Part 506

Jowett (Thucyd. ).

Down, as well as up, is sometimes used in a conventional sense; as, down East.

Persons in London say down to Scotland, etc., and those in the provinces, up to London.

Stormonth.

Down helm (Naut.), an order to the helmsman to put the helm to leeward. -- Down on or upon (joined with a verb indicating motion, as go, come, pounce), to attack, implying the idea of threatening power.

Come down upon us with a mighty power.

Shak.

-- Down with, take down, throw down, put down; -- used in energetic command. "Down with the palace; fire it." Dryden. -- To be down on, to dislike and treat harshly. [Slang, U.S.] -- To cry down. See under Cry, v. t. -- To cut down. See under Cut, v. t. -- Up and down, with rising and falling motion; to and fro; hither and thither; everywhere. "Let them wander up and down." Ps. lix. 15.

Down, prep. [From Down, adv.] 1. In a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; as, down a hill; down a well.

2. Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound.

Down the country, toward the sea, or toward the part where rivers discharge their waters into the ocean. -- Down the sound, in the direction of the ebbing tide; toward the sea.

Down, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Downed (dound); p. pr. & vb. n. Downing.] To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down. [Archaic or Colloq.] "To down proud hearts." Sir P. Sidney.

I remember how you downed Beauclerk and Hamilton, the wits, once at our house.

Madame D'Arblay.

Down, v. i. To go down; to descend. Locke.

Down, a. 1. Downcast; as, a down look. [R.]

2. Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

3. Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway.

Down draught, a downward draft, as in a flue, chimney, shaft of a mine, etc. -- Down in the mouth, chopfallen; dejected.

Down"bear` (?), v. t. To bear down; to depress.

Down"cast` (doun"kst`), a. Cast downward; directed to the ground, from bashfulness, modesty, dejection, or guilt.

'T is love, said she; and then my downcast eyes, And guilty dumbness, witnessed my surprise.

Dryden.

-- Down"cast`ly, adv. -- Down"cast`ness, n.

Down"cast`, n. 1. Downcast or melancholy look.

That downcast of thine eye.

Beau. & Fl.

2. (mining) A ventilating shaft down which the air passes in circulating through a mine.