Part 3429

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool</def>; esp.: <sd>(a)</sd> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The soft under feathers of birds. They have short stems with soft rachis and bards and long threadlike barbules, without hooklets</def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>The pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of the seeds of certain plants, as of the thistle</def>. <sd>(c)</sd> <def>The soft hair of the face when beginning to appear.</def>

<blockquote>And the first <b>down</b> begins to shade his face. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down</def>

<blockquote>When in the <b>down</b> I sink my head, Sleep, Death's twin brother, times my breath. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Thou bosom softness, <b>down</b> of all my cares! <i>Southern.</i></blockquote>

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<cs><col>Down tree</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a tree of Central America (<spn>Ochroma Lagopus</spn>), the seeds of which are enveloped in vegetable wool.</cd></cs>

<h1>Down</h1> <Xpage=449>

<hw>Down</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Young.</i>

<h1>Down</h1> <Xpage=449>

<hw>Down</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>dun</ets>, <ets>doun</ets>, AS. <ets>d<?/n</ets>; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. <ets>d<?/n</ets> hill, fortified hill, Gael. <ets>dun</ets> heap, hillock, hill, W. <ets>din</ets> a fortified hill or mount; akin to E. <ets>town</ets>. See <er>Town</er>, and cf. <er>Down</er>, <tt>adv.</tt> & <tt>prep.</tt>, <er>Dune</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A bank or rounded hillock of sand thrown up by the wind along or near the shore; a flattish-topped hill; -- usually in the plural.</def>

<blockquote>Hills afford prospects, as they must needs acknowledge who have been on the <b>downs</b> of Sussex. <i>Ray.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>She went by dale, and she went by <b>down</b>. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep; -- usually in the plural.</def> <mark>[Eng.]</mark>

<blockquote>Seven thousand broad-tailed sheep grazed on his <b>downs</b>. <i>Sandys.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>A road for shipping in the English Channel or Straits of Dover, near Deal, employed as a naval rendezvous in time of war.</def>

<blockquote>On the 11th [June, 1771] we run up the channel . . . at noon we were abreast of Dover, and about three came to an anchor in the <b>Downs</b>, and went ashore at Deal. <i>Cook (First Voyage).</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <ety>[From the adverb.]</ety> <def>A state of depression; low state; abasement.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>

<blockquote>It the <b>downs</b> of life too much outnumber the ups. <i>M. Arnold.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Down</h1> <Xpage=449>

<hw>Down</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <ety>[For older <ets>adown</ets>, AS. <ets>ad<?/n</ets>, <ets>ad<?/ne</ets>, prop., from or off the hill. See 3d <er>Down</er>, and cf. <er>Adown</er>, and cf. <er>Adown</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; -- the opposite of <i>up</i>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> Hence, in many derived uses, as: <sd>(a)</sd> <def>From a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the like; into a state of rest; -- used with verbs indicating motion.</def>

<blockquote>It will be rain to-night. Let it come <b>down</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>I sit me <b>down</b> beside the hazel grove. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And that drags <b>down</b> his life. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>