weighv.¹

Brit.

/weɪ/, U.S.

/weɪ/

Forms: Past tense and participle weighed /weɪd/. Forms: Old English wegan (3rd singular wigeð, wihð; wegeð, wehð), Middle English weiȝe (Middle English 3rd singular weihð), Middle English weȝe, weyȝe, Middle English weghe, 1500s weygh(e, waygh, 1500s–1600s weighe, waigh(e, 1500s– weigh; Middle English–1500s weie, Middle English–1600s weye (Middle English wheyhe, Middle English–1600s Scottish veye), Middle English–1600s (1800s Scottish) wey (Middle English–1600s Scottish vey); Middle English–1600s waie, Middle English–1600s waye (Middle English whaye), way, 1500s–1600s weay; Middle English–1500s northern and Scottish wye (Middle English whye), 1600s Scottish wie; Middle English whe, 1500s Scottish we-, ve-, 1800s Scottish wee. past tense Old English wæg, plural wǽgon, Middle English way, plural weȝe, Middle English weȝ, wey, weyȝ(e, weygh, wayȝ, weghe, weie, (? woghe). β. Middle English weide (Middle English plural weiden), Middle English weiede, Middle English we(y)ȝed(e, etc., Middle English–1600s weied, weyed, 1500s–1600s wayed, waied, waighed, etc., 1500s– weighed. past participle Old English wegen, Middle English iwæiȝen, Middle English yweȝe, weyen, ( i-), ( y)wey(e, ( i)weie; Middle English wawyn, wowyn, wowne. β. Middle English yweid, ( i)weied, weȝed, Middle English–1600s weyed, Middle English weiede, Middle English–1500s weyd, 1500s wei(e)d, wayed, wayd(e, etc., 1600s– weighed.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English wegan (wæg , wǽgon , wegen ) corresponds to Old Frisian wega , weia to move, weigh, Old Saxon wegan to weigh, (Middle) Dutch wegen to weigh, Old High German wegan to move, shake, weigh (Middle High German wegen ; modern German has bewegen to move, while the simple verb is represented by the two verbs wägen transitive, to weigh, wiegen intransitive, to weigh, be of a certain weight), Old Norse vega to lift, weigh (Swedish väga , Danish veie , to weigh), Gothic ga-wigan (only Luke vi. 38 in past participle feminine gawigana shaken). The Germanic root *weg- , *wag- , *wǣg- (for words representing the several grades see way n.¹; wag v., wagon n., wain n.¹, waw n.¹, waw v.¹; weigh n.¹, wey n.¹) is < Indogermanic *wegh-, *wogh-, *wēgh-, found in Sanskrit vah, Latin vehĕre to carry, Greek ϝοχος, ὄχος vehicle. The remarkably early appearance of the weak conjugation was probably due to confusion with weigh v.²; the two Old English verbs wegan and wecgan coincided in the form wegeð of the 3rd singular present (though the former verb had also the more normal wigeð). The strong inflection of the past tense died out in the 14th century, and that of the past participle in the 15th.

I. To bear, carry, hold up; to heave up, lift.

†1. transitive. To bear from one place to another; to carry, transport. Obsolete.In quot. c1400³ ? To carry round and serve (wine).

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > [verb (transitive)]

haveeOE

ferryOE

weighOE

bearOE

take?a1160

weve13..

carry1348

passa1350

tow1391

geta1393

convey1393

winc1400

transport1483

set1487

convoy1500

traduce1535

port1566

repair1612

vehiculate1628

transmute1683

transplant1769

gallant1806

transit1859

inveigh1878

waltz1884

sashay1928

conduct-

OE Beowulf 1207 He þa frætwe wæg..ofer yða ful.

c1000 Narratiunculæ (1861) 9 Micel mænigeo elpenda þa þe gold wægon & læddon.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1403 Wyȝeȝ þe walle wyn weȝed to hem oft.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1508 Weȝe wyn in þis won, wassayl, he cryes.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1420 So faste þay weȝed to him wyne, hit warmed his hert.

†2. To bear (arms); to wear (a robe, etc.). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [verb (transitive)]

wearc893

weighc897

beareOE

haveOE

usea1382

to get on1679

sport1778

to stand up in1823

take1868

society > armed hostility > military equipment > arming or equipping with weapons > arm or equip [verb (transitive)] > bear (arms)

weighc897

wearc1000

bearOE

c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xiii. 77 On ðæm selfan hrægle, ðe he on his breostum wæg.

c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist (1890) ii. ix. 123 Hæfde he & wæg mid hine twiecge handseax geættred.

c1250 Owl & Night. 1022 (Cott.) He miȝte bet teche ane bore To weȝe [Jes. bere] boþe sheld & spere.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13116 Ælc weiede [c1300 Otho caste] an sculdre sceld swiðe godne.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12212 Heo weȝe [read weȝeden; c1300 Otho beore] on heore honde feouwer sweord of golde.

†3. With up: To hold up, support. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (transitive)]

to bear upeOE

underbearc950

bearOE

holdc1000

weighc1200

to hold up1297

upholda1300

sustainc1330

undersetc1330

comforta1382

underbear1382

upbear1390

sustaina1398

upkeepc1412

carrya1425

supporta1425

chargea1500

convey1514

avoke1529

confirm1542

stay1548

to carry up1570

bolster1581

lift1590

upstay1590

atlas1593

sustent1605

statuminatea1628

firm1646

appui1656

establish1664

shoulder1674

to keep up1681

upheave1729

withhold1769

c1200 Vices & Virtues 49 He ðe weiȝþ upp mid his fingre heuene and ierðe.

†a. With up: To hoist, to lift up. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > make to go up or cause to rise [verb (transitive)] > hoist

heave971

lifta1300

to set upa1300

lift1362

raisec1384

weigh1421

horsea1500

hawsec1500

heeze1513

hoise1548

hoist1548

wind1577

to work upc1610

hist1707

1421–2 T. Hoccleve Dialog 402 Right as a theef þat hath eschapid ones The roop, no dreede hath eft his art to vse, Til þat the trees him weye vp, body and bones.

1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1643/2 They tooke the sayd Roode and weyed hym vp and set hym in his old accustomed place.

1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ viii. §1. 132 With which Tongs you may Beclip the [Hop-]Pole at the bottom, and resting the joynt thereof on a block of wood, you may weigh up the Pole.

†b. figurative. To raise up, exalt. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to > make more important

arearc885

upheavea1300

upraisea1300

uphigh13..

enhancec1325

liftc1330

uplift1338

uphebbe1340

uptakec1340

magnifya1382

upreara1382

uphancec1390

preponder?1504

upbring1513

exaggerate1564

greaten1589

weighc1595

to make much matter ofa1649

aggravate1698

aggrandize1709

beef1941

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cvii. 111 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 174 [God] from want the poore doth waigh.

c. Nautical. To set up (a mast).

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > fit out or equip > rig > furnish with masts > set up a mast

weigh1841

1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 134 Weigh, to lift up; as, to weigh an anchor or a mast.

a. Nautical. To heave up (a ship's anchor) from the ground, before sailing. Now usually to weigh anchor (without article). †Formerly also with up, in.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor > weigh anchor

to weigh anchor?a1400

to loose the anchor?c1450

disanchor1477

weigh1513

loose1526

to loose one's bark1567

up killick1837–40

up-anchor1889

society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor (a ship) [verb (transitive)] > anchor (a ship) > loose (ship) from anchor > weigh (anchor)

weigh?a1400

loosec1440

rear?c1475

levy1648

sway1790

?a1400 Morte Arth. 740 Wyghtly one þe wale thay wye up þaire ankers.

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 103 Wiȝt at þe wyndas weȝen her ankres.

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 493 They weyde vp þeire ankyrs.

1492 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 245/1 Compelling of þe saidis Wegeantis seruitouris to wey þer ankeris.

1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. li Come to our shyp our ankers ar in wayde.

?1518 Cocke Lorelles Bote sig. C.ij^v Than Cocke wayed anker and housed his sayle.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. xliiii^v When the wynde was prosperous..they waied vp the Ankers.

1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 52 We weyed the anchors.

1589 Voy. W. Towrson in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 101 We wayed our Grapnel and went away.

1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 27 Break ground, or way Anchor, heaue a head.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ii. 45 The windes fauouring vs, we weighed Ankors.

1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre i. 11 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian Constantianus wayed Anchor from Epidaurus.

a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 19 I weighed anchor and sett sayle.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 182 We weighed Anchor the same Tide, and stood out to Sea.

1773 J. Hawkesworth Acct. Voy. Southern Hemisphere III. iii. ix. 651 In the mean time, as the ship tended, I weighed anchor.

1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iii. iv. 86 Cormac Doil..Hoisted his sail, his anchor weigh'd.

1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage v. 77 We immediately weighed anchor.

1877 19th Cent. Dec. 769 It was misty and rainy when we weighed anchor, but we made the buoy on the Narrows Bank without difficulty.

1940 M. Dickens Mariana ix. 339 The Captain of the Piccolino had a carefree habit of weighing anchor according to whim rather than schedule.

1997 T. Mackintosh-Smith Yemen (1999) viii. 221 The sun rose as we weighed anchor and headed west.

b. figurative.

ΚΠ

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. ix. sig. Cii I will streight waie anker and hoise vp saile.

a1640 P. Massinger Guardian Prol., in 3 New Plays (1655) Our Author weighs up anchors, and once more Forsaking the security of the shore, Resolves to prove his fortune.

1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico ii. 36 As often as this sacred Anchor [of Religion] is weighed, so often the Ship of the Common-Wealth is tossed.

1882 Cent. Mag. Sept. 707/2 He for whom the sexton has tolled the bell has ‘weighed anchor’.

c. absol. = to weigh anchor. Hence, to sail (from, out of a port, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor > weigh anchor

to weigh anchor?a1400

to loose the anchor?c1450

disanchor1477

weigh1513

loose1526

to loose one's bark1567

up killick1837–40

up-anchor1889

1513 E. Howard Let. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 215 We cowd ryd no lenger ther withowt gret danger,..we weyd to get us in to the Downes.

c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 31 The maister..bald the marynalis lay the cabil to the cabilstok to veynde and veye.

1589 Voy. W. Towrson in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 101 Wee wayed and set saile.

1613 J. Saris Jrnl. in Voy. Japan (1900) 1 The 14th in the morning we wayed out of the roade of Bantam for Japan.

a1647 P. Pette in Archaeologia (1796) 12 226 On Wednesday..we weighed from Limehouse, and anchored right against the Tower.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. iv. 34 On the 3d of November we weighed from Madera.

1808 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) IV. 193 I found about 60 of the convoy had lost their anchors in attempting to weigh.

1867 Pall Mall Gaz. 19 July 9/1 It would have been necessary for each ship to weigh singly, which would have occupied fifteen minutes each.

1893 H. M. Doughty Our Wherry in Wendish Lands 20 In the morning we weighed early.

a. To raise (a sunk ship, gun, etc.) from the bottom of the water. Also with up.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > other nautical operations > [verb (transitive)] > raise up from bottom

weighc1503

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xlix^v/2 After tyme she was weyed and toued to the hauyn at caleis.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. xxvj Leuyng the gonne (because the master carpenter sayde y^t he woulde shortely way it out of the water).

1578 W. Bourne Treasure for Traueilers iv. viii. f.17 Then it will waygh or lyfte the sunken Shyppe from the bottome.

1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. xii. 81 Rules to weigh Ships, or Guns, or any thing else in the Water.

1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World vii. 239 [The diver] could find but one small gun, which he weigh'd, and brought ashore.

1777 J. Putnam in J. Sparks Corr. Amer. Revol. (1853) II. 540 Should the enemy succeed in weighing the chevaux-de-frise, and proceed up the river.

1783 W. Cowper Let. 20 Oct. (1981) II. 172 I must beg leave however..to mourn..that the Royal George cannot be weigh'd.

b.1545 Dk. Suffolk in Hooker Life Sir P. Carew (1857) 129 I trust by Monday or Twisday..the Mary Rose shalbe wayed upp and saved.1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. xcix. 194/2 The Reuenge had in her diuers faire brasse peeces, that were all sunke in the sea, which they of the Island were in good hope to waigh vp againe.1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. iii. 7 A great Gunne..was overthrowne in a deep Pond of water..the Master Carpenter taking with him a hundred labourers, went and weyed it up.1687 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) IV. 552 A Vast treasure which..being sunk in a Spanish Galioon..was now weighed up, by certaine Gentlemen.1735 S. Gale in Archaeologia 1 189 (note) One of these stakes, entire, was actually weighed up between two loaded barges at the time of a great flood.1760 S. Derrick Lett. (1767) I. 16 She being effectually sucked in by the heavy sandy bottom, all attempts to weigh her up have been ineffectual.1782 W. Cowper Loss Royal George 25 Weigh the vessel up..; Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again.1815 Local Act 55 Geo. III c. lv. §73 If any Boat..shall be sunk in any Part of the said Canal,..and the Owner..shall not, without loss of Time, weigh or draw up the same.

†b. intransitive for reflexive. To be raised up; to admit of being raised. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > raise [verb (intransitive)] > be raised

hoise1565

to go up1607

weigh1655

1655 W. Hammond Poems 67 Onely this difference, that sunk downward, this Weighd up to blisse.

1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. xii. 81 If the thing sunk be upon Sands or Rocks, it will weigh the better.

II. To balance in the scales; to ascertain the weight of; to consider or compare in this respect.

a. transitive. To ascertain the exact heaviness of (an object or substance) by balancing it in a pair of scales, or on a steelyard, against a counterpoise of known amount.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)]

weighc1000

aweighOE

peisea1382

poise1458

ponder?1518

pound1570

tron1609

perpenda1612

librate1623

scale1691

weight1734

c1000 Ælfric Gram. xiii. 84 Ælc þæra ðinga, þe man wihð on wægan.

c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 374 Genim geoluwne stan & salt stan & pipor & weh on wæge.

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 213 Gif hit chepinge be, þe me shule meten oðer weien.

c1200 Vices & Virtues 17 He wile hes habben wel imotet and bi rihte wæiȝe wel iwæiȝen.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 44 Huanne þo þet zelleþ be wyȝte purchaceþ and makeþ zuo moche þet þet þing þet me ssel weȝe sseweþ more heuy.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 2 Sam. xiv. 26 He weiede [a1425 L.V. weiȝide] the heeris of his heed with two hundred siclis be the comoun weiȝt.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. x. 273 When..þe woolle worth weye, woo ys þe þenne.

a1400 Eng. Gilds (1870) 356 Þe kynges by whas wyȝte hit be yweye.

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 533/1 Wowyn, or weyyd, ponderatus, libratus.

1469 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 21 The wheight stone that the wooll was weyed with.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 252 Are there ballance here to weigh the flesh?

1613 J. Saris Jrnl. in Voy. Japan (1900) 42 A Beame to waye spice with.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 98 They weigh the cheese when it is set on Table, and taken away, being paid by the weight.

1758 S. Johnson Idler 28 Oct. 233 Engines should be fixed in proper places to weigh chairs as they weigh waggons.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 179 We have weighed it green, that is, just after mowing, against all the other pasture grasses, and it out-weighs them all.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xv. 380 A graduated transfer jar containing the gas to be weighed.

1863 M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd I. xiii. 292 While the numbers were going up, and the jockeys being weighed.

1894 J. D. Astley Fifty Years of my Life II. 212 When we weighed their riders after the morning's work, we found that Peter was giving Foxhall two stone and a half.

b. absol.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)]

weigh1362

ponder?a1525

1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. v. 118 Furst I leornede to lyȝe a lessun or tweyne, And wikkedliche for to weie was myn oþer lessun.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 122 Libra..hath figure and resemblance Unto a man which a balance Berth in his hond as forto weie.

1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. vii. 138 And by the potte and elle ben signefyed them that haue the charge to weye and mete and mesure truly.

c. to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver): to perform the Indian ceremony in which (a rajah, etc.) is weighed and his weight in gold (or silver) distributed as largesse.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] > weigh in order to give gold in largesse

to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver)1934

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > a person in specific ceremony

to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver)1934

society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > kinds of rite > Hindu > [verb (transitive)]

to do puja1681

to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver)1934

1696 J. Ovington Voy. Suratt 179 The Moguls are sometimes weighed against Silver.

1934 Times 25 Aug. 13/2 The Maharajah..will be weighed against gold... The gold-weigh ceremony is usually performed with gold supplied by the person being weighed... This amount will be distributed in charity.

1936 Times 14 Jan. 13/6 At this Durbar the Aga Khan will be weighed against gold, and it is expected that 20,000 guests will attend the function.

d. In Horse Racing. to weigh out, in: to take the weight of (a jockey) respectively before and after a race. (Cf. 9.)

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > ride horse in race [verb (transitive)] > weigh rider

to weigh out, in1890

1890 Rules of Racing in Encycl. Sport (1898) II. 224 The Stakeholder shall not allow a jockey to be weighed out for any horse until such horse's stake [etc.] have been paid.

1890 Rules of Racing in Encycl. Sport (1898) II. 225 The Clerk of the Scales..shall in all cases weigh in the riders of the horses.., and report to the Stewards any jockey not presenting himself to be weighed in.

e. to weigh off: to punish; to convict or sentence. slang (originally Military). Now chiefly Criminals'.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > punishment > [verb (transitive)]

threac897

tighta1000

beswinkc1175

punisha1325

chastise1362

paina1375

justifya1393

wage1412

reformc1450

chasten1526

thwart over thumba1529

chastifyc1540

amerce?1577

follow1579

to rap (a person) on the knuckles (also fingers)1584

finea1616

mulcta1620

fita1625

vindicate1632

trounce1657

reward1714

tawse1790

sort1815

to let (a person) have it1823

visit1836

to catch or get Jesse1839

to give, get goss1840

to have ita1848

to take (a person) to the woodshed1882

to give (one) snuff1890

soak1892

give1906

to weigh off1925

to tear down1938

zap1961

slap1968

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > conviction or judicial condemnation > convict or condemn [verb (intransitive)]

imputec1540

to weigh off1925

1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 301 Weighed off, to be, to be brought up before an officer and punished.

1945 Tee Emm (Air Ministry) 5 54 P.O. Prune will have to investigate and deal with a charge..and possibly weigh off the first delinquent of his service career.

1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights i. 22 You just got weighed off yesterday?

1963 T. Morris & P. Morris Pentonville ii. 20 One young man..commented that he had been ‘weighed off at X Assizes by some old geezer togged up like Father Christmas’.

1978 B. Norman To nick Good Body x. 81 Another was in custody..waiting to be weighed off.

f. to weigh in: to weigh (an air passenger's luggage) before departure; to subject (a passenger) to this procedure. See excess luggage at excess n. 6b.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > air or space travel > transport by air > transport through the air [verb (transitive)] > weigh luggage before departure

to weigh in1934

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > luggage or a passenger

to weigh in1934

1934 Rhys-Williams Diary 1 Aug. (MS.) Left Eaton Place at 4.30 p.m. for Victoria, where we were ‘weighed-in’, and had our luggage weighed and labelled.

1962 L. Deighton Ipcress File v. 30 She weighed in my wardrobe case.

1970 New Yorker 16 May 41/2 The porter..takes her bag and follows her to the desk to have it weighed in.

g. Angling. to weigh in: of an angler, to have (one's catch) officially weighed at the end of a competition. Also absol.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [verb (intransitive)] > have fish weighed

to weigh in1949

1928 Daily Tel. 25 Sept. 12/5 It is a rule that every fish caught must be kept alive, and after being weighed must be put back into the water by the official weigher-in.]

1949 Club Anglers' Jrnl. Nov. 14/1 The river fished well and the winner weighed-in 6 lb. 4 oz. 12 drm.

1972 Match Rules (Nat. Fed. Anglers) in E. Marshall-Hardy Angling Ways (1973) xxxix. 306 No competitor may have his catch weighed in who has litter lying on the banks of his swim.

1976 Wymondham & Attleborough Express 17 Dec. 22/5 Only 10..competitors weighed in,..but..Frank Kilbourn..float fished to take 9–2 of good roach.

a. To measure a definite quantity of (a substance) on the scales. Usually with out: To portion out (a quantity measured by weight) from a larger mass; to apportion (such a quantity) to (a person or persons); †to measure exactly or to the full weight (obsolete). Also with in, into: To introduce a specified weight of (a substance), to add as an ingredient.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)]

assail?c1225

to set on ——c1290

saila1300

to turn one's handc1325

lashc1330

to set against ——c1330

impugnc1384

offendc1385

weighc1386

checka1400

to lay at?a1400

havec1400

to set at ——c1430

fraya1440

rehetea1450

besail1460

fray1465

tuilyie1487

assaulta1500

enterprise?1510

invade1513

sturt1513

attempt1546

lay1580

tilt1589

to fall aboard——1593

yoke1596

to let into1598

to fall foul1602

attack1655

do1780

to go in at1812

to pitch into ——1823

tackle1828

vampire1832

bushwhack1837

to go for ——1838

take1864

pile1867

volcano1867

to set about ——1879

vampirize1888

to get stuck into1910

to take to ——1911

weigh1941

rugby-tackle1967

rugger-tackle1967

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures

fangc1320

hurtlec1374

impugnc1384

weighc1386

to fall upon ——a1398

to start on ——a1398

oppugn?1435

to lay to, untoa1500

onseta1522

wipe1523

to set against ——1542

to fall aboard——1593

aggress1596

to fall foul1602

attack1613

appugn1615

to set upon ——1639

to fall on ——1641

to lay home, hard, hardly to1650

tack1720

bombard1766

savage1796

to pitch into ——1823

to begin upon a personc1825

bulldog1842

to down on (also upon)a1848

to set at ——1849

to start on ——a1851

to start in on1859

set on at or to1862

to let into1872

to go for ——1890

swash1890

slog1891

to get at ——1893

tee1955

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > weigh (a specific amount)

weighc1000

peisea1382

weighc1386

poise1389

ponder?a1425

to turn the scale1600

ponderize1634

heft1851

avoirdupois1854

scale1862

to tip the scales1884

to weigh in1909

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > weigh out

weigh1585

pound1876

c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 745 And of that coper [he] weyed out [Cambr. MS. vp] but an ounce.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. iii. 33 b We began to way out the bisket vnto the gallie slaues.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. ii. sig. N7^v For at the first they all created were In goodly measure, by their Makers might, And weighed out in ballaunces so nere, That not a dram was missing of their right.

1615 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 88 We wayed out the wax which came in the Hozeander, and fownd it want a tonne.

1616 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 111 We waid out the pepper to day for the king.

1616 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 217 He delivered or wayd out much more to Tomo Dono and Cushcron Dono.

a1646 J. Burroughes Expos. Hosea (1652) iii. 197 Never did any skilfull Physitian more carefully weigh out to every dram what the potion should be that is to be given to a child, than God doth weigh out every affliction that he sendeth upon his children.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. iii. 76 No further difficulty will now arise in the way of graduating a tube. The 34.25 grains of mercury are to be weighed in... Another 34.25 grains of mercury are to be weighed into the tube to the metal already contained in it.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xii. 278 If it be found that as many parts of the acid have been used as of grains of the carbonate weighed out, the acid is of proper strength.

†b. To measure (a sum of money) by weight, in order to pay it to (a person). Chiefly in Biblical renderings. Also with out, down. Obsolete. (So Old English awegan, German wägen, dar-, zuwägen.)

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > count or weigh out in payment

reckonOE

tell?a1300

weigh1382

number1474

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Zech. xi. 12 And thei weyȝiden my meede, thritti platis of syluer.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Job xxviii. 15 Nether siluer schal be weied [1382 peisid] in the chaungyng therof.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Jer. xxxii. 10 I..weyed him there the money vpon the waightes.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Zech. xi. 12 So they wayed downe xxx. syluer pens, y^e value that I was prysed at.

1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 492/2 An officer that weyed out mony for soldiers wages.

1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe ii. i. sig. C^v Some [are] cutting purses, some cheating, some weying out bribes.

c. figurative. To dispense or administer (justice) impartially.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > judge or determine judicially [verb (transitive)] > judge impartially

weighc1400

c1400 26 Pol. Poems i. 14 Weye o lawe in euenhede, By~twen ffauour and vengeaunce.

1562 A. Scott To Q. Mary in Poems i. 29 Waye iustice, equale without discrepance.

a. intransitive in Horse Racing. Of a jockey: To take his place in the scales, in order that his declared weight may be verified by the clerk. to weigh out (in), to do this before and after a race. (Cf. 7d) Similarly in Boxing, to weigh in: said of a boxer (turning the scales at a particular weight) before a fight. Hence in general colloquial use.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > be weighed

weigh1805

to ride or go to scale1837

scale1859

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > weigh (a specific amount)

weighc1000

peisea1382

weighc1386

poise1389

ponder?a1425

to turn the scale1600

ponderize1634

heft1851

avoirdupois1854

scale1862

to tip the scales1884

to weigh in1909

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (intransitive)] > weigh in

to weigh in1909

1805 Weatherby's Racing Cal. XXXII. p. xxxviii That every person who shall ride at Newmarket for Plate, Sweep~stakes, or Match, shall be obliged to weigh when he comes in.

1858 Rules of Racing §37 Jockies are required to weigh at the usual place of weighing, before the race,..and every rider is, immediately after the race, to ride his horse to the usual place of weighing,..and to weigh to the satisfaction of the person appointed for that purpose.

1868 G. J. Whyte-Melville White Rose I. xiv. 174 Their riders are drinking sherry..preparatory to ‘weighing in’.

1868 G. J. Whyte-Melville White Rose I. xiv. 182 Mr. Snipe, returning to weigh after an easy victory.

1877 Rules of Racing §31 Weighing out and starting.

1877 Rules of Racing §34 Weighing in.

1879 J. Rice Hist. Turf I. 298 The rider of Musjid..is said to have weighed in and weighed out with a whip weighing 7 or 9 lbs. and to have exchanged it for a lighter whip before and after the race.

1909 ‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny xviii. 307 He was six feet four and weighed in at 135.

1920 J. Masefield Right Royal 33 When the clock struck three and the men weighed out.

1920 J. Masefield Right Royal 119 Then the riders weighed-in, and the meeting was over.

1931 Daily Express 13 Oct. 1/7 Both boxers weighed in this afternoon.

1958 S. Wilcox 3 Days Running vii. 79 When at last I was able..to ‘weigh-in’ ..I weighed five pounds more than at the beginning of the day.

1966 Aviation Week & Space Technol. 5 Dec. 6/1 The complete inertial package weighs in at only 14 pounds.

1979 SLR Camera Mar. 35/1 The compact ‘Zuiko’ 1000mm measures just 26 inches and weighs in at around eight and a half pounds.

b. Hence to weigh in with: to introduce or produce (something that is additional or extra). colloquial.

ΚΠ

1885 Daily News Nov. in J. R. Ware Passing Eng. Victorian Era (1909) The journal ‘weighs in’ with a prismatic Christmas number.

1901 Macmillan's Mag. Apr. 464/1 Carver..used to sit up and snort a bit when we weighed in with hock and seltzer instead of tea.

1921 D. G. Mackail Romance to Rescue i. 9 A Rhodes scholar weighed in with praise of Greenwich Village.

c. fig. to weigh in: to bring one's weight or influence to bear; to enter a forceful contribution to a discussion, etc. Also: U.S. slang to meet up. colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > power > influence > have influence [verb (intransitive)] > exert influence

labour1442

to make labour1603

influence1670

to make interest1709

to weigh in1909

1909 G. B. Shaw Let. 31 July (1972) II. 854 I want you to ask the Chief Rabbi to weigh in.

1919 M. Beerbohm Seven Men 147 A few weeks later the Anglo-Indians weigh in. In due course we have the help of our Australian cousins.

1926 J. Black You can't Win x. 135 We parted at Pocatello, agreeing to ‘weigh in’ (meet) at Ogden in the spring.

1938 E. Bowen Death of Heart iii. iii. 378 The telephone crisis..had been the moment for Lilian to weigh in.

1956 A. L. Rowse Early Churchills 221 The Princess Anne, in her constant rôle of fairy godmother to the Marlboroughs, weighed in; nor could it have been done with more tact and good feeling.

1976 Milton Keynes Express 4 June 38/4 Sim weighed in with 4–27 off eight overs.

d. To launch into and attack (a person, etc.). Also figurative. colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)]

assail?c1225

to set on ——c1290

saila1300

to turn one's handc1325

lashc1330

to set against ——c1330

impugnc1384

offendc1385

weighc1386

checka1400

to lay at?a1400

havec1400

to set at ——c1430

fraya1440

rehetea1450

besail1460

fray1465

tuilyie1487

assaulta1500

enterprise?1510

invade1513

sturt1513

attempt1546

lay1580

tilt1589

to fall aboard——1593

yoke1596

to let into1598

to fall foul1602

attack1655

do1780

to go in at1812

to pitch into ——1823

tackle1828

vampire1832

bushwhack1837

to go for ——1838

take1864

pile1867

volcano1867

to set about ——1879

vampirize1888

to get stuck into1910

to take to ——1911

weigh1941

rugby-tackle1967

rugger-tackle1967

1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 81 Weigh into someone, to attack, wade into a person in a fight.

1976 F. Warner Killing Time i. i. 8 I survived the war,..and then, if I was a minute after 9.30 in the evening, my Mother would weigh into me.

10.

a. transitive. To hold (an object) in the hand (or in both hands) in order to observe or estimate its weight; to balance an object in the hand (or hands) as if estimating its weight.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > estimate weight by holding in hands

peisea1393

weigh1540

heft1816

weight1898

1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus ii. iii. sig. Mj^v Waye me this gyrdel heuy with moche golde .i. fele me this girdell, howe heuy it is with golde.

1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 343 Who poises and proportions sea and land, Weighing them in the hollow of his hand.

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. xviii. 340 ‘But why should he know of it?’ said Glossin, slipping a couple of guineas into Mac-Guffog's hand. The turnkey weighed the gold, and looked sharp at Glossin.

1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist II. xxiii. 63 Mr. Bumble..counted the tea-spoons, weighed the sugar-tongs.

1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son lvi. 569 He remained before him weighing his white hat in both hands by the brim.

1911 H. W. Fowler & F. G. Fowler Conc. Oxf. Dict. (at cited word) [He] meditatively weighed his stick in his hand.

b. To keep (the wings) evenly outspread in flight. poetic.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [verb (transitive)] > of Satan: keep wings evenly outspread

weigh1667

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 1046 Satan..in the emptier waste, resembling Air, Weighs his spread wings.

11. figurative (with more or less retention of the literal idea or expression):

a. To estimate, assess the value of (a person, a condition, quality, etc.), as if by placing in the scales.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)]

talec897

ween971

takec1175

weigha1200

deem?c1225

judge?c1225

guessc1330

reta1382

accounta1387

aretc1386

assize1393

consider1398

ponder?a1400

adjudgec1440

reckonc1440

peisec1460

ponderate?a1475

poisea1483

trutinate1528

steem1535

rate?1555

sense1564

compute1604

censure1605

cast1606

cense1606

estimate1651

audit1655

state1671

balance1692

esteem1711

appraise1823

figure1854

tally1860

revalue1894

lowball1973

a1200 Moral Ode 63 in Lamb. Hom. 163 Þer me scal ure werkes weien biforan þe heuen king.

1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. i. 152 Þe same Mesure þat ȝe Meten A-mis oþer elles, Ȝe schul be weyen þer-with whon ȝe wenden hennes.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job vi. 2 Wolde God, my synnes weren weȝed..in a balaunce.

1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. III. 129 Þou art i-weye on a balaunce and i-founde þat þou hast lasse [Dan. v. 27].

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Iii^v Our sayd lorde..at the houre of our iudgement shall ponder & wey euery mannes encrease or decrease.

1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16279) Administr. Lordes Supper sig. N.vii^v Not weighing our merites, but pardoning our offences.

1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes Prol. f. Ai God doth not way us as we are, but as we desier to be.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. D3^v Accursed vsury was all his trade, And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide.

1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada i. iii. i. 22 Friendship..weighs by th' lump, and, when the cause is light, Puts kindness in to set the Ballance right.

1736 G. Berkeley Disc. Magistr. in Wks. (1871) III. 419 Were all men to be weighed in the exact scale of merit.

1744 M. Bishop Life Matthew Bishop 97 Where such a cross~grain'd Piece of Stuff is concerned..one should ponder with inward Consultations, to be able to weigh him to a Hair.

1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 159 That heav'n will weigh man's virtues and his crimes, With nice attention in a righteous scale.

1815 Ld. Byron Vision Belshazzar vi, in Hebrew Melodies 36 He in the balance weighed, Is light and worthless clay.

1872 J. S. Blackie Lays of Highlands 134 God numbers not the heads, but weighs the hearts Of them that worship.

1897 ‘Ouida’ Massarenes xxii [She] had mentally weighed him, and found him wanting.

b. To balance with or against (another object regarded as a counterpoise) in order to obtain a comparative estimate. Also to weigh together.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > compare [verb (transitive)] > balance against

counterweighc1430

weigha1535

proportion1591

counterbalance1603

scalea1616

appoisea1670

counterpoise1685

tally1702

commeasure1849

benchmark1963

a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 47/1 Waye the good that they dooe, with the hurte that commeth of them.

1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Pref. sig. ❧.i^v If those men will waye their labor, with the profite in knowlege, whiche dayely they shal obtein by readyng vpon the boke.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. ii. sig. O For by no meanes the false will with the truth be wayd .

1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. ii. 98 But in that Cristall scales let there be waide, Your Ladyes loue, against some other maide.

1609 T. Dekker Guls Horne-bk. sig. B3^v The old world & the new waighed together.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. i. 8 Then wisely (good Sir) weigh Our sorrow, with our comfort.

1647 A. Cowley Love Undiscovered in Mistress ii Forbid it Heaven my Life should be Weigh'd with her least Conveniency.

1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 150 The fragrant grove, th' inestimable mine, Were light when weigh'd against one smile of thine.

1823 C. Lamb in London Mag. Oct. 406/1 While we had been weighing anxiously prudence against sentiment.

1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. 265 He anxiously weighed his own resources against those at the enemy's disposal.

1868 A. Helps Realmah (1876) vi. x. 112 But of what weight was any mere earthly consideration of that kind when weighed against the danger of impiety?

1917 Q. Rev. Jan. 16 They held their lives to be of little price, when weighed against a nation's fidelity to its engagements.

c. To make equal, balance (the year; i.e. to make night and day of equal length). poetic.Cf. Columella x. 42 Cum..paribus Titan orbem librauerit horis.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > balance

peisea1382

counterpoise1393

counterweighc1430

ballast1611

evena1618

equilibrate1625

balance1634

poise1639

to hold scale with1650

weigh1697

equipoisea1764

trim1817

to even up1863

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 62 Now sing we stormy Stars, when Autumn weighs The Year, and adds to Nights, and shortens Days.

1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad VI. xxii. 39 The Year when Autumn weighs.

12.

a. To consider (a fact, circumstance, statement, etc.) in order to assess its value or importance; to ponder, estimate, examine, take due account of; to balance in the mind with a view to choice or preference.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > consider, deliberate [verb (transitive)]

i-thenchec897

showeOE

i-mune971

thinkOE

overthinkOE

takec1175

umbethinkc1175

waltc1200

bethinkc1220

wend?c1225

weighc1380

delivera1382

peisea1382

considerc1385

musec1390

to look over ——a1393

advise?c1400

debatec1400

roll?c1400

revert?a1425

advertc1425

deliberc1425

movec1425

musec1425

revolvec1425

contemplec1429

overseec1440

to think overc1440

perpend1447

roil1447

pondera1450

to eat inc1450

involvec1470

ponderate?a1475

reputec1475

counterpoise1477

poisea1483

traversec1487

umbecast1487

digest1488

undercast1489

overhalec1500

rumble1519

volve?1520

compassa1522

recount1526

trutinate1528

cast1530

expend1531

ruminate1533

concoct1534

contemplate1538

deliberate1540

revolute1553

chawa1558

to turn over1568

cud1569

cogitate1570

huik1570

chew1579

meditatec1580

discourse1581

speculate1599

theorize1599

scance1603

verse1614

pensitate1623

agitate1629

spell1633

study1659

designa1676

introspect1683

troll1685

balance1692

to figure on or upon1837

reflect1862

mull1873

to mull over1874

scour1882

mill1905

c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 323 Ȝif we weyn aryht dispensis bi lore of þe hooly goost.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 384 (398) And weyen every thyng by equite.

14.. J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep 150 in Polit. Relig. & Love Poems (1903) 21 Ye prudent Iugis..Weieth this mater in your discrecioun.

c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) xxxv. 113 Cast all thair counsailis jlkane till othir jn thy mynde, and wey thame as thou thinkis the caus requeris.

1533 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 300 They wayeing in thaire myndes the force of the saide acte.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxvj^v He desyreth them..that they would way the whole case diligently.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ix. sig. H7^v She now weighing the decayed plight, And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. iv. 194.

1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 181 If thou hast seriously weighed the foregoing rules.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 580 Weigh in your Mind, the various Chance of War.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 43. ⁋2 I have well weighed that Matter.

1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iii. iii. 35 I weighed the consequences on both sides as fairly as I could.

1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals iii. i I have been likewise weighing and balancing what you were pleased to mention concerning duty.

1847 J. Yeowell Chron. Anc. Brit. Church iii. 34 Let any thinking man weigh this singular circumstance.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 39 The jurymen,..being little accustomed to weigh evidence, followed without scruple the directions of the bench.

1855 Poultry Chron. 3 32 They never came to a decision without duly weighing the pros and cons.

1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. xx. 327 The difficulty of the moment was too pressing for him to weigh distant consequences.

1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 390 The king is wise; his wrath will well be weighed.

absolute.1796 W. Wordsworth Borderers ii. 645 Men who are little given to sift and weigh.

b. To ponder and examine the force of (words or expressions). to weigh one's words: to speak deliberately and in calculated terms.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > speak [verb (intransitive)] > with restraint or carefully

to weigh one's words1340

to carry one's mouth (also tongue) in one's heart?1576

to mince words1826

the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > consider, deliberate [verb (transitive)] > force of words

weigh1340

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 255 Huo þet ne weȝþ his wordes ine þe waye of discrecion.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 256 Huer me ssel weȝe þet word er hit be yzed.

1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas 215 Words of worth, and worthy to be wayed.

1579 T. Lodge Protogenes 16 If we way Poetes wordes and not ther meaning, our learning in them wilbe very mene.

1627 J. Donne Lett. (1651) 309 The old King..thought the Preacher never had thought of his Sermon, till he spoke it... I knew that he had weighed every syllable, for halfe a year before.

1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1164 Then Hope replyde,.. And wisely weighd his words.

1655 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) II. 14 I must..weigh my words before they are sent abroad.

1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. xiii. 62 His words well-weigh'd, the gen'ral voice approv'd.

1846 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. (1869) 2nd Ser. 64 The moralist..has far other work than to weigh expressions and analyze definitions.

1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxii. 213 Mr. Carker read this slowly: weighing the words as he went.

1877 T. H. Huxley Techn. Educ. Sci. & Cult. (1881) 82 I weigh my words when I say that if the nation could purchase a potential Watt, or Davy, or Faraday, at the cost of a hundred thousand pounds down, he would be dirt-cheap at the money.

c. with object-clause. Now rare.Often to weigh by, with, within oneself.

ΚΠ

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. FFFv Ponderyng & weyeng also, that of all vertues, mercy is moste necessaryly requyred to this miserable worlde.

1549 E. Allen tr. L. Juda Paraphr. Reuelacion S. John xi. f. 16, in M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II Whether any suche thynge..maye hereafter happen, let euery true christen harte..well consyder and wey by himselfe.

1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. v. f. 81 They wayed also that both the sauegard of them, and of the king lay in the handes of one that was a prisoner.

1553 in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xi. 30 I beseech yow..waye wyth your self, what a good Master our hevenlye Father ys unto yow.

1573 T. Bedingfield tr. G. Cardano Comforte (1576) ii. 18 b If they would waye wyth themselues, that all men..haue the vse of reason.

1578 G. Whetstone Promos & Cassandra: 2nd Pt. v. v. Mj Good Maddame way, by lawe, your Lord doth dye.

1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cxx. sig. H2 And I a tyrant haue no leasure taken To waigh how once I suffered in your crime.

1621 T. W. in tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v Well weighing with my selfe, that it was a Work might yeeld some profit to my Countrie men of England.

1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe v. 80 You thought me dead, and prudently did weigh Tears were but vain.

1683 Pennsylvania Arch. (1852) I. 75 We ye free People of ye Town..of Salem..weighing well in ourselves y^t nothing can more readily conduce to our..Happiness, then a fair and just settlement of our Foundations [etc.].

1803 Eldon in Vesey Chanc. Cases (1827) VIII. 427 The Court ought to weigh, whether the doubt is so reasonable and fair, that the property is left in his hands not marketable.

1825 W. Scott Talisman iii, in Tales Crusaders III. 71 He weighed within himself, whether [etc.].

1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. §42. 161 Let any one weigh well what it is to translate such a collection of documents as constitute the Bible.

d. to weigh up: to appraise, form an estimate of (a person). colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)] > take the measure of

measure?a1425

gauge1583

to sum up1631

measure1684

to touch off1766

to take (also get) the measure of1790

to get (also take, etc.) a person's number1853

reckon1853

to put up1864

size1884

to weigh up1894

to read the room1975

the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > hold an opinion [verb (transitive)] > form an opinion > of quality, character, etc.

resolve1613

to sum up1631

to take (also get) the measure of1790

size1884

to weigh up1894

size1896

1894 Westm. Gaz. 15 Feb. 5/1 The Liberal delegates were fervid only when ‘weighing-up’ the House of Peers and insisting upon its disestablishment.

1897 ‘O. Rhoscomyl’ For White Rose Arno (U.K. ed.) 43 I will watch him closer for the future. I should have come up earlier now, but that I was weighing up his servant, an arrant Whig and a spy to boot.

1904 Daily Chron. 14 Jan. 7 ‘I knew too much about her,’ she said. ‘I had weighed her up.’

†13.

a. To esteem, value, think highly of; to count dear or precious; to ascribe value or importance to. Often with negative: (Not) to care for or regard. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to

weigh?c1225

chargec1320

set by1393

to attribute (much)1586

to stand upon ——1587

moment1598

to lay weight upon1600

reflecta1616

to take (large etc.) stock in (rarely of)1870

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 250 Cunde of god heorte. is to beon offered of sunne þer as nan nis ofte. oðer weie swiðere his sunne sumchere þenne he þurte weien hit to lutel is as uuel oðer wurse.

c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) 923 That lord hath litel of discrecioun That in swich caas kan no dyuysioun But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 335 Whi therfore schulen we ouer miche weie and apprise his seiyng?

1496–7 Act 12 Hen. VII c. 12 Preamble The same Kyng.., not fearyng Almyghty God in breking his seid promys nor weiyng his Honour in the same.

1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Eiii^v Take no care for that, for I do not greatly waye it, it was worth but iii.s. iiii.d.

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. June 73 Nought weigh I, who my song doth prayse or blame.

1592 S. Daniel Complaint Rosamond xxiii Henry the second, that so highly weigh'd mee.

1595–7 J. Lyly Woman in Moone iii. ii. 289 I, he wayes more his flocke then me.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 27 You waigh me not, O thats you care not for me.

1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts iii. iii. sig. H2 My deeds nephew Shall speake my loue, what men report, I waigh not.

1676 W. Temple in C. E. Pike Essex Papers (1913) II. 81 The Estates would bee enough inclinable to it as weighing interest more than honour.

1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia Generalis 1306/2 I do not weigh you a pin..Non ego te flocci facio.

†b. with adjective compl. (light, dear, etc.). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1592 Arden of Feversham i. i. 361 To let them see how light I wey their words.

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxvi. 39 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 187 Thy people all beholding: Who deere their deaths dost weigh.

a1599 E. Spenser Canto Mutabilitie vi. lv, in Faerie Queene (1609) sig. Hh6^v Them all, and all that she so deare did way, Thence-forth she left.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) ii. iv. 43 In cases of defence, 'tis best to weigh The Enemie more mightie then he seemes.

a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iii. iv. 32 Let euerie word waigh heauie of her worth, That he does waigh too light.

†14. intransitive.

a. To pay heed or deference to. Scottish.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [verb (transitive)] > show respect for

wortheOE

to do worship to (also till, for)OE

honourc1275

worshipc1300

to make feasta1325

to do (a person or thing) honourc1330

observec1390

reverencec1400

weigh1423

honourable1455

worthya1500

honorify1606

to rise up to (also unto)1621

1423 Kingis Quair cxx Myn effectis grete, Vnto the quhich ȝe aughten maist weye.

c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 147 Suppos thai haue na souerane to quham thai wey bot anerly god allane.

†b. with of: To ponder, consider (something); to judge of, estimate, value, care for. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > estimate [verb (intransitive)]

deemc1384

to make much (also little, nothing, too much, etc.) of (or on)c1395

counta1400

thinka1400

reputatec1450

reckon1567

weigh1573

repute1579

esteem1583

censure1592

take stock1736

the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > think about, consider [verb (intransitive)]

thinkOE

bethinka1200

umthinka1300

to have mind ofc1300

casta1340

studya1375

delivera1382

to chew the cudc1384

to take advisementa1393

stema1400

compassc1400

advisec1405

deliberc1405

to make it wisec1405

to take deliberationc1405

enter?a1413

riddlec1426

hovec1440

devise?c1450

to study by (also in) oneself?c1450

considerc1460

porec1500

regard1523

deliberate1543

to put on one's thinking or considering cap1546

contemplate1560

consult1565

perpend1568

vise1568

to consider of1569

weigh1573

ruminate1574

dascanc1579

to lay to (one's) heart1588

pondera1593

debate1594

reflect1596

comment1597

perponder1599

revolvea1600

rumine1605

consider on, upon1606

to think twice1623

reflex1631

spell1645

ponderatea1652

to turn about1725

to cast a thought, a reflection upon1736

to wake over1771

incubatea1847

mull1857

fink1888

1573 New Custome iii. i. sig. D iij^v God waieth not..Of any vesture, or outward apparance a mite.

1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. v. v. 82 But weye of this euery man as pleaseth him.

1584 T. Lodge Delect. Hist. Forbonius & Prisceria 35 Solduvius, not..willing to weigh of the submissiue request of his daughter, interrupted her thus.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. vii. sig. Ee7^v Vnworthy she to be belou'd so dere, That could not weigh of worthinesse aright.

†c. with negative: (Not) to hesitate to (do something). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > proceed rapidly [verb (intransitive)] > not hesitate

weigh?1573

?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes 14 The women of Scithia called Amazones..wayed not to encounter with Hercules in the fielde.

III. To have heaviness or weight.

15. intransitive. Of a material object or substance: To have a greater or less degree of heaviness, as measured by the scales.

a. To be equal to or balance (a specified weight) in the scales.The specifying word is to be regarded as a predicative complement rather than as governed by the verb.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > weigh (a specific amount)

weighc1000

peisea1382

weighc1386

poise1389

ponder?a1425

to turn the scale1600

ponderize1634

heft1851

avoirdupois1854

scale1862

to tip the scales1884

to weigh in1909

c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 92 Se sester sceal wegan twa pund be sylfyr gewyht.

a1023 Wulfstan Homilies xlv. 228 Ælc an hagelstan wegeð fif pund.

1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. III. 207 Oon of the hameres weiede tweie so moche as anoþer.

a1400 Sir Beues 1424 A dede Beues binde to a ston gret, þat weȝ seue quarters of whet.

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 456 Hir Couerchiefes..I dorste swere they weyeden . ten pownd That on a Sonday weeren vp on hir heed.

1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. iv. 111 One framosian had promysed to hym as moche weyght of pure gold as the heed weyed.

1529 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1883) 177 Ane silver spune and a masar veand 3 uncis.

1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Jviij The fleshe therof wayed .xlvij. pound weyght.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. i. 28 Here's the note How much your Chaine weighs to the vtmost charect.

1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions §69 A little..Key, not weighing a Shilling.

1675 R. Vaughan Disc. Coin & Coinage viii. 75 They'd have it..so as the Pieces of Silver and Gold should weigh one the other.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 44 Some of them [sc. marmots] are found to weigh above twenty pounds.

1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 891 The gum weighed 3 per cent of the almonds analyzed.

1856 J. Richardson Recoll. I. vi. 145 In person he was tall and corpulent, weighing something over twenty stone.

b. with adverb or pred. adj.

ΚΠ

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 171 Hwenne twa beoreð an burðen & þe oðer leaue hit. þenne mai þe þe up haldeð hit felen hu hit weie.

c1290 St. Michael 395 in S. Eng. Leg. 311 Heouene geth al aboute þe eorþe, euene it mot weyȝe.

a1300 Vox & Wolf 237 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 66 He lep in [the bucket], and way sumdel.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf.) 1788 And as she woke, hir bed she felt presse. What best ys that, quod she, that weyeth thus?

a1400 St. Cristofer 364 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 458 The childe swa heuy woghe Þat ofte-sythes one knees he hym droghe.

c1440 York Myst. xxx. 136 A! sir, yhe whe wele!

c1475 Macro Plays, Mankind 692 Ther ys to moche cloth, yt weys as ony lede.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) cxxxviii. 205 They..becam stronge, and delyuer in suche wyse that the armes that they bare weyed nothyng as them semed.

1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades x. 174 His shield that waightie waied.

1586 G. Whitney Choice of Emblemes 41 The heauie loade, did weye so harde behinde.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iv. xvi. 33 Heere's sport indeede: How heauy weighes my Lord?

1779 W. Cowper Yearly Distress 48 Like barrels with their bellies full, They only weigh the heavier.

1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor ix, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. I. 266 His fingers fumbled as if..the other [sc. his beaver] had weighed equal with a stone of lead.

16.

a. figurative (with more or less retention of the literal idea or expression).

ΚΠ

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 246 Misericordia super exaltat iudicium [James ii. 13]:..his merci towart us weiȝeð eauer mare þenne þe narewe richte.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 91 Loue is þe wyȝte ine þe balance..uor non oþer þing ne may weȝe, huanne me comþ to nime ech his ssepe, bote loue and charite.

c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 243 Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at al.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 275 Ther ben manye of these Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte, That scarsly wolde it weie a myte Yit wolde thei have a pound again, As doth Usure in his bargain.

c1440 Gesta Romanorum xlv. 177 For synne is not lyȝt, but it is hevy, and weythe more than lede.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 4 Ȝe weyin now in mennys hertys, in dreed of ȝoure myȝt, more þan all þe world, for all þe world dare noȝt wythstonde ȝou.

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. i. 94 I know them, yea And what they weigh, euen to the vtmost scruple, Scambling, out-facing, fashion-monging boies.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 332 One must proue greatest. While they weigh so euen, We hold our Towne for neither: yet for both.

a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iii. iv. 31 Let euerie word waigh heauie of her worth.

†b. To amount or be equivalent to. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > be equivalent

amountc1390

to pass for (also as)1463

to come to one purpose1489

weigh1529

to pass muster1573

parallel1626

tantamount1628

to come to the same1643

coextenda1711

muster1820

1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv. xi. 108 b/2 Yt gaue hym occasyon to dowt lest Luther ment not al thing so euyl as his wordys seme to way to.

1588 W. Lambarde Eirenarcha (new ed.) ii. iv. 152 Whether a man doe actually vse force in his entrie, or doe come so readily appointed, and araied for it,..it seemeth to weigh to a violent (or Forcible) entrie.

†c. to weigh with (also even with): to counterpoise in power, value, etc.; to be of equal value or importance with. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > equal, match, or rival

matchc1400

to hold, rarely have, tack with (to)1412

equalize15..

mate1509

touch1530

to hold (a person, etc.) tack (to tack)1555

equal1590

egall1591

countermatch1600

to weigh with (also even with)1600

emulate1602

side1605

compeer1608

pair1619

mount1628

amate1642

to hold weight witha1643

to be (also prove oneself) a match for1712

peel1726

to hold the sticks toa1817

to bear or stand comparison with1845

see1861

tie1888

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. ii. 168 In euery thing the purpose must weigh with the folly.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. i. 150 Giue him thy Daughter, What you bestow, in him Ile counterpoize, And make him weigh with her.

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. iii. 4 France may vie and weigh even with Greece it self, in point of Learning.

d. to weigh against, †again: to counterbalance, countervail.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > balance against or counterbalance

gaina1375

counterpoise1393

peisea1400

weigh1583

set1589

poise1600

to weigh against, again1600

affront1609

balance1624

cancel1633

counterbalance1636

counterpose1636

compensate1656

equilibriatea1657

outset1656

equiponderate1661

equipoise1664

equibalance1665

offset1673

countersway1710

to set off1749

counterweigh1825

equilibrate1829

to set against ——1832

equilibrize1833

c1410 [see sense 20].

1600 R. Greene Neuer too Late (new ed.) ii. sig. K4^v Hee that seeketh to way against his owne will, oftentimes kicketh against the prick.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (1623) i. iii. 55 Much more, in this great worke..should we..know our owne estate, How able such a Worke to vndergo, To weigh against his Opposite?

1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) iv. 47 Such evils..can neither be helped nor be allowed to weigh against the advantages of union.

1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xviii. 216 He believes that every sin will weigh against him, and drag him down in the scale of being.

e. quasi-transitive. To equal (something else) in weight or value; to counterbalance; †to be tantamount or equivalent to.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > be equivalent to

quitc1375

countervailc1380

containa1387

value1561

to go for ——1574

countervalue1581

weigh1583

avail1598

reanswer1598

commeasure1615

imply1634

equivalence1646

equivale1659

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > balance against or counterbalance

gaina1375

counterpoise1393

peisea1400

weigh1583

set1589

poise1600

to weigh against, again1600

affront1609

balance1624

cancel1633

counterbalance1636

counterpose1636

compensate1656

equilibriatea1657

outset1656

equiponderate1661

equipoise1664

equibalance1665

offset1673

countersway1710

to set off1749

counterweigh1825

equilibrate1829

to set against ——1832

equilibrize1833

1583 R. Greene Mamillia i. f. 6^v So that eyther thou couldest sooth her with a frumpe, or els lay a loading carde on her backe, should wey a scoffe.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 26 In deede I waigh not you, and therefore light.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. i. 11.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 260 The heads of all thy Brother-Cardinals..Weigh'd not a haire of his.

1893 Westm. Gaz. 21 Mar. 3/2 There are difficulties..in the poem. Only they do not weigh the enormous difficulty of a multiplicity of Homers.

†f. absol. Of two things: To balance each other. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > balance or be balanced

weigh1523

equipoise1647

equiponderate1648

poise1818

equilibrate1829

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. (1812) I. xliii. 59 So that finally the good and the yuell wayed.

17. intransitive. To be of (much or little) value or account; to be regarded as considerable or important; to have influence with (a person) when he is forming an estimate or judgement.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (intransitive)] > influence

weighc1386

to have weight1565

society > authority > power > influence > have influence [verb (intransitive)]

weighc1386

to have, bear, carry, strike a (great, etc.) stroke1531

to hold placea1535

to take place1535

to bear (a or the) sway1549

to have weight1565

say1614

to be no small drinka1774

matter1848

to pack a punch (also wallop)a1938

c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) ⁋367 Dedly synne, whan the loue of any thyng weyeth in the herte of man as muche as the loue of god or moore.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 313 And his command with him richt litill weyit.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxv. 158 Why things so light in their owne nature should waigh in the opinions of men so much.

1659 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 179 Younge Darby [6th Earl], whoe nowe weighes much less then his name formerly hath donn.

1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. iii. 107 Pleasing to God, or not pleasing, with them weighed alike; and the worse most an end was the weightier.

a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1680 (1955) IV. 230 In truth their Testimonie did little weigh with me.

1705 F. Atterbury Serm. St. James's Chapel 22 A Wise Man is then best satisfy'd..when he finds..that the same Argument, which weighs with Him, hath weigh'd with Thousands..before him.

1766 Ld. Kames Remarkable Decisions Court of Session 1730–52 79 Nor ought it to weigh that Murray run the hazard of his factor's bankruptcy.

1838 T. B. Macaulay Let. to Napier in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) II. vii. 12 There is another consideration that weighs much with me.

a1853 F. W. Robertson Lect. (1858) ii. 51 I have not the vanity to say..that my name had weight with many; but it did weigh with some.

1870 J. R. Lowell Rousseau in Among my Bks. 1st Ser. 338 Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.

1899 A. Conan Doyle Duet xiv. 199 Holland is a sound man, and his opinion would weigh with any judge.

1910 W. E. Beet Rise Papacy ii. 79 The Roman verdict weighed much throughout Christendom.

IV. To affect, or be affected, by weight.

18.

a. transitive. to weigh down: to draw, force, or bend down by pressure of weight; figurative to depress, oppress, lie heavy on. Similarly, to weigh back, †on one side, to the earth.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict > oppress or afflict

heavyc897

narroweOE

overlayOE

overseamOE

twingea1300

to weigh downa1340

grieve1340

besit1377

oppressc1384

foila1400

thringa1400

empressc1400

enpressc1400

aska1425

press?a1425

peisea1450

straita1464

constraina1500

overhale1531

to grate on or upon1532

wrack1562

surcharge1592

to lie heavy uponc1595

to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595

to sit on ——1607

to sit upon ——1607

gall1614

bear1645

weight1647

obsess1648

aggrieve1670

swinge1681

lean1736

gravitate1754

weigh1794

the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > condition of being oppressed > oppress [verb (transitive)]

beareOE

charka1300

to weigh downa1340

besit1377

to bear (a person or thing) heavyc1384

oppressc1384

thringa1400

empressc1400

accloyc1425

to sit downa1450

threst1513

downtread1536

to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595

to bear (a person or thing) hard (also heavily, heavy, etc.)1602

pressa1616

weight1647

to bear (a person or thing) heavily1702

weigh1794

freight1892

the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > weight [verb (transitive)] > make heavy > add weight to > excessively or weigh down

overchargea1325

overcarkc1330

overladea1387

chargea1398

laden1514

overburden1532

ladea1538

overload1553

overpressa1577

overweigh1576

surcharge1582

to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595

overpoise1598

overweight1811

a1340 R. Rolle Psalter vii. 17 He..likyd to be seruaunte of syn, swa þat his synn weghe him down, þat he neuer rise til þe rist of heuen.

1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Degrauo The vine lodeth and weigheth downe the elme.

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Feb. 232 The watrie wette weighed downe his head.

1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iv. lxxvi. sig. X4^v O could the mighty but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe fortune ere shee pull them downe.

1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales xiv. ii. 201 Then the rowers thought best to way the gallie on one side [L. unum in latus inclinare], and so to sincke her.

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (2nd issue) iii. i. 7 Ô gentle sleep..how haue I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eye-liddes downe..?

1611 Bible (King James) Wisd. ix. 15 The corruptible body presseth downe the soule, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth downe the minde that museth vpon many things.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 494. ¶4 There are many Excellent Persons, who are weighed down by this habitual Sorrow of Heart.

1783 W. Cowper Rose 4 The plentiful moisture incumber'd the flower, And weigh'd down its beautiful head.

1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. xi. 625 The people were weighed down by an insufferable taxation.

1858 A. W. Drayson Sporting Scenes S. Afr. 208 The Kaffirs returned, almost weighed down by the immense weight of meat.

1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 1303 Falling and weighed back by clamorous arms Sharp rang the dead limbs of Eurytion.

1879 M. Pattison Milton xiii. 215 Causes other than the inherent faults of the poem long continued to weigh down the reputation of Paradise Lost.

1884 Contemp. Rev. Feb. 252 What, then, was the consuetudo carnalis which thus weighed to the earth this soul of fire, striving to ascend to its true home?

†b. Without adverb: To depress, dispirit. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)]

drearya1300

discomfortc1325

batec1380

to cast downa1382

to throw downa1382

dullc1386

faintc1386

discomfita1425

discourage1436

sinkc1440

mischeera1450

discheerc1454

amatea1500

bedowa1522

damp1548

quail1548

dash1550

exanimate1552

afflict1561

dank1565

disanimate1565

sadden1565

languish1566

deject1581

dumpc1585

unheart1593

mope1596

chill1597

sour1600

disgallant1601

disheart1603

dishearten1606

fainten1620

depress1624

sullen1628

tristitiate1628

disliven1631

dampen1633

weigh1640

out-spirit1643

dispirit1647

flat1649

funeralize1654

hearta1658

disencourage1659

attrist1680

flatten1683

dismalizec1735

blue-devil1812

out-heart1845

downweigh1851

to get down1861

frigidize1868

languor1891

downcast1914

neg1987

1640 J. Fletcher & J. Shirley Night-walker i. sig. B3 You are light Gentlemen, Nothing to weigh your hearts.

†19. intransitive.

a. Of the scale of a balance (with up or down): To rise or sink according as it holds the lesser or greater weight. Also gen. (with down): To sink through its own heaviness or load. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > turn the scales

weigh?1566

to turn the scale1600

preponderate1623

prepond1836

?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio Pasquine in Traunce 65 That Deuill..doth all that he can to make his parte [of the balance] way downe the heauier.

a1626 F. Bacon Sylva Sylvarum (1627) §610 The Cause is the plenty of the Sap, and the Softnesse of the Stalke, which maketh the Bough, being ouer-loaden, and not stiffely vpheld, weigh downe.

†b. to weigh with: to move with, follow the motion of (something that shifts or varies). to weigh against: to strive to make head against (the wind). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)] > move with

to weigh with1553

society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of wind > get into the current of the wind [verb (transitive)] > force ship against wind or sea > of ship: strive against (the wind)

to weigh against1553

1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. iv. f. 34^v Waying with the worlde, according as the tyme should alter [L. semper ex ancipiti mutatione temporum pendens].

1557 M. Basset tr. T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1372/1 A fainte harted mayster of a shippe..shrinketh from the sterne, and..suffreth the ship alone to waye wyth the waues [L. puppim permittit fluctibus].

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 109 And where thou sekes a quiet port, Thou dost but weigh agaynst the winde.

20. transitive. Of an object set in the scales (with down, up, †out; also †to weigh to the beam): To turn the scale when weighed against (something else); to outweigh, cause to rise in the scale. Also to weigh down (the balance or scale). Often figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > weigh more than

weigh1387

overbalancea1586

outweigh1646

preponderate1651

1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. IV. 7 At þe laste þe stoon was leide in a balaunce, and he weieþ [MSS. α, β, γ, weygh, weyȝ, wayȝ] up al þat me myȝte leie aȝenst hym in þe oþer side.

c1410 T. Hoccleve Mother of God 21 Helpe me to weye Ageyn the feend, þat with his handes tweye, And his might, plukke wole at the balance To weye vs doun.

c1450 Knt. de la Tour 66 Her..euell dedes..weyed downe and ouercame her good dedes.

c1450 Mirk's Festial 221 When alle his synnys wern layde on þe balans and was nygh ouercomyn, then come thylke brennet dekon, and layde a grete pote on þe wey þe whech anon weyit vp al togedyr.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. ix. sig. H8 Hard is the doubt, and difficult to deeme, When all three kinds of loue together meet, And doe dispart the hart with powre extreme, Whether shall weigh the balance downe.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. ii. 46 Yet all the wrongs could not a litle right downe way .

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iv. 90 But in the ballance of great Bullingbrooke, Besides himselfe are all the English peeres, And with that oddes he weighs King Richard downe.

a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. iii. 156 We poizing vs in her defectiue scale, Shall weigh thee to the beame.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 87 My Friends, They that must weigh out my affllictions.

1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 14 Four Ounces of Vigo Dust, shall weigh him down more, than four Tun of Honesty.

1711 J. Swift Examiner No. 26 One Whig shall weigh down ten Tories.

1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. vii. 119 Where all other inducements were wanting, the habitual carelessness of his disposition stepped in and still weighed down the scale on the same side.

1902 Westm. Gaz. 27 Mar. 7/3 Whose mistakes..are a thousand times weighed up by his countless individual deeds of true friendship.

†21. transitive. To sway or influence (a person); to induce (a person) to (do something). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > power > influence > have influence with [verb (transitive)] > exert influence upon

weighc1571

sway1593

subject1605

to have its end(s) upon1638

influence1658

ponderate1670

operate1674

to touch up1791

protocol1832

rig1908

the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon > to do something

procurea1325

draw1425

inducec1450

draw1531

obtain1558

reduce?a1560

weighc1571

charma1592

obtain1606

bias1660

gain1681

import1825

wangle1926

c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) ii. v. 91 When theis wordes weyed him nothinge his owne man..began to reprove him for not relenting to so riche a proffer.

1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 79/1 in R. Holinshed Chron. I By the procurement as well of the Archbyshoppe as of all the Cleargie, [the legate] was weighed to gyue the Citizens absolution.

22. intransitive with on or upon.

a. Of a thought, feeling, circumstance: To lie heavy on, depress (a person, his spirits, etc.). Also in indirect passive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict > oppress or afflict

heavyc897

narroweOE

overlayOE

overseamOE

twingea1300

to weigh downa1340

grieve1340

besit1377

oppressc1384

foila1400

thringa1400

empressc1400

enpressc1400

aska1425

press?a1425

peisea1450

straita1464

constraina1500

overhale1531

to grate on or upon1532

wrack1562

surcharge1592

to lie heavy uponc1595

to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595

to sit on ——1607

to sit upon ——1607

gall1614

bear1645

weight1647

obsess1648

aggrieve1670

swinge1681

lean1736

gravitate1754

weigh1794

the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > condition of being oppressed > oppress [verb (transitive)]

beareOE

charka1300

to weigh downa1340

besit1377

to bear (a person or thing) heavyc1384

oppressc1384

thringa1400

empressc1400

accloyc1425

to sit downa1450

threst1513

downtread1536

to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595

to bear (a person or thing) hard (also heavily, heavy, etc.)1602

pressa1616

weight1647

to bear (a person or thing) heavily1702

weigh1794

freight1892

1794 R. B. Sheridan Duenna (new ed.) ii. 46 If either of you had known how each moment of delay weighs upon the heart of her who loves.

1820 J. Keats Lamia ii, in Lamia & Other Poems 29 Where am I now? Not in your heart while care weighs on your brow.

1832 Ld. Tennyson Lotos-eaters: Choric Song ii, in Poems (new ed.) 111 Why are we weighed upon with heaviness?

1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice I. ii. ii. 138 Something seemed to weigh upon her spirits.

1858 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 387 This London atmosphere weighs on me.

1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Greece & Greeks II. xii. 47 The sceptre of despotism weighs oppressively on all free public life.

1909 J. L. Allen Bride of Mistletoe v. 147 The silence began to weigh upon her.

b. To insist or dwell upon (a fact, argument, etc.). rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > insistence or persistence > insist or persist [verb (transitive)] > dwell upon

to dwell on, upon (in)a1522

to stay on1579

weigh1817

1817 H. T. Colebrooke Algebra Notes & Illustr. p. xlii These facts will be further weighed upon as we proceed.

1818 H. T. Colebrooke On Import Colonial Corn 70 Without weighing upon this surmise.

Compounds

The verb-stem in combination. Also weighbridge n., weigh-house n., weigh-scale n.

weigh-balk n. northern and Scottish the beam of a pair of scales or steelyard; plural scales.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > beam of a balance

balk1399

beam1420

weigh-balkc1485

scale-beam1723

balance-yard1810

balance-beam1813

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > scales

weighc825

weightsa1300

balance1388

weigh-scalea1400

weighing-scalesc1450

scales1480

weigh-balk1824

c1485 Inventory in J. T. Fowler Acts Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1875) 371 j weybalke cum skales.

1593–4 Burgh Rec. Stirling (1889) II. 380 Quhat~sumever parson..in tym cuming borrow the use of thair wey balk to wey irone or wther geir.

1608 in Cochran-Patrick Early Rec. Mining Scot. (1878) 150 Ane grit weybak with the balance brodis thereto for weying the ore.

1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet III. x. 294 To see a' ane's warldly substance capering in the air in a pair of weigh-bauks, now up, now down.

weigh-bar n. = weigh-shaft n.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > rock

rock shaft1833

weigh-bar1841

rocker shaft1842

weigh-shaft1867

1841 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 4 93/1 A lever is fixed upon the cross-head working in a link connected to a second lever fixed on a shaft or weigh-bar across the engine, whereby a rocking motion is produced.

1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 16 Beam-engine with its weigh-bar gearing.

weigh-beam n. a balance or steelyard.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance

weigha1050

weightsa1300

balancea1375

weigh-shale1465

scales1480

weigh-beam1492

launce1590

scale instrumenta1691

scale balance1809

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > steelyard

statera?a1560

pundler1575

Roman balance1585

Roman beam1611

stelleer1611

Venice beam1611

steelyard1639

bismar1701

Roman steelyard1730

staff-bismara1733

weigh-beam1804

1492 in T. P. Wadley Notes Wills Orphan Bk. Bristol (1886) 178 My weybernes [? read -bemes] with all my weights of lede.

1804 Local Act 44 Geo. III c. lv. §1 To..erect and set up..Weighbeams, Cranes.

1833 N. Arnott Elements Physics (ed. 5) II. 11 If we balance a quantity of ice in a delicate weigh-beam.

weigh-brods n. Scottish plural boards used for the scales of a large balance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > scale of a balance > board or plate used as

weigh-brods1578

weigh-leaf1593

scale-board1876

1578 in T. Thomson Coll. Inventories Royal Wardrobe (1815) 255 Ane pair of wey broddis garnist with yron for weying of mettall with thair towis.

† weigh-gilt n. Scottish Obsolete a payment for weighing (after Dutch waaggeld, German wage-, wägegeld).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > duty on goods > dues for weighing or measuring goods > [noun]

tronagea1325

pesage1455

weigh-gilt1497

metage1527

weighage1547

poisage1611

1497 Ledger-bk. A. Halyburton (1867) 74 Hous hir, 12, veygylt, 4 g.

1498 Ledger-bk. A. Halyburton (1867) 213 Item veygilt, ilk sek 4.

† weigh-leaf n. Obsolete a board or plate used as a scale.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > scale of a balance > board or plate used as

weigh-brods1578

weigh-leaf1593

scale-board1876

1593 in Archaeologia (1853) 35 436 For mending John Newarke's way leaffe, broken in wayinge of lead, iij d.

weigh-lock n. U.S. a canal-lock at which barges are weighed and their tonnage is settled.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > water > body of water > channel of water > [noun] > navigable waterway > canal > lock or chamber > types of lock

sidelock1761

tide-lock1808

weigh-lock1834

sea-lock1839

tail-lock1907

riser1908

1834 F. Lieber Lett. to Gent. in Germany xiv. 260 The object of the greatest interest to me, in Utica, was a weigh-lock—an American invention if I am not mistaken. The toll for freight on the canal is proportionate to weight.

1907 Daily Chron. 18 Oct. 9/2 A large motor-car..backed into a public weigh-house at Blairgowrie (Perthshire)... The building was damaged and the steelyard destroyed... The weighman was in the house at the time, but was uninjured.

weighman n. a man employed to weigh goods, etc.; in a colliery, one who weighs the tubs of coal as they leave the cage at the pit-mouth (for check-weighman see check- comb. form).

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > weigher

peiser1298

weighman1883

1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Weighman. See Weigher.

1917 Blackwood's Mag. Apr. 630/1 The bigger fish were weighed on an ingenious balance, consisting of a long steel rod with a sliding weight, the whole suspended on a bit of string held aloft by the weighman.

weigh-master n. (cf. German wagemeister, Dutch waagmeester), the official in charge of a weigh-house or public scales.

ΚΠ

1617 in J. B. Heath Some Acct. Worshipful Company of Grocers (1869) 428 The Weymaster and his porters, which attended at the Guildhall.

1689 W. Ravenhill Short Acct. Company Grocers 4 The Grocers..may be well presumed (time out of Mind) to have had the management of the King's Beam, as an Office peculiar to them;..thay having had all along..the naming of the Weigh-Master, and the naming, placing, removing and governing of the four Porters, attending that Office, all to be elected out of their own Company.

weigh-out n. the verification of a jockey's declared weight before a race (see 9).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > [noun] > required or suitable weight of rider > weighing

scaling1841

weigh-out1886

1886 Earl of Suffolk & Berkshire & W. G. Craven in Earl of Suffolk et al. Racing & Steeple-chasing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 67 It was, indeed, this absolute certainty as to the accuracy of the weigh-out, which led to the detection of the attempted fraud when Catch-em-alive won the Cambridgeshire.

weigh-shaft n. = rock shaft n.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > rock

rock shaft1833

weigh-bar1841

rocker shaft1842

weigh-shaft1867

1867–72 N. P. Burgh Mod. Marine Engin. 73 Motion is imparted to the lever weigh shaft by a toothed quadrant keyed thereon.

1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. 407 Weigh Shaft or Way Shaft.—..Sometimes called a reversing shaft.

Draft additions December 2015

† intransitive. To go, proceed. Cf. way v. 1. Obsolete. [Earlier currency is perhaps shown by the following isolated example (however, emendation has also been suggested especially to supply an object for the verb):

OE Exodus 180 Ymb hine wægon wigend unforhte, hare heorawulfas hilde gretton, þurstige þræcwiges, þeodenholde.

]

ΚΠ

c1300 St. Michael (Laud) l. 395 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 311 (MED) Heouene geth al-a-boute þe eorþe, euene it mot weyȝe.

c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 11 Children..Ibore to schorte lyues..Bote hi ariȝt icristned be, Fram heuene euere hi weyeþ.

a1450 Revelation of Purgatory (Longleat) (1985) l. 860 (MED) Sho weighed euyn doun to þe fayr lady.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	weigh
释义	weighn.¹ Brit. /weɪ/, U.S. /weɪ/ Forms: Old English wǽg(e, wég, Middle English wæiȝe, Middle English weie, Middle English waye, weih, weȝe, Middle English weigh(e, Middle English, 1800s wee, Middle English–1600s, 1800s dialect wey, 1500s wye, 1600s–1800s way, 1800s dialect weigh. Etymology: Old English wǽg strong feminine, wǽge weak feminine (both meaning ‘balance’ and ‘weight’; see wey n.¹), corresponding to Old Saxon wâga (Middle Low German wâge , Middle Dutch wâghe , Dutch waag ; see waw n.²), Old High German wâga (Middle High German wâge , modern German wage ), Old Norse vág , (Swedish våg , Danish vaag ) < Old Germanic wǣgō- , -ōn-* , < wǣg- (: weg- : wag- ): see weigh v.¹ †1. A weight. Obsolete. (For the word as the name of a particular denomination of weight, see wey n.¹) ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weight weighc1000 weight1340 peisea1382 c1000 Ælfric Gram.* (Z.) xxxii. 58 Pondus, byrðen oððe wæge [v.r. wæg]. c1200 Vices & Vertues 11 Godd us for~bett ðat we ne sculen habbe twifeald wæiȝe ne twifeald imett. 2. A balance, pair of scales. †a. singular. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance weigha1050 weightsa1300 balancea1375 weigh-shale1465 scales1480 weigh-beam1492 launce1590 scale instrumenta1691 scale balance1809 a1050 Liber Scintill. (1889) xxiv. 97 Wordu soðlice snotera on wæge beoð awegene [Ecclus. xxi. 28 statera ponderabuntur]. a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 26 Auh seint austin deð þeos two boðe in one weie. wilnen. & habe wille uorte beon i wilned. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 255 Þe wordes of þe wyse byeþ y-wege ine þe waye. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 947 Þou waltres al in a weih & wel y vnderstande whider þe belaunce bremliest bouwes al-gate. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xi. 1 A treccherous weȝe [L. statera] abominacioun is anent God. a1450 Mirk's Festial 221 Then come thylke brennet dekon, and layde a grete pot on þe wey þe whech anon weyit vp al togedyr. b. plural (sometimes construed as singular). Obsolete exc. dialect †Also, the zodiacal constellation Libra. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > for weighing heavy bodies > weigh-bridge weighc825 weighbridge1796 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > scales weighc825 weightsa1300 balance1388 weigh-scalea1400 weighing-scalesc1450 scales1480 weigh-balk1824 the world > the universe > constellation > zodiacal constellation > [noun] > Libra weighc1400 balance1493 libra1493 c825 Vesp. Psalter lxi. 10 Mendaces filii hominum in stateris, lease bearn monna in wegum. c1100 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 148/16 Trutina, wæga. 1340 R. Rolle Psalter lxi. 9 Leighers in weighes, that is, on the weighes of rightwisnes. c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 74 Heruest bygynnes whenne þe sonne entrys þe first degree of þe tokenynge of weighes. c1425 Wyntoun Cron. v. iv. 693 Pap Siluestir gert þaim be layide In til a weyis. 1481 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1898) I. 97 j par Weez lign. cum ponderibus. 1533 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 451 Ane pair of woll weyiss, ane pair of ballendis of brass. 1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour l. 2286 in Wks. (1931) I Sanct Mychaell, with his wyngis and weyis. 1573 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1848) II. 10 A pair of weyis witht baikis, pryce xl. d. 1578 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories Archdeaconry Richmond (1853) 282 The kitchinge..A pair wyes and wyghts, ii s. vj d. c1587 A. Montgomerie Sonn. xviii. 11 Hald evin the Weyis. 1609 J. Skene tr. Burrow Lawes in Regiam Majestatem c. 125 §3 The heire..sall haue..ane flaill, the weyes [L. stateram], with the wechts, [etc.]. 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Weyes, Weyis, a balance with scales for weighing. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Weyes, Wees. c. Scottish. (See quot. 1886.) ΚΠ 1886 J. Barrowman Gloss. Sc. Mining Terms 72 Weighs, a weigh~bridge; a waggon-weighing machine. 3. A pole borne on the shoulders of two men, for carrying a water-vessel. ? Obsolete. Also wey and bodkins (dialect): see quot. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance by carrying > [noun] > by a person > pole or staff bot forka1350 bearing back1607 weigh1688 sastange1706 shoulder-pole1888 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xiv. 11/2 A Runge or Soe: which is a kind of vessell that Tanners, Glouers, and Beere-brewers use to carry Water in, being borne on a Way or pole betweene two men. 1844 W. Barnes Poems Rural Life in Dorset Dial. Gloss. 368 Wey an' bodkins, a set of spreaders for hitching two horses to the same part of a sull or harrow. The first, the Wey, is fastened at its middle to the plough or harrow by a cops..and the bodkins are connected by a crook on their middle to clipses on the two ends of the wey. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021). weighn.² Brit. /weɪ/, U.S. /weɪ/ Etymology: In under weigh , a variant of under way adv., from association with to weigh anchor at weigh v.¹ 5a. under weigh: = under way adv. 1. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [phrase] > progressing through water under way1622 under weigh1777 1777 E. Draper Let. 25 Aug. in Notes & Queries (1944) 15 July 28/1 I can assure you on the authority of Mr. Sullivan, that he saw him underweigh in the Bessborough and for the East Indies several Weeks ago. 1785 R. Cumberland Observer xii. 111 This perverse wind has at last..come about to the east, so that we are all in high spirits getting under weigh. 1796 Hist. Ned Evans I. 182 Mr. Evans stood upon the beach till the packet got under weigh. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxiii. 236 She got under weigh with very little fuss, and came so near us as to throw a letter on board. 1841 G. Catlin Lett. N. Amer. Indians II. xxxii. 2 I embarked..and was glad to get underweigh. 1855 F. C. Armstrong Warhawk I. xii. 258 The following morning he embarked with his attendant, O'Regan, on board The Royal Anne, which got under weigh shortly after. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online March 2022). weighv.¹ Brit. /weɪ/, U.S. /weɪ/ Forms: Past tense and participle weighed /weɪd/. Forms: Old English wegan (3rd singular wigeð, wihð; wegeð, wehð), Middle English weiȝe (Middle English 3rd singular weihð), Middle English weȝe, weyȝe, Middle English weghe, 1500s weygh(e, waygh, 1500s–1600s weighe, waigh(e, 1500s– weigh; Middle English–1500s weie, Middle English–1600s weye (Middle English wheyhe, Middle English–1600s Scottish veye), Middle English–1600s (1800s Scottish) wey (Middle English–1600s Scottish vey); Middle English–1600s waie, Middle English–1600s waye (Middle English whaye), way, 1500s–1600s weay; Middle English–1500s northern and Scottish wye (Middle English whye), 1600s Scottish wie; Middle English whe, 1500s Scottish we-, ve-, 1800s Scottish wee. past tense Old English wæg, plural wǽgon, Middle English way, plural weȝe, Middle English weȝ, wey, weyȝ(e, weygh, wayȝ, weghe, weie, (? woghe). β. Middle English weide (Middle English plural weiden), Middle English weiede, Middle English we(y)ȝed(e, etc., Middle English–1600s weied, weyed, 1500s–1600s wayed, waied, waighed, etc., 1500s– weighed. past participle Old English wegen, Middle English iwæiȝen, Middle English yweȝe, weyen, ( i-), ( y)wey(e, ( i)weie; Middle English wawyn, wowyn, wowne. β. Middle English yweid, ( i)weied, weȝed, Middle English–1600s weyed, Middle English weiede, Middle English–1500s weyd, 1500s wei(e)d, wayed, wayd(e, etc., 1600s– weighed. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English wegan (wæg , wǽgon , wegen ) corresponds to Old Frisian wega , weia to move, weigh, Old Saxon wegan to weigh, (Middle) Dutch wegen to weigh, Old High German wegan to move, shake, weigh (Middle High German wegen ; modern German has bewegen to move, while the simple verb is represented by the two verbs wägen transitive, to weigh, wiegen intransitive, to weigh, be of a certain weight), Old Norse vega to lift, weigh (Swedish väga , Danish veie , to weigh), Gothic ga-wigan (only Luke vi. 38 in past participle feminine gawigana shaken). The Germanic root weg- , wag- , wǣg- (for words representing the several grades see way n.¹; wag v., wagon n., wain n.¹, waw n.¹, waw v.¹; weigh n.¹, wey n.¹) is < Indogermanic wegh-, wogh-, wēgh-, found in Sanskrit vah, Latin vehĕre to carry, Greek ϝοχος, ὄχος vehicle. The remarkably early appearance of the weak conjugation was probably due to confusion with weigh v.²; the two Old English verbs wegan and wecgan coincided in the form wegeð of the 3rd singular present (though the former verb had also the more normal wigeð). The strong inflection of the past tense died out in the 14th century, and that of the past participle in the 15th. I. To bear, carry, hold up; to heave up, lift. †1. transitive. To bear from one place to another; to carry, transport. Obsolete.In quot. c1400³ ? To carry round and serve (wine). ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > [verb (transitive)] haveeOE ferryOE weighOE bearOE take?a1160 weve13.. carry1348 passa1350 tow1391 geta1393 convey1393 winc1400 transport1483 set1487 convoy1500 traduce1535 port1566 repair1612 vehiculate1628 transmute1683 transplant1769 gallant1806 transit1859 inveigh1878 waltz1884 sashay1928 conduct- OE Beowulf 1207 He þa frætwe wæg..ofer yða ful. c1000 Narratiunculæ (1861) 9 Micel mænigeo elpenda þa þe gold wægon & læddon. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1403 Wyȝeȝ þe walle wyn weȝed to hem oft. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1508 Weȝe wyn in þis won, wassayl, he cryes. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1420 So faste þay weȝed to him wyne, hit warmed his hert. †2. To bear (arms); to wear (a robe, etc.). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [verb (transitive)] wearc893 weighc897 beareOE haveOE usea1382 to get on1679 sport1778 to stand up in1823 take1868 society > armed hostility > military equipment > arming or equipping with weapons > arm or equip [verb (transitive)] > bear (arms) weighc897 wearc1000 bearOE c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xiii. 77 On ðæm selfan hrægle, ðe he on his breostum wæg. c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist (1890) ii. ix. 123 Hæfde he & wæg mid hine twiecge handseax geættred. c1250 Owl & Night. 1022 (Cott.) He miȝte bet teche ane bore To weȝe [Jes. bere] boþe sheld & spere. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13116 Ælc weiede [c1300 Otho caste] an sculdre sceld swiðe godne. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12212 Heo weȝe [read weȝeden; c1300 Otho beore] on heore honde feouwer sweord of golde. †3. With up: To hold up, support. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (transitive)] to bear upeOE underbearc950 bearOE holdc1000 weighc1200 to hold up1297 upholda1300 sustainc1330 undersetc1330 comforta1382 underbear1382 upbear1390 sustaina1398 upkeepc1412 carrya1425 supporta1425 chargea1500 convey1514 avoke1529 confirm1542 stay1548 to carry up1570 bolster1581 lift1590 upstay1590 atlas1593 sustent1605 statuminatea1628 firm1646 appui1656 establish1664 shoulder1674 to keep up1681 upheave1729 withhold1769 c1200 Vices & Virtues 49 He ðe weiȝþ upp mid his fingre heuene and ierðe. 4. †a. With up: To hoist, to lift up. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > make to go up or cause to rise [verb (transitive)] > hoist heave971 lifta1300 to set upa1300 lift1362 raisec1384 weigh1421 horsea1500 hawsec1500 heeze1513 hoise1548 hoist1548 wind1577 to work upc1610 hist1707 1421–2 T. Hoccleve Dialog 402 Right as a theef þat hath eschapid ones The roop, no dreede hath eft his art to vse, Til þat the trees him weye vp, body and bones. 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1643/2 They tooke the sayd Roode and weyed hym vp and set hym in his old accustomed place. 1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ viii. §1. 132 With which Tongs you may Beclip the [Hop-]Pole at the bottom, and resting the joynt thereof on a block of wood, you may weigh up the Pole. †b. figurative. To raise up, exalt. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to > make more important arearc885 upheavea1300 upraisea1300 uphigh13.. enhancec1325 liftc1330 uplift1338 uphebbe1340 uptakec1340 magnifya1382 upreara1382 uphancec1390 preponder?1504 upbring1513 exaggerate1564 greaten1589 weighc1595 to make much matter ofa1649 aggravate1698 aggrandize1709 beef1941 c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cvii. 111 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 174 [God] from want the poore doth waigh. c. Nautical. To set up (a mast). ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > fit out or equip > rig > furnish with masts > set up a mast weigh1841 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 134 Weigh, to lift up; as, to weigh an anchor or a mast. 5. a. Nautical. To heave up (a ship's anchor) from the ground, before sailing. Now usually to weigh anchor (without article). †Formerly also with up, in. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor > weigh anchor to weigh anchor?a1400 to loose the anchor?c1450 disanchor1477 weigh1513 loose1526 to loose one's bark1567 up killick1837–40 up-anchor1889 society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor (a ship) [verb (transitive)] > anchor (a ship) > loose (ship) from anchor > weigh (anchor) weigh?a1400 loosec1440 rear?c1475 levy1648 sway1790 ?a1400 Morte Arth. 740 Wyghtly one þe wale thay wye up þaire ankers. c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 103 Wiȝt at þe wyndas weȝen her ankres. c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 493 They weyde vp þeire ankyrs. 1492 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 245/1 Compelling of þe saidis Wegeantis seruitouris to wey þer ankeris. 1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. li Come to our shyp our ankers ar in wayde. ?1518 Cocke Lorelles Bote sig. C.ij^v Than Cocke wayed anker and housed his sayle. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. xliiii^v When the wynde was prosperous..they waied vp the Ankers. 1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 52 We weyed the anchors. 1589 Voy. W. Towrson in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 101 We wayed our Grapnel and went away. 1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 27 Break ground, or way Anchor, heaue a head. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ii. 45 The windes fauouring vs, we weighed Ankors. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre i. 11 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian Constantianus wayed Anchor from Epidaurus. a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 19 I weighed anchor and sett sayle. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 182 We weighed Anchor the same Tide, and stood out to Sea. 1773 J. Hawkesworth Acct. Voy. Southern Hemisphere III. iii. ix. 651 In the mean time, as the ship tended, I weighed anchor. 1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iii. iv. 86 Cormac Doil..Hoisted his sail, his anchor weigh'd. 1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage v. 77 We immediately weighed anchor. 1877 19th Cent. Dec. 769 It was misty and rainy when we weighed anchor, but we made the buoy on the Narrows Bank without difficulty. 1940 M. Dickens Mariana ix. 339 The Captain of the Piccolino had a carefree habit of weighing anchor according to whim rather than schedule. 1997 T. Mackintosh-Smith Yemen (1999) viii. 221 The sun rose as we weighed anchor and headed west. b. figurative. ΚΠ 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. ix. sig. Cii I will streight waie anker and hoise vp saile. a1640 P. Massinger Guardian Prol., in 3 New Plays (1655) Our Author weighs up anchors, and once more Forsaking the security of the shore, Resolves to prove his fortune. 1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico ii. 36 As often as this sacred Anchor [of Religion] is weighed, so often the Ship of the Common-Wealth is tossed. 1882 Cent. Mag. Sept. 707/2 He for whom the sexton has tolled the bell has ‘weighed anchor’. c. absol. = to weigh anchor. Hence, to sail (from, out of a port, etc.). ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor > weigh anchor to weigh anchor?a1400 to loose the anchor?c1450 disanchor1477 weigh1513 loose1526 to loose one's bark1567 up killick1837–40 up-anchor1889 1513 E. Howard Let. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 215 We cowd ryd no lenger ther withowt gret danger,..we weyd to get us in to the Downes. c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 31 The maister..bald the marynalis lay the cabil to the cabilstok to veynde and veye. 1589 Voy. W. Towrson in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 101 Wee wayed and set saile. 1613 J. Saris Jrnl. in Voy. Japan (1900) 1 The 14th in the morning we wayed out of the roade of Bantam for Japan. a1647 P. Pette in Archaeologia (1796) 12 226 On Wednesday..we weighed from Limehouse, and anchored right against the Tower. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. iv. 34 On the 3d of November we weighed from Madera. 1808 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) IV. 193 I found about 60 of the convoy had lost their anchors in attempting to weigh. 1867 Pall Mall Gaz. 19 July 9/1 It would have been necessary for each ship to weigh singly, which would have occupied fifteen minutes each. 1893 H. M. Doughty Our Wherry in Wendish Lands 20 In the morning we weighed early. 6. a. To raise (a sunk ship, gun, etc.) from the bottom of the water. Also with up. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > other nautical operations > [verb (transitive)] > raise up from bottom weighc1503 a. c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xlix^v/2 After tyme she was weyed and toued to the hauyn at caleis. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. xxvj Leuyng the gonne (because the master carpenter sayde y^t he woulde shortely way it out of the water). 1578 W. Bourne Treasure for Traueilers iv. viii. f.17 Then it will waygh or lyfte the sunken Shyppe from the bottome. 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. xii. 81 Rules to weigh Ships, or Guns, or any thing else in the Water. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World vii. 239 [The diver] could find but one small gun, which he weigh'd, and brought ashore. 1777 J. Putnam in J. Sparks Corr. Amer. Revol. (1853) II. 540 Should the enemy succeed in weighing the chevaux-de-frise, and proceed up the river. 1783 W. Cowper Let. 20 Oct. (1981) II. 172 I must beg leave however..to mourn..that the Royal George cannot be weigh'd. b.1545 Dk. Suffolk in Hooker Life Sir P. Carew (1857) 129 I trust by Monday or Twisday..the Mary Rose shalbe wayed upp and saved.1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. xcix. 194/2 The Reuenge had in her diuers faire brasse peeces, that were all sunke in the sea, which they of the Island were in good hope to waigh vp againe.1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. iii. 7 A great Gunne..was overthrowne in a deep Pond of water..the Master Carpenter taking with him a hundred labourers, went and weyed it up.1687 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) IV. 552 A Vast treasure which..being sunk in a Spanish Galioon..was now weighed up, by certaine Gentlemen.1735 S. Gale in Archaeologia 1 189 (note) One of these stakes, entire, was actually weighed up between two loaded barges at the time of a great flood.1760 S. Derrick Lett. (1767) I. 16 She being effectually sucked in by the heavy sandy bottom, all attempts to weigh her up have been ineffectual.1782 W. Cowper Loss Royal George 25 Weigh the vessel up..; Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again.1815 Local Act 55 Geo. III c. lv. §73 If any Boat..shall be sunk in any Part of the said Canal,..and the Owner..shall not, without loss of Time, weigh or draw up the same. †b. intransitive for reflexive. To be raised up; to admit of being raised. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > raise [verb (intransitive)] > be raised hoise1565 to go up1607 weigh1655 1655 W. Hammond Poems 67 Onely this difference, that sunk downward, this Weighd up to blisse. 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. xii. 81 If the thing sunk be upon Sands or Rocks, it will weigh the better. II. To balance in the scales; to ascertain the weight of; to consider or compare in this respect. 7. a. transitive. To ascertain the exact heaviness of (an object or substance) by balancing it in a pair of scales, or on a steelyard, against a counterpoise of known amount. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] weighc1000 aweighOE peisea1382 poise1458 ponder?1518 pound1570 tron1609 perpenda1612 librate1623 scale1691 weight1734 c1000 Ælfric Gram. xiii. 84 Ælc þæra ðinga, þe man wihð on wægan. c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 374 Genim geoluwne stan & salt stan & pipor & weh on wæge. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 213 Gif hit chepinge be, þe me shule meten oðer weien. c1200 Vices & Virtues 17 He wile hes habben wel imotet and bi rihte wæiȝe wel iwæiȝen. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 44 Huanne þo þet zelleþ be wyȝte purchaceþ and makeþ zuo moche þet þet þing þet me ssel weȝe sseweþ more heuy. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 2 Sam. xiv. 26 He weiede [a1425 L.V. weiȝide] the heeris of his heed with two hundred siclis be the comoun weiȝt. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. x. 273 When..þe woolle worth weye, woo ys þe þenne. a1400 Eng. Gilds (1870) 356 Þe kynges by whas wyȝte hit be yweye. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 533/1 Wowyn, or weyyd, ponderatus, libratus. 1469 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 21 The wheight stone that the wooll was weyed with. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 252 Are there ballance here to weigh the flesh? View more context for this quotation 1613 J. Saris Jrnl. in Voy. Japan (1900) 42 A Beame to waye spice with. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 98 They weigh the cheese when it is set on Table, and taken away, being paid by the weight. 1758 S. Johnson Idler 28 Oct. 233 Engines should be fixed in proper places to weigh chairs as they weigh waggons. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 179 We have weighed it green, that is, just after mowing, against all the other pasture grasses, and it out-weighs them all. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xv. 380 A graduated transfer jar containing the gas to be weighed. 1863 M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd I. xiii. 292 While the numbers were going up, and the jockeys being weighed. 1894 J. D. Astley Fifty Years of my Life II. 212 When we weighed their riders after the morning's work, we found that Peter was giving Foxhall two stone and a half. b. absol. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] weigh1362 ponder?a1525 1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. v. 118 Furst I leornede to lyȝe a lessun or tweyne, And wikkedliche for to weie was myn oþer lessun. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 122 Libra..hath figure and resemblance Unto a man which a balance Berth in his hond as forto weie. 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. vii. 138 And by the potte and elle ben signefyed them that haue the charge to weye and mete and mesure truly. c. to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver): to perform the Indian ceremony in which (a rajah, etc.) is weighed and his weight in gold (or silver) distributed as largesse. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] > weigh in order to give gold in largesse to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver)1934 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > a person in specific ceremony to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver)1934 society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > kinds of rite > Hindu > [verb (transitive)] to do puja1681 to weigh (someone) against gold (or silver)1934 1696 J. Ovington Voy. Suratt 179 The Moguls are sometimes weighed against Silver. 1934 Times 25 Aug. 13/2 The Maharajah..will be weighed against gold... The gold-weigh ceremony is usually performed with gold supplied by the person being weighed... This amount will be distributed in charity. 1936 Times 14 Jan. 13/6 At this Durbar the Aga Khan will be weighed against gold, and it is expected that 20,000 guests will attend the function. d. In Horse Racing. to weigh out, in: to take the weight of (a jockey) respectively before and after a race. (Cf. 9.) ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > ride horse in race [verb (transitive)] > weigh rider to weigh out, in1890 1890 Rules of Racing in Encycl. Sport (1898) II. 224 The Stakeholder shall not allow a jockey to be weighed out for any horse until such horse's stake [etc.] have been paid. 1890 Rules of Racing in Encycl. Sport (1898) II. 225 The Clerk of the Scales..shall in all cases weigh in the riders of the horses.., and report to the Stewards any jockey not presenting himself to be weighed in. e. to weigh off: to punish; to convict or sentence. slang (originally Military). Now chiefly Criminals'. ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > [verb (transitive)] threac897 tighta1000 beswinkc1175 punisha1325 chastise1362 paina1375 justifya1393 wage1412 reformc1450 chasten1526 thwart over thumba1529 chastifyc1540 amerce?1577 follow1579 to rap (a person) on the knuckles (also fingers)1584 finea1616 mulcta1620 fita1625 vindicate1632 trounce1657 reward1714 tawse1790 sort1815 to let (a person) have it1823 visit1836 to catch or get Jesse1839 to give, get goss1840 to have ita1848 to take (a person) to the woodshed1882 to give (one) snuff1890 soak1892 give1906 to weigh off1925 to tear down1938 zap1961 slap1968 society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > conviction or judicial condemnation > convict or condemn [verb (intransitive)] imputec1540 to weigh off1925 1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 301 Weighed off, to be, to be brought up before an officer and punished. 1945 Tee Emm (Air Ministry) 5 54 P.O. Prune will have to investigate and deal with a charge..and possibly weigh off the first delinquent of his service career. 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights i. 22 You just got weighed off yesterday? 1963 T. Morris & P. Morris Pentonville ii. 20 One young man..commented that he had been ‘weighed off at X Assizes by some old geezer togged up like Father Christmas’. 1978 B. Norman To nick Good Body x. 81 Another was in custody..waiting to be weighed off. f. to weigh in: to weigh (an air passenger's luggage) before departure; to subject (a passenger) to this procedure. See excess luggage at excess n. 6b. ΘΚΠ society > travel > air or space travel > transport by air > transport through the air [verb (transitive)] > weigh luggage before departure to weigh in1934 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > luggage or a passenger to weigh in1934 1934 Rhys-Williams Diary 1 Aug. (MS.) Left Eaton Place at 4.30 p.m. for Victoria, where we were ‘weighed-in’, and had our luggage weighed and labelled. 1962 L. Deighton Ipcress File v. 30 She weighed in my wardrobe case. 1970 New Yorker 16 May 41/2 The porter..takes her bag and follows her to the desk to have it weighed in. g. Angling. to weigh in: of an angler, to have (one's catch) officially weighed at the end of a competition. Also absol. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [verb (intransitive)] > have fish weighed to weigh in1949 1928 Daily Tel. 25 Sept. 12/5 It is a rule that every fish caught must be kept alive, and after being weighed must be put back into the water by the official weigher-in.] 1949 Club Anglers' Jrnl. Nov. 14/1 The river fished well and the winner weighed-in 6 lb. 4 oz. 12 drm. 1972 Match Rules (Nat. Fed. Anglers) in E. Marshall-Hardy Angling Ways (1973) xxxix. 306 No competitor may have his catch weighed in who has litter lying on the banks of his swim. 1976 Wymondham & Attleborough Express 17 Dec. 22/5 Only 10..competitors weighed in,..but..Frank Kilbourn..float fished to take 9–2 of good roach. 8. a. To measure a definite quantity of (a substance) on the scales. Usually with out: To portion out (a quantity measured by weight) from a larger mass; to apportion (such a quantity) to (a person or persons); †to measure exactly or to the full weight (obsolete). Also with in, into: To introduce a specified weight of (a substance), to add as an ingredient. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] assail?c1225 to set on ——c1290 saila1300 to turn one's handc1325 lashc1330 to set against ——c1330 impugnc1384 offendc1385 weighc1386 checka1400 to lay at?a1400 havec1400 to set at ——c1430 fraya1440 rehetea1450 besail1460 fray1465 tuilyie1487 assaulta1500 enterprise?1510 invade1513 sturt1513 attempt1546 lay1580 tilt1589 to fall aboard——1593 yoke1596 to let into1598 to fall foul1602 attack1655 do1780 to go in at1812 to pitch into ——1823 tackle1828 vampire1832 bushwhack1837 to go for ——1838 take1864 pile1867 volcano1867 to set about ——1879 vampirize1888 to get stuck into1910 to take to ——1911 weigh1941 rugby-tackle1967 rugger-tackle1967 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures fangc1320 hurtlec1374 impugnc1384 weighc1386 to fall upon ——a1398 to start on ——a1398 oppugn?1435 to lay to, untoa1500 onseta1522 wipe1523 to set against ——1542 to fall aboard——1593 aggress1596 to fall foul1602 attack1613 appugn1615 to set upon ——1639 to fall on ——1641 to lay home, hard, hardly to1650 tack1720 bombard1766 savage1796 to pitch into ——1823 to begin upon a personc1825 bulldog1842 to down on (also upon)a1848 to set at ——1849 to start on ——a1851 to start in on1859 set on at or to1862 to let into1872 to go for ——1890 swash1890 slog1891 to get at ——1893 tee1955 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > weigh (a specific amount) weighc1000 peisea1382 weighc1386 poise1389 ponder?a1425 to turn the scale1600 ponderize1634 heft1851 avoirdupois1854 scale1862 to tip the scales1884 to weigh in1909 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > weigh out weigh1585 pound1876 c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 745 And of that coper [he] weyed out [Cambr. MS. vp] but an ounce. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. iii. 33 b We began to way out the bisket vnto the gallie slaues. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. ii. sig. N7^v For at the first they all created were In goodly measure, by their Makers might, And weighed out in ballaunces so nere, That not a dram was missing of their right. View more context for this quotation 1615 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 88 We wayed out the wax which came in the Hozeander, and fownd it want a tonne. 1616 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 111 We waid out the pepper to day for the king. 1616 R. Cocks Diary (1883) I. 217 He delivered or wayd out much more to Tomo Dono and Cushcron Dono. a1646 J. Burroughes Expos. Hosea (1652) iii. 197 Never did any skilfull Physitian more carefully weigh out to every dram what the potion should be that is to be given to a child, than God doth weigh out every affliction that he sendeth upon his children. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. iii. 76 No further difficulty will now arise in the way of graduating a tube. The 34.25 grains of mercury are to be weighed in... Another 34.25 grains of mercury are to be weighed into the tube to the metal already contained in it. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xii. 278 If it be found that as many parts of the acid have been used as of grains of the carbonate weighed out, the acid is of proper strength. †b. To measure (a sum of money) by weight, in order to pay it to (a person). Chiefly in Biblical renderings. Also with out, down. Obsolete. (So Old English awegan, German wägen, dar-, zuwägen.) ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > count or weigh out in payment reckonOE tell?a1300 weigh1382 number1474 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Zech. xi. 12 And thei weyȝiden my meede, thritti platis of syluer. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Job xxviii. 15 Nether siluer schal be weied [1382 peisid] in the chaungyng therof. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Jer. xxxii. 10 I..weyed him there the money vpon the waightes. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Zech. xi. 12 So they wayed downe xxx. syluer pens, y^e value that I was prysed at. 1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 492/2 An officer that weyed out mony for soldiers wages. 1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe ii. i. sig. C^v Some [are] cutting purses, some cheating, some weying out bribes. c. figurative. To dispense or administer (justice) impartially. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > judge or determine judicially [verb (transitive)] > judge impartially weighc1400 c1400 26 Pol. Poems i. 14 Weye o lawe in euenhede, By~twen ffauour and vengeaunce. 1562 A. Scott To Q. Mary in Poems i. 29 Waye iustice, equale without discrepance. 9. a. intransitive in Horse Racing. Of a jockey: To take his place in the scales, in order that his declared weight may be verified by the clerk. to weigh out (in), to do this before and after a race. (Cf. 7d) Similarly in Boxing, to weigh in: said of a boxer (turning the scales at a particular weight) before a fight. Hence in general colloquial use. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > be weighed weigh1805 to ride or go to scale1837 scale1859 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > weigh (a specific amount) weighc1000 peisea1382 weighc1386 poise1389 ponder?a1425 to turn the scale1600 ponderize1634 heft1851 avoirdupois1854 scale1862 to tip the scales1884 to weigh in1909 society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > box [verb (intransitive)] > weigh in to weigh in1909 1805 Weatherby's Racing Cal. XXXII. p. xxxviii That every person who shall ride at Newmarket for Plate, Sweep~stakes, or Match, shall be obliged to weigh when he comes in. 1858 Rules of Racing §37 Jockies are required to weigh at the usual place of weighing, before the race,..and every rider is, immediately after the race, to ride his horse to the usual place of weighing,..and to weigh to the satisfaction of the person appointed for that purpose. 1868 G. J. Whyte-Melville White Rose I. xiv. 174 Their riders are drinking sherry..preparatory to ‘weighing in’. 1868 G. J. Whyte-Melville White Rose I. xiv. 182 Mr. Snipe, returning to weigh after an easy victory. 1877 Rules of Racing §31 Weighing out and starting. 1877 Rules of Racing §34 Weighing in. 1879 J. Rice Hist. Turf I. 298 The rider of Musjid..is said to have weighed in and weighed out with a whip weighing 7 or 9 lbs. and to have exchanged it for a lighter whip before and after the race. 1909 ‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny xviii. 307 He was six feet four and weighed in at 135. 1920 J. Masefield Right Royal 33 When the clock struck three and the men weighed out. 1920 J. Masefield Right Royal 119 Then the riders weighed-in, and the meeting was over. 1931 Daily Express 13 Oct. 1/7 Both boxers weighed in this afternoon. 1958 S. Wilcox 3 Days Running vii. 79 When at last I was able..to ‘weigh-in’ ..I weighed five pounds more than at the beginning of the day. 1966 Aviation Week & Space Technol. 5 Dec. 6/1 The complete inertial package weighs in at only 14 pounds. 1979 SLR Camera Mar. 35/1 The compact ‘Zuiko’ 1000mm measures just 26 inches and weighs in at around eight and a half pounds. b. Hence to weigh in with: to introduce or produce (something that is additional or extra). colloquial. ΚΠ 1885 Daily News Nov. in J. R. Ware Passing Eng. Victorian Era (1909) The journal ‘weighs in’ with a prismatic Christmas number. 1901 Macmillan's Mag. Apr. 464/1 Carver..used to sit up and snort a bit when we weighed in with hock and seltzer instead of tea. 1921 D. G. Mackail Romance to Rescue i. 9 A Rhodes scholar weighed in with praise of Greenwich Village. c. fig. to weigh in: to bring one's weight or influence to bear; to enter a forceful contribution to a discussion, etc. Also: U.S. slang to meet up. colloquial. ΘΚΠ society > authority > power > influence > have influence [verb (intransitive)] > exert influence labour1442 to make labour1603 influence1670 to make interest1709 to weigh in1909 1909 G. B. Shaw Let. 31 July (1972) II. 854 I want you to ask the Chief Rabbi to weigh in. 1919 M. Beerbohm Seven Men 147 A few weeks later the Anglo-Indians weigh in. In due course we have the help of our Australian cousins. 1926 J. Black You can't Win x. 135 We parted at Pocatello, agreeing to ‘weigh in’ (meet) at Ogden in the spring. 1938 E. Bowen Death of Heart iii. iii. 378 The telephone crisis..had been the moment for Lilian to weigh in. 1956 A. L. Rowse Early Churchills 221 The Princess Anne, in her constant rôle of fairy godmother to the Marlboroughs, weighed in; nor could it have been done with more tact and good feeling. 1976 Milton Keynes Express 4 June 38/4 Sim weighed in with 4–27 off eight overs. d. To launch into and attack (a person, etc.). Also figurative. colloquial. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] assail?c1225 to set on ——c1290 saila1300 to turn one's handc1325 lashc1330 to set against ——c1330 impugnc1384 offendc1385 weighc1386 checka1400 to lay at?a1400 havec1400 to set at ——c1430 fraya1440 rehetea1450 besail1460 fray1465 tuilyie1487 assaulta1500 enterprise?1510 invade1513 sturt1513 attempt1546 lay1580 tilt1589 to fall aboard——1593 yoke1596 to let into1598 to fall foul1602 attack1655 do1780 to go in at1812 to pitch into ——1823 tackle1828 vampire1832 bushwhack1837 to go for ——1838 take1864 pile1867 volcano1867 to set about ——1879 vampirize1888 to get stuck into1910 to take to ——1911 weigh1941 rugby-tackle1967 rugger-tackle1967 1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 81 Weigh into someone, to attack, wade into a person in a fight. 1976 F. Warner Killing Time i. i. 8 I survived the war,..and then, if I was a minute after 9.30 in the evening, my Mother would weigh into me. 10. a. transitive. To hold (an object) in the hand (or in both hands) in order to observe or estimate its weight; to balance an object in the hand (or hands) as if estimating its weight. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > again > estimate weight by holding in hands peisea1393 weigh1540 heft1816 weight1898 1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus ii. iii. sig. Mj^v Waye me this gyrdel heuy with moche golde .i. fele me this girdell, howe heuy it is with golde. 1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 343 Who poises and proportions sea and land, Weighing them in the hollow of his hand. 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. xviii. 340 ‘But why should he know of it?’ said Glossin, slipping a couple of guineas into Mac-Guffog's hand. The turnkey weighed the gold, and looked sharp at Glossin. 1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist II. xxiii. 63 Mr. Bumble..counted the tea-spoons, weighed the sugar-tongs. 1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son lvi. 569 He remained before him weighing his white hat in both hands by the brim. 1911 H. W. Fowler & F. G. Fowler Conc. Oxf. Dict. (at cited word) [He] meditatively weighed his stick in his hand. b. To keep (the wings) evenly outspread in flight. poetic. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [verb (transitive)] > of Satan: keep wings evenly outspread weigh1667 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 1046 Satan..in the emptier waste, resembling Air, Weighs his spread wings. View more context for this quotation 11. figurative (with more or less retention of the literal idea or expression): a. To estimate, assess the value of (a person, a condition, quality, etc.), as if by placing in the scales. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)] talec897 ween971 takec1175 weigha1200 deem?c1225 judge?c1225 guessc1330 reta1382 accounta1387 aretc1386 assize1393 consider1398 ponder?a1400 adjudgec1440 reckonc1440 peisec1460 ponderate?a1475 poisea1483 trutinate1528 steem1535 rate?1555 sense1564 compute1604 censure1605 cast1606 cense1606 estimate1651 audit1655 state1671 balance1692 esteem1711 appraise1823 figure1854 tally1860 revalue1894 lowball1973 a1200 Moral Ode 63 in Lamb. Hom. 163 Þer me scal ure werkes weien biforan þe heuen king. 1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. i. 152 Þe same Mesure þat ȝe Meten A-mis oþer elles, Ȝe schul be weyen þer-with whon ȝe wenden hennes. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job vi. 2 Wolde God, my synnes weren weȝed..in a balaunce. 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. III. 129 Þou art i-weye on a balaunce and i-founde þat þou hast lasse [Dan. v. 27]. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Iii^v Our sayd lorde..at the houre of our iudgement shall ponder & wey euery mannes encrease or decrease. 1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16279) Administr. Lordes Supper sig. N.vii^v Not weighing our merites, but pardoning our offences. 1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes Prol. f. Ai God doth not way us as we are, but as we desier to be. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. D3^v Accursed vsury was all his trade, And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide. 1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada i. iii. i. 22 Friendship..weighs by th' lump, and, when the cause is light, Puts kindness in to set the Ballance right. 1736 G. Berkeley Disc. Magistr. in Wks. (1871) III. 419 Were all men to be weighed in the exact scale of merit. 1744 M. Bishop Life Matthew Bishop 97 Where such a cross~grain'd Piece of Stuff is concerned..one should ponder with inward Consultations, to be able to weigh him to a Hair. 1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 159 That heav'n will weigh man's virtues and his crimes, With nice attention in a righteous scale. 1815 Ld. Byron Vision Belshazzar vi, in Hebrew Melodies 36 He in the balance weighed, Is light and worthless clay. 1872 J. S. Blackie Lays of Highlands 134 God numbers not the heads, but weighs the hearts Of them that worship. 1897 ‘Ouida’ Massarenes xxii [She] had mentally weighed him, and found him wanting. b. To balance with or against (another object regarded as a counterpoise) in order to obtain a comparative estimate. Also to weigh together. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > compare [verb (transitive)] > balance against counterweighc1430 weigha1535 proportion1591 counterbalance1603 scalea1616 appoisea1670 counterpoise1685 tally1702 commeasure1849 benchmark1963 a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 47/1 Waye the good that they dooe, with the hurte that commeth of them. 1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Pref. sig. ❧.i^v If those men will waye their labor, with the profite in knowlege, whiche dayely they shal obtein by readyng vpon the boke. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. ii. sig. O For by no meanes the false will with the truth be wayd . View more context for this quotation 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. ii. 98 But in that Cristall scales let there be waide, Your Ladyes loue, against some other maide. 1609 T. Dekker Guls Horne-bk. sig. B3^v The old world & the new waighed together. a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. i. 8 Then wisely (good Sir) weigh Our sorrow, with our comfort. View more context for this quotation 1647 A. Cowley Love Undiscovered in Mistress ii Forbid it Heaven my Life should be Weigh'd with her least Conveniency. 1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 150 The fragrant grove, th' inestimable mine, Were light when weigh'd against one smile of thine. 1823 C. Lamb in London Mag. Oct. 406/1 While we had been weighing anxiously prudence against sentiment. 1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. 265 He anxiously weighed his own resources against those at the enemy's disposal. 1868 A. Helps Realmah (1876) vi. x. 112 But of what weight was any mere earthly consideration of that kind when weighed against the danger of impiety? 1917 Q. Rev. Jan. 16 They held their lives to be of little price, when weighed against a nation's fidelity to its engagements. c. To make equal, balance (the year; i.e. to make night and day of equal length). poetic.Cf. Columella x. 42 Cum..paribus Titan orbem librauerit horis. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > balance peisea1382 counterpoise1393 counterweighc1430 ballast1611 evena1618 equilibrate1625 balance1634 poise1639 to hold scale with1650 weigh1697 equipoisea1764 trim1817 to even up1863 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 62 Now sing we stormy Stars, when Autumn weighs The Year, and adds to Nights, and shortens Days. View more context for this quotation 1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad VI. xxii. 39 The Year when Autumn weighs. 12. a. To consider (a fact, circumstance, statement, etc.) in order to assess its value or importance; to ponder, estimate, examine, take due account of; to balance in the mind with a view to choice or preference. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > consider, deliberate [verb (transitive)] i-thenchec897 showeOE i-mune971 thinkOE overthinkOE takec1175 umbethinkc1175 waltc1200 bethinkc1220 wend?c1225 weighc1380 delivera1382 peisea1382 considerc1385 musec1390 to look over ——a1393 advise?c1400 debatec1400 roll?c1400 revert?a1425 advertc1425 deliberc1425 movec1425 musec1425 revolvec1425 contemplec1429 overseec1440 to think overc1440 perpend1447 roil1447 pondera1450 to eat inc1450 involvec1470 ponderate?a1475 reputec1475 counterpoise1477 poisea1483 traversec1487 umbecast1487 digest1488 undercast1489 overhalec1500 rumble1519 volve?1520 compassa1522 recount1526 trutinate1528 cast1530 expend1531 ruminate1533 concoct1534 contemplate1538 deliberate1540 revolute1553 chawa1558 to turn over1568 cud1569 cogitate1570 huik1570 chew1579 meditatec1580 discourse1581 speculate1599 theorize1599 scance1603 verse1614 pensitate1623 agitate1629 spell1633 view1637 study1659 designa1676 introspect1683 troll1685 balance1692 to figure on or upon1837 reflect1862 mull1873 to mull over1874 scour1882 mill1905 c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 323 Ȝif we weyn aryht dispensis bi lore of þe hooly goost. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 384 (398) And weyen every thyng by equite. 14.. J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep 150 in Polit. Relig. & Love Poems (1903) 21 Ye prudent Iugis..Weieth this mater in your discrecioun. c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) xxxv. 113 Cast all thair counsailis jlkane till othir jn thy mynde, and wey thame as thou thinkis the caus requeris. 1533 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 300 They wayeing in thaire myndes the force of the saide acte. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxvj^v He desyreth them..that they would way the whole case diligently. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ix. sig. H7^v She now weighing the decayed plight, And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. iv. 194. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 181 If thou hast seriously weighed the foregoing rules. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 580 Weigh in your Mind, the various Chance of War. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 43. ⁋2 I have well weighed that Matter. 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iii. iii. 35 I weighed the consequences on both sides as fairly as I could. View more context for this quotation 1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals iii. i I have been likewise weighing and balancing what you were pleased to mention concerning duty. 1847 J. Yeowell Chron. Anc. Brit. Church iii. 34 Let any thinking man weigh this singular circumstance. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 39 The jurymen,..being little accustomed to weigh evidence, followed without scruple the directions of the bench. 1855 Poultry Chron. 3 32 They never came to a decision without duly weighing the pros and cons. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. xx. 327 The difficulty of the moment was too pressing for him to weigh distant consequences. 1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 390 The king is wise; his wrath will well be weighed. absolute.1796 W. Wordsworth Borderers ii. 645 Men who are little given to sift and weigh. b. To ponder and examine the force of (words or expressions). to weigh one's words: to speak deliberately and in calculated terms. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > speak [verb (intransitive)] > with restraint or carefully to weigh one's words1340 to carry one's mouth (also tongue) in one's heart?1576 to mince words1826 the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > consider, deliberate [verb (transitive)] > force of words weigh1340 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 255 Huo þet ne weȝþ his wordes ine þe waye of discrecion. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 256 Huer me ssel weȝe þet word er hit be yzed. 1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas 215 Words of worth, and worthy to be wayed. 1579 T. Lodge Protogenes 16 If we way Poetes wordes and not ther meaning, our learning in them wilbe very mene. 1627 J. Donne Lett. (1651) 309 The old King..thought the Preacher never had thought of his Sermon, till he spoke it... I knew that he had weighed every syllable, for halfe a year before. 1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1164 Then Hope replyde,.. And wisely weighd his words. 1655 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) II. 14 I must..weigh my words before they are sent abroad. 1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. xiii. 62 His words well-weigh'd, the gen'ral voice approv'd. 1846 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. (1869) 2nd Ser. 64 The moralist..has far other work than to weigh expressions and analyze definitions. 1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxii. 213 Mr. Carker read this slowly: weighing the words as he went. 1877 T. H. Huxley Techn. Educ. Sci. & Cult. (1881) 82 I weigh my words when I say that if the nation could purchase a potential Watt, or Davy, or Faraday, at the cost of a hundred thousand pounds down, he would be dirt-cheap at the money. c. with object-clause. Now rare.Often to weigh by, with, within oneself. ΚΠ 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. FFFv Ponderyng & weyeng also, that of all vertues, mercy is moste necessaryly requyred to this miserable worlde. 1549 E. Allen tr. L. Juda Paraphr. Reuelacion S. John xi. f. 16, in M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II Whether any suche thynge..maye hereafter happen, let euery true christen harte..well consyder and wey by himselfe. 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. v. f. 81 They wayed also that both the sauegard of them, and of the king lay in the handes of one that was a prisoner. 1553 in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xi. 30 I beseech yow..waye wyth your self, what a good Master our hevenlye Father ys unto yow. 1573 T. Bedingfield tr. G. Cardano Comforte (1576) ii. 18 b If they would waye wyth themselues, that all men..haue the vse of reason. 1578 G. Whetstone Promos & Cassandra: 2nd Pt. v. v. Mj Good Maddame way, by lawe, your Lord doth dye. 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cxx. sig. H2 And I a tyrant haue no leasure taken To waigh how once I suffered in your crime. View more context for this quotation 1621 T. W. in tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v Well weighing with my selfe, that it was a Work might yeeld some profit to my Countrie men of England. 1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe v. 80 You thought me dead, and prudently did weigh Tears were but vain. 1683 Pennsylvania Arch. (1852) I. 75 We ye free People of ye Town..of Salem..weighing well in ourselves y^t nothing can more readily conduce to our..Happiness, then a fair and just settlement of our Foundations [etc.]. 1803 Eldon in Vesey Chanc. Cases (1827) VIII. 427 The Court ought to weigh, whether the doubt is so reasonable and fair, that the property is left in his hands not marketable. 1825 W. Scott Talisman iii, in Tales Crusaders III. 71 He weighed within himself, whether [etc.]. 1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. §42. 161 Let any one weigh well what it is to translate such a collection of documents as constitute the Bible. d. to weigh up: to appraise, form an estimate of (a person). colloquial. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)] > take the measure of measure?a1425 gauge1583 to sum up1631 measure1684 to touch off1766 to take (also get) the measure of1790 to get (also take, etc.) a person's number1853 reckon1853 to put up1864 size1884 to weigh up1894 to read the room1975 the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > hold an opinion [verb (transitive)] > form an opinion > of quality, character, etc. resolve1613 to sum up1631 to take (also get) the measure of1790 size1884 to weigh up1894 size1896 1894 Westm. Gaz. 15 Feb. 5/1 The Liberal delegates were fervid only when ‘weighing-up’ the House of Peers and insisting upon its disestablishment. 1897 ‘O. Rhoscomyl’ For White Rose Arno (U.K. ed.) 43 I will watch him closer for the future. I should have come up earlier now, but that I was weighing up his servant, an arrant Whig and a spy to boot. 1904 Daily Chron. 14 Jan. 7 ‘I knew too much about her,’ she said. ‘I had weighed her up.’ †13. a. To esteem, value, think highly of; to count dear or precious; to ascribe value or importance to. Often with negative: (Not) to care for or regard. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to weigh?c1225 chargec1320 set by1393 to attribute (much)1586 to stand upon ——1587 moment1598 to lay weight upon1600 reflecta1616 to take (large etc.) stock in (rarely of)1870 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 250 Cunde of god heorte. is to beon offered of sunne þer as nan nis ofte. oðer weie swiðere his sunne sumchere þenne he þurte weien hit to lutel is as uuel oðer wurse. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) 923 That lord hath litel of discrecioun That in swich caas kan no dyuysioun But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 335 Whi therfore schulen we ouer miche weie and apprise his seiyng? 1496–7 Act 12 Hen. VII c. 12 Preamble The same Kyng.., not fearyng Almyghty God in breking his seid promys nor weiyng his Honour in the same. 1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Eiii^v Take no care for that, for I do not greatly waye it, it was worth but iii.s. iiii.d. 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. June 73 Nought weigh I, who my song doth prayse or blame. 1592 S. Daniel Complaint Rosamond xxiii Henry the second, that so highly weigh'd mee. 1595–7 J. Lyly Woman in Moone iii. ii. 289 I, he wayes more his flocke then me. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 27 You waigh me not, O thats you care not for me. View more context for this quotation 1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts iii. iii. sig. H2 My deeds nephew Shall speake my loue, what men report, I waigh not. 1676 W. Temple in C. E. Pike Essex Papers (1913) II. 81 The Estates would bee enough inclinable to it as weighing interest more than honour. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia Generalis 1306/2 I do not weigh you a pin..Non ego te flocci facio. †b. with adjective compl. (light, dear, etc.). Obsolete. ΚΠ 1592 Arden of Feversham i. i. 361 To let them see how light I wey their words. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxvi. 39 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 187 Thy people all beholding: Who deere their deaths dost weigh. a1599 E. Spenser Canto Mutabilitie vi. lv, in Faerie Queene (1609) sig. Hh6^v Them all, and all that she so deare did way, Thence-forth she left. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) ii. iv. 43 In cases of defence, 'tis best to weigh The Enemie more mightie then he seemes. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iii. iv. 32 Let euerie word waigh heauie of her worth, That he does waigh too light. View more context for this quotation †14. intransitive. a. To pay heed or deference to. Scottish. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [verb (transitive)] > show respect for wortheOE to do worship to (also till, for)OE honourc1275 worshipc1300 to make feasta1325 to do (a person or thing) honourc1330 observec1390 reverencec1400 weigh1423 honourable1455 worthya1500 honorify1606 to rise up to (also unto)1621 1423 Kingis Quair cxx Myn effectis grete, Vnto the quhich ȝe aughten maist weye. c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 147 Suppos thai haue na souerane to quham thai wey bot anerly god allane. †b. with of: To ponder, consider (something); to judge of, estimate, value, care for. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > estimate [verb (intransitive)] deemc1384 to make much (also little, nothing, too much, etc.) of (or on)c1395 counta1400 thinka1400 reputatec1450 reckon1567 weigh1573 repute1579 esteem1583 censure1592 take stock1736 the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > think about, consider [verb (intransitive)] thinkOE thinkOE bethinka1200 umthinka1300 to have mind ofc1300 casta1340 studya1375 delivera1382 to chew the cudc1384 to take advisementa1393 stema1400 compassc1400 advisec1405 deliberc1405 to make it wisec1405 to take deliberationc1405 enter?a1413 riddlec1426 hovec1440 devise?c1450 to study by (also in) oneself?c1450 considerc1460 porec1500 regard1523 deliberate1543 to put on one's thinking or considering cap1546 contemplate1560 consult1565 perpend1568 vise1568 to consider of1569 weigh1573 ruminate1574 dascanc1579 to lay to (one's) heart1588 pondera1593 debate1594 reflect1596 comment1597 perponder1599 revolvea1600 rumine1605 consider on, upon1606 to think twice1623 reflex1631 spell1645 ponderatea1652 to turn about1725 to cast a thought, a reflection upon1736 to wake over1771 incubatea1847 mull1857 fink1888 1573 New Custome iii. i. sig. D iij^v God waieth not..Of any vesture, or outward apparance a mite. 1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. v. v. 82 But weye of this euery man as pleaseth him. 1584 T. Lodge Delect. Hist. Forbonius & Prisceria 35 Solduvius, not..willing to weigh of the submissiue request of his daughter, interrupted her thus. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. vii. sig. Ee7^v Vnworthy she to be belou'd so dere, That could not weigh of worthinesse aright. View more context for this quotation †c. with negative: (Not) to hesitate to (do something). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > proceed rapidly [verb (intransitive)] > not hesitate weigh?1573 ?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes 14 The women of Scithia called Amazones..wayed not to encounter with Hercules in the fielde. III. To have heaviness or weight. 15. intransitive. Of a material object or substance: To have a greater or less degree of heaviness, as measured by the scales. a. To be equal to or balance (a specified weight) in the scales.The specifying word is to be regarded as a predicative complement rather than as governed by the verb. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > weigh (a specific amount) weighc1000 peisea1382 weighc1386 poise1389 ponder?a1425 to turn the scale1600 ponderize1634 heft1851 avoirdupois1854 scale1862 to tip the scales1884 to weigh in1909 c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 92 Se sester sceal wegan twa pund be sylfyr gewyht. a1023 Wulfstan Homilies xlv. 228 Ælc an hagelstan wegeð fif pund. 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. III. 207 Oon of the hameres weiede tweie so moche as anoþer. a1400 Sir Beues 1424 A dede Beues binde to a ston gret, þat weȝ seue quarters of whet. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 456 Hir Couerchiefes..I dorste swere they weyeden . ten pownd That on a Sonday weeren vp on hir heed. 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. iv. 111 One framosian had promysed to hym as moche weyght of pure gold as the heed weyed. 1529 Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1883) 177 Ane silver spune and a masar veand 3 uncis. 1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Jviij The fleshe therof wayed .xlvij. pound weyght. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. i. 28 Here's the note How much your Chaine weighs to the vtmost charect. 1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions §69 A little..Key, not weighing a Shilling. 1675 R. Vaughan Disc. Coin & Coinage viii. 75 They'd have it..so as the Pieces of Silver and Gold should weigh one the other. 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 44 Some of them [sc. marmots] are found to weigh above twenty pounds. 1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 891 The gum weighed 3 per cent of the almonds analyzed. 1856 J. Richardson Recoll. I. vi. 145 In person he was tall and corpulent, weighing something over twenty stone. b. with adverb or pred. adj. ΚΠ ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 171 Hwenne twa beoreð an burðen & þe oðer leaue hit. þenne mai þe þe up haldeð hit felen hu hit weie. c1290 St. Michael 395 in S. Eng. Leg. 311 Heouene geth al aboute þe eorþe, euene it mot weyȝe. a1300 Vox & Wolf 237 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 66 He lep in [the bucket], and way sumdel. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf.) 1788 And as she woke, hir bed she felt presse. What best ys that, quod she, that weyeth thus? a1400 St. Cristofer 364 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 458 The childe swa heuy woghe Þat ofte-sythes one knees he hym droghe. c1440 York Myst. xxx. 136 A! sir, yhe whe wele! c1475 Macro Plays, Mankind 692 Ther ys to moche cloth, yt weys as ony lede. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) cxxxviii. 205 They..becam stronge, and delyuer in suche wyse that the armes that they bare weyed nothyng as them semed. 1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades x. 174 His shield that waightie waied. 1586 G. Whitney Choice of Emblemes 41 The heauie loade, did weye so harde behinde. a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iv. xvi. 33 Heere's sport indeede: How heauy weighes my Lord? View more context for this quotation 1779 W. Cowper Yearly Distress 48 Like barrels with their bellies full, They only weigh the heavier. 1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor ix, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. I. 266 His fingers fumbled as if..the other [sc. his beaver] had weighed equal with a stone of lead. 16. a. figurative (with more or less retention of the literal idea or expression). ΚΠ ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 246 Misericordia super exaltat iudicium [James ii. 13]:..his merci towart us weiȝeð eauer mare þenne þe narewe richte. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 91 Loue is þe wyȝte ine þe balance..uor non oþer þing ne may weȝe, huanne me comþ to nime ech his ssepe, bote loue and charite. c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 243 Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at al. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 275 Ther ben manye of these Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte, That scarsly wolde it weie a myte Yit wolde thei have a pound again, As doth Usure in his bargain. c1440 Gesta Romanorum xlv. 177 For synne is not lyȝt, but it is hevy, and weythe more than lede. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 4 Ȝe weyin now in mennys hertys, in dreed of ȝoure myȝt, more þan all þe world, for all þe world dare noȝt wythstonde ȝou. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. i. 94 I know them, yea And what they weigh, euen to the vtmost scruple, Scambling, out-facing, fashion-monging boies. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 332 One must proue greatest. While they weigh so euen, We hold our Towne for neither: yet for both. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iii. iv. 31 Let euerie word waigh heauie of her worth. View more context for this quotation †b. To amount or be equivalent to. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > be equivalent amountc1390 to pass for (also as)1463 to come to one purpose1489 weigh1529 to pass muster1573 parallel1626 tantamount1628 to come to the same1643 coextenda1711 muster1820 1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv. xi. 108 b/2 Yt gaue hym occasyon to dowt lest Luther ment not al thing so euyl as his wordys seme to way to. 1588 W. Lambarde Eirenarcha (new ed.) ii. iv. 152 Whether a man doe actually vse force in his entrie, or doe come so readily appointed, and araied for it,..it seemeth to weigh to a violent (or Forcible) entrie. †c. to weigh with (also even with): to counterpoise in power, value, etc.; to be of equal value or importance with. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > equal, match, or rival matchc1400 to hold, rarely have, tack with (to)1412 equalize15.. mate1509 touch1530 to hold (a person, etc.) tack (to tack)1555 equal1590 egall1591 countermatch1600 to weigh with (also even with)1600 emulate1602 side1605 compeer1608 pair1619 mount1628 amate1642 to hold weight witha1643 to be (also prove oneself) a match for1712 peel1726 to hold the sticks toa1817 to bear or stand comparison with1845 see1861 tie1888 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. ii. 168 In euery thing the purpose must weigh with the folly. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. i. 150 Giue him thy Daughter, What you bestow, in him Ile counterpoize, And make him weigh with her. View more context for this quotation 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. iii. 4 France may vie and weigh even with Greece it self, in point of Learning. d. to weigh against, †again: to counterbalance, countervail. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > balance against or counterbalance gaina1375 counterpoise1393 peisea1400 weigh1583 set1589 poise1600 to weigh against, again1600 affront1609 balance1624 cancel1633 counterbalance1636 counterpose1636 compensate1656 equilibriatea1657 outset1656 equiponderate1661 equipoise1664 equibalance1665 offset1673 countersway1710 to set off1749 counterweigh1825 equilibrate1829 to set against ——1832 equilibrize1833 c1410 [see sense 20]. 1600 R. Greene Neuer too Late (new ed.) ii. sig. K4^v Hee that seeketh to way against his owne will, oftentimes kicketh against the prick. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (1623) i. iii. 55 Much more, in this great worke..should we..know our owne estate, How able such a Worke to vndergo, To weigh against his Opposite? 1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) iv. 47 Such evils..can neither be helped nor be allowed to weigh against the advantages of union. 1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xviii. 216 He believes that every sin will weigh against him, and drag him down in the scale of being. e. quasi-transitive. To equal (something else) in weight or value; to counterbalance; †to be tantamount or equivalent to. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > be equivalent to quitc1375 countervailc1380 containa1387 value1561 to go for ——1574 countervalue1581 weigh1583 avail1598 reanswer1598 commeasure1615 imply1634 equivalence1646 equivale1659 the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > balance against or counterbalance gaina1375 counterpoise1393 peisea1400 weigh1583 set1589 poise1600 to weigh against, again1600 affront1609 balance1624 cancel1633 counterbalance1636 counterpose1636 compensate1656 equilibriatea1657 outset1656 equiponderate1661 equipoise1664 equibalance1665 offset1673 countersway1710 to set off1749 counterweigh1825 equilibrate1829 to set against ——1832 equilibrize1833 1583 R. Greene Mamillia i. f. 6^v So that eyther thou couldest sooth her with a frumpe, or els lay a loading carde on her backe, should wey a scoffe. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 26 In deede I waigh not you, and therefore light. View more context for this quotation 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. i. 11. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 260 The heads of all thy Brother-Cardinals..Weigh'd not a haire of his. View more context for this quotation 1893 Westm. Gaz. 21 Mar. 3/2 There are difficulties..in the poem. Only they do not weigh the enormous difficulty of a multiplicity of Homers. †f. absol. Of two things: To balance each other. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > balance or be balanced weigh1523 equipoise1647 equiponderate1648 poise1818 equilibrate1829 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. (1812) I. xliii. 59 So that finally the good and the yuell wayed. 17. intransitive. To be of (much or little) value or account; to be regarded as considerable or important; to have influence with (a person) when he is forming an estimate or judgement. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (intransitive)] > influence weighc1386 to have weight1565 society > authority > power > influence > have influence [verb (intransitive)] weighc1386 to have, bear, carry, strike a (great, etc.) stroke1531 to hold placea1535 to take place1535 to bear (a or the) sway1549 to have weight1565 say1614 to be no small drinka1774 matter1848 to pack a punch (also wallop)a1938 c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Hengwrt) ⁋367 Dedly synne, whan the loue of any thyng weyeth in the herte of man as muche as the loue of god or moore. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 313 And his command with him richt litill weyit. 1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxv. 158 Why things so light in their owne nature should waigh in the opinions of men so much. 1659 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 179 Younge Darby [6th Earl], whoe nowe weighes much less then his name formerly hath donn. 1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. iii. 107 Pleasing to God, or not pleasing, with them weighed alike; and the worse most an end was the weightier. a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1680 (1955) IV. 230 In truth their Testimonie did little weigh with me. 1705 F. Atterbury Serm. St. James's Chapel 22 A Wise Man is then best satisfy'd..when he finds..that the same Argument, which weighs with Him, hath weigh'd with Thousands..before him. 1766 Ld. Kames Remarkable Decisions Court of Session 1730–52 79 Nor ought it to weigh that Murray run the hazard of his factor's bankruptcy. 1838 T. B. Macaulay Let. to Napier in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) II. vii. 12 There is another consideration that weighs much with me. a1853 F. W. Robertson Lect. (1858) ii. 51 I have not the vanity to say..that my name had weight with many; but it did weigh with some. 1870 J. R. Lowell Rousseau in Among my Bks. 1st Ser. 338 Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action. 1899 A. Conan Doyle Duet xiv. 199 Holland is a sound man, and his opinion would weigh with any judge. 1910 W. E. Beet Rise Papacy ii. 79 The Roman verdict weighed much throughout Christendom. IV. To affect, or be affected, by weight. 18. a. transitive. to weigh down: to draw, force, or bend down by pressure of weight; figurative to depress, oppress, lie heavy on. Similarly, to weigh back, †on one side, to the earth. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict > oppress or afflict heavyc897 narroweOE overlayOE overseamOE twingea1300 to weigh downa1340 grieve1340 besit1377 oppressc1384 foila1400 thringa1400 empressc1400 enpressc1400 aska1425 press?a1425 peisea1450 straita1464 constraina1500 overhale1531 to grate on or upon1532 wrack1562 surcharge1592 to lie heavy uponc1595 to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595 to sit on ——1607 to sit upon ——1607 gall1614 bear1645 weight1647 obsess1648 aggrieve1670 swinge1681 lean1736 gravitate1754 weigh1794 the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > condition of being oppressed > oppress [verb (transitive)] beareOE charka1300 to weigh downa1340 besit1377 to bear (a person or thing) heavyc1384 oppressc1384 thringa1400 empressc1400 accloyc1425 to sit downa1450 threst1513 downtread1536 to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595 to bear (a person or thing) hard (also heavily, heavy, etc.)1602 pressa1616 weight1647 to bear (a person or thing) heavily1702 weigh1794 freight1892 the world > matter > properties of materials > weight or relative heaviness > weight [verb (transitive)] > make heavy > add weight to > excessively or weigh down overchargea1325 overcarkc1330 overladea1387 chargea1398 laden1514 overburden1532 ladea1538 overload1553 overpressa1577 overweigh1576 surcharge1582 to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595 overpoise1598 overweight1811 a1340 R. Rolle Psalter vii. 17 He..likyd to be seruaunte of syn, swa þat his synn weghe him down, þat he neuer rise til þe rist of heuen. 1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Degrauo The vine lodeth and weigheth downe the elme. 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Feb. 232 The watrie wette weighed downe his head. 1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iv. lxxvi. sig. X4^v O could the mighty but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe fortune ere shee pull them downe. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales xiv. ii. 201 Then the rowers thought best to way the gallie on one side [L. unum in latus inclinare], and so to sincke her. 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (2nd issue) iii. i. 7 Ô gentle sleep..how haue I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eye-liddes downe..? View more context for this quotation 1611 Bible (King James) Wisd. ix. 15 The corruptible body presseth downe the soule, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth downe the minde that museth vpon many things. View more context for this quotation 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 494. ¶4 There are many Excellent Persons, who are weighed down by this habitual Sorrow of Heart. 1783 W. Cowper Rose 4 The plentiful moisture incumber'd the flower, And weigh'd down its beautiful head. 1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. xi. 625 The people were weighed down by an insufferable taxation. 1858 A. W. Drayson Sporting Scenes S. Afr. 208 The Kaffirs returned, almost weighed down by the immense weight of meat. 1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 1303 Falling and weighed back by clamorous arms Sharp rang the dead limbs of Eurytion. 1879 M. Pattison Milton xiii. 215 Causes other than the inherent faults of the poem long continued to weigh down the reputation of Paradise Lost. 1884 Contemp. Rev. Feb. 252 What, then, was the consuetudo carnalis which thus weighed to the earth this soul of fire, striving to ascend to its true home? †b. Without adverb: To depress, dispirit. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)] drearya1300 discomfortc1325 batec1380 to cast downa1382 to throw downa1382 dullc1386 faintc1386 discomfita1425 discourage1436 sinkc1440 mischeera1450 discheerc1454 amatea1500 bedowa1522 damp1548 quail1548 dash1550 exanimate1552 afflict1561 dank1565 disanimate1565 sadden1565 languish1566 deject1581 dumpc1585 unheart1593 mope1596 chill1597 sour1600 disgallant1601 disheart1603 dishearten1606 fainten1620 depress1624 sullen1628 tristitiate1628 disliven1631 dampen1633 weigh1640 out-spirit1643 dispirit1647 flat1649 funeralize1654 hearta1658 disencourage1659 attrist1680 flatten1683 dismalizec1735 blue-devil1812 out-heart1845 downweigh1851 to get down1861 frigidize1868 languor1891 downcast1914 neg1987 1640 J. Fletcher & J. Shirley Night-walker i. sig. B3 You are light Gentlemen, Nothing to weigh your hearts. †19. intransitive. a. Of the scale of a balance (with up or down): To rise or sink according as it holds the lesser or greater weight. Also gen. (with down): To sink through its own heaviness or load. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain weight [verb (intransitive)] > turn the scales weigh?1566 to turn the scale1600 preponderate1623 prepond1836 ?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio Pasquine in Traunce 65 That Deuill..doth all that he can to make his parte [of the balance] way downe the heauier. a1626 F. Bacon Sylva Sylvarum (1627) §610 The Cause is the plenty of the Sap, and the Softnesse of the Stalke, which maketh the Bough, being ouer-loaden, and not stiffely vpheld, weigh downe. †b. to weigh with: to move with, follow the motion of (something that shifts or varies). to weigh against: to strive to make head against (the wind). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > cause to move [verb (transitive)] > move with to weigh with1553 society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of wind > get into the current of the wind [verb (transitive)] > force ship against wind or sea > of ship: strive against (the wind) to weigh against1553 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. iv. f. 34^v Waying with the worlde, according as the tyme should alter [L. semper ex ancipiti mutatione temporum pendens]. 1557 M. Basset tr. T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1372/1 A fainte harted mayster of a shippe..shrinketh from the sterne, and..suffreth the ship alone to waye wyth the waues [L. puppim permittit fluctibus]. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 109 And where thou sekes a quiet port, Thou dost but weigh agaynst the winde. 20. transitive. Of an object set in the scales (with down, up, †out; also †to weigh to the beam): To turn the scale when weighed against (something else); to outweigh, cause to rise in the scale. Also to weigh down (the balance or scale). Often figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > ascertain the weight of [verb (transitive)] > weigh more than weigh1387 overbalancea1586 outweigh1646 preponderate1651 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. IV. 7 At þe laste þe stoon was leide in a balaunce, and he weieþ [MSS. α, β, γ, weygh, weyȝ, wayȝ] up al þat me myȝte leie aȝenst hym in þe oþer side. c1410 T. Hoccleve Mother of God 21 Helpe me to weye Ageyn the feend, þat with his handes tweye, And his might, plukke wole at the balance To weye vs doun. c1450 Knt. de la Tour 66 Her..euell dedes..weyed downe and ouercame her good dedes. c1450 Mirk's Festial 221 When alle his synnys wern layde on þe balans and was nygh ouercomyn, then come thylke brennet dekon, and layde a grete pote on þe wey þe whech anon weyit vp al togedyr. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. ix. sig. H8 Hard is the doubt, and difficult to deeme, When all three kinds of loue together meet, And doe dispart the hart with powre extreme, Whether shall weigh the balance downe. View more context for this quotation 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. ii. 46 Yet all the wrongs could not a litle right downe way . View more context for this quotation 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iv. 90 But in the ballance of great Bullingbrooke, Besides himselfe are all the English peeres, And with that oddes he weighs King Richard downe. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. iii. 156 We poizing vs in her defectiue scale, Shall weigh thee to the beame. View more context for this quotation 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 87 My Friends, They that must weigh out my affllictions. View more context for this quotation 1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 14 Four Ounces of Vigo Dust, shall weigh him down more, than four Tun of Honesty. 1711 J. Swift Examiner No. 26 One Whig shall weigh down ten Tories. 1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. vii. 119 Where all other inducements were wanting, the habitual carelessness of his disposition stepped in and still weighed down the scale on the same side. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 27 Mar. 7/3 Whose mistakes..are a thousand times weighed up by his countless individual deeds of true friendship. †21. transitive. To sway or influence (a person); to induce (a person) to (do something). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > power > influence > have influence with [verb (transitive)] > exert influence upon weighc1571 sway1593 subject1605 to have its end(s) upon1638 influence1658 ponderate1670 operate1674 to touch up1791 protocol1832 rig1908 the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon > to do something procurea1325 draw1425 inducec1450 draw1531 obtain1558 reduce?a1560 weighc1571 charma1592 obtain1606 bias1660 gain1681 import1825 wangle1926 c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) ii. v. 91 When theis wordes weyed him nothinge his owne man..began to reprove him for not relenting to so riche a proffer. 1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 79/1 in R. Holinshed Chron. I By the procurement as well of the Archbyshoppe as of all the Cleargie, [the legate] was weighed to gyue the Citizens absolution. 22. intransitive with on or upon. a. Of a thought, feeling, circumstance: To lie heavy on, depress (a person, his spirits, etc.). Also in indirect passive. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict > oppress or afflict heavyc897 narroweOE overlayOE overseamOE twingea1300 to weigh downa1340 grieve1340 besit1377 oppressc1384 foila1400 thringa1400 empressc1400 enpressc1400 aska1425 press?a1425 peisea1450 straita1464 constraina1500 overhale1531 to grate on or upon1532 wrack1562 surcharge1592 to lie heavy uponc1595 to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595 to sit on ——1607 to sit upon ——1607 gall1614 bear1645 weight1647 obsess1648 aggrieve1670 swinge1681 lean1736 gravitate1754 weigh1794 the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > condition of being oppressed > oppress [verb (transitive)] beareOE charka1300 to weigh downa1340 besit1377 to bear (a person or thing) heavyc1384 oppressc1384 thringa1400 empressc1400 accloyc1425 to sit downa1450 threst1513 downtread1536 to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595 to bear (a person or thing) hard (also heavily, heavy, etc.)1602 pressa1616 weight1647 to bear (a person or thing) heavily1702 weigh1794 freight1892 1794 R. B. Sheridan Duenna (new ed.) ii. 46 If either of you had known how each moment of delay weighs upon the heart of her who loves. 1820 J. Keats Lamia ii, in Lamia & Other Poems 29 Where am I now? Not in your heart while care weighs on your brow. 1832 Ld. Tennyson Lotos-eaters: Choric Song ii, in Poems (new ed.) 111 Why are we weighed upon with heaviness? 1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice I. ii. ii. 138 Something seemed to weigh upon her spirits. 1858 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 387 This London atmosphere weighs on me. 1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Greece & Greeks II. xii. 47 The sceptre of despotism weighs oppressively on all free public life. 1909 J. L. Allen Bride of Mistletoe v. 147 The silence began to weigh upon her. b. To insist or dwell upon (a fact, argument, etc.). rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > insistence or persistence > insist or persist [verb (transitive)] > dwell upon to dwell on, upon (in)a1522 to stay on1579 weigh1817 1817 H. T. Colebrooke Algebra Notes & Illustr. p. xlii These facts will be further weighed upon as we proceed. 1818 H. T. Colebrooke On Import Colonial Corn 70 Without weighing upon this surmise. Compounds The verb-stem in combination. Also weighbridge n., weigh-house n., weigh-scale n. weigh-balk n. northern and Scottish the beam of a pair of scales or steelyard; plural scales. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > beam of a balance balk1399 beam1420 weigh-balkc1485 scale-beam1723 balance-yard1810 balance-beam1813 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > scales weighc825 weightsa1300 balance1388 weigh-scalea1400 weighing-scalesc1450 scales1480 weigh-balk1824 c1485 Inventory in J. T. Fowler Acts Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1875) 371 j weybalke cum skales. 1593–4 Burgh Rec. Stirling (1889) II. 380 Quhat~sumever parson..in tym cuming borrow the use of thair wey balk to wey irone or wther geir. 1608 in Cochran-Patrick Early Rec. Mining Scot. (1878) 150 Ane grit weybak with the balance brodis thereto for weying the ore. 1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet III. x. 294 To see a' ane's warldly substance capering in the air in a pair of weigh-bauks, now up, now down. weigh-bar n. = weigh-shaft n. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > rock rock shaft1833 weigh-bar1841 rocker shaft1842 weigh-shaft1867 1841 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 4 93/1 A lever is fixed upon the cross-head working in a link connected to a second lever fixed on a shaft or weigh-bar across the engine, whereby a rocking motion is produced. 1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 16 Beam-engine with its weigh-bar gearing. weigh-beam n. a balance or steelyard. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance weigha1050 weightsa1300 balancea1375 weigh-shale1465 scales1480 weigh-beam1492 launce1590 scale instrumenta1691 scale balance1809 the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > steelyard statera?a1560 pundler1575 Roman balance1585 Roman beam1611 stelleer1611 Venice beam1611 steelyard1639 bismar1701 Roman steelyard1730 staff-bismara1733 weigh-beam1804 1492 in T. P. Wadley Notes Wills Orphan Bk. Bristol (1886) 178 My weybernes [? read -bemes] with all my weights of lede. 1804 Local Act 44 Geo. III c. lv. §1 To..erect and set up..Weighbeams, Cranes. 1833 N. Arnott Elements Physics (ed. 5) II. 11 If we balance a quantity of ice in a delicate weigh-beam. weigh-brods n. Scottish plural boards used for the scales of a large balance. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > scale of a balance > board or plate used as weigh-brods1578 weigh-leaf1593 scale-board1876 1578 in T. Thomson Coll. Inventories Royal Wardrobe (1815) 255 Ane pair of wey broddis garnist with yron for weying of mettall with thair towis. † weigh-gilt n. Scottish Obsolete a payment for weighing (after Dutch waaggeld, German wage-, wägegeld). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > duty on goods > dues for weighing or measuring goods > [noun] tronagea1325 pesage1455 weigh-gilt1497 metage1527 weighage1547 poisage1611 1497 Ledger-bk. A. Halyburton (1867) 74 Hous hir, 12, veygylt, 4 g. 1498 Ledger-bk. A. Halyburton (1867) 213 Item veygilt, ilk sek 4. † weigh-leaf n. Obsolete a board or plate used as a scale. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > a balance > scale of a balance > board or plate used as weigh-brods1578 weigh-leaf1593 scale-board1876 1593 in Archaeologia (1853) 35 436 For mending John Newarke's way leaffe, broken in wayinge of lead, iij d. weigh-lock n. U.S. a canal-lock at which barges are weighed and their tonnage is settled. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > body of water > channel of water > [noun] > navigable waterway > canal > lock or chamber > types of lock sidelock1761 tide-lock1808 weigh-lock1834 sea-lock1839 tail-lock1907 riser1908 1834 F. Lieber Lett. to Gent. in Germany xiv. 260 The object of the greatest interest to me, in Utica, was a weigh-lock—an American invention if I am not mistaken. The toll for freight on the canal is proportionate to weight. 1907 Daily Chron. 18 Oct. 9/2 A large motor-car..backed into a public weigh-house at Blairgowrie (Perthshire)... The building was damaged and the steelyard destroyed... The weighman was in the house at the time, but was uninjured. weighman n. a man employed to weigh goods, etc.; in a colliery, one who weighs the tubs of coal as they leave the cage at the pit-mouth (for check-weighman see check- comb. form). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > weigher peiser1298 weighman1883 1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Weighman. See Weigher. 1917 Blackwood's Mag. Apr. 630/1 The bigger fish were weighed on an ingenious balance, consisting of a long steel rod with a sliding weight, the whole suspended on a bit of string held aloft by the weighman. weigh-master n. (cf. German wagemeister, Dutch waagmeester), the official in charge of a weigh-house or public scales. ΚΠ 1617 in J. B. Heath Some Acct. Worshipful Company of Grocers (1869) 428 The Weymaster and his porters, which attended at the Guildhall. 1689 W. Ravenhill Short Acct. Company Grocers 4 The Grocers..may be well presumed (time out of Mind) to have had the management of the King's Beam, as an Office peculiar to them;..thay having had all along..the naming of the Weigh-Master, and the naming, placing, removing and governing of the four Porters, attending that Office, all to be elected out of their own Company. weigh-out n. the verification of a jockey's declared weight before a race (see 9). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > [noun] > required or suitable weight of rider > weighing scaling1841 weigh-out1886 1886 Earl of Suffolk & Berkshire & W. G. Craven in Earl of Suffolk et al. Racing & Steeple-chasing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 67 It was, indeed, this absolute certainty as to the accuracy of the weigh-out, which led to the detection of the attempted fraud when Catch-em-alive won the Cambridgeshire. weigh-shaft n. = rock shaft n. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > rock rock shaft1833 weigh-bar1841 rocker shaft1842 weigh-shaft1867 1867–72 N. P. Burgh Mod. Marine Engin. 73 Motion is imparted to the lever weigh shaft by a toothed quadrant keyed thereon. 1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. 407 Weigh Shaft or Way Shaft.—..Sometimes called a reversing shaft. Draft additions December 2015 † intransitive. To go, proceed. Cf. way v. 1. Obsolete. [Earlier currency is perhaps shown by the following isolated example (however, emendation has also been suggested especially to supply an object for the verb): OE Exodus 180 Ymb hine wægon wigend unforhte, hare heorawulfas hilde gretton, þurstige þræcwiges, þeodenholde. ] ΚΠ c1300 St. Michael (Laud) l. 395 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 311 (MED) Heouene geth al-a-boute þe eorþe, euene it mot weyȝe. c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 11 Children..Ibore to schorte lyues..Bote hi ariȝt icristned be, Fram heuene euere hi weyeþ. a1450 Revelation of Purgatory (Longleat) (1985) l. 860 (MED) Sho weighed euyn doun to þe fayr lady. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † weighv.² Forms: Only Old English and early Middle EnglishOld English wecgan, 3rd singular wegeð, past tense weg(e)de, past participle gewegd, Middle English 3rd singular weieð, past tense wæide, Middle English past participle yweid. Etymology: Old English węcgan = Old High German wegan , Middle High German wegen (weak verb, with umlaut e ; distinct fromOld High German wegan , Middle High German wegen strong verb = weigh v.¹), Gothic wagjan to shake; < Germanic root wag- , ablaut-variant of weg- : see weigh v.¹ transitive. To shake, toss, agitate, move about. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > agitate [verb (transitive)] weigha1000 dreveOE ruska1300 commovec1374 to-stira1382 busy?c1400 tormenta1492 squalper?1527 toss1557 jumble1568 buskle1573 agitate1599 disturb1599 to work up1615 vex1627 conturbate1657 jerry-mumble1709 rejumble1755 jerrycummumble1785 reesle1903 a1000 Boeth. Metr. vii. 35 Wyrce him siðþan his modes hus, þær he mæge findan..grundweal gearone: se to glidan ne þearf þeah hit wecge wind woruldearfoþa. c1000 Ags. Ps. (1835) cviii. 25 Hi wegdan..heora heafod. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10913 Heo wæiden in hære ærmen heore children ærmen. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10048 Swa þe hæȝe wude. þenne wind wode. weieð hine mid mæine. c1315 Shoreham Poems i. 370 Þat makeþ man so hardiliche To stonde, and so merie Ine goste, Þat he ne may nauȝt yweid be Wiþ blanding ne wiþ boste. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2020). < n.¹c825n.²1777v.¹c897v.²a1000
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weighn.1

weighn.2

weighv.1

Compounds

Draft additions December 2015

† weighv.2

weighn.¹

weighn.²

weighv.¹

† weighv.²