preserven.
/prᵻˈzəːv/, U.S. /prəˈzərv/, /priˈzərv/ a. A thing which preserves; a preservative. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > prophylactic medicine > [noun]
preservativec1425
preservationc1475
prophylactic?1541
preserve1554
preservatory1654
preventive1666
preventative1699
phylactic1711
toxoid1900
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation from decay, loss, or destruction > one who or that which preserves from decay, etc. > that which preserves from decay, loss, etc.
conservea1393
conservativea1398
preservative?a1439
conservator?1440
preservationc1475
preserve1554
conservatory1563
conservice1607
conservatorship1645
preservatory1654
balsam1658
amber1785
embalmer1838
1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour iii. sig. N.viiv Off Malideis it generis mony mo. Bot gyf men gett sum Souerane preserue.
1594 T. Lodge & R. Greene Looking Glasse sig. C3 Fetch Balsomo the kind preserue of life.
1661 O. Felltham Resolves (rev. ed.) 267 Plainness and freedom are the preserves of amity.
1839 J. D. Hooker in L. Huxley Life & Lett. J. D. Hooker (1918) I. 43 That Capt. Ross did not intend to treat me thus..I am sure, from his asking me to tell the quantity of preserves for animals required.
b. In plural. Scottish. Weak spectacles intended to preserve the eyesight. Cf. preserver n. 2b. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instruments for protecting the sight > [noun] > spectacles or eyeglasses > to preserve the sight
preserves1664
preservers1773
1664 Househ. Bks. J. Sharp II. 518 For 2 paire of preserves and a caice 03 18 00.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Preserves, spectacles, which magnify little or nothing.
c. In plural. Goggles used to protect the eyes from dust, bright light, etc. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instruments for protecting the sight > [noun] > spectacles or eyeglasses
spectaclec1386
a pair of spectacles1423
goggles1715
eyeglass1823
preserves1883
1883 J. Purves in Contemp. Rev. Sept. 354 He will at a corner throw off his coat..and be at work stone-breaking with preserves on his eyes.
1887 A. Bruce in Encycl. Brit. XXII. 372/2 Preserves are used to conceal deformities or to protect the eyes in the many conditions where they cannot tolerate bright light.
1893 J. Watson Confessions Poacher 146 We carried about us stone-breakers' hammers, and ‘preserves’ for the eyes.
2. Any food (chiefly fruit) which has been preserved by being cooked in sugar; the foodstuff resulting from this process; jam, marmalade. Cf. conserve n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > preserve > [noun]
compostc1430
succade1463
succate1481
sucket1481
confecture1502
conserva1502
conserves1555
comfiture1558
condite1583
preserve1598
compote1693
konfyt1862
pozzy1900
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes 313/1 Rauiggiólo, a kind of conserue, preserue, or sucket vsed after meales to close the stomacke.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique ii. li. 350 There is but very seldome any preserues made of the flowers and leaues of herbes, I vnderstand by this preserue taken properly, the preseruing of things whole and not stampt and beaten into one bodie.
1670 J. Smith England's Improvem. Reviv'd 198 The Syrops, Conserves, and Preserves of the said Berries are of great use in a Family.
1734 S.-Carolina Gaz. 9 Feb. 4/2 Peter Mourgue Confectioner, gives Notice, that he makes and sells all sorts of Preserves, Confits, and Sweet-meats at a reasonable rate.
1794 A. M. Bennett Ellen I. 8 A great manager, who..made the best pastry, pickles and preserves in the Kingdom.
1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South I. xx. 244 Perhaps, I might take her a little preserve, made of our dear Helstone fruit.
1888 J. C. Harris Free Joe 87 My companion had a theory of his own that ginger-preserves and fruit-cake were not good for sick people.
1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 66/1 (advt.) To find your favorite preserves in the jam closet.
1951 Zanesville (Ohio) Signal 26 Apr. 21/3 Place scoops of ice cream on top, and cover with raspberry preserve.
1990 W. Stewart Right Church Wrong Pew (1991) xiii. 96 He..proceeded to lay waste..sixteen slices of bread smothered in butter and preserves.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [noun] > preservation from decay, loss, or destruction > that which is preserved
mummy1642
preservea1682
preservation1796
a1682 Sir T. Browne Mummies in Wks. (1835) IV. 273 Wonderful indeed are the preserves of time, which openeth unto us mummies from crypts and pyramids.
4.
a. An area of land or water set apart for the protection of wildlife or the rearing of game, fish, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > gamekeeping > [noun] > enclosing beasts in park > enclosure
park1222
frithc1275
warren1377
chasea1440
game preserve1806
preserve1807
preservatory1823
game reserve1828
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > fish-keeping, farming, or breeding > [noun] > fish-pond or -tank
fish-poolc950
fish-housec1000
viverc1330
stew1387
piscinaa1398
piscinea1400
fishpondc1440
trunk1440
moat1463
stagnec1470
servatorya1475
viviera1500
fish-stew1552
vivarium1600
shut1605
fish-stove1615
keep1617
estang1628
vivarya1634
nursery1772
preserve1849
whalerya1880
fish tank1957
1807 W. Windham in Parl. Deb. (1812) 1st Ser. 9 883/1 They secured them as country gentlemen do the game in those places near their houses, which, by an odd misnomer, are sometimes called the preserve, where the game are, indeed, preserved, but only till some circumstance..shall furnish an occasion for falling upon them with redoubled fury.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 290 The moats were turned into preserves of carp and pike.
1872 Times 6 Nov. 5/3 Up to some 20 years ago the place was a sort of deer preserve.
1930 W. M. Mann Wild Animals in & out of Zoo xiii. 173 Before the war there were two preserves where the few remaining animals were rigidly protected.
1988 Birder's World July 18/1 The 1909 executive order..created the Hawaiian Islands Bird Reservation, setting all of these islands, except Midway, aside as a preserve for native birds.
1998 D. Pool What Jane Austen ate & Charles Dickens Knew (new ed.) 259 A chase was unfenced land on which one had been granted the right to keep deer for hunting. It was distinguished from a park, which was the same thing but enclosed, and a forest, which was a game preserve for royalty.
b. A place or subject regarded as the special or exclusive domain of a particular person or group. Also: a characteristic or quality uniquely associated with a specific person or group.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > [noun] > sphere or scope of operation
circuity1542
circuit1597
orb1598
range1622
sphere1661
circle1664
random1667
purview1688
domain1764
purvey1813
preserve1829
scope1830
demesne1851
coverage1930
space1976
1829 T. Moore Mem. (1854) VI. 44 Taken to the Ancient Music by Lord Essex..and sat in ‘the preserve’, as the directors' box is called.
1891 R. Kipling End of Passage in Writings in Prose & Verse V. 331 The Civil Service in India is the preserve—the pet preserve—of the aristocracy in England.
1897 Daily News 2 Feb. 5/2 In the Colonies..we have not so much neutral markets, as preserves.
1967 R. Singha & R. Massey Indian Dances ii. 39 Some early temples show sculptures of male dancers, which would seem to indicate that men danced it, at least before it became the almost exclusive preserve of women.
1995 New Statesman & Society 17 Mar. 3/2 Why should the left be scared of patriotism? Billy Bragg believes that we shouldn't allow Englishness to become the preserve of the far right.
2002 Caribbean World Summer 65/1 Cruise lines are demolishing the long-held misconception that cruising is the preserve of the wealthy.
Compounds
General attributive (in sense 2).
preserve can n.
ΚΠ
1858 Sci. Amer. 25 Sept. 24/1 It is difficult to find any particular feature to praise, as in every way they are the very perfection of preserve cans.
1940 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald 7 Apr. 47/5 (advt.) Curtain frames, quantity preserve cans. All excellent condition.
preserve dish n.
ΚΠ
1833 Times 5 Mar. 8/5 Sugar and butter vases, pickle and preserve dishes, and an infinity of elegant and splendid items.
1856 M. J. Holmes 'Lena Rivers 108 The big preserve dish got broken.
1994 Flare (Nexis) Dec. 65 Floral cake plate, preserve dish and crepe stand.
preserve jar n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > container for food > [noun] > jam or preserving jar
preserving jar1823
preserve jar1848
Mason jar1885
jam jar1895
Kilner jar1930
sealer1932
1848 Sci. Amer. 23 Sept. 2/3 In about an hour from the commencement of the operation it will be cooked enough. It may then be turned into preserve jars.
1884 E. P. Roe Nature's Serial Story xliii. 307 Racoons..will uncover preserve-jars.., and with the certainty of a toper uncork a bottle and get drunk on its contents.
2000 Scotl. on Sunday (Nexis) 20 Aug. 39 Shelves housing old preserve jars, marble busts, clocks, plates and candlesticks.
preserve pot n.
ΚΠ
1852 National Era 6 209 The ashes of the dead are stored—some in classic urns, but most in round earthen receptacles, with covers, very like preserve-pots.
1961 Packaging Rev. Data Bk. 283/2 Oriented film..is under development as a shrink-wrap for poultry, hams, cheese and preserve pot covers.
2003 Yorks. Evening Post (Nexis) 16 May A Royal Winton chintz preserve pot for jam.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
preservev.
/prᵻˈzəːv/, U.S. /prəˈzərv/, /priˈzərv/ 1.
a. transitive. To protect or save from (†also fro, of, out of) (injury, sickness, or any undesirable eventuality).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > in invocations
preservea1393
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 2538 (MED) The propre vertu is To mannes hele forto serve, As forto kepe and to preserve The bodi fro siknesses alle.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Hunterian) f. 44 (MED) Þe firste skille is þat it mowe preserue þe braine fro hete & colde and fro oþere diseses.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 5592 (MED) Þe kyng shope him to ordeyne To preserue it [sc. the corpse] hool..From odour and abomynacioun.
1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton C ij b Thus was the cytee kept and preserued of the pestylence.
1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. b ijv To soudears and men goynge a warre fare, The masse is ever a sure proteccion. It preserveth people from wofull care.
1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxxix. 125 To preserue her out of captiuity.
1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 22 Who braggingly gaue it out, that hee had a receipt would preserue a man from growing old.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. ix. 229 Instructions..to the officers to preserve themselves from being seen from the shore.
1792 T. Holcroft Anna St. Ives IV. lxxiii. 162 Should I neglect to warn her, or rather to guard and preserve her from harm, where shall I find consolation?
1800 A. Addison Rep. Cases Pennsylvania 142 Perhaps..reasons which would preserve a presumed innocent man from a second trial would not preserve a presumed guilty man.
1873 T. Hardy Pair of Blue Eyes II. iv. 44 People in the field above were preserved from an accidental roll down these prominences and hollows by a hedge on the very crest.
1922 Washington Post 12 Mar. They have adopted the necessary steps to preserve from harm many of the palaces of the former emperor.
1950 P. Bowles Let. 27 Nov. in In Touch (1994) 224 I could have news of all their scrabblings and at the same time be preserved from taking part in the scrimmage.
1994 Homiletic & Pastoral Rev. July 41 The Church is asking that we be preserved from the insidious kind of worry we experience.
b. transitive. To keep safe from injury or harm; to save or spare (a person's life).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > retain or keep [verb (transitive)] > keep, maintain, or preserve
holdc1000
i-haldOE
keepc1175
withholdc1200
keepa1325
maintaina1375
preservea1393
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)]
werea900
savea1387
preservea1393
restraina1398
recurec1450
withsavea1542
excuse1653
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > care for, protect, or have charge of [verb (transitive)] > of God or Christ
redeOE
preservea1393
protect?1435
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 3856 If a king the lif preserve Of him which oghte forto dye, He suieth noght thensamplerie Which in the bible is evident.
a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 2285 (MED) He heled it bette his oth for to obserue And dye in honur..Than by periurie his lif for to preserue.
c1460 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 751 Danyel lay a prophete ful notable, Of God preservyd in prysoun with lyouns.
1550–1 in A. I. Cameron Sc. Corr. Mary of Lorraine (1927) 347 I beseik God to preserve your grace..in lang lyfe and gud prosperite.
1606 T. Palmer Ess. Meanes to make Trauailes more Profitable ii. 102 Preserving the life, members, and speciall livelyhood of the delinquents.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 172 While I may scape, I will preserue my selfe. View more context for this quotation
1703 M. Chudleigh Poems Several Occasions 42 His mighty Acts cou'd not the Victor save, Those Conquests he had gain'd Cou'd not preserve his Life.
1771 J. Wesley Let. 24 Jan. (1931) V. 220 Now, how will a raw, inexperienced youth be able to encounter this? If there be not the greatest of miracles to preserve him, will it not turn his brain?
1862 W. Collins No Name II. iv. vii. 244 There was every hope now of preserving his life.
1902 Times 11 Nov. 11/1 To thank those, who, by the grace of God, had succeeded in perserving his life.
1990 A. Stoddard Gift of Let. i. 27 We all enjoy reading famous letters—letters that have..given thanks, declared undying love, preserved a life.
c. transitive. In invocatory phrases. God (Jesus, Lord, etc.) preserve us (him, you, etc.). Also: preserve us (me, etc.). Chiefly Scottish and Irish English in later use.
ΚΠ
?1435 ( J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 643 (MED) God..preserve him in alle manere thyng!
1466–7 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 173 (MED) I schale brenge wethe me a c good men..to do ȝowe serves..be the grase of Jesewes, ho preserve ȝowe..in his blesed safegard.
1535 in T. Wright Three Chapters Lett. Suppression Monasteries (1843) 84 Jhesu preserve yow in helthe with myche honore.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. iv. 294 O the Lord preserue thy grace. View more context for this quotation
c1687 in W. Fraser Earls of Cromartie (1876) I. 54 May God..preserve poor old land of kakes from all that's ill.
1753 O. Goldsmith Let. 8 May (1928) 7 My Best love attend Mr and Mrs Lawder and heaven preserve them.
1796 R. Gall Tint Quey in Poems (1819) 28 She cried, ‘Preserve us! whare's the cow?’
1822 R. M'Chronicle Legends Scotl. I. 36 Gude preser' us a', she gat in sic an unke like passion!
1884 ‘J. Strathesk’ More Bits from Blinkbonny iii. 42 Preserve me, George, that's liker a ‘risp’ than a razor!
1899 S. R. Crockett Kit Kennedy iii. 20 Preserve us a'—we mauna raise a finger against the brat.
1958 J. Kesson White Bird Passes ix. 136 But God preserve us! Folk couldna' thole to see him so happy about nothing at all.
1995 E. Toman Dancing in Limbo iv. 96 There were silly messages, coded cryptic messages, serious messages, life-threatening messages, even (God preserve us, but a man couldn't check everything) filthy messages.
2. transitive. To keep alive; to keep from perishing. Now somewhat archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve alive or spare the life of
reservea1382
savea1382
preservea1393
reprise?1567
the world > life > source or principle of life > [verb (transitive)] > sustain life
sustainc1330
lead?a1366
finda1450
sustentate1542
breast1573
subsist1612
to keep body (life) and soul togethera1616
preserve1694
to eke out1825
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 5364 (MED) He hath himself preserved, That he fell noght in the sentence.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1911) i. 311 (MED) O welle of swetnesse..That all mankynde preseruyd hast from dethe.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxxx Peter Wirtemie beyng in daunger amonges the rest, at the request of the Lantgraue, was preserued.
1586 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1882) IV. 478 To be imployet in imbassadouris to be sent to Ingland for travelling to preserue his maiesties mother, quhais lyfe wes in greitt jeopardie.
1694 Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. Introd. 9 They preserved themselves with Geese, Ducks, vast large Muscles..etc.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 238 The bodily frame is preserved by exercise and destroyed by indolence.
1981 A. Schlee Rhine Journey iii. 34 Often she enjoyed in these moments dreamlike imaginings in which disaster struck at Marion or Ellie, and she, Charlotte the rescuer, preserved them.
ΚΠ
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 195v Þe fylynge of golde y-take in mete or in drynke or in medicyne preserueþ and letteþ þe bredynge of lepre [L. valet contra lepra].
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 55v (MED) For to preserue [L. ad preseruandum] accidentez, it is necessari for to ordeyne conueniently þe forsaid þingz.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 107 In curacioun of þe gout..la. is to preserue bifore þat it come.
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 3 It suffiseþ to doo, as þe craft biddeþ, propre cure in euery sekenesse excepte in þre cases, in þe whiche large cure preseruynge oþer couerynge suffisith to doo.
4.
a. transitive. To keep in its original or existing state; to make lasting; to maintain or keep alive (a memory, name, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve in existence or maintain
at-holdc1220
to hold upc1290
maintaina1325
sustainc1390
sustent?a1425
preserve1427
sustentate1542
1427 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1834) III. 237 (MED) It is..my said lordes..entent..to encresce..your said worship..þe Kynges estate and þe weel..of hym..alweyes preserved.
c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 5 How am I desiryng Thi grete availe..And that aumented and preserued It may be.
?a1500 tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (Harl.) (1942) 9 (MED) J Derly desyre thencres of þi glorye, Wyche j wyll be preserued syngulerly Above all oþer.
1580 in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1833) I. 301 Quhilkis buikis the said Mr. James actit himself to preserue and keip..in the said librarie.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 82 In these Monasteries many excellent manu-scripts haue bene preserued.
1638 R. Brathwait Surv. Hist. 32 It is to bee admired, by what Divine providence the ancient Records of long-preceding times have beene preserved.
1712 J. Swift Proposal for Eng. Tongue 39 I cannot promise that Your Memory shall be preserved above an hundred Years, further than by imperfect Tradition.
a1771 T. Gray Imit. Propertius in Wks. (1814) II. 89 And the short marble but preserve a name.
1784 W. Mitford Hist. Greece I. vi. 255 Tradition still in Herodotus's age preserved memory of the time when slavery was unknown in Greece.
1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall viii. 235 These sands..have not preserved many of their exuviæ.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People ii. §3. 67 A tiny little village preserves the name of the Percy.
1904 W. M. Ramsay Lett. to Seven Churches i. 13 Few private letters older than the imperial time have been preserved.
1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four i. iv. 45 The lines of policy which made it necessary that this fragment of the past should be preserved, that one falsified, and the other rubbed out of existence.
1991 Independent 3 Dec. 7/3 The essence of the project is to..preserve 100 mine buildings, some more than 200 years old.
b. transitive. To retain (a possession, property, etc.); to continue to possess, keep hold of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > retain or keep [verb (transitive)]
holda855
haveeOE
witec1000
at-holdc1175
withholdc1200
keepc1400
reserve?a1439
retain1449
detain1541
to stick to ——1560
contain1600
to make good1606
preserve1617
inhold1726
to hang on to1873
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 176 The Turkish and Greekish women haue most delicate bodyes, and long preserue their beauties.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant iii. 46 There are People in Dehly, vastly rich in Jewels, especially the Rajas who preserve their Pretious Stones from Father to Son.
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. xiv. 330 Cæsar contented himself with preserving the advantage he had gain'd.
1772 G. Killingworth Paradise Regained 12 In his estate he shall honour the God of forces,..and with precious stones, and pleasant things, to keep and preserve his power.
1834 M. Somerville On Connexion Physical Sci. (1849) xxvi. 293 The seas preserve a considerable portion of the heat they receive in summer.
1886 R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. II. 165 The whole preserves a venerable air of undisturbed antiquity.
1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day i. 23 He may close in upon himself in an instinctive effort to preserve his own integrity, to be his age and not a day older.
1988 G. Greene Captain & Enemy i. 22 It isn't that I'm without money, but I like to preserve it for essentials.
c. transitive. To maintain (a condition or state of affairs); to keep up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > maintain [verb (transitive)]
i-haldOE
sustainc1300
keepc1315
maintainc1390
conservea1425
continuec1460
entertain1490
persevere1502
uphold?1523
containa1538
petrifya1631
conservate1647
to keep on1669
to keep up1670
preserve1677
support1696
fix1712
ossify1800
fossilize1848
1677 A. Marvell Let. 22 Mar. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 190 The Bill from the Lords for preserving a Protestant Clergy..was read.
1702 D. Pead Greatness & Goodness Reprieve not from Death 21 Let us likewise preserve Peace and Unity amongst ourselves.
1722 R. Bradley Gen. Treat. Husbandry II. 325 Let us still preserve our way of Practice to speak from Experience.
1810 R. Southey in Edinb. Ann. Reg. 1808 1 i. 92 Other means that would be equally effectual in preserving discipline.
1830 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I III. x. 223 Knox..preserved an uninterrupted correspondence with Calvin.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. vii. 56 To enable the striæ to preserve the same general direction.
1899 Times 19 June 7/4 The growth of that spirit is not calculated to preserve the peace of the world.
1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby iii. 54 Instead of rambling this party had preserved a dignified homogeneity.
1991 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 17 Jan. 59/3 The question is how to preserve the peace and at the same time our capacity to oppose the tyranny of those who might threaten us.
5.
a. transitive. To prepare (fruit, meat, etc.) by boiling with sugar, salting, or pickling so as to prevent decomposition or fermentation. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preserving or pickling > pickle or preserve [verb (transitive)]
souse1387
conditec1420
comfit1484
pickle1526
confect1558
preserve1563
marl1598
murine1656
marble1661
mango1728
caveach1739
to put down1782
process1878
1563 A. Golding tr. L. Bruni Hist. Warres Imperialles & Gothes Ep. Ded. sig. a.ii Like as vines to the entent the better to prosper and preserue their fruit to the vse & pleasure of man, require the staye of trees that bee stronger then themselues.
1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health cv. 92 The Damasin Plummes are woont to be dryed and preserued as figges.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) i. v. 13 Hast thou not learn'd me how To make Perfumes? Distill? Preserue ? View more context for this quotation
1663 R. Boyle Some Considerations Usefulnesse Exper. Nat. Philos. ii. ii. 107 A Friend of..mine..hath a strange way of preserving Fruits, whereby even Goos-berries have been kept for many Moneths, without the addition of Sugar.
1785 G. White Jrnl. 4 July (1975) xviii. 263 Gathered several pounds of cherries to preserve.
1796 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening xii. 218 The morella cherry is..not wanted till late in the season to preserve.
1850 River Times 4 Nov. 1/6 We will communicate to our lady readers a receipt for preparing molasses to preserve fruit, &c., which renders it better suited for that purpose than a syrup prepared form the best loaf-sugar.
1870 J. Yeats Nat. Hist. Commerce 286 This art of preserving meat is one of modern times.
1909 Chatterbox 142/2 Many of the inhabitants of Znaim find employment in the great works that are kept going continually, preserving and pickling the fruit.
1969 M. Harris Kind of Magic 45 All summer long we picked and potted, pickled and chutneyed anything that was possible to preserve for the coming winter.
1986 B. Fussell I hear Amer. Cooking iii. xii. 204 All those vegetables and fruits preserved in brine or sugar or both, the sweety-hots like ‘chow-chows’ and the clove-spiked watermelon rinds.
b. intransitive. To continue without physical or chemical change; to stay in good, wholesome, or intact condition, to keep.
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the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (intransitive)] > remain in good condition
lastc1300
keepa1586
preserve1585
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. i. 69 b The snow..preserveth all the whole Sommer in hys accustomed nature and coldnesse without melting.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. v. 45 The water..is excellent, and preserves at sea as well as that of the Thames.
1854 C. M. Yonge Heartsease (1885) II. ix. 180 How well Lady Martindale preserves! She always looks exactly the same.
1955 L. H. Hyman Invertebrates IV. xv. 317 Asteroidea..preserve poorly as fossils because of the lack of a solid endoskeleton.
c. transitive. To prevent (organic material such as a body, or wood) from decomposition or fermentation, esp. by freezing, drying, or the use of a preservative.
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the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve from decay, loss, or destruction > by specific treatments
salta1000
preserve1611
tan1615
preservatize1901
1611 Second Maid's Trag. iv. iii. 1860 Yet he preserud her bodie dead in honie and kept her longe after her funerall.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 540 Little Apes..which they used to preserve with certaine Spices, having flayed off their skinnes,..and sell them.
1677 W. Hubbard Narr. Troubles with Indians New-Eng. ii. 72 The body of Captain Lake, preserven entire and whole and free from putrefaction by the coldness of the long winter.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Timber The Dutch preserve their Gates, Portcullices, Draw-Bridges, Sluices, &c. by coating them over with a Mixture of Pitch and Tar.
1827 D. Douglas Jrnl. a16 June (1914) 272 Killed a small plover and preserved it also.
1893 F. C. Selous Trav. S.-E. Afr. 44 I shot and preserved a great many fine specimens of..antelopes.
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VIII. 929 Those engaged in dissecting bodies preserved with arsenic.
1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 62/1 (advt.) The best way to preserve the wood and to keep your floors bright and easy to clean the year through is to varnish them with Fixall.
1968 Telegraph (Brisbane) 26 June 45 To preserve Nelson's body it was placed in the ship's rum ration.
1999 C. Mendelson Home Comforts xxix. 405/2 Another pesticide, pentachlorophenol (PCP),..is used to preserve wood.
6. transitive. To keep (game, or an area containing game) undisturbed for private hunting, shooting, or fishing. Also: to protect (wildlife or a natural habitat) from destruction or decline. Occasionally intransitive.
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the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > gamekeeping > keep as gamekeeper [verb (transitive)] > keep game for private use
preserve1612
1612 Earl of Exeter in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 239 The game was well preserved by his uncle.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (1721) I. 259 If you would preserve wild Ducks, Teal, Widgeon, Shell-ducks, &c. you should have a place walled in with a Pond in it.
1767 J. Seacome Memoirs 110/1 The said Mr. Stockley, shall from henceforth..be Ranger of the said Park, and shall preserve the Game and Timber therein.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel II. viii. v. 337 Squire Thornhill..had taken the liberty to ask permission to shoot over Mr Leslie's land, since Mr Leslie did not preserve.
1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset I. xxii. 187 A man who preserves is always respected by the poachers.
1902 Times 14 Oct. 10/3 Game would disappear off the face of the land, for each individual peasant proprietor would find it impossible to preserve the game on his farm.
1936 Times 16 Oct. 16/5 Where there was a species threatened with extinction..it behoved the united efforts of the administrations and the Game Departments to preserve it absolutely under all conditions.
1970 Statute Law Rev.: Second Rep. (Law Commission) 2 There was..a franchise of park which consisted of the right to preserve and hunt beasts of the forest and of chase on the grantee's own enclosed land.
1984 Guardian 22 Oct. 3/2 Annual compensation to farmers who are preserving scenic land or important wildlife habitats..is running at the rate of £1 million.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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