoxicating liquor > drinking times
bever1499
the sun is over the yardarm (also foreyard)1839
opening time1841
chucking-out time1909
permitted hours1919
stop-tap1938
happy hour1951
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > circuit-breaker > [noun] > time taken to activate
opening time1943
1841 W. M. Thackeray Hist. Samuel Titmarsh iv, in Fraser's Mag. Sept. 338/1 I did not go to the office till half an hour after opening time... I was not sorry to let Hoskins have the start of me, and tell the chaps what had taken place.
1943 Gloss. Terms Electr. Engin. (B.S.I.) 66 Opening time, applied to a circuit-breaker: the time interval from the instant of application of the tripping power when in the closed position to the instant of separation of the arcing contacts.
1992 Holiday Which? Sept. 191/3 Gardens of England and Wales 1992..has opening times and descriptions of private and public gardens.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
openingadj.
/ˈəʊp(ə)nɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈoʊp(ə)nɪŋ/ 1. That opens, in various senses of open v.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > [adjective] > opening or unclosing
disclosing1628
opening1645
unclosing1661
evolving1700
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > hound > [adjective] > (not) making sound
mute1677
yearning1706
opening1810
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 > emotion > aspects of emotion > capacity for emotion > fellow feeling > [adjective] > becoming sympathetic
opening1872
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xi. 288 Ða geseah heo, swa swa mid gyldnum rapum he in þa uplecan ahefen wære, oðþæt þe openiendum heofonum in gelæded wæs.
1645 J. Milton Lycidas (rev. ed.) in Poems 76 The opening eye-lids of the morn.
1691 Satyr against French 4 So quick they tumble from his opening mouth, They one another bruise in coming forth.
1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane i. i. 108 Watchful they stood expecting op'ning day.
1744 ‘J. Love’ Cricket i. 5 The Ball, close cushion'd, slides askew, And to the op'ning Pocket runs, a Cou.
1805 Z. Allnutt Considerations on Navigation Thames 23 A Plan of an opening Weir across the Thames.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 6 Yelled on the view the opening pack..An hundred dogs bayed deep and strong.
1872 W. R. Greg Enigmas (1882) v. 184 To the opening mind..it [sc. life] seems like a delicious feast.
a1940 F. S. Fitzgerald Last Tycoon (1941) iv. 64 A wedge of light came out the opening door.
1992 Machine Knitting Monthly (BNC) June 76 The stem of the other flower is Swiss darned in green and the two opening buds are achieved with orange Swiss darning and white straight stitches.
2.
a. That opens something; spec. that opens the bowels; laxative. Now rare.Recorded earliest in the compound opening medicine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > cleansing or expelling medicines > [adjective] > purgative
outrunningeOE
laxativea1398
purgativea1398
openinga1400
abstersive?a1425
purging?c1425
solublec1503
minorative1543
purgy1562
relaxing1562
solutive1564
benedict1576
aperitive1582
scouring1597
apertive1605
dejective1605
relaxative1611
subductory1620
calastic1621
aperient1626
cathartic1639
dejectory1640
relaxant1651
spurginga1652
cathartical1656
anastomotic1657
ecphractic1657
ecphractical1657
rhyptical1657
rhyptic1659
loosening1665
eccathartic1681
fluxing1702
chalastic1704
loosinga1722
hypactic1753
evacuatory1789
evacuant1800
relaxatory1925
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 257 If it [sc. deafness] comeþ of humours þat stoppiþ nerues..caste in his erre oile of bittir almaundis & oþere medicyns þat ben openynge.
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 147 (MED) When þe aposteme is matured..breke it wiþ þe nayles..or wiþ maturatyf and openynge gargarisimus.
1620 T. Venner Via Recta vi. 94 Vinegar that is made of White-wine, is more opening, and that which is made of Claret, more binding.
1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Almond Bitter-Almonds are of an opening and detersive nature.
1796 C. Lamb Let. 3 Oct. in Lett. C. & M. A. Lamb (1975) I. 50 I may dismiss immediately both Doctor and Apothecary, retaining..an opening draught or so for a while.
1824 J. Clare Let. 20 Apr. (1985) 294 I have gave up doctering save the taking opening pills occasionly.
b. Initial; introductory; first.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [adjective] > that forms the beginning
opening1806
1806 E. Bath Poems sig. E3 The glittering icicles Which decorate the opening morn of life.
1816 J. Austen Emma I. xvii. 300 She had not even a share in his opening compliments.—Her name was not mentioned. View more context for this quotation
1851 R. A. Willmott Pleasures of Lit. (1857) iv. 15 It contained the opening letter of Junius.
1904 J. London Sea-wolf xii. 119 These two affairs were only the opening events of the day's programme.
1937 V. Bartlett This is my Life x. 144 When the Irish Free State was admitted [to the League of Nations]..President Cosgrave made his opening speech in Gaelic.
1989 Face Jan. 94/3 ‘Boozers of the world Unite’ ran the opening editorial.
1997 T. Morrison Paradise 185 She supposed old Natha DuPres would deliver the opening remarks once again.
c. Cricket. Designating or relating to the batters who open the innings, or the bowlers who open the attack.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [adjective] > opening player
opening1929
1929 P. G. H. Fender Turn of Wheel iii. 92 Hendry..had a habit of..retreating when facing Larwood, and that would never do, especially in an opening batsman.
1952 J. H. Morgan Glamorgan County Cricket facing p. 64 (caption) Arnold Dyston, a stylish opening bat.
1971 Times 15 Feb. 8/2 Their opening partnerships for the seven Test matches have averaged as much as 75.
1977 Times 29 Nov. 12/5 Geoffrey Arnold's two for 95 were the best figures by a recognized opening bowler in three Tests.
1991 Independent 5 Jan. 47/3 Dennis Amiss, the former England opening batsman, has been appointed chairman of Warwickshire's cricket sub-committee.
2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) x. 222 First Fuller and Montague, the West's opening batsmen, blinking at the light,..swinging their lengths of willow in anticipation.
Compounds
(Some of these may be understood as compounds of opening n.)† opening-bit n. Obsolete rare a tapering tool for widening an aperture.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1561/2 Opening-bit, a broach or reamer. A tapering tool with anuglar sides for widening an aperture.
opening credits n. a list or sequence of credits shown at the beginning of a film or television programme, typically identifying only the most prominent people involved in the production; (also) the part of a film or programme during which these appear; cf. credit n. 16.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > a film > [noun] > accompanying text on screen > credit
credit1919
credit title1922
opening credits1931
credit list1935
title sequence1936
end credits1948
closing credits1952
credit line1984
1931 Los Angeles Times 12 Oct. i. 9/2 Instead of the usual opening credits on the new film.., studio executives should have used the following: ‘Columbia Presents Jack Holt's Standing Story With a New Locale.’
1952 Dixon (Illinois) Evening Tel. 29 Apr. 4/2 Ricky and David Nelson..are billed this way in UI's opening credits for their movie.
2003 Echoes July 49/2 As the opening credits start to roll, a man with some form of jerri curl wig dances around drunkenly but in complete seriousness in what looks like his pyjamas.
opening day n. the first day of an event or season; the first day of operation or business.
ΚΠ
1798 Times 11 Dec. 3/2 The agreement between the parties was, that Mr. Kentish should have this stock on his undertaking, and also on his surety undertaking, that it should be replaced on the first opening day.
1899 Steubenville (Ohio) Herald-Star 27 Apr. 8 (advt.) Come and visit us on opening day. You will find our store well worth a visit.
2002 Field & Stream Oct. 40/1 This waning season has none of the raucous camaraderie of opening day. It's always been an especially good time to fish alone.
opening gambit n. an introductory remark or stratagem, esp. one designed to make social contact or secure one's own position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [noun] > a) preparation(s) > a preliminary action or step
introductionc1386
deductiona1535
induction?1544
preamble1548
flourish1552
preludium1563
primordium1577
preparativec1580
exordium1581
introit1583
foregoinga1586
prologuea1586
preface1589
prelusion1597
proem1598
prolusion1601
introductory1646
preliminary1656
prelimination1667
flourishing1687
little go1842
preluding1858
foreword1888
prelim1891
prelimen1898
run-in1900
opening gambit1911
prolegomenon1926
lead-in1928
pipe-openera1936
lead-up1953
intro1964
1911 P. Gibbon Margaret Harding 44 ‘Sun burning plenty; how's Missis?’ was her usual opening gambit.
1992 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Dec. 186/2 One heard a satirical BBC show broadcast a vignette.., in which an archetypal Cooke-esque opening gambit..was drowned out by an encroaching series of quaaaaacks.
opening line n. (a) the first line of a piece of writing, esp. a poem or play; (b) the initiating remark in a conversation; spec. (chiefly North American) the initiating remark made to a stranger to whom one is sexually attracted, a ‘chat-up line’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > [noun] > act of courtship > love proposal or declaration > words of temptation or courtship
wæling-wordc1175
opening line1824
1824 N. Amer. Rev. Apr. 272 The whole description..resembles the mosaic account not less closely than these opening lines.
1937 D. Thomas Let. c25 Oct. (1987) 261 The line is so stridently an opening line: tum, tum, tum,..a poem is about to begin.
1965 N.Y. Times Mag. 24 Jan. 46 (caption) An acceptable opening line for meeting a strange Russian girl on the street is: ‘Pardon me, dyevushka, would you mind if I asked to become acquainted?’
2002 Evening Times (Glasgow) (Nexis) 12 July 20 I wish I had better chat-up lines. There must be a great opening line that doesn't leave a guy embarrassed and flagging.
opening medicine n. a laxative.
ΚΠ
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 103v Openynge medicine..openeþ weyes þat beþ I-stoppid & makeþ þinne humours þat beþ gleymy þicke.
1783 S. Moreau Tour to Cheltenham Spa 47 They..take a gentle dose of Cheltenham salts, or some other opening medicine, as their physician thinks best suited.
1912 More Secret Remedies (B.M.A.) x. 157 Do the bowels act regularly without opening medicine?
2002 Western Mail (Cardiff) (Nexis) 12 Feb. (Features section) 8 I know that Brooklax and Exlax were laxatives (‘opening medicine’ we called them), and Snowfire certainly relieved our chapped hands.
opening night n. the first night of a play, film, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > [noun] > a performance > night of performance
night1707
opening nightc1814
command-night1826
c1814 (title of play) The opening night; or, the manager hoax'd.
1929 J. B. Priestley Good Compan. ii. iii. 307 I don't care if a man's been fifty years in the business, there's the same old thrill comes back. Opening night—all of a doodah!
1992 New Yorker 18 May 11/1 The opening night of Jim Jarmusch's new film at the Angelika.
opening statement n. Law an initial spoken statement made by each side in a trial, summarizing the main points of the case they will present to the jury.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > speech-making > [noun] > a speech > introductory speech or part of speech
forespeechc1000
prologuec1350
preamblec1395
preambulationc1395
prooemiumc1485
prolocutiona1525
introduction1529
insinuation1532
preface1532
proem1532
foretalk1565
opening statement1806
insinuance1888
1806 Times 22 Nov. The evidence which was now adduced, fully confirmed the opening statement.
1974 Black Panther 19 Jan. 3/3 Both Mr. Means, an Oglala Sioux, and Mr. Banks, a Chippewa, have wove the right to make opening statements to the jury once they are seated.
2012 New Yorker 2 Jan. 59/2 Cotter, in his opening statement, portrayed Dakotah as a sociopath so callous he was capable of ‘chitchat’..just moments after shooting his grandfather.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.OE
adj.eOE