| 释义 |
▪ I. fine, n.1|faɪn|
Forms: 3 fin, 3–6 fyn(e, 3– fine.
[ME. fin, a. OF. fin = Pr. fin-s, fi-s, Sp. fin, Pg. fim, It. fine:—L. fīnem, fīnis end.
In med.L. and OF. the word has the senses ‘ending of a dispute, settlement, payment by way of composition’; hence the various applications in branch II.]
I. End. (Obs. exc. in phr. in fine.)
†1. Cessation, end, termination, conclusion, finish. Phr. to bring to fine, set the fine of. Obs.
c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 258 Pine wiðute fin. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8547 Þis stalwarde cristine volc þis worre broȝte to fine. 13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 634 Why schulde he not..pay hym at þe fyrst fyne? c1460Pol. Rel. & L. Poems 73 When þat pyte..hath sett the fyne of al myn heuynesse. c1500Lancelot 1388 Deth that neuer shal haf fyne. 1560Rolland Crt. Venus iii. 724 And sa to bring my argument to fine I can not find [etc.]. 1601Shakes. All's Well iv. iv. 35 Still the fine's the Crowne. 1664Flodden F. i. 2 A lucky fine and end to make. 1839Bailey Festus xxx. (1848) 348 Open thine arms O death! thou fine of woe.
b. Phrase, in († the) fine; also rarely † a fine, † at fine, † of fine: † (a) in the end, at last; (b) to conclude or sum up, finally; also, in short.
(a)1297R. Glouc. (1724) 91 Þe noble Constantyn, (þat was kyng here of þis lond, & emperour atte fyn). c1450Merlin 286 But in the fyn he mote yeve grounde a litill. c1540R. Morice in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 24 In fyne he was perceyved to affixe one of the papers upon the dore. 1575J. Still Gamm. Gurton v. ii. in Hazl. Dodsley III. 246 My cockis, I thank Christ, safe and well a-fine. 1693Mem. Ct. Teckely i. 41 In fine after a Months obstinate defence..the Turks took the Fort by assault.
(b)1401Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 91 I can telle wel a fyn what heresie amounteth. 1550Crowley Epigr. 917 Ye must saye as they saye, be it wrounge or ryght. In fine, ye must prayse them. 1649Milton Eikon. Wks. 1738 I. 408 In fine, he accuses Piety with the want of Loyalty. a1704T. Brown Sat. French King Wks. 1730 I. 60 In fine, the Government may do its will. 1849Ruskin Sev. Lamps vii. §8. 195 We have, in fine, attained the power of going fast.
†c. The latter part (of time), close. Obs.
c1400Sowdone Bab. 306 The daie passed to the fyne. 1599Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 200 About the fine of September. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 101 Vntill the fine of December.
†2. End of life, decease, death. to do, take (one's) fine: to die. Obs.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 3852 Alle [ðe] olde deden ðor fin. a1300Floriz & Bl. 441 Hi beden God ȝiue him uuel fin Þat so manie flures dude þerin. a1300Cursor M. 3905 (Cott.) He was þe chesun of hir fine. Ibid. 21102 (Cott.) Þer tok he fine. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 189 Or I ȝit do my fyn. c1330Assump. Virg. (Add. MS.) 777 He wolde haue ben at hure fyne Ȝif he myȝt haue come bi tyme. 1494Fabyan Chron. ii. xxxi. 24, I haue here shewed vnto you, the fyne or ende of Brennius. 1548Hall Chron. 151 b, Choked and brought to his fatall fine. 1556Lauder Tractate 209 Geue ȝe Indure vnto ȝour fyne.
†3. The extreme part or limit of anything; a boundary. Also fig. extreme case, extremity. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 23200 (Gött.) Þe pitt of hell pine It es suo depe, widuten fine, þat end ne bes þar neuer apon. c1400Rom. Rose 1558 Of the welle, this is the fyn. 1586J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 135/2 Vpon the fines and marches in Ulster. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (1885) 114 Our King nevir to that fine, at ony tyme to haue beine brocht, that [etc.]. 1859I. Taylor Logic in Theol. 139 The ‘settled fine’ to which each aspires to rise.
†4. End in view, aim, purpose, object; esp. in phr. to what fine. Hence, the purpose for which a thing exists. Obs.
c1374Chaucer Troylus ii. 745 To what fine is soche loue, I can not seen. c1386― Merch. T. 862 Sche knew eek the fyn of his entent. 1413Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle iv. xx. (1483) 65 To what ende or fyn Engendred ye me? 1533Bellenden Livy i. (1822) 38 To schaw to quhat fine thay war cummin. 1562Winȝet Cert. Tract. iii. Wks. 1888 I. 31 For thair abusing of the samyn to ane vther fine than He [God] institute tham. 1603Dekker, etc. Patient Grissell (1841) 42 Our fine be now to apparel all these former in some light sarcenet robe of truth.
†5. Final issue, consequence, result. Obs.
1513Douglas æneis iv. Prol. 130 Ȝit luffis ony to that fyne, quharby Thi self or thaim thow frawart God removis. 1549Compl. Scot. x. 84 Pirrus..past to the oracle of appollo til inquyre of the fyne of the veyris that vas betuix hym and the romanis. 1605Lond. Prodigal iii. ii, There's the fine.
II.
6. Law. A ‘final agreement’; ‘an amicable composition or agreement of a suit, either actual or fictitious, by leave of the king or his justices’ (Blackstone).[1299Act 27 Edw. I, c. 1 Quia Fines in Curia nostra levati finem litibus debent imponere et imponunt, & ideo fines vocantur, maxime cum post duellum & magnam assisam in suo casu ultimum locum & finalem teneant & perpetuum.] b. spec. The compromise of a fictitious or collusive suit for the possession of lands: formerly in use as a mode of conveyance in cases where the ordinary modes were not available or equally efficacious.
The procedure was as follows. The person to whom the land was to be conveyed sued the holder for wrongfully keeping him out of possession; the defendant (hence called the cognizor) acknowledged the right of the plaintiff (or cognizee); the compromise was entered on the records of the court; and the particulars of it were set forth in a document called the foot of the fine (see foot). This method of conveyance was resorted to by married women (who could not alienate land by any other process), and as a means of barring an entail. The cognizor was said to acknowledge or levy a fine; sometimes the vb. to levy was used intrans. with fine as the subject. Also to sue a fine.
[12..Bracton De Legibus Angliæ v. iv. viii. §3 VI. 70 Item sufficit finis factus in curia domini regis [etc.]. 1292Britton ii. iii. §14 Par acord del purchaceour et del donour covendra lever fin en nostre court. ]1483Act 1 Rich. III, c. 7 §1 Notes and fynes to be levied in the Kinges Court..shold be openly and solempnly radd. 1509–10Act 1 Hen. VIII, c. 19 Pream., Your said Oratour..levyed severall Fynes of all the foresaid Manours. 1602Shakes. Ham. v. i. 114 His Statutes, his Recognizances, his Fines, his double Vouchers, his Recoueries. a1626Bacon Max. & Uses Com. Law (1636) 51 A Fine is a reall agreement, beginning thus, ‘Hæc est finalis concordia, etc.’ 1751Lady Luxborough Let. to Shenstone (1775) 281 A lawyer..to see me execute a fine, in consequence of my parting with my house in London. 1773E. Bonhote Rambles Mr. Frankly (1797) I. 81 He forbade me his house, sued a fine, and cut me off with a shilling. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) VI. 138 A fine was levied accordingly.
†c. Hence used gen. for: A contract, agreement.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 106 Sir Henry mad þe fyne, and mad þe mariage. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 51 Meede In Mariage was [I-feffed] To beo fastnet with fals þe fyn was arered.
III. A composition paid.
7. a. Feudal Law. A fee (as distinguished from the rent) paid by the tenant or vassal to the landlord on some alteration of the tenancy, as on the transfer or alienation of the tenant-right, etc. b. Mod. Law. A sum of money paid by a tenant on the commencement of his tenancy in order that his rent may be small or nominal.
c1435Torr. Portugal 1086 Omage thou shalte none nor ffyne. 1523Fitzherb. Surv. Prol., To cause them to pay more rent or a gretter fyne than they haue ben acustomed to do in tyme past. 1625Act 1 Chas. I, c. 2 §1 His Majestie having received divers Fines and sommes of Mony, according to the said Contracts. 1710Prideaux Orig. Tithes ii. 82 Reckoning in their Fines as well as their Rents. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 351 Where a fine is certain, the tenant is bound to pay it immediately upon his admittance. 1862Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. x. 138 The fines paid by his vassals on succession to or alienation of their fees. 1877Act 40 & 41 Vict. c. 18 §4 On every such lease shall be reserved the best rent..that can be reasonably obtained..without taking any fine or other benefit in the nature of a fine.
8.
†a. In phr. to make (a) fine: to make one's peace, settle a matter, obtain exemption from punishment or release from captivity, esp. by means of a money payment. Obs. exc. Hist.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 511 Some hii lete honge Bi hor membres an hey..Vort hii adde fin imad. c1325Coer de L. 3350 Charges mules..Off brende gold..For our heyres to make fyn. c1325Metr. Hom. 46 To mak the fin For sin. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 15966 When Penda hadde to Cadwalyn Obliged hym, & mad his fyn. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 184 It is liȝttere to make a fyn for moche money þan to purge hym. 1422J. Yonge Privytye 204 And there this McMahons, with dyuers othyr enemys, fynes with hym makid, pees forto haue. 1574in W. H. Turner Select Rec. Oxford 351 Richard Lloyde..shall make fyne for his contemptuous..wordes. 1891Northumb. Assize Rolls (Surtees) Pref. 25 The matter..settled by the Swethops making a fine with Dionisia for 20 marks.
†b. A sum of money offered or paid for exemption from punishment or by way of compensation for injury. Obs.
[1292Britton i. xii. §7 Sur peyne de raunceun et de fin.] c1340Cursor M. 6753 (Trin.) If þef haue no fyn ny ȝift..he shal be solde. 1628Earle Microcosm., Meere Gull Citizen (Arb.) 94 A harsh scholemaster, to whom he..payes a fine extraordinary for his mercy.
c. A certain sum of money imposed as the penalty for an offence. † to put to (one's) fine: to fine.
1529More Supplic. Soulys Wks. 296/2 The v. C. poundes whych he payed for a fyne by the premunire. 1542–3Act 34–5 Hen. VIII, c. 27 §84 No persone..for murther or felonie shall be put to his fine, but suffer accordinge to the lawes. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 10/1 He was..condemned in a great fine. 1719W. Wood Surv. Trade 302 Which cannot fail of bringing many more to the Church, than is possible by Fines and Imprisonments. 1827Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) III. xvii. 327 Fines to the amount of {pstlg}85,000..were imposed on the Covenanters. 1861M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 47 A blow..subjected the offender to a fine.
d. transf. A penalty of any kind. arch. † to pass a fine: fig. to pronounce sentence.
1503Hawes Examp. Virt. v. 59 Deth is fyne of euery synne. 1580Lupton Sivqila 14 To pay the fine of damnation for euer. a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 141 Two Self-admirers..may pass a Fine Upon all Judgment. 1697Dryden Eneid xi. 1222 Too dear a Fine, ah much lamented Maid, For warring with the Trojan hast thou paid. 1705Addison Italy 501 Fines..set upon Plays, Games, Balls and Feastings. 1876Blackie Songs Relig. & Life 195 We stood for our faith, when our life was the fine.
†9. A fee or charge paid for any privilege. Also, probate duty on a will. Obs.
[1422E.E. Wills (1882) 51 & soluerunt pro fine iiijor nobilia.] 1434Earl of Oxford in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 110 That the said Shipp, without any fyn or fee..may have licence..to make the furst viage unto St. James. 1521Bury Wills (Camden) 120 Item to Mr. Miles, for the aquitans at thys cownt makyng in Fornham and for y⊇ fyne of y⊇ testament..v s̃. viij d̃. c1744Parl. Bill in Hanway Trav. (1762) I. v. lxxi. 323 All persons..should be admitted into the freedom of the said company, upon paying a fine of fifty pounds.
IV.
10. Comb., fine-rolls (= rotuli oblatorum or finium; see quot. 1891); fine-setting vbl. n., fining, mulcting.
18001st Rept. Public Records 54 The Fine Rolls. 1853Thomas Handbk. Publ. Rec. 39 The Fine Rolls of King John. 1891Scargill-Bird Guide to Public Records 35 The Rolls upon which were entered the sums of money (or other property..) offered to the king by way of oblation or fine for the passing or renewal of charters or grants, and for the enjoyment of lands, offices, wardships, exemptions..and other marks of royal favour, were called Oblata or Fine Rolls. The first of these appellations fell into disuse after the reign of John, the latter only being thenceforward retained. 1657Burton's Diary (1828) II. 17 This fine-setting is no breach of privilege.
▪ II. ‖ fine, n.2 Irish Hist.|ˈfɪnɪ|
[Irish.]
An Old Irish family or sept.
1873Sullivan Introd. O'Curry's Anc. Irish I. 79 The clan..comprised several Fines. 1875Maine Hist. Inst. iv. 105 My own..opinion is that the ‘Fine’..is neither the Tribe..nor..the modern Family..but the Sept.
▪ III. fine, a.|faɪn|
Forms: 3–5 fin, fyn, 4–6 fyne, (4 fyin), 4– fine.
[a. F. fin = Pr. fin-s, Sp., Pg., It. fino (also It. fine):—Com. Rom. fino (med.L. fīnus), prob. a back-formation from finire (pa. pple. finito) to finish. On the analogy of the many Rom. vbs. in -ire derived from adjs. (e.g. grossire to make thick, f. grosso thick) the vb. finire seems to have been felt to presuppose an adj. fino. Similar back-formations (from adjs. of ppl. form) are Sp. cuerdo intelligent from L. cordātus, It. manso gentle from L. mansuētus. The Rom. word has passed into all the Teut. langs.; cf. OHG., MHG. fîn (mod.G. fein), MDu., Du. fijn, Icel. (15th c.) fínn, Sw. fin, Da. fiin.
In Fr. the word now chiefly expresses delicate and subtle perfection, as opposed to all that is gross or clumsy. In Eng. the senses derived from this notion are still current, but the word came to be used as a general expression of admiring approbation, equivalent to the Fr. beau, which it renders in many adopted locutions.]
A. adj.
I. Finished, consummate in quality.
1. Of superior quality, choice of its kind.
a1300Cursor M. 2870 (Gött.) Men findis lompis on þe sand Of ter, nan finer in þat land. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. ii. 9 With pelure þe finest vpon erthe. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 673 Cleopatras, She..made..a shryne Of alle the rubies and the stones fyne In al Egypte that she coude espye. c1440Promp. Parv. 161/1 Fyne wyne, falernum. 1653Walton Angler 130 Certain fields..make the Sheep that graze upon them..bear finer Wool. 1872Yeats Growth Comm. 31 Elba remarkable to this day for the fine iron it produces.
absol.a1400Morte Arth. 3372 Ffonde of þe fyneste,..And reche to the ripeste.
2. Free from foreign or extraneous matter, having no dross or other impurity; clear, pure, refined.
a. Of metals: Free from dross or alloy.
a1300Cursor M. 16453 (Cott.) Quen þai þe fine gold for-soke. c1384Chaucer H. Fame iii. 258 Of gold As fyne as ducat in venyse. c1450Mirour Saluacioun 1148 This reuerent Throne was made..of finest gold. 1557N. T. (Genev.) Rev. i. 15 And his fete lyke vnto fyne brasse. 1611Bible Ezra viii. 27 Two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. 1757Jos. Harris Coins 31 Coins..should contain certain assigned quantities of pure or fine silver. 1867Chamb. Jrnl. xxxviii. 105 ‘Fine’ gold being purer than ‘standard’. 1881Raymond Mining Gloss., Fine metal, the iron or plate-metal produced in the refinery.
fig.1727Swift Further Acc. E. Currl, Mixing a greater quantity of the fine metal of other authors with the alloy of this society.
b. Of gold or silver: Containing a given proportion of pure metal, specified respectively in ‘carats’ (see carat) or ‘ounces’ (sc. per lb. troy).
1594Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 85 The golde being 24 Carots high, & the siluer 12 ounces fine. 1666Act 18 Chas. II, c. 5 §1 For every pound troy of gold or silver..that shall be finer upon assay than crown gold or standard silver. 1820G. G. Carey Funds 95 Gold of twenty two carats fine signifies that twenty two parts of the whole mass is pure gold and two parts of some other metal. 1862E. W. Robertson Hist. Ess. i. i. 3 The purest gold, 24 carats fine.
fig.1581[See carat 3].
c. Of liquids; Free from turbidity or impurity, clear. Also occas. of air: Pure.
1481Caxton Myrr. i. i. 6 The good wyn that is aboue abideth alway clere and fyn. 1567R. Edwards Dam. & Pith. in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 35 Methinks this is a pleasant city..The air subtle and fine. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (1885) 27 Ane..spring, of fyne, freshe and fair water. a1637B. Jonson Rules Tavern v, Let our wines without mixture or stum be all fine. 1671Grew Anat. Plants i. ii. (1682) 15 Which transient Sap..thus becomes fine. 1723Swift Stella at Woodpark, She view'd the wine To see that ev'ry glass was fine. 1745R. Pococke Descr. East II. i. 5 They..brought fine oil of olives. 1819Shelley Cyclops 47 Here the air is calm and fine.
†3. Pure, sheer, absolute; perfect. In phrases adopted from OF., esp. (of, with, by) fine force, (by) absolute necessity, also (by) main force; fine love, fine heart, etc. Obs.
c1320Cast. Love 1405 Ther was never fadur to his child Of fyne love so meke and myld. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 35 Kymak..com for fyne awe. c1340Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1139 Me be-houez of fyne force, Your seruaunt be. c1450Merlin 156 By fyn strengthe. c1475Partenay 3831 Whom I so loued with hert Fyn. 1564Haward Eutropius vii. 61 Cesar..of fine force caused the Romaynes to create hym consull. 1670Cotton Espernon I. ii. 45 To effect that by fine Force, he could not obtain by the more moderate ways of Addresses, and Treaty. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), Fine Force (Fr. Law Term) an absolute unavoidable Necessity or Constraint. 1721–1800in Bailey.
4. Of persons:
†a. Consummate in virtue or excellence. Chiefly as rime-word. Obs.
13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 1203 A god, a lorde, a frend ful fyin. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 257 A baron bold & fyn. c1400Rowland & O. 14 Sir Cherlles gud & fyne. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1901 Twa halymen and fyne, Saint benet and bischop Marcellyne.
†b. Used with reproachful designations: Consummate, ‘egregious’. Obs. Cf. 12 c.
c1425Wyntoun Cron. vi. vi. 18 A schrewe fyne. 1598Shakes. Merry W. v. i. 19 That same knaue (Ford hir husband) hath the finest mad diuell of iealousie in him..that euer gouern'd Frensie. 1604― Oth. iv. i. 155, I was a fine Foole to take it.
c. In good health, well. (Cf. fiddle n. 1 b.)
1791–1897in Eng. Dial. Dict. (chiefly northern and Sc.). 1959Listener 9 July 59/1 The sleepy subjects felt fine during the complex interesting tests. a1968H. Hood in R. Weaver Canad. Short Stories 2nd Ser. (1968) 220 There's nothing wrong with my heart. I've just had my checkup and I'm fine, just fine.
5. Of persons or actions: Consummately skilful, highly accomplished. Now only as a contextual use of 12: Admirably skilful.
c1320Orfeo 265 To her harpyng that was fyne. c1400Destr. Troy 7716 A fyn archer. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 436 To seik him leichis that wer fyne and gude, To heill his woundis. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. i. 10 In respect of a fine Workman, I am but..a Cobler. 1837Disraeli Venetia i. iii, A fine musician. 1880L. Stephen Pope v. 133 Pope was a really fine judge of literature.
II. Delicate, subtle.
6. a. Exquisitely fashioned; delicately beautiful.
13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 170 Her fygure fyn. c1450Why I can't be a nun 113 in E.E.P. (1862) 141, I fylle Among the herbes fresche and fyne. 1530Palsgr. 312/2 Fyne as any worke that is small and subtylly wrought, soubtil. 1596Spenser Prothalamion 27 They..with fine fingers cropt..The tender stalks. 1610Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 317 Fine apparision: my queint Ariel Hearke in thine eare. 1819Shelley Cenci iv. i. 133 Warp those fine limbs To loathéd lameness. 1867Tennyson Window 88 Fine little hands, fine little feet.
b. Of immaterial things, e.g. emotion or feeling: Delicate, elevated, refined. Cf. 10.
1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iii. ii. 24 Some ioy too fine..For the capacitie of my ruder powers. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xxxiii. (1824) 713 A moment of finer joy. 1842Tennyson Locksley Hall 46 What is fine within thee growing coarse to sympathise with clay.
7. a. Delicate in structure or texture, delicately wrought; consisting of minute particles or slender threads or filaments. Opposed to coarse.
Often contextually coincident with sense 1.
c1386Chaucer Prol. 453 Hire coverchiefs weren ful fine of ground. a1400Sir Perc. 453 He fande a lofe of brede fyne. 1558Bury Wills (Camden) 151, J fyne hone. 1660Act 12 Chas. II, c. 4. Sched. s.v. Brushes, Fine, or head brushes. 1721Berkeley Prevent. Ruin Gt. Brit. Wks. III. 199 More fine linen is wore in Great Britain than in any other country. 1737Bracken Farriery Impr. (1756) I. 118 Any Thing that is termed fine Work. 1842J. Bischoff Woollen Manuf. II. 192 The wool is fit for clothing purposes or for making fine flannels. 1884A. R. Pennington Wiclif vi. 187 They were..written on fine vellum.
b. In minute particles, comminuted.
1535Coverdale Lev. ii. 1 A meat offerynge..of fyne floure. 1589Pappe w. Hatchet D ij b, They haue..got themselues the fine meale. 1602Shakes. Ham. v. i. 116 Full of fine Dirt. 1820Shelley Witch xliv. 6 Interwoven with fine feathery snow. 1885Manch. Exam. 4 May 5/3 The air is in fact quite misty with the fine impalpable dust which it contains.
c. Attenuated, of small density, subtle, rare.
1626Bacon Sylva §761 When the Eye standeth in the Finer Medium. 1712–4Pope Rape Lock ii. 61 Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight, Their fluid bodies half dissolved in light. 1783Pott Chirurg. Wks. II. 219 The exudation of a fine fluid. 1860Miss Mulock Parables 30 in Poems 273 Air so rare and fine.
d. Very small in bulk or thickness; extremely thin or slender.
c1400Mandeville (1839) iii. 17 Upon the Body lay a fyn plate of Gold. 1552Huloet Fine threde, arachnion. 1577Googe Heresbach's Husb. (1586) ii. 68 Make..a fine hole..in the stocke. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. iv. 21 Like a crane his neck was long and fyne. c1790J. Imison Sch. Art i. 223 The fine membranes between a frog's toes. 1821Shelley Prometh. Unb. ii. i. 116 Thine eyes..underneath Their long fine lashes.
fig.1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 19 He draweth out the thred of his verbositie finer then the staple of his argument. 1845Ld. Houghton in Life (1891) I. viii. 360, I think my own finer [lines of judgment] just as distinct. 1884Manch. Exam. 26 May 5/1 Margins of profit are so fine. 1891Farmer Slang, Cut fine, to narrow down to a minimum.
e. Athletics. Reduced in fat to the proper degree by training.
1815Sporting Mag. XLVI. 44 The gentleman who brought him [Oliver] so fine into the ring in his combat with Painter. 1887R. L. Stevenson Pastoral in Longm. Mag. IX. 598 With a certain strain in the expression, like that of a man trained too fine and harassed with perpetual vigilance.
f. With advb. force in Cricket: behind the wicket and near the line of flight of the ball (opp. square).
1867J. Lillywhite's Cricketers' Compan. 9 His [sc. the fieldsman's] own judgement will tell him..to play fine at one time, and square at another. 1888Steel & Lyttelton Cricket iii. 147 It is a golden rule for every bowler..on these wickets to have a short-slip ‘finer’ than on ordinary occasions. 1891W. G. Grace Cricket x. 263 Short-leg..must be quick to detect..whether he means to play it fine, square, or more in the direction of mid-on. 1961F. C. Avis Sportsman's Gloss. 119/2 Fine leg, the position of a fieldsman on the leg side but behind the wicket. 1963A. Ross Australia 63 vii. 129 Harvey swung across the line of the next ball, and it went straight in and out of Sheppard's hands at short fine leg.
g. In colloq. expressions such as to cut fine, to run fine, with advb. force: with a very slight margin (of time, space, etc.).
1871Chambers's Jrnl. 9 Sept. 563/1 For purposes of concealment we sometimes ran it very fine. 1884Boy's Own Paper Xmas no. 40/2 In endeavouring to round a headland the Crystal cut matters too fine, got on to rough ice. 1890,1892[see run v. 36 d]. 1896Daily News 24 July 8/6 The making of clothes was, he added, ‘cut very fine’. 1899Chambers's Jrnl. 30 Sept. 694/1 If by..chance I was cutting it fine. 1908Pearson's Weekly 5 Mar. 606/2 Running it fine. 1930W. S. Churchill My Early Life vii. 107 This was running things very fine, but it was not until my journey was half completed that I realised that I should be almost certainly late for dinner. 1950‘W. Cooper’ Scenes Provincial Life i. v. 72 Robert had ordered himself to come last. Tom argued with Robert about cutting it fine.
h. Of a ship's bow: slender.
1927G. Bradford Gloss. Sea Terms 64/1 Fine, knife⁓like forward, where a vessel enters the water. The more a vessel departs from the shape of a box, the finer her lines.
i. fine print: applied to those detailed clauses of a contract, warranty form, etc., that are printed in small type and specify the limits, qualifications, etc., of the agreement. Also fig.
1960J. Carswell S. Sea Bubble i. 19 He produced the ‘fine print’ which it is peril to leave unread. 1966Guardian 28 Nov. 1/1 A careful reading of the fine print of Mr Smith's latest proposals is likely. 1968D. Hitchens Cabin of Fear i. 13 He was a fanatic about the fine-print..and he didn't get where he was by being careless.
j. fine chemicals: see chemical a. 6 b.
8. Of a tool, weapon, etc.: Sharp-pointed, keen-edged; sharp. Also fig. (see also point n.1 B. 1 d).
c1400Destr. Troy 5824 He..frusshit at Philmene with a fyn launse. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. v. iii. 78 What fine Chizzell Could euer yet cut breath? 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 342 Those exquisitely fine blades which are required for operations on the human frame. 1871Morley Voltaire (1886) 8 A fine sword, very fatal to those, who [etc.].
fig.c1600Shakes. Sonn. lii. 4 For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure. 1622Bacon Hen. VII 51 The finer edges or points of wit.
†9. Of bodily constitution: Delicate, sensitive, tender. Obs.
1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 583 Some fine or delicate person which cannot endure so gross a medicine. 1661Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. Introd., [Meats] fit for fine complexions, idle and tender persons.
10. a. Of distinctions, reasoning, objects of perception, etc.: Subtle, delicate, refined. b. Of senses, organs, instruments: Capable of delicate perception or discrimination; sensitive to delicate or subtle impressions.
1567R. Edwards Dam. & Pith. in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 17 Now mens ears are finer. 1580Baret Alv. F 544 A subtile and fine distinction, distinctio tenuis & acuta. 1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. i. iii. 338 For here the Trojans taste our dear'st repute With their finest palate. 1693Dryden Juvenal Ded. 41 The..most delicate touches of Satire consist in fine Raillery. 1712Addison Spect. No. 409 ⁋1 Gratian very often recommends the fine Taste, as the utmost Perfection of an accomplished Man. 1784Cowper Task vi. 562 Grac'd with polish'd manners and fine sense. 1801Southey Thalaba iii. xi, The subtile sounds, Too fine for mortal sense. 1855Bain Senses & Int. ii. ii. §8 The part endowed with the finer tactile power feels the other. 1879Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. i. §431 A fine balance should turn with about a 500,000th of the greatest load which can safely be placed in either pan. 1885Law Times LXXIX. 171/2 The distinction between motive and intention is perhaps a little fine.
†11. Intellectually subtle, clever, ingenious. In bad sense, Cunning, artful. Obs.
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. x. 247 Had neuere freke fyne wytte þe feyth to dispute. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7870 In all doyng discrete and fyne. 1559Mirr. Mag., Fall R. Tresilian xii, To crepe into whose fauour we were full fyne and slye. 1579–80North Plutarch (1676) 159 Soon after he understood they were counterfeit Letters, made by Hannibals fine device to have drawn him out. 1607–12Bacon Ess. Empire (Arb.) 298 The wisedome of all theis latter tymes, in Princes' affaires, is rather fine Deliveryes, and shiftinges of daungers and mischeifes..than solid and grounded courses to keepe them aloofe. 1610Bp. Carleton Jurisd. 6 Some of the finer Iesuits..are growen more cunning in the manner of deliuering it. 1701Rowe Amb. Step-Moth. ii. ii. 942 One fine project of the Statesman's Brain. 1766[Anstey] Bath Guide viii. (1807) 57 Men of fine heads, and nice calculations.
III. Senses developed in Eng. (chiefly = Fr. beau).
12. a. Used as a general expression of admiration: Excellent; admirable in quality; of rare or striking merit. In phr. fine and dandy: see dandy a. 2.
c1440Promp. Parv. 161/1 Fyne, or ryght goode. 1580Sidney Arcadia (1622) 116 To my conceite the fine cleanenesse of bearing it was exceeding delightfull. 1671Lady M. Bertie in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 22 Two very fine new plays. 1676Cotton Angler ii. i. 5 As fine Rivers, and as clear from..encumbrance to hinder an Angler, as any you ever saw. 1729Law Serious C. i. (1815) 9 You see them..pleased with fine preachers. 1751Chatham Lett. Nephew ii. 7 They [Homer and Virgil] contain the finest lessons for your age to imbibe. 1756–7Keysler's Trav. (1760) IV. 451 Part of the fine paintings..have already been brought from Dusseldorp. 1794Southey Botany Bay Ecl. 11 'Tis a fine thing to fight the French for fame! 1829Lytton Devereux i. iii, Candour no longer seemed to me the finest of virtues. 1833H. Martineau Manch. Strike i. 9 Shake hands, my fine fellow. 1836W. Irving Astoria II. 314 He accordingly fitted out a fine ship of four hundred and ninety tons. 1863Kingsley Water-Bab. (1878) 5 He thought of the fine times coming when he would be a man.
b. Of thoughts, sayings, etc.: Admirably conceived or expressed.
1676Hobbes Iliad Pref. (1686) 10 Two or three fine sayings are not enough to make a Wit. 1695Dryden Parall. Poetry & Paint. Prose Wks. 1800 III. 348 The word æs, or brass, was taken for a trumpet, because the instrument was made of that metal,—which of itself was fine. 1712Steele Spect. No. 288 ⁋1 Saying as many fine Things as their Stock of Wit will allow. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 569 According to his own fine expression, ‘the thought of God made God’.
c. Often used ironically.
1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 36 How say you fine man? 1613Shakes. etc. Hen. VIII, v. iv. 74 Y' haue made a fine hand, fellowes. 1679Ld. Chancellor in R. Mansel Narr. Popish Plot 40 You are a fine Fellow; first to come to His Majesty..then to the Lord Powis. 1683in Wood Life (O.H.S.) III. 70 That ‘to execute penal lawes upon dissenters was’—speaking ironically—‘a fine way to unite us’. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xvi, Fine plots they would lay. 1855Browning Fra Lippo 201 A fine way to paint soul, by painting body So ill. 1861T. A. Trollope La Beata I. iv. 74 It is all very fine, but one must live. 1890W. A. Wallace Only a Sister? 323 Telling your mates of your fine goings-on.
d. Of printing: intended for display as much as for reading; of the condition of a book: see quot. 1948; of an edition of a book: printed on better-quality paper, esp. in fine-paper copy.
1867[see press-work]. 1874Art of Paper-Making iii. 23 In a fine-paper mill, the increase of manual labour..is more than compensated by the greater purity of the resulting product. 1912A. W. Pollard (title) Fine books. 1948J. Carter Taste & Technique in Book-Collecting xii. 172 In its most absolute sense..the term ‘fine’, applied to any book of any period, could be said to mean no more (if no less) than that all its leaves were present, clean, whole and amply margined; that it was sound and undisturbed in its binding; and that that binding, whatever its material, was fresh and unblemished and, if of leather, of a sufficient elegance to raise it above the modest category of ‘neat’. 1952E. J. Labarre Dict. Paper (ed. 2) 104/1 Fine paper,..indicates the printing of a book on better paper than the bulk of the edition. 1957R. L. Collison Book Collecting 197 Formerly very popular, this process [sc. marbling] is now mostly confined to account books and ledgers, though since the war it has also been used in fine printing. 1964F. Bowers Bibliogr. & Textual Crit. iii. vi. 84 One perhaps aberrant fine-paper copy. 1970Sotheby's Catal. Sale Children's Books 16 Mar. 29 The Golliwogg Books, a complete set of 13 vol., the last eight first editions, coloured illustrations, original cloth-backed boards, pictorial upper covers, seven covers slightly spotted, otherwise a very fine set.
13. a. Remarkably good-looking, handsome. Said both of persons and things.
In the 18th c. the expression ‘a fine woman’ (= une belle femme) was very often used where we should now rather say ‘beautiful’ or ‘pretty’.
1340–70Alex. & Dind. 591 But hit [a tomb] fair be & fin, folie ȝe holden. 1598Yong Diana 36 A Shepherdesse so fine perdie, So liuely yoong and passing faire. 1726Franklin Jrnl. Wks. 1887 I. 106 From the battlements of this upper castle..you have a fine prospect. 1749Fielding Tom Jones viii. viii, [She] is still a very fine woman. 1791Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest x, She is a fine girl. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxx, To make yourself acceptable to a fine woman. 1833H. Martineau Brooke Farm iv. 43 As fine a set of lads and lasses as could be seen. 1867R. Broughton Cometh up as Flower xxx. (1878) 334 A monstrous fine woman. 1868Lockyer Elem. Astron. i. (1879) 34 The finest ring-nebula is the 57th in Messier's catalogue.
b. Of the features, etc., in a more elevated sense: ‘Beautiful with dignity’ (J.).
1801Southey Thalaba ix. ii, Her fine face raised to Heaven. 1849C. Brontë Shirley ii, He seems unconscious that his features are fine. 1878Hutton Scott i. 4 His father was a man of fine presence.
14. a. Of handsome size or growth.
1590Greene Never too late (1600) 3 The finest buds are soonest nipt with frosts. 1703Maundrell Journ. Jerus. 40 Orange Trees..all of so fine a growth..that one cannot imagine anything more perfect in this kind. 1796C. Marshall Garden. xvii. (1813) 279 Some sorts [of fruit trees] grow finest in..a warm soil. 1870Mrs. H. Wood G. Canterbury's Will II. i. 9 A fine child you call him..He is not a fine child, for he is remarkably small; but he is a very pretty one.
b. Colloquially often with derisive notion: Very large; also followed by large, big, etc.
1833H. Martineau Berkeley i. iii. 53 You had a fine slice of bread and honey just before Miss Berkeley came in.
15. a. Of the weather, a day, etc.: In which the sky is bright, or comparatively free from cloud. Often merely in the sense: Free from rain. Also Naut. of the wind (see quot. 1867).[= F. beau; F. has also un temps fin bright and cloudless weather, but this seems not to have influenced the Eng. use.] 1704Cuningham in Phil. Trans. XXV. 1688 Fair and pleasant weather, with fine gales at S.E. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. ii. §1 The weather was so fine they had a mind to spend the day abroad. 1836M. Scott Cruise Midge I. ii. 39 A fine breeze, that..was nearly a fair wind up the river. 1867Tennyson Window 153 ‘Cuck-oo! Cuck-oo!’ was ever a May so fine? 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Fine breezes, said of the wind when the flying-kites may be carried but requiring a sharp look-out. 1872Wood Insects at Home iii. 337 On a fine day, it is very interesting to watch the ants [etc.].
b. one of these fine days, etc. (= F. un de ces beaux jours): often used playfully or derisively with reference to the occurrence of some unlooked for event. Also some fine day, one day in the future.
1846G. E. Jewsbury Sel. Lett. to Mrs. Carlyle (1892) 189 Some fine day she will let you inside that moral mystery, and will hate you for it afterwards. 1853Miss Mulock Agatha's Husb. I. iii. 65 Miss Bowen set off one fine morning, hoping [etc.]. 1854Dickens Hard T. i. xi. 89 You'll get yourself into a real muddle, one of these fine mornings. 1890[see money n. 3 a].
16. Of dress: Highly ornate, showy, smart. Hence of persons: Smartly dressed. Chiefly in disparaging use. Prov. fine feathers make fine birds.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 84 With fayre and fyne clothes. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 319, I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. v. v. (1845) 313 A Colour'd suit, that but last Week, would have been thought a fine one. 1721Kelly Sc. Prov. 109 Fine Feathers make fine Birds. 1730Swift Death & Daphne, Fine as a col'nel of the guards. 1771Mrs. Harris in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury I. 214 A dress which was pretty and fine. 1798Jane Austen Northang. Abb. (1833) I. ii. 7 She had a harmless delight in being fine.
17. Characterized by or affecting refinement or elegance; polished, dainty, refined, fastidious, etc.
1546J. Heywood Prov. (1562) I j b, Lyke one of fond fancy so fyne and so neate, That would haue better bread than is made of wheate. a1555Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 109 Those fine damsels thought it scorn to do any such thing unto Mary. 1732Pope Ep. Bathurst 73 Soft Adonis, so perfum'd and fine. 1774Mrs. Harris in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury I. 279 She is too fine to come to town till the day before the birthday. 1786Burns Holy Fair xv, His English style, an' gesture fine Are a' clean out o' season. 1800E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. I. 55 Since she had been admitted into the society of her fine neighbours. 1814Wordsw. Excursion vi, Yet farther recommended by the charm Of fine demeanor. 1885Besant Children of Gibeon ii. xxxii, He's only a working-man, you see. He hasn't got your fine ways.
18. a. Of speech, writing, etc.: Affectedly ornate or elegant.
1773Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind (1774) II. 113 Idle gallantry and unmeaning fine speeches. c1800K. White Lett. (1837) 334 Never make use of fine or vulgar words. 1837J. H. Newman Par. Serm. (ed. 3) I. xiii. 202 A price for the indulgence of fine speaking. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. App. 610 By way of fine writing.
b. Flattering, complimentary.
1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 168 When this haggling was very obstinate and very skilful it was called by some fine name. 1865Mill in Morn. Star 6 July, I hope you don't suppose that I think all the fine things true about me which have been said [etc.]. 1874Morley Compromise (1886) 169 Hardly..more than a fine name for self-indulgence.
B. n. (The adj. used absol.)
†a. A fine woman.
†b. Fine quality.
c. The fine part of anything.
d. Fine weather.
1607Tourneur Rev. Trag. iii. v, Me thinkes she makes almost as faire a fine. 1638Ford Lady's Trial iii. i, Fairs, fines, and honies, are but flesh and blood. 1696J. F. Merchant's Ware-ho. 15 What it wants in the fine, you have compleated in the strength. a1834Lamb Final Mem. viii. To H. C. Robinson 264 You go about, in rain or fine, at all hours. 1886G. Allen Maimie's Sake xviii, The fine of the day will all be gone by that time.
e. pl. Very small particles: used in various technical senses. (See also quot. 1880).
1880J. Dunbar Pract. Papermaker 14 Fines consist of fine white cottons [sc. rags]. 1904Westm. Gaz. 28 July 3/2 Breaking up much waste rock into fines. 1908Ibid. 22 Oct. 13/1 All fines [sc. fine ores] are discharged into the tank over the head of the funnel with great force. 1930Engineering 4 Apr. 449/2 The fines are entirely withdrawn from the coal. 1950Ibid. 13 Jan. 53/2 It was..found possible to stabilise a powder by mixing it with dry stearic acid or zinc stearate in small amounts... The chief objection to the process was that the flowing properties of the treated powder were poor, the deterioration being more marked than would have been expected from the slight increase in the proportion of ‘fines’ during the milling. 1951Gloss. Terms Plastics (B.S.I.) 21 Fines, a qualitative description of the extremely small particles which may be present in a granular powder. The presence of this very fine material in substantial amount may in some instances be undesirable. 1957Brit. Commonw. Forest Terminol. ii. 73 Fines, in pulping, the very short or fragmented fibres. 1965G. J. Williams Econ. Geol. N.Z. xvi. 266/2 Many of the quartz sand deposits contain too much fines (i.e. passing 100 mesh BSS) for glass manufacture. 1969Times 2 May (Suppl.) p. iv/6 All companies with the exception of the Savage River group produce iron ore lump and fines. 1970Nature 24 Jan. 325/2 The word fines is accepted in lunar research as describing all those solid particles with a size less than 1 cm. Ibid. 326/1 Several others also reported the gradual loss of adhesion on exposure of fines material to a gaseous atmosphere.
f. See fine champagne.
C. adv. = Finely:
a. In a fine manner, elegantly, etc.; as, to talk fine.
b. Well, very well; completely, fully; also in † full fine; † well and fine: to one's satisfaction, thoroughly (obs.). dial. and colloq.
c. Delicately, mincingly, subtly, with nicety.
a.1508Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 31 Annamalit fine with flouris Off alkin hewis under hewin. 1708Lond. Gaz. No. 4496/4 A strong Bay Horse that..goes fine. 1730Swift Paneg. on the Dean, The neighbours who come here to dine, Admire to hear me speak so fine. 1751Female Foundl. II. 46 Nothing could be imagined finer turned than the Praises which he gave me. 1773Hist. Ld. Ainsworth I. 9 Servants who drest finer than their mistresses. 1812W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. LXXIX. 384 All the personages talk fine. 1812L. Hunt in Examiner 14 Dec. 785/2 They spoke finest.
b.c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1715 Lucrece, The husbonde knew the estris wel and fyn. c1400Destr. Troy 7168 Iche freike was fyn hole of þere fell hurttes. c1470Harding Chron. c. v, Rulyng that lande in peace and lawe full fine. c1554Interl. Youth in Hazl. Dodsley II. 12 Your brother and you together Fettered fine fast! 1889Barrie Window in Thrums 168, I believe fine ye mean what ye say. 1890W. A. Wallace Only a Sister? 327, I could see all fine from behind the curtains. 1932T. S. Eliot Sweeney Agonistes 18 We like London fine. 1947Partridge Usage & Abusage 118/2 Fine as an adverb (‘He's doing fine’) is dialectal and colloquial.
c.1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 22 Such rackers of ortagriphie, as to speake dout fine, when he should say doubt. 1611― Cymb. i. i. 84 Dissembling curtesie! How fine this Tyrant Can tickle where she wounds! 1676Cotton Angler ii. v. 35 To fish fine, and far off is the..principal Rule for Trout Angling. 1704J. Trapp Abra-Mulé iii. i. 1191 Thy Plot was wrought Too fine for my dull Sight.
D. Comb.
1. Of the adj.a. With pr. pples. forming adjs., as fine-appearing (U.S. dial.), fine-looking..
1879Howell L. Aroostook (1883) II. 59 ‘She is very *fine-appearing,’ said Lydia. Staniford smiled at the countrified phrase.
1799Malthus Jrnl. 2 June (1966) 44 We saw a great number of healthy *fine looking children. 1844J. Cowell 30 Yrs. among Players (1845) i. x. 25/2 A fine-looking young man and a beautiful girl. 1922Joyce Ulysses 734 Killing any finelooking men there were.
b. In parasynthetic derivatives, as fine-baited, fine-boned, fine-eyed, fine-feathered, fine-featured, fine-fleeced, fine-furred, fine-haired, fine-jointed, fine-leaved, fine-mouthed, fine-nosed, fine-paced, fine-skinned, fine-spirited, fine-textured, fine-threaded, fine-timbered, fine-toned, fine-tongued, fine-tubed, fine-witted, fine-woolled.
1598Shakes. Merry W. ii. i. 99 Lead him on with a *fine baited delay.
1927Joyce Pomes Penyeach, I wrap him warm And touch his trembling *fineboned shoulder. 1959J. Wain Travelling Woman iii. 22 The chin..at the same time fine-boned and intellectual.
1815Keats Epistle to G. F. Mathew 35 The *fine-eyed maid.
1751R. Paltock P. Wilkins (1884) II. ii. 18 A very *fine-feathered creature.
1657Cokaine Obstinate Lady iii. i, *Fine-featur'd Mars.
1835Ure Philos. Manuf. 131 The high prices at which the *fine-fleeced animals were sold.
1630Drayton Noahs Floud 97 The *fine-furd Ermin.
1711Lond. Gaz. No. 4890/4 Very Fat and *fine hair'd.
1849Parker Goth. Archit. i. i. (1874) 16 *Fine-jointed masonry.
1885T. Baines (title) Green⁓house & stove plants, flowering and *fine-leaved, palms, [etc.]. 1952A. G. L. Hellyer Sanders's Encycl. Gardening (ed. 22) 174 [Edraianthus] tenuifolius, blue fine-leaved.
a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, *Fine-mouth'd, nice dainty. 1811Sporting Mag. XXXVIII. 111 Should the executioner be too fine-mouthed.
1655Fuller Ch. Hist. vi. ii. §1 The Monks themselves were too *fine-nosed to dabble in Tan-fatts.
1625B. Jonson Staple of N. i. i, A *fine-paced gentleman.
1701Lond. Gaz. No. 3748/4 A black Gelding..*fine Skin'd.
1714Mandeville Fab. Bees (1733) II. 315 Many *fine-spirited creatures. 1890Child Ballads vii. ccxi. 145/2 It is a fine-spirited ballad as it stands.
1901*Fine-textured [see textured a.]. 1958Yearbk. Agric. 1957 (U.S. Dept. Agric.) 758/1 Fine-textured soil, roughly, clayey soil containing 35 percent or more of clay.
1833Herschel Astron. ii. 84 A *fine-threaded screw.
1634Massinger Very Woman ii. iii, This day the market's kept for slaves; go you, And buy you a *fine-timber'd one to assist me.
1864A. McKay Hist. Kilmarnock (1880) 120 A *fine-toned organ.
1580Sidney Arcadia (1622) 238 My *fine-witted wench Artesia.
1797*Fine-woolled [see woolled a. 2]. 1868Darwin Anim. & Pl. I. iii. 99 Fine-woolled sheep.
2. Of the adv.a. With pr. pples., forming adjs., as fine-dividing, fine-feeling, fine-sounding, fine-tapering.
1879Geo. Eliot Coll. Breakf. P. 610 Brains and *fine-dividing tongue.
1795Jemima I. 4 This..is your amiable..your *fine-feeling Miss Jemima.
1845Ford Handbk. Spain i. 35 The names of the animals are always *fine-sounding.
1728–46Thomson Spring 384 The rod *fine-tapering with elastic spring.
b. With pa. pples., forming adjs., as fine-bred, fine-dressed, fine-set, fine-sifted, fine-spoken, fine-tricked, fine-wrought.
1667Dryden Wild Gallant iii. ii, A *fine-bred woman. 1710Palmer Proverbs 111 Many a fine-bred gentleman has been ruin'd by a title.
1681Otway Soldier's Fort. ii. i, A dainty *fine-drest coxcomb.
1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 111 *Fine-set, the Irons of Planes..are set Fine, when..in working they take off a fine-shaving. 1823P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 223 Fine-set.
1824Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. (1863) 197 The *fine-sifted mould of the shrubberies.
1666Pepys Diary 1 Apr., I find him a very *fine-spoken gentleman. 1853Lynch Self-Improv. v. 105 The talk and airs of fine-spoken reputable people.
1600J. Lane Tom Tel-troth 235 These mincing maides and *fine trict truls, ride post To Plutoes pallace.
1691Norris Pract. Disc. 239 As the laborious Spider weaves her *fine-wrought Web. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 198 Fine-wrought China silks. 1816Shelley There is no work 21 The fine-wrought eye and the wondrous ear.
c. With verbs, forming verbs, as fine-burnish.
1833Holland Manuf. Metal II. 40 Women, who carefully *fine-burnish the bows with a polished steel instrument.
3. Special comb.: fine-arch (see quot.); fine-axe v. trans., to face (stone) to a smooth surface by tapping with a mason's axe; fine-boring vbl. n., the process of giving a fine bore to a gun; fine-edge v. to put a fine edge upon, sharpen; fine entrance, entry, a slender ship's bow; fine-fingered a., (a) delicate, fastidious; (b) light-fingered; fine-groove, the groove on a long-playing gramophone record; usu. attrib., as fine-groove record; fine-headed a., (a) given to making fine distinctions; (b) clear-headed, clever; † fine-palated a., pleasing to the palate; fine-sight (see quot.); fine stuff (see quots.); fine-toothed a., (a) of a file or a saw: having fine teeth; (b) of persons: delicate or epicurean in matters of taste or palate; fine world = beau-monde. Also fine-art, fine gentleman, fine lady, fine-spun, fine-weather, etc.
1874Knight Dict. Mech. I. 847/1 *Fine-arch, the smaller fritting-furnance of a glass-house.
1886H. C. Seddon Builder's Wk. 82 *Fine axed is a more careful description of single axed work. 1895Daily News 18 June 6/4 All kinds of Scotch granites, polished and fine-axed.
1891Pall Mall G. 30 May 7/2 The process called ‘*fine-boring’.
1824Mechanic's Mag. No. 46. 280 Easy mode of *fine-edging a Razor.
1869*Fine entrance [see entrance n. 6]. 1961F. H. Burgess Dict. Sailing 86 *Fine entry, fine entrance, a lean bow. A quality possessed by any vessel with long tapered bows to offer less resistance.
1549Coverdale Erasm. Par. 1 Tim. 13 To professe Christ, is not an ydle nor a delycate *fine fyngred matter. c1559in Strype Ann. Ref. I. xiv. 189 These finefingered rufflers with their sables about their necks. 1603Breton Mad World (Grosart) 11/1 Taking me for a fine fingreed companion.
1956(title) Reproducing equipment for *fine-groove records. (B.B.C.) 1957B.B.C. Handbk. 52 A further development during 1956 was the introduction of ‘fine groove’ long-playing disk recording equipment. 1958Chambers's Techn. Dict. 967/1 (s.v. coarse groove). Fine groove, or microgroove, used for vinylite long-playing discs.
1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 1007/2 Some *fine headed and learned fellowe. 1583Golding Calvin on Deut. li. 307 Some..which are so fine headded that they will make God a lyer. 1603Florio Montaigne ii. xvii. (1632) 366 The finer-headed, and more subtle-brained a man is.
1742Lond. & Country Brew. i. (ed. 4) 37 The desired End of enjoying *fine-palated wholesome Drink.
1859Musketry Instruct. 34 *Fine-sight is when the line of sight is taken along the bottom of the notch of the back-sight, the fine point of the fore-sight being only seen in the alignment.
1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 611 *Fine stuff..is merely pure lime, slaked first with a small quantity of water, and afterwards [etc.]. 1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, Fine-stuff, the second coat of plaster for the walls of a room, composed of finely sifted lime and sand mixed with hair.
1601Holland Pliny I. 430 As they say that be *fine-toothed, and have a delicate tast. 1842Bk. Trades 231 The fine-toothed files. 1960Farmer & Stockbreeder 8 Mar. (Suppl.) 5/1 Cut very carefully using a fine-toothed saw.
1801H. More Wks. VIII. 181 Persons who are pleased exclusively to call themselves..the *fine world.
[III.] [12.] [d.] For ‘of the condition of a book: see quot. 1948’ read: (amongst collectors) of a coin, stamp, book, etc., or its condition: displaying a state of good but not excellent preservation (earlier and later examples).
1773Catal. Medals, Medallions & Coins of James West (Langford's) 19 Jan. 3 An Otho, and 4 more Paduans, very fine. 1827Catal. Coins & Medals Col. Thomas (Sotheby) 23 Apr. 5 Edward the Confessor, with Paxs.., fine and rare. 1879H. Phillips Notes Coins 14 A number of fine proof-sets and coins of the United States mint. 1893[see imperforate a. b]. 1984Coin Monthly Jan. 72/1 (Advt.), 9 Roman silver coins..—fair to almost fine.
e. In weakened use: satisfactory, acceptable; ‘O.K.’, all right. Freq. predicative or as int. See also sense C. b below.
1917A. G. Empey Over Top 311 Thumbs up, Tommy's expression which means ‘everything is fine with me’. 1930D. Mackail Young Livingstones xi. 271 ‘Thanks awfully,’ said Rex. ‘That'll be ripping.’ ‘Fine!’ said Derek Yardley. ‘Great! Terrific!’ 1940H. G. Wells Babes in Darkling Wood i. iii. 82 Maybe there are vast differences between people, and what is fine for one, is ugly for another. 1960[see by prep., adv. A. 33 e]. 1977Rolling Stone 7 Apr. 45/4 They wanted someone to take the leadership role. Fine, I am glad to do it. 1986W. Weaver tr. Umberto Eco's Faith in Fakes iv. 164 On the telephone (replying ‘Yes, no, of course, fine..’).
▪ IV. † fine, v.1 Obs.
Forms: 3–6 fine, (3 fin, 4 fyn), fyn(e(n. Often with strong pa. tense: 3–4 fan(e, (3 fayne), 4 fon, 5 fyne.
[ad. OF. finer = Cat., Sp., Pg. finar, It. finare, com. Rom. finare, f. L. fin-is end.]
1. intr. Of persons and other agents: To cease, stop, give over, desist. Const. inf. with to.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 140 Heo ne fynede neuer mo ar þo oþer ware at gronde. a1300Cursor M. 3309 (Cott.) Bot ai þe quils he ne fan To be-hald þat leue maidan. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints, Jacobus 338 For-þi þe lele mene, ore þa fane, Thinkand na ewil vent to þe hill. 1430Lydg. Chron. Troy i. ii, He wolde not fyne Playnely to worke to his conclusyon.
2. To come to an end, fail, pass away, end. Also, to come to the end of one's life, to die.
a1300Cursor M. 22268 (Cott.) Sua sal cristen kingrik fine. 13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 328 Schal I efte forgo hit er euer I fyne? 14..Lydg. Temple of Glas 372 In short tyme hir turment shulde fyne. c1500Lancelot 2081 This Is his mycht that neuer more shall fyne. 15..Bk. Fair Gentlewom. in Laneham's Let. (1871) Introd. 96 Here Fineth Lady Fortune.
3. trans. To bring to an end, complete, conclude, finish.
c1374Chaucer Troylus iv. Proeme 26 Father of Qwyrine! This ferthe book me helpith for to fyne. 1426Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 134 Alle oure trouble to enden and to fyne. a1512Fabyan Chron. vii. 682 An ende of thys boke..Here is now fyned, whereof the sence precedyth. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 936 Time's office is to fine the hate of foes.
b. To finish off (a part of a building).
1448Will of Hen. VI in Willis & Clark Cambridge I. 369 Euery boterace fined with finialx. Ibid., Smale tourettis..fined with pynacles.
Hence fined ppl. a., ˈfining vbl. n.
c1300K. Alis. 8015 God geve alle good fynyng! c1448Avyse of Hen. VI in Willis & Clark Cambridge I. 367 Fro the Crest unto the fynyng of the pynnacles. 1571T. Fortescue Forest of Hist. 64 b, Considering what we reade of their fined labours. 1596Drayton Legends, Robert cxv, In fined things such meruails infinite.
▪ V. fine, v.2|faɪn|
Also 3–7 fyne.
[f. fine n.1]
†1. trans. To pay as a fine or composition. Obs.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 463 Me..bounde men & enprisonede, vorte hii fynede raunson. Ibid. 528 So þat vor þe manslaȝt..Þe clerkes finede wiþ him gret raunson inou. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, iv. vii. 72 Know'st thou not That I have fined these bones of mine for ransom?
†2. To impose (a tax) upon. Obs.
1563–87Foxe A. & M. (1596) 307/1 Shortlie after a tax was fined upon the countrie of Norfolke.
†3. intr. To pay a penalty, ransom, or composition. Const. with (a person). Obs.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 511, & wo so nolde aȝen hom at hor wille fine, Hii barnde hous & other god. 1526Customs of Pale (Dillon 1892) 85 Unto that theie have ffined with him for theire trespas. 1548Hall Chron. (1809) 9 He made them fine of newe. 1561Stow Eng. Chron. (1565) 155 b, He was deteyned in prison..vntyll he had fyned with the kyng for 8000 poundes. 1563–87Foxe A. & M. (1684) III. 761 Except you fine with me, I will put a Collar about your Neck.
transf. and fig.1580Sidney Ps. lv. 18 He ransom'd me, he for my safetie fin'd In fight. 1634Shirley Examples iv. i, A challenge! Some young gentlemen that have Strong purses and faint souls do use to fine for 't.
b. esp. to do this in order to escape the duties of an office. Const. for, esp. in to fine for (the office of) alderman, sheriff, etc. Also, † to fine off.
1557Order of Hospitalls B vj, Except he be such a one as have borne th' Office of an Alderman, or hath fined for the same. 1663Pepys Diary 1 Dec., Mr. Crow..hath fined for Alderman. 1682Enq. Elect. Sheriffs 41 Charlton..chose rather to Fine than to run the risk of being confirmed by the Commons to hold. 1706Estcourt Fair Examp. v. i, You..are able to Fine for Sheriff upon occasion. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 116 ⁋3 Some have fined for Sheriffs. 1761–2Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) V. lxix. 179 Box apprehensive of the consequences which might attend so dubious an election, fined off.
fig.a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 82 So sadly dull And stupid, as to fine for Gull.
†4. Of a magistrate: to fine with (a person). To accept a money payment as the price of connivance. Sc.
1609Skene Reg. Maj. 135 Gif any Lord of Regalitie sells any theif: or fines with him for theift done.
5.
†a. To pay a fine on the renewel of tenure. (Cf. fine n.1 7.) Obs.
b. trans. to fine down or fine off: to arrange for a reduction of (rent) upon payment of a fine. So, to fine down a lease.
1670Walton Lives i. 50 Our Tenant.. offered to fine at so low a rate as held not proportion with his advantages. 1705Lond. Gaz. No. 4183/3 The Tenant fining down a Part. 1709Ibid. No. 4540/5 Fining off part of the Rent after the rate of ten Years Purchase. 1880[see fining below].
6. to fine and recover: see recover.
1831Scott Jrnl. (1890) II. 401, I believe I have fined and recovered, and so may be thankful.
7. To pay a consideration for a specified privilege, or for appointment to an office.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John xviii. 13 Beeyng a benefice sette to sale it [the high-priesthood] was fined for euery yere to the princes. 1776Adam Smith W.N. i. x. (1869) I. 130 Such adulterine guilds..were..obliged to fine annually to the king for permission to exercise their usurped privileges. 1813Scott Rokeby ii. xxx, Nobles and knights..Must fine for freedom and estate. 1818Hallam Mid. Ages II. viii. ii. 117 In England, women, and even men, simply as tenants in chief, and not as wards, fined to the crown for leave to marry whom they would. 1876S. Dowell Taxes in Eng. I. iv. 33 In the fifth year of King Stephen, the Londoners fined in C marks of silver, that they might have sheriffs of their own choosing.
8. trans. To punish by a fine; to mulct. Hence simply, to punish (obs.). With the penalty or amount expressed as a second object, or introduced by in.
1559Fabyan Chron. (1811) 615 Of the whiche prysoners some were after fyned, and some punysshed by longe imprysonment. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 115 If it were damnable, he being so wise, Why would he for the momentarie tricke Be perdurablie fin'de? 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. i. §11 He was..fined five talents. 1679Burnet Hist. Ref. I. ii. 166 He was..fined in 400 Pound. 1692Locke Consid. Money 12 To Fine Men one Third of their Estates..seems very hard. 1722Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 153 They were fined for not taking off their hats. 1794S. Williams Vermont 294 Others have been fined in large sums. 1827Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) III. xiii. 9 It was against law to fine a jury for giving a verdict contrary to the court's direction. 1874Green Short Hist. iv. §5. 198 The King was strong enough to fine and imprison the Earls. Mod. The magistrate fined him forty shillings.
Hence fined ppl. a., in fined-down (sense 5); ˈfining vbl. n., the action of the verb, an instance of this; also fining down, in quot. attrib.
1599Massinger, etc. Old Law iv. ii, Your smiles deserve a fining. 1660Fisher Rusticks Alarm Wks. (1679) 125 Fineing, banishing..and such like. 1880Daily Tel. 31 Dec. 3/5 Many of the tenants have paid large sums for fined-down leases. Ibid., The fining-down system, by which reductions of rent were bought out by lump sums.
▪ VI. fine, v.3|faɪn|
Also 4–6 fyne(n.
[f. fine a.]
To make or become fine.
1. trans. To make fine or pure; to purify from extraneous or impure matter; to clarify, refine. Also to fine down. † to fine chaff: to drive it off in the process of cleansing the wheat.
1340Ayenb. 106 Ase deþ þet uer [þet] clenzeþ and fineþ þet gold. c1440Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xxix, Also sone as the wyne is fyned & clered thenne it stondeth styll. 1487Act 4 Hen. VII, c. 2 Preamb., To fine and part all Gold and Silver. 1520Whitinton Vulg. (1527) 15 This rynlet of malvesy is not fyned. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. Dec. 125 As the chaffe should in the fan be fynd. 1613J. Rovenzon Treat. Metallica D iij, The Sowe-Iron may be fined at one time. 1686Plot Staffordsh. 338 They have a knack of fineing it [ale] in three days time to that degree, that [etc.]. 1761Franklin in J. Adams Wks. (1850) II. 82 note, The porter.. is..fined down with ising-glass. 1797Downing Dis. Horned Cattle 22 That will help to fine and thin the blood. 1823J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 103 To ‘fine down’ Spirits. 1843Ure Dict. Arts (ed. 3) 1302 In the month of January the clear wine is racked off, and is fined by a small quantity of isinglass. 1859Sala Gas-light & D. vi. 71 Has it been adulterated, ‘fined’, doctored. 1906Mrs. Beeton Bk. Househ. Managem. lxix. 1790 There are various methods of fining wine; eggs, isinglass, gelatine and gum Arabic are all used. Ibid., A cask of clarified wine will fine thirteen dozen bottles of port or sherry.
fig.1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 2634 For in heven may na saul be sene, Unto it be fyned and clensed clene. 1628Coke On Litt. 97 a, The Law of England..hath beene fined and refined by an infinite number of graue and learned men. 1663Blair Autobiog. ii. (1848) 49 The Lord is pleased by trials to fine the faith of his servants. 1871Browning Pr. Hohenst. 1324 Fined and thrice refined I' the crucible of life.
2. intr. To grow or become fine or clear; to clarify. lit. and fig. Also, to fine down.
1552Huloet, Fine, reste, or settle, as wine dothe or other licoure, sido. 1664Evelyn Pomona Gen. Advt. (1729) 89 It will work so long, that when it fines, the Cider will be hard. 1719Free-thinker No. 134 ⁋6 The perpetual violent Motions..hinder his Mind from fining. 1756C. Lucas Ess. Waters I. 46 Water..which..appears muddy and foul, will fine..upon standing. 1822J. Imison Sc. & Art II. 159 The liquor is now suffered to stand for some time to fine (or become transparent). 1859Hughes Scouring of White Horse iv. 62 [The ale] hadn't had quite time to fine down.
†3. trans. To make beautiful, handsome, or elegant. Also, to fine up: to furbish up, smarten. Obs.
c1400Rom. Rose 1696 For it so wel was enlumyned With colour reed, as wel fyned, As nature couthe it make faire. 1567Trial Treas. in Hazl. Dodsley III. 263 Though the style be barbarous, not fined with eloquence. 1627–77Feltham Resolves i. xxviii. 48 He does fine up his homely house. 1655W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. xii. (1669) 47 To bestow a great deal of cost in fining up an old Suit. 1664J. Wilson Cheats ii. iv, He does not fine up himself, as he was wont.
†4. To improve in quality. Obs.
1683Penn in R. Burton Eng. Emp. Amer. vii. (1685) 111 Whether it be best to fall to Fining the Fruits of the Country..or send for foreign Stems or Sets already good. 1712Mortimer Husb. II. v. 23 It fines the Grass, but makes it short, tho' thick.
5. To make small, thin, or slender.
a. To break into fine or small particles. Obs. exc. techn.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Luke Pref. 9 b, They fyne and beate to powder..not receiptes of theyr owne, but of Christes. 1725Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Ploughing of Land, If the Land mounts full of Clots..you must fine it by harrowing it when Rain comes. 1880J. Lomas Alkali Trade i. 9 The large pieces must first be..fined by the small tods used for road metal.
b. To make keen or subtle.
1839Bailey Festus xxix. (1848) 337 Senses fined And pointed brilliantwise.
c. to fine away, fine down: to make gradually finer; to thin off, whittle away or down (either a material or an immaterial thing).
1801Strutt Sports & Past. Introd. §33. 39 The author..endeavours to fine away the objections of its opponents. 1826Granby II. iii. 34 You fine down her good qualities so dexterously. 1844Mrs. Browning Child Asleep viii, To fine down this childish beauty To the thing it must be made. 1866Ferrier Grk. Philos. I. v. 34 So imperceptibly are they [the changes] fined away into each other. 1868Helps Realmah xvi. (1876) 449 Fining down his original statement. 1872Browning Fifine iii, The human beauty..Tricot fines down if fat. 1887Fenn Off to Wilds xxix, The sharp stake formed by fining down a good-sized tree.
6. intr.
a. To become comminuted. dial.
1868Atkinson Cleveland Gloss., Fine, to become fine and powdery, in consequence of having been slaked.
b. To become attenuated or delicate.
1889Eng. Illust. Mag. Dec. 255 The wind fined into light, delicate curls of shadow upon the sea.
c. to fine away, down, off: to become gradually fine, thin, or less coarse; to dwindle away to the vanishing-point..
1858Bushnell Serm. New Life 416 The low superstitions, the coarse and sensual habit..have gradually fined away. 1873C. M. Yonge Pillars of House xlvii. 332 Matilda was..better looking at two-and-thirty than at two-and-twenty, for she had somewhat fined down. 1876R. F. Burton Gorilla L. I. 124 Fining imperceptibly away till lost in the convexity of the waters. 1881Daily Tel. 5 July 2/2 Fining away with delicate keenness at the forefoot. 1884St. James's Gaz. 29 May 6/1 Beauchamp..had fined down very much since the Two Thousand.
7. Of the weather: To clear. (In Australia const. up). rare.
1888Scott. Leader 12 July 7 [Sailor says] The weather fined a bit. 1966Baker Austral. Lang. (ed. 2) xvi. 350 Bogaduck weather for heavy rain and to fine up, (of weather) to become fine, are other Australianisms.
8. trans. To bring into good condition.
1835Sir G. Stephen Adv. Search Horse ii. 27 ‘He was brought out half an hour before, Sir, with legs like millstones..They trotted him up and down..just to fine his legs.’
Hence fined ppl. a.; ˈfining ppl. a.
1483Cath. Angl. 131/1 Fynde, defecatus, meratus. 1555in Strype Eccl. Mem. III. App. xliv. 123 Not with pure and most fined gold. 1599A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke To Rdr. 1 Euerye fined and perpolite witte. 1613Chapman Masque Inns of Court Wks. III. 113 O blow away, Al vapours from the fined ayre. a1661Fuller Worthies i. (1662) 245 Fined Silver in Wedges. 1839Bailey Festus (1854) 469 How mind will act with..senses fined..we know not. 1888Daily News 4 Apr. 3/1 A gradually fining river.
▪ VII. fine
dial. form of find. |