successn.
/səkˈsɛs/, U.S. /səkˈsɛs/ a. That which happens in the sequel; the termination (favourable or otherwise) of affairs; the issue, upshot, result. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [noun] > outcome or that which results
issuea1325
outcominga1382
conclusionc1384
endc1385
fruita1400
finec1405
termination?a1425
sumc1430
succession1514
sequel1524
game1530
success1537
event1539
pass1542
increase1560
outgate1568
exit1570
cropc1575
utmosta1586
upshoot1598
sequence1600
upshot1604
resultance1616
upshut1620
succedenta1633
apotelesm1636
come-off1640
conclude1643
prosult1647
offcome1666
resultant1692
outlet1710
period1713
outcome1788
outrun1801
outcome1808
upset1821
overcome1822
upping1828
summary1831
outgo1870
upcomec1874
out-turn1881
end-product1923
pay-off1926
wash-up1961
1537 T. Starkey Let. in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) I. App. lxxxi. 194 That you should al worldly respects set aside & al dangerous success which might succede of the same.
1548 W. Thomas Let. to Henry VIII in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) II. App. X. 77 Neither do I trust mine authors so much as not to mistrust contrary successes, both to their rules & their examples.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. x. f. 144v Whose prosperous begynnynges, ended with vnfortunate successe.
1561 T. Norton & T. Sackville Gorboduc 1543 One sort that saw the dangerous successe Of stubborne standing in rebellious warre.
1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Against Idolatry iii. sig. Mm iij Ye haue harde..out of hystories Ecclesiasticall, the begynnyng, proceadyng, and successe of Idolatry by Images.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iii. vi. 80 I know not what the successe wil be my Lord, but the attempt I vow. View more context for this quotation
1642 J. March Argument Militia 12 Who..shall live to see an end of that..rebellion, and what the successe of it will be?
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 9 Insatiate to pursue Vain Warr with Heav'n, and by success untaught. View more context for this quotation
1668 A. Marvell Let. 11 Apr. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 72 The successe of Wednesdays debate..was a Question to desire his Mty to call before him some persons.
1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 329 The success of this war will fall within the compass of the next year.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [noun] > occurrence or event
weird971
redeOE
thingOE
limpc1200
casea1250
tidingc1275
timinga1325
being?c1400
incident?1462
advenement1490
occurrent1523
accidenta1525
occurrence1539
affair1550
event1554
happening1561
événement1567
success1588
betide1590
circumstance1592
arrivage1603
eveniency1660
occurrency1671
betider1674
befalling1839
whet1849
intermezzo1851
transpiration1908
1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Comm. Notable Thinges in tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 324 The company which went with him were very fewe to make resistance against such successes as might happen.
1658 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Hist. Venice ii. ii. 78 Troubled at the loss of Nicossia and at the other successes, which fell out..quite contrary to..hopes.
1753 L. M. tr. J. Du Bosc Accomplish'd Woman I. 12 To read..so many different successes, wherein we feel our Passions moved according to the Adventures treated of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [noun]
proofc1330
worka1382
workinga1382
consequentc1386
effectc1390
processa1400
consequencec1400
sequel1477
efficacea1492
operation1525
branch1526
efficacy1549
trial1559
ensuing1561
repercussion1603
success1606
productiona1610
salutation1609
succeedinga1616
pursuancea1626
spawna1631
income1635
result1638
importance1645
consequency1651
product1651
causal1652
causate1656
consectary1659
propter hoc1671
inference1673
corollary1674
resultment1683
produce1698
recussion1754
development1803
suitea1806
eventuation1813
sequent1838
sequence1853
causatum1879
sequela1883
ramification1925
1606 L. Bryskett Disc. Ciuill Life 6 M. Smith the Apothecary was come..to vnderstand what successe the physick he had prepared for me did take.
1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 55 This Experiment was often repeated, always with the same success.
1776 Med. Observ. & Inquiries (ed. 4) I. 390 So intent on trying..the success of the sublimate in the cure of the Lues Venerea.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [adverb] > whensoever or eventually
yetc1400
as and when1565
successively1600
in the successa1676
ultimately1818
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) 144 Their Predictions..flattered both Cæsar and Pompey with long Lives..both which fell out in the success, to both extremely contrary.
1738 Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 152/1 An Attempt which would never answer in the Success.
2. † b. In particularized use. Obsolete.
a. The fortune (good or bad) befalling anyone in a particular situation or affair. Usually with qualifying adjective good success = sense 3; ill success: failure, misadventure, misfortune. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > [noun] > fortune or luck
sitheOE
hapc1275
fortunea1300
timingc1300
thriftc1305
speeda1325
casta1400
venturea1450
issuec1475
luck1481
success1548
speeding1573
chancing1583
potluck1592
ship1851
joss1913
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. xxxix Although thei had knowlege what good successe Perkyn had enioyed in al his former attemptes.
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Evagrius Scholasticus v. x, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 495 After that the assault of Adaarmanes toke no prosperous successe at Antioch.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 37v Philautus hauing intelligence of Euphues his successe, and the falshoode of Lucilla.
1596 W. Raleigh Discoverie Guiana (new ed.) 17 The hard successe which all these & other Spaniards found in attempting the same.
1596 W. Raleigh Discoverie Guiana (new ed.) 28 Berreo..looked for no other successe than his predecessors in this enterprize.
1619 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1618–21 (1906) 74 I am sorrye to heare of John Younges disaster etc., yett am in good hope of better sucksess.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 1 Perplex'd and troubl'd at his bad success . View more context for this quotation
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1657 (1955) III. 201 After Sermon, & prayers for good successe.
1704 N. Blundell Diary (1895) 25 I went to wish good Suckcess to Mr. Molineux of Croxtath ere he went a Courting.
1764 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) II. 208 The bad success of his admirals at sea.
1823 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War I. 470 With so little accuracy do the French relate the circumstances of their ill success.
1839 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation (1863) 126 I was recalled to a most ludicrous perception of my ill success.
ΚΠ
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. v. sig. E3 The..Good successes, which their foes ensew.
1612 J. Selden in M. Drayton Poly-olbion x. Illustr. 164 After diuers unfortunat successes in warre.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. vii. 7 The Roman Gods, Leade their successes, as we wish our owne.
1661 S. Pepys Diary 25 Sept. (1970) II. 184 Sir W. Pen..told me that I need not fear any refleccion upon my Lord for their ill successe at Argier... My Lord Crewe,..I see,..is afeared that my Lord's reputacion will a little suffer in common talk by this late successe.
1764 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. in Lett. II. xvii. 225 The reduction of this..fortress served to interrupt the prosperous successes of the English company.
3. proverb.1868 A. Helps Realmah v Nothing succeeds like success. [Cf. Fr. Rien ne réussit comme le succès.]
a. (= the older good success.) The prosperous achievement of something attempted; the attainment of an object according to one's desire: now often with particular reference to the attainment of wealth or position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > [noun]
speedc725
speedinga1300
exploitc1300
happingc1440
succeedingc1450
proof1574
successa1586
joy1945
a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David (1823) xxx. vii While I my race did runne, Full of successe, fond I did say, That I should never be undone.
1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. E3v Giue but successe to mine attempting spirit.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 49 The Rebels being swolne to the height of pride..by continual Successe in their actions.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 119 A Drench of Wine has with success been us'd. View more context for this quotation
1713 J. Addison Cato i. ii 'Tis not in mortals to Command success, But we'll do more, Sempronius; we'll Deserve it.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. i. iii. 198 A title the most remote and unaccountable that was ever set up, and which nothing could have given success to.
1827 W. Scott Highland Widow in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. I. ix. 175 His success in fishing and the chase was able to add something to her subsistence.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xiv. 126 It was George who had interrupted the success of her first love-passage.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. xix. 314 That argument of success which is always powerful with men of the world.
1885 O. W. Holmes Emerson xi. 260 ‘Success’ in its vulgar sense,—the gaining of money and position,—is not to be reached by following the rules of an instructor.
1895 Law Times 99 476/2 It requires the talents of a Boileau, Molière, or La Fontaine to play the part of a flâneur with any success.
b. An instance of this; a successful undertaking or achievement. success of esteem, success of scandal, tr. succès d'estime, succès de scandale at succès n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > [noun] > one who or that which is successful > that which is successful
success1667
good thing1764
go1780
out1843
winner1913
success story1925
socko1937
gangbuster1946
bomb1954
1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 ccx. 53 Swell'd with our late successes on the Foe.
1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber iii. 40 Before her Time, our Ancestors had many successful Contests with their Sovereigns..yet what did those Successes amount to?
1857 Ld. Dufferin Lett. from High Latitudes vii. 133 To convert a questionable success into an undoubted triumph.
1880 Daily News 19 Oct. 4/7 The dustbin absorbs scores of..poems that win a ‘success of esteem’.
1891 Spectator 2 May 615/1 The mass comprehends nothing except a visible success.
1916 G. Saintsbury Peace of Augustans iii. 144 The extraordinary power of the close of Vathek has secured it..a success of esteem.
1926 C. E. Montague Rough Justice iii. vii. 99 Notorious novels, successes of scandal, that lived as hard and about as long as super-impudent ball-dresses.
1939 D. Cecil Young Melbourne vii. 191 Glenarvon had a success of scandal; three editions were called for within a few weeks. But it dealt the death blow to..Caroline's social position.
1958 W. Plomer At Home xii. 175 They [sc. publishers' readers] are liable to advise the rejection of typescripts that might have popular success and be moneymakers, or success of esteem followed perhaps by durability and influence.
c. transferred. One who or a thing which succeeds or is successful.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > [noun] > one who or that which is successful
success1882
high-rider1900
1882 L. C. Lillie Prudence 63 To be a success in this circle, is to contribute to the beauty..or the effect of the hour.
1884 Daily News 27 Feb. Should Mr. Peel prove as great a success in the Speaker's chair, as he proved in oratory before he entered it [etc.].
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate v Mrs. Hartwell's dance was a great success.
a. Succession or sequence in time or occurrence. in success of time: in course or process of time. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [adverb] > in course of time or as time goes on
on (also upon) hand (also hands)c1200
in (also by) (the) process of time1357
by (also in) process?1523
in success of time1546
in continuancea1552
in length of time1697
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > succession or following in time > [noun]
ordera1382
successionc1405
suing?a1425
succeedingc1460
success1546
consequency1548
ensuing1561
consequence1597
sequence1597
pursuit1605
subsequence1610
descent1613
successorship1627
consecution1651
seriation1658
successivenessa1676
successivity1866
diadoche1884
1546 Bp. S. Gardiner Declar. True Articles 85 The sonne sheweth her selfe in the mornynge, in whome there is encrease by successe tyll the sonne come to the highest at noone.
1549–62 T. Sternhold & J. Hopkins Whole Bk. Psalms xix. 2 The wondrous workes of God appeare, By euery dayes successe.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Mijv In successe of time, foure of the greatest Ilandes embrased the Christian faith.
1564 T. Palfreyman Baldwin's Treat. Moral Philos. (new ed.) i. x. sig. Dj v The successe of thinges to cum.
1611 A. Munday (title) A briefe chronicle, of the successe of times, from the creation of the world, to this instant.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xv. 623/1 This King, of whose life by order and successe of story wee are now to write.
1626 C. Potter tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Quarrels 338 This difficultie found Padauin in the successe of his iourney [It. così andaua difficoltando il suo camino].
1656 P. Heylyn Surv. Estate France 282 I shall draw down the successe of their affairs from the beginning of the Reformation.
1690 C. Ness Compl. Hist. & Myst. Old & New Test. I. 103 An house..will contract new..filth in success of time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [noun] > a series or succession
row?1510
processiona1564
sequencea1575
succession1579
pomp1595
suite1597
rosary1604
sequel1615
series1618
rope1621
success1632
concatenation1652
sorites1664
string1713
chain1791
course1828
serie1840
daisy chain1856
nexus1858
catena1862
litany1961
1632 Guillim's Display of Heraldrie (ed. 2) ii. vii. 91 Causing a successe of surging billowes.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) 37 Otherwise we must of necessity make all successes in the World purely natural and necessary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > succession or following in time > [noun] > subsequent event or act > subsequent history, course, or direction
success1555
after-course1624
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. vii. f. 125v As generally to lerne thoriginall and successe of thynges: And particularlye to reherse the noble factes of their..auncestours.
1681 H. More Plain Expos. Daniel App. i. 250 Can a man believe that the Original or success of that people was ἀχειροποίητόν τι?
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > succession or following in time > [noun] > succession to an office, estate, etc.
reversion1560
success1587
survivancy1659
survivancec1674
society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > right to succeed to title, position, or estate > succession > [noun]
successiona1513
success1587
successary?a1625
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. Ep. Ded. sig. **ij After a long successe of these Herauldes, came the Sauiour.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. x. sig. Y2v Then all the sonnes of these fiue brethren raynd By dew successe.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. i. 273 And so successe of mischiefe shall be borne, And heire from heire shall hold his quarrell vp. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) i. ii. 394 Our Parents Noble Names, In whose successe we are gentle. View more context for this quotation
Compounds
C1. attributive, as success ethic, success hunter, success rate, success value, etc.
ΚΠ
1923 W. Stevens Let. 11 Feb. (1967) 236 Aside from this absurd hero-worship, or success-worship, the town is purely a business place.
1946 Nature 17 Aug. 242/2 A success-rate of syphilis prevention of more than 97 per cent was claimed to be unequalled by any other mode of treatment.
1949 R. K. Merton Social Theory ii. iv. 136 Despite our persisting open-class-ideology, advance toward the success-goal is relatively rare..for those armed with little formal education.
1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride 35/2 They remain avid customers for the success manuals and beauty treatments which by themselves constitute a large line of merchandise.
1955 A. Koestler Trail of Dinosaur 93 The same is true of obsessional success-hunters in every field.
1957 R. K. Merton Social Theory (rev. ed.) ii.v. 170 The distribution of success-values among economic and social strata.
1965 H. Hendin in A. Giddens Stud. in Social & Polit. Theory ix. 311 His legal ambitions were excessive and he found it impossible to compromise with his grandiose success fantasies.
1977 Time 13 June 44/2 They are an uncommonly interesting lot, whose lives and habits illuminate what achievement means today in the society that invented the success ethic.
C2.
success story n. colloquial (originally U.S.) (a) an account of a success; (b) an instance of a successful venture, an achievement, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > [noun] > one who or that which is successful > that which is successful
success1667
good thing1764
go1780
out1843
winner1913
success story1925
socko1937
gangbuster1946
bomb1954
society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > narrative or story > types of narrative or story generally > [noun] > story with specific subject
human story1753
family history1780
snake story1826
birth story1837
creation story1860
nostos1910
success story1925
microhistory1969
plutography1985
1925 Ladies' Home Jrnl. Feb. 28/2 (heading) A great success story.
1938 Time 14 Nov. 84/2 Last year, when the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that physicians might send contraceptives by mail, her career became a ‘success story’.
1954 W. K. Hancock Country & Calling vii. 203 Departments would naturally prefer to get ‘a good press’, whereas we were bound by our instructions to write critical history, not ‘a success story’.
1973 Nature 9 Nov. 58/1 The study of X-ray sources is one of the great success stories of present-day astrophysics.
1978 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts 126 755/2 A comparative success story is the inundation of the ancient city of Nagarjunakonda to make way for a great hydro-electric project.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† successv.
Obsolete. rare.
1. intransitive. To be a successor.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > accession or entering upon office or authority > accede to office [verb (intransitive)] > succeed to office
succeedc1386
success?1560
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > succession or following in time > ensue or come next [verb (intransitive)] > of persons
succeedc1386
success?1560
?1560 J. Bale Brefe Chron. Syr J. Oldcastell (new ed.) Pref. sig. A viijv His sonne Henry the sixt successed [1544 succeded] in hys rome.
2. intransitive. To happen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)]
becomec888
i-tidec888
falleOE
ywortheOE
i-limp975
belimpOE
i-timeOE
worthOE
tidea1131
goa1200
arearc1275
syec1275
betide1297
fere1297
risea1350
to come aboutc1350
overcomea1382
passa1393
comea1400
to come in (also to, on, etc.) placea1400
eschew?a1400
chevec1400
shapec1400
hold1462
to come (also go) to pass1481
proceed?1518
occura1522
bechance1527
overpass1530
sorta1535
succeed1537
adventurec1540
to fall toc1540
success1545
to fall forth1569
fadge1573
beword?1577
to fall in1578
happen1580
event1590
arrive1600
offer1601
grow1614
fudge1615
incur1626
evene1654
obvene1654
to take place1770
transpire1775
to go on1873
to show up1879
materialize1885
break1914
cook1932
to go down1946
1545 in State Papers Henry VIII (1849) X. 576 By my last of the 13 of thinstant I signified to the same of the case successid to the Signor Ludovico de Larme.
1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. 131v A blissefull signe that all shall not successe aright.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
<
n.1537
v.1545