Part 1215

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault.</def>

<blockquote>A vigorous <b>blow</b> might win [Hanno's camp]. <i>T. Arnold.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The infliction of evil; a sudden calamity; something which produces mental, physical, or financial suffering or loss (esp. when sudden); a buffet.</def>

<blockquote>A most poor man, made tame to fortune's <b>blows</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>At a blow</col>, <cd>suddenly; at one effort; by a single vigorous act.</cd> "They lose a province <i>at a blow</i>." <i>Dryden</i>. -- <col>To come to blows</col>, <cd>to engage in combat; to fight; -- said of individuals, armies, and nations.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- Stroke; knock; shock; misfortune.</syn>

<h1>Blow</h1> <Xpage=158>

<hw>Blow</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp.</tt> <er>Blew</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. p.</tt> <er>Blown</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Blowing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>blawen</ets>, <ets>blowen</ets>, AS. <ets>bl<?/wan</ets> to blow, as wind; akin to OHG. <ets>pl<?/jan</ets>, G. <ets>bl\'84hen</ets>, to blow up, swell, L. <ets>flare</ets> to blow, Gr. <ets><?/</ets> to spout out, and to E. <ets>bladder</ets>, <ets>blast</ets>, <ets>inflate</ets>, etc., and perh. <ets>blow</ets> to bloom.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To produce a current of air; to move, as air, esp. to move rapidly or with power; <as>as, the wind <ex>blows</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>Hark how it rains and <b>blows</b> ! <i>Walton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To send forth a forcible current of air, as from the mouth or from a pair of bellows.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To breathe hard or quick; to pant; to puff.</def>

<blockquote>Here is Mistress Page at the door, sweating and <b>blowing</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To sound on being blown into, as a trumpet.</def>

<blockquote>There let the pealing organ <b>blow</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To spout water, etc., from the blowholes, as a whale.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To be carried or moved by the wind; <as>as, the dust <ex>blows</ex> in from the street</as>.</def>

<blockquote>The grass <b>blows</b> from their graves to thy own. <i>M. Arnold.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>To talk loudly; to boast; to storm.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>

<blockquote>You <b>blow</b> behind my back, but dare not say anything to my face. <i>Bartlett.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>To blow hot and cold</col> <ety>(a saying derived from a fable of <AE/sop's)</ety>, <cd>to favor a thing at one time and treat it coldly at another; or to appear both to favor and to oppose.</cd> -- <col>To blow off</col>, <cd>to let steam escape through a passage provided for the purpose; as, the engine or steamer is <i>blowing off<i>.</cd> -- <col>To blow out</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To be driven out by the expansive force of a gas or vapor; <as>as, a steam cock or valve sometimes <ex>blows out</ex></as>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To talk violently or abusively.</cd> <mark></mark> -- <col>To blow over</col>, <cd>to pass away without effect; to cease, or be dissipated; <as>as, the storm and the clouds have <ex>blown over<ex></as>.</cd> -- <col>To blow up</col>, <cd>to be torn to pieces and thrown into the air as by an explosion of powder or gas or the expansive force of steam; to burst; to explode; as, a powder mill or steam boiler <i>blows up<i>.</cd> "The enemy's magazines <i>blew up<i>." <i>Tatler.</i></cs>

<h1>Blow</h1> <Xpage=158>

<hw>Blow</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means; <as>as, to <ex>blow</ex> the fire</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To drive by a current air; to impel; <as>as, the tempest <ex>blew</ex> the ship ashore</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Off at sea northeast winds <b>blow</b> Sabean odors from the spicy shore. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To cause air to pass through by the action of the mouth, or otherwise; to cause to sound, as a wind instrument; <as>as, to <ex>blow</ex> a trumpet; to <ex>blow</ex> an organ.</as></def>

<blockquote>Hath she no husband That will take pains to <b>blow</b> a horn before her? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Boy, <b>blow</b> the pipe until the bubble rise, Then cast it off to float upon the skies. <i>Parnell.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To clear of contents by forcing air through; <as>as, to <ex>blow</ex> an egg; to <ex>blow</ex> one's nose.</as></def>