| 释义 |
▪ I. rest, n.1
Forms: 1 ræst(e, hræst), 1, 4– rest, 1–6 reste; 4–5 rist, ryst, 5 riste, ryste, ruste.
[OE. ræst(e, rest(e fem., = Fris. rest(e, rêst, ræst, MDu. reste (erste), OS. resta bed, MLG. reste, OHG. resta, restî (MHG. reste) rest. It is possible that the OE. form ræst corresponds more directly to OS. rasta, MHG. raste, rast (G. rast; hence also in Sw. and Da.), which agree in form with Goth. rasta mile, OHG. rasta (MHG. raste, rast) league, ON. rǫst (pl. rastir, Norw. rast, rost, Sw. rast) league, app. = ‘a distance after which one rests’. Another set of forms appears in MDu. ruste (Du. rust), MLG. roste, ruste, G. rüst(e, rust, etc., which seem to imply an ablaut-series rest-, rast-, rust-.
The usual form in ME. is rest(e, but some texts have rist, ryst. This change of vowel is found also in other words ending in -est, as lest, (be)quest, so that there is no direct connexion with Da. rist, which is prob. from LG. reste.]
I.
†1. A bed or couch. Obs. (OE. only.)
a900O.E. Martyrol. 4 Mar. 34 Þa ᵹenam heo sancte Adrianes hand..& asette æt hire heafdum on hire ræste. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 6 [Hia] lufað..ða formo resto vel ðæ foresedlo in farmum. 971Blickl. Hom. 11 Salomones reste wæs mid weardum ymbseted. 1054O.E. Chron. (MS. C) an. 1054, Þy ylcan ᵹeara swealt Osgod..swa swa he on his reste læᵹ.
2. a. The natural repose or relief from daily activity which is obtained by sleep.
c825Vesp. Psalter cxxxi. 5 Ᵹif ic sellu slep eᵹum minum,..oððe reste ðunwengum minum. c960Rule St. Benet (Schröer) 47 Be muneca reste. ænlypiᵹe munecas ᵹeond ænlypiᵹe bed restan. c1200Ormin 6492 Þeȝȝ tokenn nihhtess resste þær. 13..K. Alis. 5338 (Weber), Thoo was the folk to rest-ward. Ac now hem cometh a wonder hard. c1350Ipom. 7220 (Kölbing), Goo to thy bedde, I comaunde the, And lett me haue my reste. c1400Destr. Troy 9213 Þen he rose fro his rest in a Rad hast. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. xxix. 461 Thus they fought tyl it was nyghte and..eueryche party drewe to their reste. 1513T. More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 765 His maister gaue him in charge not to forebeare his rest. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 130 b, John Leidane gave him self to reste, & slepeth thre whole daies together. 1611Shakes. Cymb. ii. ii. 12 The Crickets sing, and mans ore-labor'd sense Repaires it selfe by rest. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 793 No dreadful Dreams awak'd him with affright; His Pains by Day secur'd his Rest by Night. 1719De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 577 The People seemed to be all at their Rest. 1761Gray Odin 36 Who is he..That calls me from the bed of rest? 1833H. Martineau Loom & Lugger i. iv. 62 Nicholas was permitted to depart to his rest. 1896Baden-Powell Matabele Campaign xv, Overhead, in the darkening sky,..the matron evening star beams calmly on our rest.
b. In phr. to go to (one's) rest, to betake oneself to repose for the night. Also transf. of the sun (sometimes with other verbs), etc.
c900tr. Bæda's Hist. iii. ii. 156 Þa he to reste eode, þa forᵹet he [etc.]. 1205Lay. 28328 To reste eode þa sunne. a1300Cursor M. 6317 Þat night yod moyses to rest. On⁓slepe he lai in þat forest. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 198 This floure gan close, and goon to rest For derknesse of the nyght. Ibid. 201 Home..I me sped To goon to reste and erly for to ryse. a1400–50Alexander 686 Quen þe son is to reste [v.r. rist]. c1420Anturs of Arth. xxxvi, Whene the ryalle renke was gone to his ryste. 1535Lyndesay Satyre 3967 That beand done, I hauld it best That everie man ga to his rest. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xi. 46 Euery one had prepared himselfe too goe to his rest. 1614Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 118 An other..goes to his rest, not breaking an houres sleepe for that which would break the heart of some others. 1678Bunyan Pilgr. i. (1900) 52 This done, they went to their rest again. 1848Scottish Jrnl. of Topogr. II. 13/2 The sun had been lang to rest before John thocht aboot steerin'.
c. In phr. to take (one's) rest.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxv. (Julian) 744 Quhen Iulyane In-to þe oste his rest had tane. c1386Chaucer Merch. T. 1856 My reste wol I take Now day is come, I may no lenger wake. 1490Caxton Eneydos xxiv. 89 The tyme after the daye is paste and goon is couenable..for the bodyes humayn that haue traueylled, to take rest. 1535Coverdale Matt. xxvi. 45 Then came he to his disciples, and sayde vnto them: Slepe on now, and take youre rest. 1610Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 197 We two..will guard your person, While you take your rest, and watch your safety. 1820Keats Eve St. Agnes xxxviii, Here will I take my rest After so many hours of toil and quest.
†d. In phrases wishing one good repose. Obs.
14..Guy Warw. 6687 (Cambr. MS.), Also so god geue yow reste, Fylle the cuppe of the beste. 1535Lyndesay Satyre 4628, I will..pray to God omnipotent, To send ȝow all gude rest. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iii. 33 One that thinkes a man alwaies going to bed, and saies, God giue you good rest. 1599― Pass. Pilgr. 181 Good night, good rest. Ah, neither be my share.
3. a. Intermission of labour or exertion of any kind; repose obtained by ceasing to exert oneself. day of rest, the Sabbath. In later use also with a and pl.
c888K. ælfred Boeth. xxxiv. §8 Þæt is sio an ræst eallra urra ᵹeswinca. c1000ælfric Exod. xvi. 23 Sæterndæᵹes rest ys drihtne ᵹehalᵹod. c1200Ormin 4169 Þe sefennde, þe lattste daȝȝ, he sette þeȝȝm to resste. c1250Gen. & Ex. 252 God sette ðis dai folk bitwen, Dai of blisse and off reste ben. c1290Beket 1122 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 138 Sethþe he wende..fiue and tuenti Mile al-so..are he wolde reste i-fo. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1112 (Dido), Vnto hys chambre was he led anon, To take hys ease, and for to haue hys rest. c1400Laud Troy Bk. 17016 Thei fauȝt to-geder a ful foure woke That thei neuere reste ne toke. 1470–85Malory Arthur xviii. xxi. 764 There he thoughte to repose hym and to take alle the rest that he myghte. 1530Palsgr. 262/2 Rest of the body or mynde, repos. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. v. v. 80 So call the Field to rest, and let's away, To part the glories of this happy day. 1645Milton Colast. 21 Whosoever doth most according to charity,..hee breaks the holy rest of Sabbath least. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 131 We came down.., and having taken a little rest, came to the Door of the Pyramide. Ibid. 168 After several rests, we got to the top about nine a clock. a1805Paley Reasons Cont. Wks. 1838 II. 523 The rich see..the refreshment and pleasure which rest affords to the poor. 1816J. Wilson City of Plague i. i. 64 It is the Sabbath-day—the day of rest. 1861F. Metcalfe Oxonian in Iceland xxii. (1867) 331 The tired nags will have a comparative rest today. 1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. 340/1 In all campaigns certain pauses have to be noted in the march of an army... These are known as rests and halts.
b. transf. in various applications.
c1000ælfric Lev. xxvi. 35 And þæt land lið on reste. c1500Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 106 We have rest; & past this summer, I wyll pray you to come & kill a bucke with me. 1533Bellenden Livy iv. xi. (S.T.S.) II. 85 The pestilence was sa vehement in þis ȝere þat it gaif rest to all other besines. 1535Coverdale Lev. xxv. 4 In the seuenth yeare the londe shal haue his Sabbath of rest.
c. In phr. without (or † but) rest, without intermission or delay.
a1225St. Marher. 9 Þe sunne recched hire rune euch buten reste. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxxviii. (Adrian) 652, And fra scho wiste, Yddir scho sped but ony riste. c1470Gol. & Gaw. 458 Thair wes restling and reling, but rest that raught. 1535Lyndesay Satyre 1506 Now I will rin, but rest, And tell that all is ready. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. iv. 6 So forth she rode, without repose or rest, Searching all lands and each remotest part.
d. Restored vigour or strength. rare.
1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iv. iii. 27 So are the Horses of the Enemie..bated, and brought low: The better part of ours are full of rest. 1601― Jul. C. iv. iii. 202 We lying still, Are full of rest, defence, and nimblenesse.
e. A year's imprisonment. Austral. slang (rare).
1882Sydney Slang Dict. 9/2 Dick went pulling down sawney for grub last week, when a cop pinched him. He's gone in the country for a rest. 1945Baker Austral. Lang. vii. 141 Here is a brief glossary of jail sentences: lag, three months{ddd}rest, twelve months [etc.].
f. In colloq. phr. to give (something or someone) a rest: to stop thinking or talking about.
[1927Amer. Speech II. 359/1 Leave that rest a bit.., let the matter alone for a while. ‘Keep quiet, and leave that rest a bit.’] 1931E. O'Neill Hunted ii, in Mourning becomes Electra (1932) 137 Give it a rest, Orin! It's over. Give yourself a chance to forget it. 1943J. B. Priestley Daylight on Saturday xxix. 226 I'm a bit tired of hearing about him today. So let's give him a rest. 1966R. Rendell Vanity dies Hard ii. 31 Could we give Nesta Drage a rest?.. I was glad when she went away. 1971― One Across i. 9 ‘All right Mother,’ said Vera. ‘Let's give it a rest, shall we?’
4. a. Freedom from or absence of labour, exertion, or activity of any kind.
c825Vesp. Psalter xciv. 11 Ic swor in eorre minum, ᵹif ingað in reste mine. c1200Ormin 5208 Þær he shollde libbenn Wiþþ resste & ro, wiþþutenn swinnc. c1250Owl & Night. 281 Me is leof to habbe reste And sitte stille in myne neste. a1300Cursor M. 25452 Ful derf i was to bidd vndo, Þat luued i neuer rest na ro. c1366Chaucer A.B.C. 14 Þou art largesse, of pleyn felicitee, Hauene of refute, of quiete, and of reste. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 75 Thes fattyth & moistes þe body, Rist,..ettyng of swete meites, & dryngkyng of swete mylke. c1491Chast. Goddes Chyld. 21 Suche men unresonably..encline to the rest and commodyte of the body. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2 b, All..creatures in this worlde hath place deputed..wherin theyr propre quietacyon & rest is. 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. v. 212 Least rest, and lying still, might make them looke Too neere vnto my State. 1773Observ. State Poor 80 There are, indeed, some who are impatient of rest in every situation. 1784Cowper Task i. 394 That love of rest To which he forfeits ev'n the rest he loves.
transf.1784Cowper Task vi. 739 The working of a sea Before a calm, that rocks itself to rest. 1813Scott Rokeby ii. i, The gale had sigh'd itself to rest.
b. The freedom from toil or care associated with the future life.
a1000Boeth. Metr. xiii. 71 Þæt is orsorᵹnes & ecu rest. c1200Ormin 4190 All þatt resste & ro Þat hallȝhe sawless brukenn Inn oþerr werelld. c1250Gen. & Ex. 400 Summe sulen of ȝu..ben in to reste numen. c1300Cursor M. 29169 Þai sal..bren in þe fier of purgatori,..Bot efter-ward..Sal þai be borun in to rest. a1340Hampole Psalter vii. 17 Þat he neuer rise til þe rist of heuen. 1485Caxton Chas. Gt. 239 Receyue my soule, and brynge me to reste perdurable. a1586Sidney Ps. xv, Lord of thy holy hill, who shall the rest obtaine? 1611Bible Heb. iv. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 1631Milton Epit. March. Winchester 50 After this thy travail sore Sweet rest sease thee evermore. 1784Cowper Task v. 841 Ordain'd to guide th' embodied spirit home From toilsome life to never-ending rest. 1827Keble Chr. Y. 3 Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love Fit us for perfect Rest above. 1865R. W. Dale Jew. Temp. vi. (1877) 71 Our final blessedness will be a rest from toil.
c. Freedom from distress, trouble, molestation, or aggression.
a900Cynewulf Christ 1655 Hælu butan sare;..Ræst butan ᵹewinne. c1000ælfric Hom. II. 578 Se ðe forᵹeaf reste & stilnysse his folce Israhel. a1225Ancr. R. 166 Þer ȝe schulen beon ine þrunge, auh reste and peis is in me. a1300Cursor M. 7305 Nu ar yee bath in rest and pees, Yow langes certes haf malees. c1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 6792 In helle sal be whar never es rest, Endeles hungre and endeles threst. c1400Destr. Troy 13387 Mony dayes he endurit, all in due pes, And had rest in his rewme right to his dethe. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 18 In bothe his remes pees, and rest, and unite. a1533Ld. Berners Huon lxvi. 228, I haue..maynteyned the countre in peace & rest and good iustyce. 1597Daniel Civ. Wars vi. lxiv, The cause in managing Is more than yours; 't imports the publique rest. 1611Bible Josh. xiv. 15 And the land had rest from warre. 1781Cowper Expost. 581 Thy foes implacable, thy land at rest. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxvii, The poor Quashies, in danger of their lives, complained to Amyas, and got rest for a while.
d. Spiritual or mental peace; quiet or tranquillity of mind.
c825Vesp. Psalter cxiv. 7 Ᵹecer, sawle mine, in reste ðine, forðon dryhten wel dyde me. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xi. 29 Leornas from me..& ᵹe onfindes rest saulum iurum. c1200Ormin 4972 Swa ȝe muȝhenn resste & ro Till ȝure sawless findenn. c1250Gen. & Ex. 11 Ðan sal him almightin luuen..And giuen him blisse and soules reste. a1300Cursor M. 3762 Mi hert bes neuer broght in rest, Bituix and þis iacob be slan. c1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 3093 To abate þat fire, þa thre er best, For þa thre may bring þe saul to rest. c1400Rowland & O. 669 That I for Sorowe goo nere wode, And I may hafe no riste. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 7604, I shal you counsel for the best, Som what to set youre hert in rest. 1490Caxton Eneydos xxvi. 92 Thou hast taken rest fro me, & hast brought me in-to ryght grete turbacion. 1530[see 3]. 1601Shakes. Twel. N. v. i. 136, I most..willinglie, To do you rest, a thousand deaths would dye. 1611― Winter T. ii. i. 191 Yet shall the Oracle Giue rest to th' mindes of others. 1782F. Burney Cecilia viii. iii, What continual disturbance..keeps me thus forever from rest! 1814Cary Dante, Par. xxviii. 100 The truth, wherein rest is For every mind. 1883Drummond Nat. Law in Spir. W. (1884) 361 Infallibility..gives rest; but it is the rest of stagnation.
e. Quietness, peacefulness, tranquillity in nature.
1820Shelley Sensit. Pl. i. 99 The Earth was all rest, and the air was all love. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xix, Increasing the impression of vastness and of solemn rest, which was already overpowering. 1866Ruskin Eth. Dust 227 A gradual advance to lovelier order, and more calmly, yet more deeply, animated Rest.
5. a. Place of resting or residing; residence, abode. † Also, abiding, stay.
c825Vesp. Psalter cxxxi. 14 Ðeos [is] rest min in weoruld weorulde. c1200Ormin 12991 Þatt he þurrh Haliȝ Gast inn hemm Himm wollde takenn resste. a1225Ancr. R. 130 Habbeð up an heih, ase briddes of heouene, iset hore nest, þet is hore reste. a1300Cursor M. 23091 Quen i was will and vte o rest, Godli toke yee me to gest. c1381Chaucer Parl. Foules 376 In hire was eueri vertu at his reste. c1450Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 252 Luffe, luffe, where is thi reste? Of Englond I am oute keste, Thurgh sir Envye. c1475Rauf Coilȝear 59, I pray the, bring me to sum rest, the wedder is sa schill. c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. lxxvii. iii, Whole troupes of busy cares..Tooke up their restlesse rest In sleepie sleeplesse eies. 1602Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 13, I intreat you both,..That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court Some little time. 1667Milton P.L. x. 1085 Till we end In dust, our final rest and native home. 1722Mrs. S. Osborn Pol. & Soc. Lett. (1890) 24 Jack, I think, knows when he is well off, for he has taken up his rest at Danbury. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 123 We took up our rest for the night, at a house that had no sign. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre vi, It makes eternity a rest—a mighty home, not a terror and an abyss.
†b. A landing on a staircase. Obs. rare.
1653Urquhart Rabelais i. liii, The just number of twelve [steps being] betwixt every rest or (as we now terme it) landing-place. 1712J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 125 A Half-Pace, or Rest of two Paces broad.
c. An establishment for the purpose of providing shelter or lodging for persons belonging to certain classes during their spare time or when not following their usual occupation.
1892Daily News 13 May 5/4 It is the object of the League to provide them with a place in which to spend this off-time, and there are now five ‘Rests’ in London. 1899Ibid. 3 May 5/5 These three Rests are, in a word, well-managed temperance clubs for Jack ashore.
6. a. The repose of death or of the grave. Chiefly in phrases, as to go, be laid, to rest.
1382Wyclif Ecclus. xxxviii. 24 In the reste of the deade mac to resten the mynde of hym. 1513Douglas æneis x. xii. 139 The Orodes the hard rest doith oppres, The cauld and irny slepe of deidis stres. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. i. i. 133 Alarbus goes to rest, and we suruiue To tremble [etc.]. 1595― John v. vii. 24 This pale..Syren..sings His soule and body to their lasting rest. 1611Bible Job xvii. 16 They shall goe downe to the barres of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust. 1700Dryden Charac. Gd. Parson 23 David left him, when he went to rest, His lyre. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxvii, Long ere they were within sight of land, Lucy Passmore was gone to her rest beneath the Atlantic waves. 1888Burgon Lives 12 Gd. Men II. 301 He directed that he should be laid to rest in the cemetery of Chester.
b. at rest (cf. 9 a).
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 109 Henry is at his reste, his soule at Criste's wille. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 116 The soules of dead men were at quiet rest. 1611Bible Job iii. 13 For now..I should haue slept; then had I bene at rest. 1708S. Centlivre Busy Body i. i, A father at rest with his ancestors. 1784Burns Man was made to mourn xi, Welcome the hour, my aged limbs Are laid with thee at rest!
7. a. Mus. An interval of silence occurring in one or more parts during a movement, frequently of all the parts together; a pause; also, the character or sign by which this is denoted.
1579Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 28 How many noates, how many restes, how many querks. 1597Morley Introd. Mus. Annot., Some restes also (as the minime and crotchet restes) were deuised to auoid the harshnesse of some discord. 1639N. N. tr. Du Bosq's Compl. Woman i. 20 Pauses well used in discourse make appeare, as rest in Musicke, what is the best and sweetest in it. 1662Playford Skill Mus. i. viii. (1674) 26 Pauses or Rests are silent Characters, or an artificial omission of the Voyce or Sound, proportioned to a certain Measure of Time. 1752Avison Mus. Express. 117 If there are any Rests succeeding the Pause. 1795Mason Ch. Mus. i. 13 In a musical movement we usually find various rests,..answering to commas in verbal punctuation. 1806J. W. Callcott Mus. Gram. iv. 46 The Rests of the white Notes are made in the middle of the Staff. 1868Ouseley Harmony i. 5 A dot after a note or rest makes it half as long again.
fig.1592Breton C'tess Pembroke's Passion cvi, Lett all your restes be hopes of happynes, Which mercye's musicke in the soule requires. 1872Holmes Poet Breakf.-t. ii. (1906) 29 The Master is apt to strike in at the end of a bar, instead of waiting for a rest.
b. Rhet. (See later quots.)
1612Drayton Poly-olb. iv. 186 Observing yet in all Their quantities, their rests, their ceasures metrical. a1637B. Jonson tr. Horace Art Poet. 371 Two rests, a short and long, th' Iambic frame. 1727–38Chambers Cycl., Cæsure, in the modern poetry, denotes a rest or pause towards the middle of a long Alexandrine verse. 1771Encycl. Brit. III. 548/2 Rest, in poetry, is a short pause of the voice in reading, being the same with the cæsura. 1824L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. iv. i. 364 Pauses or rests, in speaking and reading, are a total cessation of the voice during a perceptible..space of time.
8. Absence, privation, or cessation of motion; continuance in the same position or place.
c1475Babees Bk. 80 Your heede, youre hande, your feet, holde yee in reste. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxx. §4 Rest is the end of all motion. 1620T. Granger Div. Logike 109 Rest is a priuation of moouing. a1676Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. v. (1677) 114 Rest must needs be antecedent to his Motion. 1715tr. Gregory's Astron. (1726) I. 115 The common Centre of Gravity of them all does not change its state of Motion or Rest. 1869Phillips Vesuv. vii. 180 About the usual angle of rest in loose materials. 1879Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. i. §245 The meaning of the term Rest, in physical science, is essentially relative. Absolute rest is undefinable.
9. at rest.
a. In a state of (physical or mental) repose, quiescence, or inactivity. (See also 6 b.)
c1374Chaucer Troylus ii. 760 Þough þat I myn herte sette at reste Vpon þis knight,..it may do me no shame. 1535Coverdale Dan. iv. 1, I..beynge at rest in myne house,..sawe a dreame, which made me afrayed. 1587Golding De Mornay iv. (1592) 43 Forasmuch as God is euermore dooing, he is euer at rest. 1605Shakes. Macb. ii. i. 12 What Sir, not yet at rest? the King's a bed. 1629Milton Nativity 216 Nor is Osiris seen..: Nor can he be at rest Within his sacred chest. 1774M. Mackenzie Maritime Surv. 50 When the Plummet is at Rest, and both Stars are seen. 1782F. Burney Cecilia vi. i, Had her heart not interfered in this matter, she might now have been perfectly at rest. 1839G. Bird Nat. Philos. 99 General properties of fluids at rest. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xxvii, He sat in his chair, still, but not at rest: expectant evidently. 1869Phillips Vesuv. iii. 48 After this terrific disturbance Vesuvius has never been really at rest.
b. to set..at rest, to satisfy, assure; to settle, decide finally. at rest, settled. Also, to lay..to rest, to allay completely.
1590Shakes. Mids. N. ii. i. 121 Set your heart at rest. The Fairy land buyes not the childe of me. 1817Shelley Proposal Prose Wks. 1888 I. 361 The decisive effort to set their hopes and fears at rest. 1826Southey Vind. Eccl. Angl. 286 It might have been thought that the question..had been set at rest. 1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest xii, I never can take any office under the present rulers of the nation; so that question is at rest. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! viii, But set your mind at rest. I know no more of that lady's mind than you do. Ibid. xxxi, His fears, such as they were, were laid to rest. 1884Manch. Exam. 21 May 4/7 The enormous majority..should set that question at rest.
II.
†10. Some part of the iron-work of a gate. Obs. rare.
1513Douglas æneis vii. iv. 78 Of rych citeis ȝettis, stapillis, and restis, Gret lokis, slotis, massy bandis squayr.
11. a. A support for a fire-arm, employed in steadying the barrel to ensure accuracy of aim, esp. that used for the old heavy musket, which was forked at the upper end, and provided with a spike to fix it in the ground.
1590Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 13 b, That would permit their Mosquettiers to giue anie volees from their restes. 1598Barret Theor. Warres ii. i. 27 The musket hath his rest, the heauinesse thereof is many times eased. 1622F. Markham Bk. War i. ix. 35 He shall have for his right hand a handsome Rest of Ash or other light wood, with an yron pike in the nether end, and an halfe hoope of yron aboue to lay the musquet in when hee rests it. a1662Heylin Laud (1668) 492 Shouldering a Musket..in one hand, and a Rest in the other. 1833Holland Manuf. in Metal II. 92 The rest is still generally used in shooting with the duck gun. 1884Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl. 753/1 Rest, a support for a gun in test firing.
†b. (See quot.) Obs. rare—1.
1726Gentleman Angler 154 A Rest, is a forked Piece of Stick with the forked End standing upright, and the other end fasten'd upon the Ground. It is called a Rest, because one Part of the Angler's Rod lies upon it.
c. A support for a cue in billiards.
1868Pardon Billiards 59 The rest needs to be held tightly in the left hand. 1873Bennett & Cavendish Billiards 27 The rest is 4 feet 10 in. in length. It consists of a handle of wood with a cross or grooved piece, of ivory, boxwood, or brass, fixed on the head, to rest the cue in.
12. a. A thing upon which something else rests, in various specific uses (see quots.).
The rest of a lance belongs to rest n.3
1609C. Butler Fem. Mon. (1623) M j, Your Hiue being fitted and dressed, you must haue also in a readinesse a Mantle, a Rest, and a Brush—A Rest is either single or double. 1611Bible 1 Kings vi. 6 Without in the wall of the house hee made narrowed rests round about. 1617in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 205 Seasoned board of oake layd uppon sufficient rests of oake tymber for the grounde floare. 1707Mortimer Husb. (1721) I. 275 Having spread a Mantle on the Ground,..set a Pair of Rests, or two Supporters for the Hive. 1723Chambers tr. Le Clerc's Treat. Archit. I. 135 Pedestals shou'd be continued so as to form Rests or Leaning-Places for the Windows. Ibid. 136 The Windows have no Rests, but reach down to the Pavement. 1881Raymond Mining Gloss., Rests, the arrangement at the top and bottom of a pit for supporting the shaft-cage while changing the tubs or cars. 1884Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl. 753/2 Rest, a support or a guide for stuff fed to a saw.
b. That part of a lathe on which the cutting-tool is supported in the operation of turning.
1680Moxon Mech. Exer. x. 180 The Rest is a square piece of Stuff... Its Office is to rest the Tool upon, that it may lie in a steddy position while the Workman uses it. 1780Phil. Trans. LXX. 382 In the turning of ovals, the top of the rest which supports the tool is always made to pass through..the two centers round which the oval engine turns. 1882Mech. World 4 Mar. 138 The rest on which the tool is supported appears to be on the near side of the line of centres, a position that could scarcely be correct.
c. A support or hook for a telephone receiver when not in use, incorporating a switch that is automatically closed when the receiver is lifted.
1889Telephone 15 Feb. 94/2 Improvements in telephone apparatus to be designated as a telephone-receiver rest. 1922Telegraph & Telephone Jrnl. VIII. 97/2 Flash the Switchboard Telephonist into circuit by moving the Receiver rest up and down slowly until she answers. 1948J. Atkinson Telephony 129/1 The circuit is arranged automatically to switch the lines from the bell circuit to the speaking circuit when the receiver is lifted from its rest or hook. 1961H. & N. Schneider Your Telephone iii. 26 In the exchange there is a huge electric battery. When you lift your telephone off its rest, a switch inside joins the two wires together.
d. A projecting part of a removable denture that gives it support by lying against a tooth.
1907H. J. Goslee Princ. & Pract. Crown & Bridgework (ed. 2) xxv. 465 Providing a rest which will cause the piece to ride largely upon the supporting teeth instead of on the gum tissue. Ibid., An occlusal rest constituting a part of the clasp was early advocated by Dr. W. G. A. Bonwill. 1924D. D. Campbell Full Denture Prosthesis ii. 125 The insertion of occlusion rests or immediate dentures within thirty minutes..after the teeth have been removed, contributes in a remarkable degree to the patient's confidence. 1942J. R. Schwartz Mod. Methods Tooth Replacement ix. 379 Unfavorable action that may be caused by rests not locked into an inlay occurs when the inclination of the tooth is such that the rest will slip or slide. 1976Torres & Ehrlich Mod. Dental Assisting xxvii. 815/2 A rest built into an onlay is designed to partially cover a tooth that needs to be built up to the height of the occlusion.
13. a. Something upon which one rests. rare.
1641J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 190 Surely that is a very aery soule, whose chiefe rest and stay is not his Religion. 1648R. Wilkinson Saint's Trav. (1874) 7 Several Rests of Creatures discovered and laid open. Below the Coming of Christ in Spirit, who is the alone Rest of Saints.
b. A projection for the foot to rest on.
1869Daily News 15 Apr., There are no fastenings for the foot—simply a rest which projects out from the axle-trees. 1897Outing XXIX. 596/2 Throwing my weary feet on the coasting rests, I started.
c. (See quot.)
1888Goode Amer. Fishes 250 All vessels regularly engaged in this fishery are supplied with a special apparatus, called a ‘rest’ or ‘pulpit’, for the support of the harpooner as he stands on the bowsprit.
14. attrib. and Comb.
a. In senses 3 or 4, as rest area, rest billet, rest camp, rest centre, rest cure, rest day, rest home, rest pause, rest period, rest stop, rest system, rest therapy; rest-giving, rest-ordained, rest-refreshed, rest-seeking adjs.; † rest-field, a fallow; rest gown, formerly, a gown used for evening wear at home; † rest man, one who leads an inactive life; rest room, (a) a room (usu. in a public building) set aside for rest and quiet; (b) U.S. a lavatory, a W.C.; rest-tremor Path., a tremor in a part which is not being voluntarily moved.
1919W. H. Downing Digger Dial. 41 *Rest area, a district to which battalions, on leaving the danger zone, marched by long stages once a year for the purpose of polishing their brass work. a1944K. Douglas Alamein to Zem Zem (1946) 18 Here we halted, having left the heavy squadrons of Shermans and Grants still in our rest area. 1976G. V. Higgins Judgement D. Hunter ix. 86 The youth..stopped in a rest area..so that the subject could relieve himself. 1978W. Garner Möbius Trip ix. 216 In the autoroute rest area at Chennevières..a chauffeured gray Mercedes.
1917A. G. Empey Over Top 306 *Rest billets, shell shattered houses, generally barns, in which Tommy ‘rests’, when relieved from the firing line. 1925R. Graves Welchman's Hose 29 And back in rest-billets The Colonel congratulates ‘B’ Company on its kits. 1954W. Faulkner Fable 128 The nine others..had been spending their leaves and furloughs..among the combat-troop rest-billets.
1889G. S. Mackenzie Let. 11 Dec. in Ld. Lugard Diaries (1959) I. 50 Lay out *rest camps and fortified posts at regular intervals. 1890Daily News 8 Sept. 3/1 For the men a healthier rest camp could hardly be desired. 1919Lit. Digest 29 Mar. 44 A trench-mortar shell hit so close..that I was completely buried and for a moment or two thought I was going to a rest camp (cemetery). 1923Kipling Irish Guards in Gt. War I. 3 The city became almost a suburb to the vast rest-camps round it. 1971Rand Daily Mail 27 Mar. 23/3 Incidentally, all Natal Parks Board rest camps are fully booked in the Easter holidays.
1940Economist 5 Oct. 422/1 When their roof has gone the family seek refuge, and they find it in temporary *rest centres run by the Public Assistance Department of the London County Council. 1976Liverpool Echo 6 Dec. 8/4 Rest centres were made ready on the outskirts of all ‘target’ areas, like Merseyside, to house the virtual refugees.
1889Cent. Dict., *Rest-cure. 1892S. Hale Let. 28 Apr. (1919) 272 She is at a rest-cure. 1896Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 375 General massage, such as is used for convalescent patients or ‘rest-cure’ cases. 1928Blunden Undertones of War 131 Then we went into the trenches..which not long before had been so horrible..but now they..were voted ‘a rest-cure sector’. 1959T. S. Eliot Elder Statesman i. 25 Now's the time to take a long holiday, Let's say a rest cure. 1980D. Adams Restaurant at End of Universe ix. 57, I only hope it's gone in for a rest cure... The way it's been living recently it must be on its last elbows.
1911Webster, *Rest day. 1959Encounter Aug. 22/1 People were free to prepare their meals at home on ‘rest days’. 1976J. Snow Cricket Rebel 90, I worked out that we had only one day free from cricket in those last six weeks in Australia apart from the rest days during the Test matches.
1578Lyte Dodoens 248 The second kinde groweth in this countrie in *rest-fieldes.
1928Beerbohm Lett. to R. Turner (1964) 270 A solid and..*rest-giving figure in the midst of that wild vortex.
1913Mrs. G. de H. Vaizey College Girl xviii. 257 Margaret herself, in a pink *rest-gown curled up in a wicker chair. 1915Home Chat 20 Nov. 326/1 Evening dress..has ceased to exist, its place being taken by smart little demi-toilettes for restaurant and theatre wear, and rest-gowns that are really restful for home wear. 1924‘J. Sutherland’ Circle of Stars xxvi. 286 Gathering the folds of her rest-gown about her, Norma went up to the next story.
1925Daily Herald 6 July 6/7 The organization of *rest homes, where workers may spend their vacation, is a unique development. 1976B. Bova Multiple Man (1977) x. 102 Why wouldn't the President simply..cart the old man off to a well-guarded rest home?
1542Boorde Dyetary ix. (1870) 251 Two meales a daye is suffycyent for a *rest man; and a labourer maye eate thre tymes a day.
1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. iii. 313 Knowing th' use aright Of Work-fit Day, and *Rest-ordained Night.
1926Encycl. Brit. II. 454/1 An important innovation stressed by the industrial psychologist has been the introduction of short rests, in the middle of a working period, of about 10 or 15 min. duration. These regular breaks are technically known as *rest pauses. 1954J. A. C. Brown Social Psychol. of Industry iii. 71 Two five-minute rest-pauses, morning and afternoon.
1922Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 699/2 In spite of the considerable development of maximum hour regulation in the United States, not much attention has been paid to the question of legal *rest periods. 1954J. A. C. Brown Social Psychol. of Industry iii. 74 The introduction of rest-periods which amounted to two ten-minute breaks in the morning and two in the afternoon. 1981‘J. Ross’ Dark Blue & Dangerous xxii. 123 You will report off duty for a rest period.
1603J. Davies (Heref.) Microcos. Wks. (Grosart) I. 23/1 Be'ng *rest-refresht therefore, now forwards run With bright Apollo.
1899Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. May 729 Surely it would not be unreasonable to require that suitable *rest-rooms be provided for the employés. 1918A. Bennett Pretty Lady xxvii. 182 Canteens, and rest-rooms, and libraries, and sanitation, and all this damned ‘welfare’. 1942‘M. Innes’ Daffodil Affair iii. 103 His private research block.. comprised a library, a museum, rest rooms and living quarters for the subjects. 1955W. Gaddis Recognitions i. iii. 100 If you serve food you gotta have a rest room for ladies as well as men. 1975N.Y. Times 8 Nov. 26/2 The totally unsubstantiated forecasts of effects ranging from the abolition of women's rest rooms to dire financial consequences may well have persuaded many women that it was safer to accept known evils than to risk unknown pitfalls.
1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xx, The wandering and sinful, but now *rest-seeking and repentant man.
1973Sunday Bull. (Philadelphia) 14 Oct. (Parade Suppl.) 16/3 A truck driver napped at a *rest stop. 1975J. Grady Shadow of Condor (1976) xiii. 214 It's another rest stop... Just a picnic table and some trash cans.
1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 415 The *rest system of treatment of recent cases of insanity.
1949Radio Times 15 July 24/1 Many people keep their vitality..by regularly practising *Rest-therapy.
1925S. A. K. Wilson in Lancet 8 Aug. 270/2 Some cases of disseminated sclerosis..definitely show what I may call a *‘rest-tremor’ as well as an ‘action-tremor’. 1967Internat. Jrnl. Neuropharmacol. VI. 122 There is a great similarity between rest tremor produced by tremorine and rest tremor in human pathology. Ibid., It is likely that rest tremor in human pathology is due to the hyperactivity of these [alpha] cells [of the anterior horn].
b. In sense 12, as rest-auger, rest-carriage, rest-frame, rest-holder, rest-plate, rest-wimble.
1523Fitzherb. Husb. §5 A pyn-awgur, a *rest-awgur, a flayle.
1833Holland Manuf. Metal II. 145 The chain is fastened on one side to a part of the *rest-carriage.., which descends and occupies the space between the sides of the frame.
Ibid., The chain operates upon the *rest-frame, to which it is attached.
1881Young Ev. Man his own Mechanic §553. 258 The little piece S is the *rest-holder.
Ibid., The *rest-plate R which is made of iron can be moved up and down.
1446Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees, 1835) 95, ij yoke wymbils, j *restwymbyll.
c. In sense 8, as rest energy Physics, the energy inherent in a body by virtue of its possession of rest mass; rest frame Physics, a frame of reference relative to which a given body is at rest; rest level Hydrology, the natural level of water in an aquifer or on the ground surface; rest mass Physics, the mass of a body measured when it is at rest; rest position Dentistry, the relative position of the jaws when relaxed.
1938Forum Feb. 95/2 From the Lorentz transformation and the assumption of the impulse and energy principle for material particles..the equality of mass and *rest-energy is derived. 1962H. D. Bush Atomic & Nuclear Physics ii. 54 Since the rest mass is m0, the rest energy is considered to be m0c2.
1966J. Werle Relativistic Theory of Reactions v. 347 We are interested in the scattering angle of particle d in a *rest frame of particle b. 1978Nature 5 Oct. 411/1 The known general absence of Lyman continuum absorption in the rest frame of high redshift QSOs implies that
1908W. Coles-Finch Water xviii. 416 The *rest-level in a well or boring is that level to which the water rises upon cessation of pumping. 1956R. J. C. Atkinson Stonehenge iii. 82 The level at which this pottery and the earliest fragments of bluestone occur is slightly above the rest-level which marks the end of the first phase of rapid silting in the ditch.
1914L. Silberstein Theory of Relativity vii. 193 The coefficient m is called the *rest-mass of the particle. 1938R. W. Lawson tr. Hevesy & Paneth's Man. Radioactivity (ed. 2) iii. 36 We differentiate between the ‘rest mass’ and the ‘translational mass’ of β-particles, i.e. the mass of the particle in motion. 1979Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts CXXVII. 577/2 Nuclear fusion can convert 0·7 per cent of the rest mass of the hydrogen core into energy.
[1907C. R. Turner Amer. Textbk. Prosthetic Dentistry (ed. 3) iv. 243 This position is commonly called ‘the resting bite’. 1921D. Gabell Prosthetic Dentistry iv. 76 The closed resting position of the mandible is one of more stable equilibrium than any other, and brings the greatest number of teeth in contact and the jaws closer together.] 1924T. Goodhugh Art of Prosthetic Dentistry iii. 55 Ask the patient to close, thus registering the proper *rest position. 1962Blake & Trott Periodontol. xvi. 163 To bring the mandible into the rest position the patient should be seated comfortably in the chair, and head erect and away from the head rest, with the Frankfort plane horizontal. He is then asked to wet the lips with the tongue, swallow and remain quite still. The mandible should then assume the rest position.
▪ II. rest, n.2
Also 5 reste, 6 Sc. rist.
[a. F. reste (1395), = It. and Sp. resta, resto, Pg. reste, resto, f. rester rest v.2 Hence also MDu. and MLG. reste; Du., G., Da., Sw. rest.]
1.
†a. That which remains over; a remainder or remnant. the auld rest, the name of some disease (cf. quot. 1669 in b). Obs.
c1420Pallad. on Husb. xii. 603 Thus bokis twelue anende, and oon is rest. 1484Caxton Curiall 2 The reste thenne is thys, that thou shalt haue labour wythout fruyt. a1585Montgomerie Flyting 323 The rot, the roup, and the auld rest. c1610in Gutch Coll. Cur. II. 13 That every barrel of good Ale hold and contain xv gallons, xiiij gallons of clear Ale, and one gallon for the rest. a1652Brome Queenes Exch. i. ii. Wks. 1873 III. 469 The Queen had done me favour..To make my rest of life all holidayes. 1693Humours Town 124 Thou hast too, yet, I hope, a Rest of Reputation.
b. pl. Remains, remnants, relics. Now rare.
c1467Noble Bk. of Cookry (1882) 26 Take restes of motton choped and put them in a faire pot. 1669Gale Idea Jansenisme 93 The best remedie to extirpate the restes of this contagious Maladie. 1677― Crt. Gentiles iii. 199 They endeavored to gather up the least pieces, if the rage of persecutors had left any restes or reliques. a1694Sir A. Balfour Lett. (1700) 54 Its a Town of Roman antiquity, of which there are yet some rests to be seen, as aqueducts, &c. 1897Allbutt's Syst. Med. IV. 527 Others..may with probability be regarded like suprarenal ‘rests’ as isolated and outlying fragments of the mesoblastic tissues.
†c. Arith. A remainder. Obs. rare.
1608R. Norton Stevin's Disme A 4 b, If, from things equall, equall things bee substracted, their rests shall be equal. 1636Mellis Recorde's Gr. Arts 63 Therefore in the place of the rest or remaine, right vnder the denomination, I set down 0.
2.
†a. A sum remaining to be paid; balance or arrears of money due. Obs. (Chiefly Sc.)
1474Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 12, xxxiiij li resauit..of the ald rest of his faderis compt and his awin. 1523–4Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 325 There Remayneth in ther box with the Rest of this Acompte..iij li. viij s. 1549Rec. Elgin (New Spalding Cl.) I. 99 The saidis personis findand souerte for the auld rist and malis in tyme coming. Ibid., Souerte for the restis and malis. 1581–2Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 458 For satisfeing and outredding thairof, be the restis to be gottin in and utherwyse.
b. The reserve or surplus fund of a bank, esp. of the Bank of England.
1844in Encycl. Brit. (1902) XXVI. 112 Bank of England... Proprietors' Capital, 14,533,000. Rest 3,564,729. 1847J. Francis Hist. Bank Eng. I. ix. 147 A reserve fund, which, under the name of rest, has increased with the business of the house. 1882A. S. Michie Gilbart's Hist. Banking I. 370 The Rest, from being looked upon merely as a fund to equalize the dividends, is now regarded as a reserve to meet exceptional losses. 1895Westm. Gaz. 6 Sept. 6/1 This amount will..still leave the ‘Rest’ above three millions, below which it is never allowed to fall.
fig.1858J. Martineau Stud. Chr. 352 Life, indeed, is just the one thing—the reserved capital, the rest, the ultimate security.
c. (See quots.)
1825C. Butler Bk. R.C. Ch. 154 It may not be improper to make what, in mercantile transactions, is termed a rest; and thus show, as it were on a balance sheet, which side..has the preponderance. 1856J. W. Gilbart Pract. Treat. Banking (ed. 6) 258 Amount of Cash-Book last night. (This is usually called the Rest.) 1889W. Waterston Manual Commerce 286/2 Rest, a term applied both to the period of stock-taking and balancing of a merchant, and to the balance of undivided profit at that period.
3. a. The remainder or remaining part(s) of something.
1530Palsgr. 262/2 Rest that leaveth of a thynge, demevrant. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 139 They passed away the rest of the wynter there. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xi. 45 b, The rest of the promontory is ful of ruines. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 33 While I liued here the rest of this summer, I made a iourney of pleasure. 1718Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Abbê Conti 31 Oct., I pray God I may think so for the rest of my life. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) III. 220 The hair about the neck..is not different from that on the rest of the body. 1861Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 32 When England, in common with the rest of Europe, was Catholic.
b. The remainder of a number of persons, animals, or things.
1535Lyndesay Satyre 1207 Lo! quhair thair sits ane Priores of renown Amangs the rest of Spiritualitie. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 216 b, The same judgement hath he also of the rest of the ministers of the churche. 1611Bible Neh. xi. 1 The rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of tenne, to dwell in Ierusalem. 1651Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxvi. 137 To distinguish it from the rest of their own Civill Lawes. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. vi. §1 The rest of us went to church. c1765Gray Satire 34 The Master of John's Like the rest of the Dons. 1839F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 27 The rest of the twenty-four hours were allowed to the laborer to employ as he pleased. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 299 Like the rest of the world, I am in doubt.
c. (all) the rest of it, everything else which might be mentioned or included.
1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! v, With their holy water, and their moppings and their scourings, and the rest of it. 1888Balfour in Times 2 Oct. 10/4 He was treated as an ordinary prisoner, plank bed and all the rest of it.
4. a. The remainder or residue of something specified or implied in the context.
1530Palsgr. 262/2 Rest or resydue, demourant. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 18 Therewith upon his crest With rigor so outrageous he smitt, That a large share it hewd out of the rest. 16022nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. Prol. 65 Conceiue of this and guesse of all the rest. 1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Wars 123 The present necessity forced the United Dutch to rest satisfied onely with words, and only to hope for the rest. 1761Gray Williams 11 Gallant youth! this marble tells the rest. 1820Keats Isabella vii, She ceas'd her timid quest, But in her tone and look he read the rest. 1895Law Times Rep. LXXIII. 691/2 To accept the office as to some part of the estate and not accept it as to the rest.
b. As pl. The remaining persons, animals, or things; the others.
1535Lyndesay Satyre 1458 Ladie Sensualitie Sen syne hes gydit this cuntrie, And monie of the rest. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 62, The Byshop of Rome with al the reste, stampe & stare at it. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage viii. iii. (1614) 739 They leapt off the Rockes into the Sea... The rest fled. 1670Dryden Conq. Granada i. i, One Bull, with curl'd black Head beyond the rest. 1711Addison Spect. No. 44 ⁋8 Some of which [inventions] I could wish entirely rejected, and the rest to be used with Caution. 1769Sir W. Jones Palace Fortune Poems (1777) 15 A lovely stripling stepp'd before the rest. 1844Disraeli Coningsby iii. iii, The Duchess would drive over... The rest were to ride. 1870Max Müller Sci. Relig. (1873) 141 They represent each deity as independent of all the rest.
5. In phrases:
a. (as) for the rest, as regards, with regard to, what remains.
1545T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 82 As for the rest how to open, clense, dry, and hele suche apostumations, ye must consult with sum phisition. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 92 But for the rest: you tell a Pedigree [etc.]. 1609Holland Amm. Marcell. 314 Let it suffice for this present..: for the rest, I shall not cease to admonish thee accordingly. 1655tr. Sorel's Com. Hist. Francion viii. 6 For the rest, all these debauchments are very true. 1760–2Goldsm. Cit. W. No. 25 ⁋1 Riches are the strength of a nation; and for the rest, our ships.. will protect us. 1784R. Bage Barham Downs II. 344 For the rest, it is I believe as compleat as human nature..will permit. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xiv, For the rest, you are not my conscience keeper, so don't make yourself uneasy. 1851Borrow Lavengro xliv, As for the rest, I could not exactly make it out.
b. as to the rest, also † (in) the rest, in other respects, otherwise.
1590Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons Ded. 8 And in the rest to take their aduentures, and sometimes to starue. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 653 Of this Tree we may not taste nor touch..; the rest, we live Law to our selves, our Reason is our Law. 1745Eliza Heywood Female Spect. No. 8 (1748) II. 87 As to the rest, he has a very good estate [etc.]. 1771Warburton in W. & Hurd Lett. (1809) 464 As to the rest, you shall live to yourself. 1819Shelley Cyclops 307, I know not that his strength is more than mine. As to the rest I care not.
†c. above the rest, especially. Obs.
1605Shakes. Lear iv. i. 50 Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure: Aboue the rest, be gone.
†6.
a. In primero, the stakes kept in reserve, which were agreed upon at the beginning of the game, and upon the loss of which the game terminated; the venture of such stakes. Obs.
1561T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer ii. y iv b, [They] fell to gamynge. And not longe after, one of the Pistoiens losinge his reste had not a farthynge left him to blesse himselfe. 1591Florio 2nd Fruites 69 A. Let us agree of our game, what shall we plaie for? S. One shilling stake, and three rest. 1614T. Tomkis Albumazar iii. v, I set ten shillings six pence, You see't? my rest, fiue and fifty. 1670Cotton Espernon i. iv. 156 The Duke..being at that instant bow'd down upon the Table, to draw the money he had newly won upon a rest, escap'd that fatal blow.
fig.1599Shakes. Hen. V, ii. i. 17 When I cannot liue any longer, I will doe as I may: That is my rest. 1630R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. 155 The King thought it no policie to play all his Rest at once, where hee might have lost more at one Game, than he had got in eight yeares.
†b. In phr. to set (up) one's rest, to venture one's final stake or reserve. Obs.
1575Gascoigne Herbes, Supposes iii. ii, Of whom some one peraduenture shal leese a great sum of money before he win one stake, & at last halfe in anger shal set vp his rest. c1597Harington On Play in Nugæ Ant. (1804) I. 222 The kinge, 55 eldest hand, set up all restes. 1656Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Pol. Touchstone (1674) 288 [The] advantage which he had of three Sevens in hand, had enforced him to set his Rest.
†7. to set (up) one's rest, in fig. uses. Now Obs. except perhaps as in f.a. To stake, hazard, or venture one's all on or upon something; to set one's final hope or trust upon or in something.
1587Greene Penelope's Web Wks. (Grosart) V. 181 Least ayming more at y⊇ weale of our countrey then our own liues, we set our rest on the hazard and so desperately throw at all. 1599Sandys Europe Spec. (1632) 68 If the Pope..were brought to this last hand to set uppe his rest upon these men. 1635R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. i. 59 The Queen of Scots being..one which set up her rest in hope of England. 1670Cotton Espernon i. iv. 174 The greatest part of those who had set up their rest upon the Fortune of the Duke his Father. 1684Burnet tr. More's Utopia (1685) 11 They would set up their Rest on such an Answer.
b. To do one's utmost. rare—1.
1589[? Lyly] Pappe w. Hatchet Wks. III. 398 Wee'le set vp all our rests, to make you all restie.
c. To have or take a resolution; to be resolved or determined.
1590Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iii. 27 He that sets vp his rest to doe more exploits with his Mace, then a Moris Pike. 1596― Merch. V. ii. ii. 110 As I haue set vp my rest to run awaie, so I will not rest till I haue run some ground. 1633Ford 'Tis Pity v. iii, Despair, or tortures of a thousand hells, All's one to me; I have set up my rest. 1646J. Temple Irish Reb. 4, I have cast up my accounts, I have set up my rest, and determine rather to displease any other man than offend my own conscience.
d. To fix or settle upon, to decide for, to place one's whole aim or end in, something.
1589Greene Menaphon Wks. (Grosart) VI. 86 Haue ye alreadie..set your rest vpon some higher personage? 1633B. Jonson Tale of a Tub ii. i, Arrested, As I had set my rest up for a wife! 1663Pepys Diary 19 Jan., He seems to set up his rest in this plenty, and the neatness of his house. a1674Clarendon Hist. Reb. xiii. §169 When this address was made by the Dutch, he set up his whole rest and interest, that it might be well accepted. 1702S. Parker tr. Cicero's De Finibus v. 327 Those very Men who have set up their rest in Pursuit of External Profit and Pleasure. 1740–1Richardson Pamela (1883) I. 417 As if I believed I ought to set up my rest in my mean self and think nothing further to be done. [1826Scott Jrnl. (1890) I. 305 She has a good heart,..but unhappily..she has set up the whole staff of her rest in keeping literary society about her.]
e. To be certain, assured, convinced.
1623–4Middleton & Rowley Sp. Gipsy iv. ii, Could I set up my rest That he were lost, or taken prisoner, I could hold truce with sorrow.
f. To take up one's (permanent) abode.
1590Lodge Rosalynde (Hunterian Cl.) 50 Aliena resolued there to set vp her rest.., and so became Mistres of the farme. 1621Hakewill David's Vow 251 Hee may chance to come into my sight, but..hee shall not set up his rest there. 1676G. Etherege Man of Mode ii. ii, Should I have set up my rest at the first inn I lodged at, I should never have arrived at the happiness I now enjoy. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 91 Here I counted to set up my rest for life. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. 20 Sept. §8, I firmly believe he will set up his rest in Monmouthshire. 1810Lamb Lett. (1888) I. 256 Here I hope to set up my rest. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop lxxi, We..will set up our rest again among our boyish haunts.
g. To make an end. rare—1.
1663Pepys Diary 8 Jan., So home; with much ado.., and now resolving to set up my rest as to plays till Easter.
†8. to set down one's rest:
a. To stop, make an end (also with lay); to take up residence. Obs.
1586A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 74 Here as a limit sufficient to that determined labour doe I lay downe my rest. 1591Greene Conny Catch. ii. Wks. (Grosart) X. 127 Whereupon he thought this night to set downe his rest. a1617Bayne Lect. (1634) 202 That man that comes in this life to the end of his walk, and there setteth down his rest from going any further. a1665Digby Priv. Mem. (1827) 282, I have set down my rest where piety forbiddeth not to live according to nature.
†b. To make up one's mind; to determine. Obs.
1589Nashe Martin Marprelate Wks. (Grosart) I. 110 Where you sette downe your reste, you are very resolute. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts, N.T. 312 They that set down their rest and resolution that they will be rich.
9. In (real) tennis and battledore, a spell of quick and continuous returning of the ball maintained by the players. (In lawn tennis the usual term is rally.) Also fig.
Cf. F. reste (sense 13 in Littré).
c1600Beaumont Letter to B. Jonson, For wit is like a rest Held up at tennis! which men do the best With the best gamesters. 1682Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Ess. Poetry 13 But O! the Dialogues, where jest and mock Is held up like a rest at Shittle-cock. 1704Cibber Careless Husband iv, Knock me down, if ever I saw a Rest of Wit better Play'd, than that last in my Life. 1740― Apol. (1756) I. 111 They return'd the ball so dextrously upon one another that every scene between them seem'd but one continued rest of excellence. 1889in Heathcote Tennis, etc. (1890) 43 note, In the first of these matches, there were..159 rests. 1890Ibid. 257 The longest rest on record in a double match..consisted of no fewer than thirty-eight volleys. 1898H. F. Lawford in W. A. Morgan ‘House’ on Sport I. 428, I was told that one rest was eighty-one strokes. 1960Times 18 July 14/4 Warburg..played six strokes in a fine rest. 1975Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 826/1 During a ‘rest’ (the real tennis term for a rally), while the player on the hazard side is trying to make a good chase, his opponent on the service side is in a stronger position.
10. Med. A small detached part of an organ, surrounded by tissue of another character; esp. as adrenal rest, a small displaced part of the adrenal cortex.
1892R. Boyce Textbk. Morbid Histol. viii. 160 In adult life ‘rests’ are frequently encountered in the lines of old incisions and punctures and are due to excess of repair tissue. Ibid. x. 201 Another class of rests represents vestigial structures. 1898I. N. Kelynack Renal Growths xiv. 132 Growths arising in adrenal ‘rests’ appear to be sarcomatous in general characters rather than carcinomatous. 1912Q. Jrnl. Med. V. 157 To present new reasons against the hypothesis that renal hypernephromata are derived from adrenal rests. 1928J. F. Barnhill Nose, Throat & Ear xi. 157 In sarcoma [of the accessory nasal sinuses] congenital ‘rests’ in the alveoli of the child..may be assigned as a cause. 1939T. W. Widdowson Special or Dental Anat. (ed. 6) xii. 300 The epithelial cellular bodies, or rests,..are collections of epithelial cells sometimes seen in the inner portion of the periodontal membrane near to the cementum. 1963C. L. Deming in M. F. Campbell Urology (ed. 2) II. xxii. 912 Grawitz thought that these tumors came from adrenal rests and termed them hypernephromas.
▪ III. rest, n.3
Forms: α. 4– rest, 5–6 reste. β. 4–5 reeste, 5 reest, reyst(e, 6 reist, reast.
[Aphetic form of arest arrest n.; cf. rest v.3 In sense 2 = It. resta, Pg. reste, riste, Pg. and Sp. ristre.]
†1. A means of stopping or checking a horse.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 353 Þey dryueþ hir hors wiþ a..ȝerde..instede of barnacles and of britels of reest. 1526Skelton Magnyf. 137 It were a myschefe, yf lyberte lacked a reyne, Where with to rule hym with the wrythyng of a rest.
†b. Arrest of persons or goods. Obs.
1423Coventry Leet Bk. (E.E.T.S.) 58 Allso it is ordenyd þat noo Constable within the Cite take no syluer for no rest þei make by way off þer office, oþerwais þen þe Law wyll. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xl. (Percy Soc.) 203, I obeyed his rest; there was no remedy. c1573Durh. Dep. (Surtees) 258 The reast that one Toppyn had maid of the Egiptiens goods. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 916/1 What authoritie haue you to arrest me?.. I will not obeie your rest.
†c. Fixed purpose; resolve. Obs.
c1450St. Cuthbert 4975 When morne come, fast þai prest To þe batell, of a reest To take þe chaunce myght fall.
2. In mediæval armour, a contrivance fixed to the right side of the cuirass to receive the butt-end of the lance when couched for the charge, and to prevent it from being driven back upon impact.
In quot. 1697 applied to the butt-end of the lance itself; cf. quot. a 1661 in b.
α1391Earl Derby's Exped. (Camden) 92 Pro j rest pro domino, vij scot. 1480Robt. Devyll 43 Into the reste he threwe hys speare. c1500Melusine 361 And whan the knight vnderstod this, he sette the spere in the rest. 1540Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. VII. 287 Gevin to the Frenche armorar for..iiij. restis to the justing sadills. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 517 The Turkish horsemen,..couching their staves in their rests. 1697Dryden æneid xii. 641 This gripes the lance, and with such vigour shakes, That to the rest the beamy weapon quakes. 1814Scott Ld. of Isles vi. xxii, Each ready lance is in the rest. 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 782 A knight..who laid his lance In rest, and made as if to fall upon him.
βc1470Henry Wallace v. 260 A sper in reyst he kest with all his mayne. 1470–85Malory Arthur vii. xvi. 237 Thenne they putte their speres in their reystes and came to gyders. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iii. 107 He broughte his speere in the reeste. 1513Douglas æneis xi. Prol. 43 This Prince..sustenit..Sic strife in stoure so oft with spere in reist. a1586Montgomerie Misc. Poems xli. 45 Stiff speiris in reistis..Ar brok on thair breistis.
b. Her. A charge supposed to represent the above (but also differently named and interpreted).
a1661Fuller Worthies (1840) I. 328 What usually are termed therein rests, being the handles of spears (most honourable in tilting to break them nearest thereunto) are called by some critics surflues. 1727Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Clarion, Guillim takes these Clarions to be a Kind of old-fashion Trumpet; but others think they rather represent the Rudder of a Ship, or, as some say, the Rest for a Lance. 1849J. R. Planché in Jrnl. Archaeol. IV. 349 On the charge in heraldry, called a ‘rest’, or ‘clarion’. 1868Cussans Her. (1893) 121 My own opinion is, that the Rest or Clarion was a rude type of a musical instrument.
†3. (See quot.) Obs. rare—0.
1611Cotgr., Garde-serre, the rest of the locke of a Harguebuse.
▪ IV. rest
(of a plough): see reest.
▪ V. rest
variant of wrest n.
▪ VI. † rest, a. Obs.
Also 5 reest.
[Perh. ad. OF. resté (see resty a.), but cf. also Færöese ræst-ur in the same sense. The later form is reesed.]
Rancid, reasty.
14..Med. Rec. in Reliq. Ant. I. 53 For brynnyng with wilde fyre: tak rest bacon, and do hit on a grene hesill styk. c1440Promp. Parv. 431/1 Reest, as flesche.., rancidus. 1483Cath. Angl. 304/2 To be Reste, rancere.
▪ VII. rest, v.1
Forms: 1 ræstan (hræst-), 3 ræsten, 5 rast; 1 restan, 2–5 resten (Orm. resstenn), 5 restyn, 4 resti, 4–6 reste, 4– rest; 6 reast, 9 Sc. reist; 5 rist(e, ryst(e, ruste (9 Sc. rist). pa. tense 1 ræste, 1–4 reste (5 ryste), 4 rest; also 4 restede, -ide, -yde, 4– rested (4–5 -id, etc.). pa. pple. 3–4 y-, i-rest, 4 rest; 4– rested (4–5 -id, -yd).
[OE. ræstan, restan, = OFris. resta, OS. restian, OHG. restan (MHG. resten), related to OHG. rastôn, rastên, and MDu., MLG. rusten (G. rasten, Du. rusten). For the variation in these forms, and in ME., see the etym. note to rest n.1]
I. intr.
1. a. To take repose by lying down, and esp. by going to sleep; to lie still or in slumber. Also in later use with adverbs, to have (good or bad) repose.
Beowulf (Z.) 1794 Wolde blondenfeax beddes neosan,..rofne randwiᵹan restan lyste. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 41 And [he] cuom ðirdda siðe & cuoeð ðæm..‘slepað ᵹee & ræstas’. c1000Sax. Leechd. II. 118 Drince ealles þone drenc þritiᵹ nihta,..þonne þu restan wille. 1340Ayenb. 31 Huanne þe man is zuo heui þat ne loueþ bote to ligge and resti and slepe. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxv. (Julian) 304 Scho..lad þame in a bed to reste, & bad þame slepe. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 35 Whan thou art dead, in thi bed shal he rest. c1450Merlin 138 And so were they departed, and eche yede to his ostell to resten. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxviii. (Percy Soc.) 199 La Bell Pucell to a fayre chambre bryght, Dyde me than brynge for to rest all nyght. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 232 He..laieth hym downe againe to rest. 1605Shakes. Lear iii. vi. 87 Now good my Lord, lye heere, and rest awhile. 1669Pepys Diary 23 Mar., Being sleepy, fell soon to rest, and so rested well. 1742Wesley Extr. of Jrnl. (1749) 24, I ask'd her, How have you rested? 1791Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest viii, She had not rested well. 1802Med. Jrnl. 324 When he has quietly and well rested, [he hears] worse than after a restless night. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xvi, Too feverish to rest, I rose as soon as day dawned.
b. To lie in death or in the grave.
a900O.E. Martyrol. 25 Dec. 4 Hyre lichama resteð nu on Romebyriᵹ. c962O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 962, Her forðferde ælfgar..& his lic rest on Wiltune. c1205Lay. 17231 Þenne þi lif endeð, Þer þu scalt resten. c1225Leg. St. Kath. 2481 Strikeð a stream ut of þet stanene þruh þet ha in resteð. a1300Cursor M. 1079 Þe bodi moght he nangat hide, For vnder erth most it not rest. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 401 Seint Edburgh þat..resteþ at Wynchestre. 1535Coverdale Ecclus. xlvii. 23 Thus rested Salomon with his fathers. 1582Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 21 Wheare lyes strong Hector... Wheare stout Serpedon dooth rest. a1604Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 63 He builded Cels and Monasteries, but chiefly at Achadha, where he resteth. 1671Milton Samson 598, I shall shortly be with them that rest. 1742Gray Spring 40 Their airy dance They leave, in dust to rest. 1782F. Burney Cecilia v. ix, A set of poor souls you won't let rest in their coffins. 1813Byron Diary 23 Nov., Why should Junius be dead?..would he rest in his grave? 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxix, Into her merits or demerits I do not enter deeply here. Let her rest in peace.
c. orig. N. Amer. Of the body of a dead person: to remain at an undertaker's, a chapel, etc., before burial or cremation. (Usu. as pres. pple.)
1967‘Coriolis’ Death, Here is Thy Sting iii. 54 Remains will be resting at the John Doe Funeral Home. 1968Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Jan. 37/5 Resting at Bates and Maddocks Funeral Chapel..until 12 noon Monday. 1974Almonto (Ontario) Gaz. 4 Apr. 4/3 Predeceased by a brother Harold... Rested at the Kerry Funeral Home. 1976Liverpool Echo 22 Nov. 4/4 Funeral service at Anfield Crematorium... Resting at E. H. Roberts..where flowers may be sent.
2. a. To take repose by intermission of labour or exertion of any kind; to desist or refrain from effort or activity; to become or remain inactive.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Mark vi. 31 And [he] cuoeð to him, ‘cymes sundriᵹ in woestiᵹ styd & restas huon’. c1000ælfric Exod. xx. 11 On six daᵹum god ᵹeworhte heofenan and eorðan.., and reste þy seofoðan dæᵹe and ᵹehalᵹode hyne. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3635 Four hondred men ar he reste is owe honde he slou. c1315Shoreham vi. 58 Þou ert emaus, þe ryche castel, Þar resteþ alle werye: Ine þe restede emanuel. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 125 Þere is Iacobus welle, þat Criste reste by. c1400Destr. Troy 5862 He..Hade laburt so longe, hym list for to rest, And bowet fro the batell. c1475Rauf Coilȝear 404 Vpon Solempnit ȝule day quhen ilk man suld rest. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 833 Neuer restyng nor themselues refreshing, except the baityng of their horses. 1610Shakes. Temp. iii. iii. 6, I..am my selfe attach'd with wearinesse To th' dulling of my spirits: sit downe, and rest. 1671Milton P.R. ii. 292 Thither he bent his way, determin'd there To rest at noon. 1732Pope Ess. Man ii. 7 He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian i, They rested to recover their breath. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxxiii, Now set me where I can rest among the rocks without fear of falling. 1896Baden-Powell Matabele Campaign xv, Our men..had orders not to let the enemy rest.
Comb.1843Peter Parley's Ann. IV. 114 They set themselves down upon a rest-and-be-thankful stone to survey the glen. 1894Westm. Gaz. 15 Sept. 3/1 A few who adopt rather too much of the rest-and-be-thankful principle.
b. Of things, in various contextual uses.
Beowulf (Z.) 1858 Þæt þam folcum sceal..sib ᵹemænum & sacu restan. a1000Andreas 1576 Þa se æðling het stream fare stillan, stormas restan. c1330Arth. & Merl. 8570 (Kölbing), Lete we þis rest, in godes name, & telle forþ..Hou Merlin doth [etc.]. 1382Wyclif Jer. xlvii. 6 O! thou swerd of the Lord, hou longe shalt thou not reste? 1388― Exod. xxiii. 11 Sixe ȝ eer thou shalt sowe thi lond,..in the seuenthe ȝeer thou schalt leeue it, and schalt make to reste [1535 Coverdale, let it rest and lye still]. 1414Brampton Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.) 38 Whan alle the planetys, that turnyn abowte, At the day of dome schul cese and reste. c1450Lovelich Grail lvi. 37 Now Of this scheld Resteth this Storye. c1500Melusine 338 And here resteth thystorye of them and retourneth to shewe of Raymondyns men. 1603Owen Pembrokeshire viii. (1892) 60 Barlie..resteth in the ground not past three dayes but up he starteth. 1667Milton P.L. vii. 595 The Harp Had work and rested not. 1771Encycl. Brit. III. 333/1 When these parts are not thus doubled, the third and fourth parts rest. 1831E. Ross Farm Rep. 88 in Lib. Usef. Kn., Husb. III, The land was allowed ‘to rest’—i.e., to remain unploughed for a period of years. 1894Westm. Gaz. 22 June 2/3 The unlucky Oxford-street theatre, after ‘resting’—to use the phrase of the profession—..was reopened last night.
c. With negatives, and followed by till.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxiii. (Seven Sleepers) 263 Þane ferlyt he, & wald nocht ryst til he agane come to þe fyrst. c1420Chron. Vilod. 4737 Y nyl neuer from preynge here⁓after rast Tylle þey ben forȝeue to herre. c1450Lovelich Merlin 339 Thou wost neuere resten ne dwelle, Tyl mannes feleschepe ȝe comen vntylle. a1533Ld. Berners Huon lxiv. 220 He went, & restyd not tyll he cam to Burdeux. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, i. ii. 32, I cannot rest Vntill the White Rose that I weare, be dy'de [etc.]. a1618Raleigh War F viij b, They rested not untill they had made the Empire stand headlesse about seaventeene years. 1759Johnson Rasselas xxx, I have often heard of the Pyramids, and shall not rest till I have seen them. 1782F. Burney Cecilia vii. i, I hastily set out for Suffolk, and rested not till I arrived at Mrs. Charlton's. 1819Jas. Morton in Leyden's Poetical Remains 5 He never rested until he had obtained this literary treasure.
d. To cease from, to have intermission or cessation † of, something.
1382Wyclif Josh. xi. 23 And the loond restyde fro bateil. 1382― Rev. xiv. 13 Fro hennus forth now the spirit seith, that thei reste of her trauelis. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxii. (Percy Soc.) 105 The sevent day he restes of hys werke. 1526Tindale Rev. xiv. 13 They maye rest from their laboures. 1611Bible Gen. ii. 2 And he rested on the seuenth day from all his worke. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 802 Here stand Ye Angels arm'd, this day from Battel rest. 1813Shelley Q. Mab ix. 21 The souls..There rest from the eternity of toil. 1833Tennyson Goose 16 She..bless'd herself, and cursed herself, And rested from her labours.
†e. To cease to do (or doing) something. Obs.
1382Wyclif Isa. i. 16 Resteth to do shreudely, lerneth to do wel. a1425Cursor M. 20803 (Trin.), She resteþ nouþer day ny nyȝt To preye for synful mennes pliȝt. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 296 Leosthenes..would not rest prouokyng the people to make warre vpon the residue of Grece. 1573G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 20 And here I rest to be trubblesum unto you. 1600Holland Livy ii. xviii. 56 Such old babes as they.., who neuer rested to sow debate.
f. Theatr. Of an actor: to be out of work (temporarily), to be unemployed. Also transf. (Usu. as pres. pple.)
1890B. Hall Turnover Club 81 It would commend itself particularly to actors ‘resting’ for the summer. 1912Galsworthy Pigeon i. 24 I am an interpreter... At present I am resting. 1923A. Christie Murder on Links xxii. 250 They're in the provinces, somewhere, I believe—if they're not resting. 1938G. Heyer Blunt Instrument x. 195 A very nice lady. Stage, but she's resting. 1947J. Symons Man called Jones 109 She's in this new thing at the Splendid, and I'm resting. That's show business. 1958Times 22 May 12/6 Ten shillings a week..used to go a long way with those who, in actors' parlance, were ‘resting’. 1967Radio Times 18 May 21 Except for the occasional coffee-bar job while ‘resting’, Dinsdale has always managed to earn a living from acting. 1976R. Hill Another Death in Venice i. ii. 33 ‘Are you on holiday?’.. ‘Resting, to use a theatrical term. Between jobs.’
g. to rest up: to recover one's strength by resting. orig. U.S.
1895‘Mark Twain’ in Harper's Mag. Aug. 458 The other inquisitor could absent himself and rest up from his fatigues when he got worn out. 1911H. S. Harrison Queed x. 125 She had been remanded in bed for a day or two to rest up. 1922Z. Grey To Last Man xiii. 284 Get rifle and ammunition, bake bread, and rest up before taking again the trail of the rustlers. 1936J. Curtis Gilt Kid xiii. 131 The best plan would be to..have something to eat and rest up. 1949N. Streatfeild Painted Garden xi. 127 She said..she was going to rest-up; I expect that means bed. 1965M. Shadbolt Among Cinders xxii. 210 Now it was just a place for shooters and trampers to rest up. 1972J. Blackburn For Fear of Little Men xi. 116 Adder bites are unpleasant things... I advised the fool to rest up a bit longer. 1974Times Lit. Suppl. 1 Feb. 97/1 Attila is resting up in Hungvar, exacting ‘hospitality’ from the German peoples.
3. a. To be at ease or in quiet; also (of persons or things), to continue without change or removal; to stay, remain, lie, have place or station.
971Blickl. Hom. 159 Eadiᵹe beoþ þearfena gastas & hie restaþ on heofena rice. c1000Ags. Gosp. Luke x. 6 Ᵹyf þar beoð sybbe bearn, reste þar eower sib. c1200Ormin 13025 Swa þatt me þinnkeþþ god inn hemm To biggenn & to resstenn. a1225St. Marher. 6 Mi sawle schal resten mit te rihtwise. a1300Cursor M. 23652 Iesu crist..giue vs grace sua here to do, Þat wit his we mai rest in ro. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iv. 95 Bote Reson haue reuþe of him, he resteþ in þe stokkes Also longe as I lyue. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) iv. 12 Sum saise þat he dyed noȝt, bot þat he restez þare to þe day of dome. 1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 15 Ypocras rested in the Ile of Than. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxxviii. 13 Pryncesse of townes,..A richer restith under no Christen roy. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 160 b, That the citezens hearing where the place of the ieopardye rested, might occurre their enemies. 1593Shakes. Rich. II, v. i. 5 This way the King will come:..Here let vs rest. 1611Bible Josh. iii. 13 Assoone as the soles of the feete of the Priestes..shall rest in the waters of Iordan. 1620T. Granger Div. Logike 111 A stone neither mooueth nor resteth. 1658R. Newcourt Title to Map of London, Under ye Roman Regencie then rested this Citie & Kingdome by ye space of neere 490 yeares. 1740Pitt æneid x. 1183 The wretched father (father now no more!) In sullen sorrow rested on the shore. 1782F. Burney Cecilia ix. iii, O, then,..it is not on the side of the young woman that the difficulty seems to rest? 1838Trevelyan in Macaulay (1876) II. i. 5 Mr. Wallace did not choose to rest quietly under a castigation in excess of his deserts.
†b. In phr. rest you merry, fair, happy. (Cf. 7 b and 8 c, to which this may properly belong.)
1548Elyot, Aue, bee thou gladde: or ioyfull, as the vulgare people saie Reste you mery. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. ii. 86 Rest you merry. 1596― Merch. V. i. iii. 60 Rest you faire good signior, Your worship was the last man in our mouthes. 1606― Ant. & Cl. i. i. 62 But I will hope of better deeds to morrow. Rest you happy.
c. To stop or cease at a certain point and remain otherwise inoperative or inactive. to let..rest, to pursue or prosecute no further.
1577Hanmer Anc. Eccles. Hist. (1619) 392 Neither rested he with this, but destroyed, as much as [etc.]. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iv. i. 121 Nay, let it [the quarrel] rest where it began at first. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts, O.T. 548, I will send a destruction upon the house of Hazael..wch shall not rest in his person, but [etc.]. 1706Stanhope Paraphr. III. 196 Charity..must never rest in the thoughts and Affections of the Soul. But how shall it exert itself in becoming Words and Actions? 1750Johnson Rambler No. 19 ⁋15 So much remains in the power of others, that reason is forced at last to rest in neutrality. 1782F. Burney Cecilia x. ii, She considered, however, that the matter could not rest here. 1862M. E. Braddon Lady Audley xxii, If I could let the matter rest.., I would do it.
d. To be at peace; to have quiet of mind.
1782F. Burney Cecilia vi. ii, Cecilia had now but little leisure, for Lady Honoria would hardly rest a moment away from her. Ibid. ix. i, I could not rest till I had the honour of assuring you [etc.]. 1803tr. P. Le Brun's Mons. Botte I. 23 Mr. Horeau, without whom he could not rest long together.
4. a. To have place or position, to settle, lie, be diffused, etc., on or upon some person or thing.
c1000ælfric Numb. xi. 25 Þa se gast ᵹereste on him, hiᵹ witeᵹodon and siððan ne ᵹeswicon. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 217 Uppe þare blosme [sal] resten þe holie gost. 1382Wyclif Isa. xi. 2 Ther shal resten vp on hym the Spirit of the Lord. c1400Love Bonavent. Mirr. (B.N.C. MS.) lf. 15 b, For bot marie had ben meke þe holy gost had not rested vppon hir. 1535Coverdale Ecclus. xliv. 23 Couenaunt dyd he stablysh with Isaac, and made it to rest vpon the heade of Iacob. 1611Bible Ecclus. v. 6 Mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth vpon sinners. 1711Addison Spect. No. 128 ⁋4 The Man and the Woman are joined together for Life, and the main Burden rests upon the former. 1782F. Burney Cecilia ix. ii, That attack rested upon her mind, in defiance of all her endeavours to banish it. 1819Shelley Cenci v. iii, How gently slumber rests upon her face. 1862M. E. Braddon Lady Audley xxix, His pale face, haggard under the deepening shadow that had rested upon it so long.
b. Of material objects supported by something.
1611Bible 1 Kings vi. 10 Then hee built chambers..: and they rested on the house with timber of Cedar. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 125 This stone rests upon a marble-Pillar. 1798Coleridge Anc. Mar. iii. vi, Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright sun. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xvii, The roof..rested upon four concentric arches. 1857Henfrey Bot. §40 The stem of such plants rests upon some foreign body, such as the branch of a tree.
c. Of the eyes in relation to the object looked at.
1813Sketches of Character (ed. 2) I. 104 Her eyes resting on a lace cap she had been making. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre x, My eye passed all other objects to rest on those most remote, the blue peaks.
d. Of a wing or division of an army.
1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 238 Their left resting on the hills, their right on the Residency.
e. To lie as a charge or stigma on one.
1678Hatton Corr. (Camden) 162 It shall not rest upon him if I be not made a brigadeere. 1814Scott Ld. of Isles iii. xviii, Enough of blood rests on my head.
5. a. To lie or lean on, upon, or against a person or thing to obtain repose or support. † Also said of Christ hanging on the cross.
1382Wyclif John xxi. 20 Thilke disciple..which restide in the souper on his brest. c1425Cast. Persev. 2452 Þat Lord þat restyd on þe rode is maker of an ende.
1782F. Burney Cecilia vii. vii, ‘Oh then rest on me!’ cried he, still holding her; ‘rest but upon me till the ceremony is over!’ 1802C. James Milit. Dict. s.v., The soldiers, belonging to the firing party, rest upon the butt ends of their firelocks. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxix, In a half-sitting posture, with her back resting against the door of the hovel. 1862M. E. Braddon Lady Audley xxx, With her little hand resting lightly upon the opposite post.
b. To rely on or upon, to trust to, some thing or person.
1382Wyclf Isa. vii. 2 Siria restede vp on Effraym. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 35 b, To..set at nought the counseyle of other, & to lene & rest all togyder to thyne own reason. 1583T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. i. 20 One Magistrate..upon whose fidelitye your Excellencie may rest. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 141 I rested much vpon the Cardinals promise. 1633T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter ii. 9 If he covenant with us, ‘I will be your God’; we must restipulate, ‘Then will we rest upon thee’. 1856F. E. Paget Owlet of Owlst. 150 Each rests a good deal on the greatness of her own connexions.
c. To depend upon, to be based or founded on, something.
1530Palsgr. Introd. 26 The chefest poynt..resteth upon the knowledge of the gendre and nombre of the substantyve. a1704Locke (J.), Sometimes it rests upon testimony. 1782F. Burney Cecilia iii. iv, All his hopes now rested upon one friend and patron. 1821Scott Kenilw. vii, Thus establishing in him an interest resting both on present and past services. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 662 The case against him rested wholly on the evidence of Rumsey and Goodenough. 1884F. Temple Relat. Relig. & Sci. ii. (1885) 63 Science rests on phenomena observed by the senses.
d. To dwell upon (a word); to settle or decide on (a person). rare.
1530Palsgr. Introd. 15 Thirdly to gyve every worde that they abyde and reste upon, theyr most audible sounde. 1700Dryden Sigismonda & G. 469 On him I rested after long debate, And not without considering fixed my fate.
6. a. To remain confident or hopeful, to put trust, in something.
c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 363 In o bileve men resten, þat day shal come of þe laste jugement. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 163 In whos counseilles þe kyng hym self..so moche rested [L. adquievit]. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 62 Committyng my cause into Goddes handes, I rested wholy in his protection. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iii. xv. (1651) 134 These men fail as often as they rest in their projects, and are as usually frustrate of their hopes. 1675Traherne Chr. Ethics 50 Rest not in the helps and remedies that it [religion] bringeth. 1781Burns Winter iii, Here, firm, I rest, they must be best, Because they are Thy Will! 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 973 Nor did he doubt her more, But rested in her fealty. 1870J. H. Newman Gram. Assent ii. viii. 307 We must patiently rest in the thought of the Eternal, Omnipresent, and All-knowing.
†b. To be vested in a person. Obs.
1483Rolls of Parlt. VI. 247/2 That the right and tytle..of and in all suche Londs..be and rest in every of the said Wyfes. 1577Harrison England ii. ii. (1877) i. 64 The gift of this prelacie resteth in the earles of Darbie. a1645Habington Surv. Worcs. (Worcs. Hist. Soc.) I. ii. 168 Cofton Haket came..to Mr. Skinner, in whose family nowe it restethe.
†c. To lie or consist in something. Obs.
1513T. More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 760 Yee see their youth, of which I rekon the onely suretie to rest in your concord. 1530Palsgr. Introd. 15 The diffyculte of the frenche tong..resteth chefely in thre thynges. 1551Robinson tr. More's Utop. ii. (1895) 188 Pleasure, wherin they determine other all or the chiefyste parte of mans felycytye to reste. 1602Narcissus (1893) 2 Heerin the matter rests.
d. To lie in or remain with one, as something to be accomplished or determined.
1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 45 What you command, that rests in me to doe. 1601Daniel Civ. Wars vi. lxxiv, It restes within your iudgmentes to vpright, Or els to ruine vtterly the land. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. i. iii. 32 It rested in your Grace To vnloose this tyde-vp Iustice.
1819Shelley Cenci iv. ii. 37 As to the how this act Be warranted, it rests with you. 1867Ruskin Time & Tide §98 Always to think of things as they truly are..as far as in us rests. And it does rest much in our power. 1874Green Short Hist. vi. §5. 317 The whole direction of home and foreign affairs rested with Wolsey alone.
II. refl.
7. a. To give (oneself) rest or repose.
In early use with simple reflexive pronoun; in later use usually with self.
c890Laws K. ælfred in Schmid Gesetze (1898) 26 Wyrceað eow vi daᵹas, & on þam siofoðan restað eow. 971Blickl. Hom. 227 Þonne he reste hine, þonne wæs his seo æþeleste ræst..on nacodre eorðan. c1175Lamb. Hom. 47 Þet oðer mihte is on heouene, for-þi þa engles heom rested mare þenn on sum oðer dei. c1220Bestiary 241 Ðe mire..renneð rapelike, and resteð hire seldum. c1250Gen. & Exod. 1369 At a welle wið-uten ðe tun..Ðor he wulde him resten. c1350Will. Palerne 2801 Go we on oure gate..to recuuer sum resset, þere we vs rest miȝt. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) ix. 36 Whare oure Lady restid hir when scho was delyuer of hir childe. c1440Alph. Tales 360 ‘If you like ye may go vnto your bed and riste you.’ And so he did. 1530Palsgr. 688/2 You may rest you here a while in this wyndowe. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. v. 2 Kind Keepers.., Let dying Mortimer here rest himselfe. 1610― Temp. iii. i. 18 Pray set it downe, and rest you. 1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 205 We rested our selves upon the Rock. 1716Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Mar 21 Nov., I was very glad to stay there a day to rest myself. 1782F. Burney Cecilia i. vi, He then begged him to be seated, to rest himself. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xxi, Will you rest yourself here an hour, Miss? Ibid. xxvii, When I got there I was forced to sit to rest me under the hedge.
fig.c1200Ormin 9598 Clene þohht iss Godess bedd, & tære he wile himm resstenn. a1310in Wright Lyric P. xvi. 52 He that reste him on the rode.
transf.c1425Found. St. Bartholomew's (E.E.T.S.) 53 The trowblys tempestuous wyndis vttirly rested them.
b. With adjectival († or adverbial) complement.
a1400Floriz & Bl. (E.E.T.S.) 85 And so him sede child floriz, ‘Rest þe murie, sire daris’. c1420Chron. Vilod. 485 By hym come an olde hore mone And sayde: ‘syr kyng, rest ȝov wylle!’ 1610Shakes. Temp. v. i. 144, I haue her soueraigne aid, And rest myselfe content. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts, O.T. 324 He that believes shall rest himselfe contented with this alsufficient meanes. 1813Shelley Q. Mab vi. 26 Oh! rest thee tranquil; chase those fearful doubts. 1833Tennyson Œnone 156 Oh! rest thee sure That I shall love thee well and cleave to thee.
†c. To rely upon. (Cf. 5 b.) Obs. rare.
1611Bible 2 Chron. xxxii. 8 The people rested themselues vpon the words of Hezekiah king of Iudah. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts, O.T. 295 As this people have not rested themselves upon the Gracious promise of Gods protection.
III. trans.
8. a. To give (one) rest or repose; to relieve or refresh by rest; to lay to rest. Also const. up. Cf. sense 2 g.
Quots. 1975 and 1976 are both U.S. slang.
c1205Lay. 17229 Þu seolf scalt þer in Þine ban resten. a1300Cursor M. 2733 Quen þai war rest wel, vp-ras þai. c1330Arth. & Merl. 7482 (Kölbing), Doun of her destrers þai liȝten, Her stedes to rest, her armes riȝten. 1495Trevisa's De P.R. (W. de W.) v. xxvi. 135 Somtyme the sholders ben greuyd..and thenne they ben curyd and restyd. a1586Sidney Ps. xxiii. i, He rests me in greene pasture. 1594Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iv. 33 Then would I hide my bones, not rest them heere. 1662J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 8 So that I had the convenience of resting my back. 1697Dryden æneid i. 236 A grot is form'd beneath, with mossy seats, To rest the Nereïds. 1781Cowper Retirem. 451 He..seeks a more convenient friend,..On whom he rests well-pleas'd his weary pow'rs. 1830Scott Auchindrane ii. i, The grim sexton..Made him the bed which rests his head for ever. 1855Lynch Rivulet vi. i, It rests us to look on their calm. 1872Holmes Poet Breakf.-t. ii, Wears goggles very commonly; says it rests his eyes. 1896Baden-Powell Matabele Campaign xiii, I told Poore to rest the men and horses, while..I went on ahead. 1974‘J. Le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor xxviii. 241 They're resting you up for a season. 1975L. Dills CB Slanguage Dict. 50 Rest 'em up place, rest area (SE). 1976Lieberman & Rhodes Compl. CB Handbk. vi. 157 Hey, we just spotted a smokey at that rest'em up area.
absol.1400Pol., Rel., & Love Poems (1866) 31 Hit resteþ and hit quemeþ.
b. In phr. (God or heaven) rest his soul, him, etc. Now arch.
c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 2107 O maister, maister, god þi soule reste! 1596Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 75 Is my boy, God rest his soule, aliue or dead? 1605― Macb. iv. iii. 227 Not for their owne demerits..Fell slaughter on their soules: Heauen rest them now. 1775S. J. Pratt Liberal Opin. cxxxiii. (1783) IV. 203 They are a set of fellows who are not worth a resurrection, and therefore God rest 'em and rot 'em for us. 1805Scott Last Minstr. i. Introd. 50 And he began to talk anon..of Earl Walter, rest him, God! 1818― Br. Lamm. xxi, Fill a brimmer of my auld auntie's claret, rest her heart! 1875Tennyson Q. Mary i. v, My good mother came (God rest her soul) Of Spain.
†c. God rest you merry (cf. 3 b and 7 b). Obs.
1568U. Fulwell Like will to Like Hazl. Dodsley (1874) III. 342 God rest you merry both, and God be your guide. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. v. i. 65 God rest you merry, sir.
d. To allow (a thing) to rest; to permit to remain undisturbed, quiescent, or inactive.
1580Blundevil Horsemanship v. vii. 5 The water of an Oxe, that hath beene rested a certaine time. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iv. 22 He fights as you sing pricksong,..he rests his minum, one, two, and the third in your bosom. 1737Waterland Eucharist 33 A learned..Writer..has with great appearance of Probability brought it down to a.d. 96: And there I am willing to rest it. 1763Mills Pract. Husb. II. 18 Instead of resting, or fallowing, a whole field,..the fallow here is..interposed by means of alleys, which are the part rested. 1860Reade Cloister & H. xxxvii, He had never budged nor even rested his knife at all this fracas. 1892Illustr. Lond. News 21 May 615/1, I doubt if it is wise to ‘rest’ a fish that has missed a fly.
e. To hold (weapons) in an easy position. Also transf. of a commander of troops.
1682Lond. Gaz. No. 1684/1 Both sides of the Bridge..being Lined with Grenadiers with their Muskets rested. 1706Ibid. No. 4253/2 A Company of Her Majesty's Foot-Guards.., who rested their Arms as the Ambassador pass'd by. 1770Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 577/1 As Nicias was drawing up against him, Gylippus rested his arms, and sent a herald. 1802C. James Milit. Dict., To Rest arms, to bring the firelock to the same position as in present arms.
f. Sc. To make up (a fire) for the night.
a1774[see rested ppl. a.]. 1845Still Cottar's Sunday 145 There's nocht ado but bar the door An' rest the fire. 1881Gregor Folk-lore 160 The last thing done on the last day of the year was to ‘rist’ the fire, that is, cover up the live coals with the ashes.
g. U.S. To bring the presentation of evidence pertinent to (a law case) to a close voluntarily.
1905S. W. Mitchell Constance Trescot xiv. 183 All the evidence for the plaintiffs was before the court, and Greyhurst sat down, stating that the plaintiff rested the case. 1950Chicago Tribune 23 Jan. 1/8 Defense attorneys..elected to rest their case without calling a single witness. 1953E. S. Gardner Case of Hesitant Hostess xiv. 234 The prosecution objects. The prosecution has rested its case. 1972N.Y. Law Jrnl. 14 Nov. 19/5 Plaintiff had not been cross-examined and certainly had not rested his case.
9. a. To lay (the head, etc.) on or upon something for support.
a1225Ancr. R. 260 Seoðen..nefde he hwar he muhte resten his heaued. a1300–1400Cursor M. 16762 + 113 Man son has nothing apon his hed to rest. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xiii. (Mark) 84 Restand his hed one cristis kne. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. ii. ii. 40 Finde you out a bed, For I vpon this banke will rest my head. a1659Waller Panegyric Cromwell xlii, England now does..Her weary head upon your bosom rest. 1750Gray Elegy 117 Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth, A Youth. 1782F. Burney Cecilia iv. ii, He rested one arm upon the table. 1835Ure Philos. Manuf. 350 Resting their hands on the lay or shuttle-bearer. 1847C. Brontë J. Eyre xxviii, A large old pointer dog rested its massive head on the knee of one girl.
fig.c1374Chaucer Troylus ii. 1326 Sumwhat he byheld On which him þoughte, he myghte his herte reste.
b. To place, lay, or set (a thing) upon something to support it or keep it in position.
1422in Surtees Misc. (1890) 17 Hafe rowme and space..to ryste hys tymbre apon. 1660Guillim's Heraldry iv. xiii. (ed. 4) 328 A thing whereon to rest their Lances. 1680Moxon Mech. Exerc. x. 180 Its office is to rest the Tool upon, that it may lie in a steddy position while the Work⁓man uses it. 1776G. Semple Building in Water 50 On those set-off's stretch your Plates, and on them rest your Spur-braces. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §299 Its ground⁓sill was rested upon a bed of lead. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxiv, Amyas rested the point of his sword on the ground, and his hands upon the hilt.
c. To throw (some weight) on a thing.
1809Roland Fencing 5 You will thereby possess more freedom..than if you had rested your body mostly on the right [foot]. 1872Holmes Poet Breakf.-t. vi, I try the ground to find out whether it is firm or not before I rest my weight on it.
d. To make or allow to depend on something.
1732Pope Hor. Sat. ii. i. 141 This is my plea, on this I rest my cause. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §255 It was determined not to rest the matter solely upon the efforts of our seamen. 1832Lewis Use & Ab. Pol. Terms vi. 56 The point on which he intended to rest the distinction. 1885Law Times LXXX. 136/2 The plaintiff in her statement of claim..rested her case on equitable grounds.
10. To place or settle in something.
c1375Cursor M. 23948 (Fairf.), Bot þat in hertis rote is rest, nede ways out mote hit brest. 1390Gower Conf. III. 184 So that in reste Mihte every man his herte reste. a1586Sidney Ps. ii, They that in him their only trust do rest, O, they be rightly blest! 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. i. 44 Cease, cease these Iarres, & rest your minds in peace. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. i, The hereditary jurisdictions, which..rested the investigation of crimes in judges, ignorant, partial, or interested. 1858Bushnell Serm. New Life 22 You are called to have a will perfectly harmonized with God's and rested in his.
▪ VIII. rest, v.2
[ad. F. rester (12th c.), = Sp. and Pg. restar, It. restare, ristare:—L. restāre, f. re- re- behind + stāre to stand. Hence also Du. and G. resten, Da. reste.]
1. intr.
†a. To remain due or unpaid. Obs. (Chiefly Sc. and in pres. pple.)
1463Exch. Rolls Scot. VII. 165 note, Certane soumes of moneye restande upon oure lovete familiar clerk..that time that he was oure chaumerlane. 1590in Antiquary XXXII. 118 [Received] in part..xs.; restes, xxs. iiijd. 1600Act Sederunt 20 June, That..his Hienes may see the said Erle satisfeit of the saidis superexpensis, restane be his Majestie to his said umquhill father. 1640–1Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 31 Being requirit to put out the troupe horss restand by that paroche, [he] refuissit to doe the samyn. 1698Acts Parl. Scot. (1814) X. 152 Resolved that they will be carefull to have the forsaid arrears and debts payed in so far as they are still resting. a1781Watson Philip III, iii. (1793) I. 273 Considerable arrears being now resting to the soldiers.
†b. To remain or be left over, after subtraction, diminution, etc. Obs.
1530Palsgr. 688/2 Al that resteth, take it for your selfe. 1542Recorde Gr. Artes 128 b, Then take I 100 twyse from 300, and there resteth 100. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xx. 57 b, If the moneye..for the poore is not there bestowed, the almes masters do send yt which resteth into the hospitals of the Leapers. 1647Lilly Chr. Astrol. v. 43 Substract 20 degr. 54 min. from 30 degr..., and there rest 9 degr. 6 min. 1700Dryden Ceyx & Alc. 96 By this the Vessel half her Course had run, And as much rested till the rising Sun.
c. To remain, be left, still undestroyed or unremoved. Now rare.
1495Rolls of Parlt. VI. 460/1 As by their severall Grauntes resting of Record more pleynly apperith. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 261 Ane castell callit Doun-bervie, Quhairof the fundament restis ȝit to se. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. 29 In quhilke onlie..war the quhyte kye fund, of quhilkes now restes verie few, or nane. 1602Marston Ant. & Mel. iii. Wks. 1856 I. 32 Alas, what country rests, What sonne, what comfort that she can deprive? 1711Prior Henry & Emma 670 What rests of both, one sepulchre shall hold. 1717Pope Iliad ix. 480 My beauteous captives thither I'll convey, And all that rests of my unravish'd prey. 1814Scott Ld. of Isles i. xx, For if a hope of safety rest, 'Tis on the sacred name of guest. 1867J. Ingelow Story of Doom iii. 271 A helm for covering of the scars That seamed what rested of a goodly face.
2. With complement. To remain or be left in a specified condition.
Sometimes approximating in sense to rest v.1
1472–5Rolls of Parlt. VI. 159/2 For every moneth..that the same defaute resteth and abideth uncorrected. 1488Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 81 The said William Comersall restith accomptable to the Kyng. 1545Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 6 Quhat is payt thairof and quhat restis unpayt. 1590Greene Orl. Fur. Wks. (Rtldg.) 92 As one that's neuter..And covets to rest equal friend to both. 1611in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 157 And so rested due unto him xivli. 1697Dryden Virg. Past. iii. 169 Both have won, or both deserv'd the Prize. Rest equal happy both. 1784Cowper Task iii. 217 Neither can I rest A silent witness of the headlong rage. 1849M. Arnold ‘In Harmony with Nature’ 14 Fool, if thou canst not pass her, rest her slave. 1862M. E. Braddon Lady Audley xxi, To let his son's fate rest a dark and cruel mystery.
b. With assured, satisfied, etc.
1601Shakes. Jul. C. v. iii. 17 That I may rest assur'd Whether yond Troopes, are Friend or Enemy. 1697Dryden æneid x. 1239 After such a lord, I rest secure, Thou wilt no foreign reins, or Trojan lord, endure. 1782F. Burney Cecilia i. xi, The account..determined her not to rest satisfied till she saw them [sc. injuries] redressed. 1872J. L. Sanford Estimates Eng. Kings 394 His mind was much too active and powerful to rest satisfied. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 37 To rest assured that the more wise and temperate you are, the happier you will be.
c. In valedictory formulæ. Now arch.
1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 361 Thus..resting thy friend if thou rest thy sute, I ende. 1590Sir H. Lee in Archæologia LI. 172 So I umbly take my leve,..restyng to serve you as your Lordshipe hathe moste bounde me. 1613Shakes. Hen. VIII, v. i. 55 Many good nights, my Lord, I rest your seruant. 1660–1Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 50, I shall giue you a larger trouble; in the mean time resting Your most affectionate [etc.]. 1765Sterne Tr. Shandy viii. xxxiv, I rest thy affectionate brother, Walter Shandy. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xlviii, I rest your affectionate sister, E. 1826― Woodst. xxvii, I kiss your hand, sir, and rest yours, under a sense of obligation.
d. To owe (something). Chiefly Sc. ? Obs.
[1474Acc. Ld. High Treas. I. 12, xxxiiijli. resauit{ddd}he restis awand lij li. vi s. viij d.] 1586in Antiquary XXXII. 76 Hew chamier restes for wares, xvjs. ijd. Barbarie beane restes for wares, iijs. 1666in Peterkin Notes Orkn. & Zetl. (1822) I. 189 The sheriffdom of Orkney and Zetland were..resting 22 months mentenance. 1773Fergusson Poems (1785) 225 I'm restin' you a pint o' yale. 1787Beattie Scoticisms 77 He rests me nothing. 1808Jamieson s.v., What am I restand you? How much do I owe you?
†3.
a. To remain to be done. Obs.
1490Caxton Eneydos lviii. 156 The conuenauntes were deuysed and made and theyre rested nothynge but for to goo bothe togyder. 1563B. Googe Eglogs, etc. (Arb.) 79 What resteth now? but onely God to prayse. c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxix. i, This now resteth that I learne..Good from evill to discerne. a1618Raleigh Introd. Brev. Hist. Eng. (1693) 50 Now there rested nothing..but only the Suppression of Malcolm King of Scots. 1667Milton P.L. x. 48 Now What rests, but that the mortal Sentence pass On his transgression?
†b. To remain to be dealt with. Obs.
1577tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 84 Those things which rest to be spoken of y⊇ Catholike Church of God. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. viii. §6 Thus have we now dealt with two of the three beams of man's knowledge... There resteth radius reflexus. 1636Mellis Recorde's Gr. Artes 256 Now resteth the proofs of Multiplication, and also Diuision.
†c. it rests (to or that). Obs.
1591Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 61 It resteth we throughout our territories Be reproclaimed and inuested King. 1615Markham Country Contentm. i. x, It now resteth that we speak of other necessary implements. 1620–55I. Jones Stone-Heng (1725) 43 It rests now, to endeavour the discovering by whom Stone-Heng [was] built. 1700Dryden Cymon & Iph. 427 It rested to dismiss the downward weight Or raise him upward to his former height.
†d. (there) rests (to or that). Obs.
1530Palsgr. 21 Nowe..resteth to shewe..howe they sounde theyr consonantes. 1547J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes D vij b, There restethe to disproue the fayned alligacions of the contrary part. 1563Homilies ii. (1859) 426 Now resteth to shew unto you [etc.]. 1625Bacon Ess., Of Ambition, There resteth to speake, how they are to be brideled. 1683W. Penn in R. Burton Eng. Emp. Amer. (1685) 121 There rests, that I speak of the Condition we are in.
▪ IX. rest, v.3 Now dial.
Also 5 reste, 9 'rest, Sc. 'reest, reest, reist.
[Aphetic form of arest arrest v. In sense 4 perh. a. OF. rester.]
1. trans. To stop, check, arrest. Obs. rare.
c1440York Myst. xlvi. 31 Ther rancoure was raised, no renke might it reste. c1471Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 278 God restid thayre malice, the wille of hym was soo.
2. To arrest or apprehend (a person).
c1470Gregory Chron. in Hist. Coll. Citizen Lond. (Camden) 158 Thenne he sende for the Mayre of London and hys aldermen. And there he restyde many worthy men of the cytte. 1514Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. D iv b, Some rest men giltlesse, and cast them in prison. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iv. 3 Ile give thee..so much mony To warrant thee as I am rested for. 1622Rowlands Good Newes & Bad (Hunterian Cl.) 26 They'le salute you with a frightfull phrase As, Gentleman, at such a suit I rest you.
1900N. Lloyd Chronic Loafer 178 I was 'rested—'rested, mind ye, fer the murder o' Noah Punk.
3. To arrest or seize (goods). Chiefly Sc.
1565Satir. Poems Reform. i. 590, I rested there goodes and disposed there landes. c1573Durh. Dep. (Surtees Soc.) 259 Such geir as he had restyd of the Egipcians concerning the corsinge of a horse. 1821Galt Ann. Parish viii, The coal-carts from the Douray moor were often reested in the middle of the causey. 1868J. Salmon Gowodean i. ii, The chiel that gaed to 'reest his guids for debt.
†4. intr. To stop; to come to a decision. Obs.
c1500Melusine 356 And it came to an article where he vnderstod that xs. were payed euery yere..he anone rested there and asked [etc.]. 1530Palsgr. 689/1, I rest, or conclude, or byde upon a thyng, Je me arreste.
†5. trans. To lay (a lance) in rest. Obs.
1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 77 The Corse Captaine..ranne with his launce rested fully at him. |