Part 3430

<blockquote>There is not a more melancholy object in the learned world than a man who has written himself <b>down</b>. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The French . . . shone <b>down</b> [i. e., <b>outshone</b>] the English. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(b)</sd> <def>In a low or the lowest position, literally or figuratively; at the bottom of a decent; below the horizon; of the ground; in a condition of humility, dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet</def>.

<blockquote>I was <b>down</b> and out of breath. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The moon is <b>down</b>; I have not heard the clock. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>He that is <b>down</b> needs fear no fall. <i>Bunyan.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>From a remoter or higher antiquity.</def>

<blockquote>Venerable men! you have come <b>down</b> to us from a former generation. <i>D. Webster.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>From a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a thicker consistence; <as>as, to boil <ex>down</ex> in cookery, or in making decoctions</as>.</def>

<i>Arbuthnot.</i>

<note>&hand; <i>Down</i> is sometimes used elliptically, standing for <i>go down</i>, <i>come down</i>, <i>tear down</i>, <i>take down</i>, <i>put down</i>, <i>haul down</i>, <i>pay down</i>, and the like, especially in command or exclamation.</note>

<blockquote><b>Down</b>, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>If he be hungry more than wanton, bread alone will <b>down</b>. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<i>Down</i> is also used intensively; as, to be loaded <i>down</i>; to fall <i>down</i>; to hang <i>down</i>; to drop <i>down</i>; to pay <i>down</i>.

<blockquote>The temple of Her\'8a at Argos was burnt <b>down</b>. <i>Jowett (Thucyd. ).</i></blockquote>

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

<blockquote>Persons in London say <b>down</b> to Scotland, etc., and those in the provinces, <b>up</b> to London. <i>Stormonth.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Down helm</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>an order to the helmsman to put the helm to leeward.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Down on</col> &or; <col>upon</col></mcol> (joined with a verb indicating motion, as <i>go<i>, <i>come<i>, <i>pounce<i>), <cd>to attack, implying the idea of threatening power.</cd>

<blockquote>Come <b>down</b> upon us with a mighty power. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

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

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

<hw>Down</hw>, <tt>prep.</tt> <ety>[From <er>Down</er>, <tt>adv.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>In a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; <as>as, <ex>down</ex> a hill; <ex>down</ex> a well.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; <as>as, to sail or swim <ex>down</ex> a stream; to sail <ex>down</ex> the sound.</as></def>

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

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

<hw>Down</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Downed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Downing</er>.]</wordforms> <def>To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down.</def> <mark>[Archaic or Colloq.]</mark> "To <i>down</i> proud hearts."

<i>Sir P. Sidney.</i>