Part 458

We have lost the idiom shown by the citations (do used like the French faire or laisser), in which the verb in the infinitive apparently, but not really, has a passive signification, i. e., cause . . . to be made.

3. To bring about; to produce, as an effect or result; to effect; to achieve.

The neglecting it may do much danger.

Shak.

He waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good not harm.

Shak.

4. To perform, as an action; to execute; to transact to carry out in action; as, to do a good or a bad act; do our duty; to do what I can.

Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.

Ex. xx. 9.

We did not do these things.

Ld. Lytton.

You can not do wrong without suffering wrong.

Emerson.

Hence: To do homage, honor, favor, justice, etc., to render homage, honor, etc.

5. To bring to an end by action; to perform completely; to finish; to accomplish; -- a sense conveyed by the construction, which is that of the past participle done. "Ere summer half be done." "I have done weeping." Shak.

<! p. 440 !>

6. To make ready for an object, purpose, or use, as food by cooking; to cook completely or sufficiently; as, the meat is done on one side only.

7. To put or bring into a form, state, or condition, especially in the phrases, to do death, to put to death; to slay; to do away (often do away with), to put away; to remove; to do on, to put on; to don; to do off, to take off, as dress; to doff; to do into, to put into the form of; to translate or transform into, as a text.

Done to death by slanderous tongues.

Shak.

The ground of the difficulty is done away.

Paley.

Suspicions regarding his loyalty were entirely done away.

Thackeray.

To do on our own harness, that we may not; but we must do on the armor of God.

Latimer.

Then Jason rose and did on him a fair Blue woolen tunic.

W. Morris (Jason).