> as lemmas

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16762 + 75 To-geder fell his eghen.

1757 tr. J. H. Winkler Elements Nat. Philos. II. 154 So spent and fatigued, that he and his men marched on as it were dreaming, as in going their eyes constantly fell together.

1860 J. W. Carlyle Let. 21 Aug. in Coll. Lett. T. & J. W. Carlyle (2008) XXXVI. 188 My eyes are falling together (would yours were, for the like reason), I am so sleepy.

1887 T. Hardy Woodlanders I. vi. 122 Her eyes fell together with their own heaviness, and she slept.

1966 in Dict. Newfoundland Eng. (1982) 168/2 John was leaning on the table and his eyes were falling together because of sleep.

2004 M. Winter Big Why 130 I'm so tired my eyes are falling together.

1531 Bp. W. Barlow Dyaloge Lutheran Faccyons sig. i.3^v Then was it a wonder to se what murmuracyon, grudge, and rumour of sedycyon was amonge the people, not without lykelyhed of fallynge togyther by the eares & insurreccyon agaynste theyr prynce.

1610 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes (ed. 2) 1184 They fell together by the ears about the matter, some taking part with the old General, and some with the new.

1693 W. Robertson Phraseologia generalis (new ed.) 329 They did chide and brawl so long till they fell together by the ears.

1759 J. Adams Diary in Diary & Autobiogr. (1961) 116 Would they fall together by the Ears for the Mastery as two Herds of strange Cattle do?

1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. 42 'T would put the clock back all o' fifty years, Ef they should fall together by the ears.

1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Concurro Concurrere, Confluere, to come or fall together. Concurrit materia, the matter falleth or gathereth together in aboundance.

1586 W. Webbe Disc. Eng. Poetrie sig. F.iiii The fourth sort containeth in eche staffe manie vnequall verses, but most sweetelie falling together.

1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike 191 The Fume of Minerals..& an Arsenical poyson, have become Sunonymalls or things of one name: to wit, the Arsenick, and smoakie vapour, and smoak of Metalls fall together or agree in one.

1702 R. Stafford Word in Season 69 They [sc. two senses of Holiness] do indeed both fall together into one.

1855 Jrnl. Amer. Oriental Soc. 5 204 The independent and enclitic svarita would fall together, and have the same value.

1869 J. W. Gerard Titles to Real Estate vi. 62 When a greater estate and a less fall together in one person, the latter is merged in the former.

1959 A. Campbell Old Eng. Gram. 153 æ, e, and i fell together in a sound written e in unaccented syllables.

2003 Campaign (Electronic ed.) 12 Dec. 8 The notion that they will instantly fall together into a new sales company is quite frankly nonsensical.

1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke iii. xliv. 136 When the abundance of vrine is sent out, then the bladder shrinketh vp and falleth together.

1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 75 He telleth him..that the Brain is fallen close together.

1698 T. Emes Dialogue Alkali & Acid 53 The Thorax is again contracted, the Air pressed out, and the Lungs fall together.

1724 J. Crawford Cursus Medicinæ i. xxiv. 211 The finest vessels being emptied and flagged, for a time, fall together.

1794 J. Billingsley Gen. View Agric. Somerset 127 Had the drain been made less wide at the top..it would have collapsed, or fallen together.

1863 Harper's New Monthly Mag. Oct. 625/1 Fast as entrance was half effected it fell together, and the wreck left them double work.

1871 Detroit Rev. Med. & Pharmacy 6 397 The muscular structure of the heart is softened, falls together as a wet rag, and is easily ploughed up by the finger.

1968 Spectator 15 Mar. 352/2 Organisation as such has been allowed entirely to fall together and collapse.