groundn.
/ɡraʊnd/, U.S. /ɡraʊnd/ I. The bottom; the lowest part or downward limit of anything.† 1. † b. Of other things, esp. of a vessel or a wound (cf. bottom n. 1). Also in phrase all to ground: completely, thoroughly. Obsolete.† c. figurative. Of the heart: (cf. bottom n. and adj. Phrases 1). Obsolete.
a. Of the sea, a well, ditch, etc., and of hell; rarely of heaven. (Cf. bottom n. 3) Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > lowest position > bottom or lowest part > bottom of a cavity
groundc825
floorOE
c825 Vesp. Psalter lxiv. 8 Ðu gedroefes grund [L. fundum] sæs.
OE Genesis 345 Het hine þære sweartan helle grundes gyman.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 19 He..alesde us of helle grunde.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12059 Modiȝnesse. Þatt warrp þe deofell..Inn till þe grund off helle pitt.
c1275 Luue Ron 154 in Old Eng. Misc. 98 Hit is ymston of feor iboren, nys non betere vnder heouene grunde.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 7213 In þe grond of helle dongeoune Þe hevedes of ȝynfulle salle be turned doune.
c1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 12 He fel doun yn the ground of þe dich.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 237 b/2 Thangel of our lord plunged them doun in the grounde of the see.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxxviii. 16 Camest thou euer in to the grounde of the see?
1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. 218 Cast Him..into the ground of the Sea, He shall come up again.
ΚΠ
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10732 And duden heom alle clane into þan scipen grunde.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3879 Þer mihten sitten in þon grunde [of the tower] cnihtes sixti hundred.
a1300 K. Horn 1197 Horn dronk of horn a stounde And þrew hys ryng to þe grounde [of the horn].
c1305 J. Iscariot 118 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 110 Of oure louerdes god..he stal al to grounde.
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS xxxvii. 814 Þe leche clanseþ þe wounde: Clene in þe ground And leiþ salue a-boue.
c1420 Pallad. on Husb. ix. 153 Decoct in bras yf grauel in the ground Noon leue, is preef that that licour is sound.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 215 Ȝe schul be þe ground of þis laddere in helle, be-cause ȝe be begynners of þat wrong!
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 2079 His dedly wound god helyth frome the ground.
1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1362 While we grip it [sc. an ailment] to the ground.
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well I. ix. 224 I ken weel eneugh how a customer looks that's near the grund of the purse.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > seat of the emotions > [noun] > breast or heart > inmost heart or bottom of heart
groundc1175
heart-roota1200
roota1200
heartstring1533
heart of hearts1604
heart's core1604
recess1605
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13286 Crist sahh all hiss herrtess grund.
c1290 S.E. Leg. I. 220/19 Þis olde man riȝt of is heorte grounde Al weopinde he hem tolde ȝwat he hadde i-founde.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 56 Sone, y fele þe dedestounde, Þe suert is at myn herte grounde.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 170 In þe bothme, in þe ground, in þe depthe of þin herte.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. xliii. E The grounde of his hert was kyndled towarde his brother.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 7 Let vs rather blesse God from the ground of our heart.
1745 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) I. 506 We praised God from the ground of the heart.
d. Theology. [representing German grund as used by 14th-cent. mystics, notably Eckhart and Tauler.] (a) The divine essence or centre of the individual soul, in which mystic union lies. (b) Godhead as the source of all that is.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > [noun] > in which something takes place or prevails
nestc1390
grounda1400
seat1565
scene1593
locus in quoa1638
the scene of (the) action1650
sitea1657
venuea1843
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > soul > [noun] > essence or centre of
grounda1400
the world > the supernatural > deity > [noun] > state of being or divinity
godhoodeOE
godcundnessOE
drightnessc1175
godcundlaikc1175
Godnessa1225
godhead?c1225
godcundec1275
godcundheada1300
deityc1374
divinityc1374
divine1393
divineness1579
divinesse1594
divination1603
deism1726
superhumanity1792
superhuman1824
suprahumanitya1834
numinousness1932
numinosity1936
ground1945
a1400 Bk. Privy Counselling (1944) 144/19 God, þi grounde & þi purete of spirit.
1865 J. H. Stirling Secret of Hegel I. ii. i. 235 Being is posited as Existence, and the Mediating agency of this Being as the Ground.
1899 W. R. Inge Christian Mysticism i. 7 The curious doctrine which we find in the mystics of the Middle Ages, that there is at ‘the apex of the mind’ a spark which is consubstantial with the uncreated ground of the Deity.
1911 E. Underhill Mysticism iii. 64 The point of contact between man's life and the divine life..is called the Ground of the Soul, the foundation or basal stuff whence springs all spiritual life.
1945 A. Huxley Time must have Stop (new ed.) viii. 92 There was the ultimate all-embracing field—the Brahma of Sankara, the One of Plotinus, the Ground of Eckhart and Boehme.
1945 A. Huxley Time must have Stop (new ed.) xxx. 289 There is a Godhead or Ground, which is the unmanifested principle of all manifestation... The Ground is transcendent and immanent.
1945 A. Huxley Perennial Philos. (1946) ii. 29 The divine Ground of all existence is a spiritual Absolute, ineffable in terms of discursive thought, but..susceptible of being directly experienced.
1949 P. Tillich Shaking of Foundations vi. 47 The God Whom he cannot flee is the Ground of his being.
1950 W. R. Trask tr. J. Bernhart in Theologia Germanica 95 What Plotinus had called the ‘kentron’ (center) of the soul, and Richard of St. Victor the ‘height and inwardness of the spirit’..; what Bernard of Clairvaux called the ‘point of the mind’ (acies mentis), or again the ‘spark’ (scintilla) is now given a variety of German names and is indefatigably discussed and speculated upon. It is called the ‘soul's essence’ (Wesen), ‘soul’ (Gemut),..‘ground’ (Grund)... These concepts are intended to designate that which God and man must have in common if a contact is to be established between them... The thing in which they [sc. individual mystics] agree is always the idea of the mystic function of the ‘ground’ of the soul.
1961 J. Walsh Julian of Norwich's Revelations Divine Love lxii. 168 God..is the Ground; he is the Substance.
1963 J. A. T. Robinson Honest to God iii. 45 (heading) The Ground of our Being.
2. figurative.1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper I. 80 His readers..may have flattered themselves with hope of finding ground at last, after the pains of diving so deep for it.† c. on ground = aground adv. to set (also run) on ground: figurative to puzzle, nonplus (a person). Cf. sense 9b.
a. The solid bottom or earth underlying the sea (†or other water). Now only Nautical, esp. in reference to soundings, or in phrase to break ground: to heave the anchor clear of the bottom.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > sea or ocean > region of sea or ocean > [noun] > sea bed
groundOE
sea-groundOE
channela1387
sea-bottoma1400
ocean bed1638
ocean floor1820
sea bed1838
ocean basin1848
ocean bottom1855
sea-floor1855
society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor > weigh anchor > heave anchor clear of bottom
to break ground1698
OE Beowulf 553 Hreo wæron yþa... Me to grunde geteah fah feondscaða.
c1000 Solomon & Saturn 227 Dol bið se ðe gæð on deop wæter, se ðe..mid fotum ne mæg grund geræcan.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14861 All all swa summ þe sæ wass þær. Dun till þe grund to worrpenn. Swa þatt teȝȝ o þe driȝȝe grund. Wel sæȝhenn openn weȝȝe.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1840 Þat was no creatur in liue þat moght to grund or reche or riue.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 23198 Stang als men sais es vmstund Sua depe þat þar-on es na grund.
a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 885 To a fische-pole he come..He lepe in and sanke to gronde.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxxiii. 148 As þai saile þai may..see þe ground of þe see.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 75 Caste out of þi pytt þe stynkyng wose of pride, tyl þou fynde a syker ground & a clene.
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 1395 Lett fall an ankyr to grownd!
a1568 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlvi. 393 Gif ȝe can nocht get the grund, Steir be the compas.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 202 Diue into the bottome of the deepe, Where fadome line could neuer touch the ground.
1600 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 190 There is good ground and ankorage here: and you shall ride in three fathom water.
1611 G. Markham Countrey Contentm. i. xiv. 93 If you Angle for him [Trout] at the ground.. the Menow is a good bayte.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 1 The Ship then breaking Ground from Graves-End, to fall down to the Buoy in the Nore.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 50 We kept continual Soundings, and had always Ground from one League to ten off the Shore, from 20 to 50 Fathom Water.
1752 W. Beawes Lex Mercatoria 116 If..the ship breaks ground, and arrives at her port.
1782 Log of Albemarle in Ld. Nelson Dispatches & Lett. (1846) VII. p. v With this depth and ground you may be sure you are without the Capes.
1807 J. Johnson Oriental Voy. 220 On the 5th the men of war..broke ground, and steered past.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. To strike ground, to obtain soundings.
b. The bottom at a point where the water becomes too shallow for a vessel, etc. to float. to take (the) ground: to run ashore, to strand. to smell the ground (see quot. 1875).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > ice > body of ice > iceberg > [verb (intransitive)] > become stranded
to take (the) ground1830
society > travel > travel by water > grounding of vessel > be aground [verb (intransitive)] > go aground
ground1624
to take (the) ground1880
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. i. 17 Thus do the hopes we haue in him, touch ground, And dash themselues to peeces. View more context for this quotation
1830 C. Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 299 These masses [icebergs] may sometimes take the ground in great numbers.
1875 E. FitzGerald Lett. (1889) I. 374 I..fancy that I begin to ‘smell the Ground’, as Sailors say of the Ship that slackens speed as the Water shallows under her.
1880 Times 4 Aug. 12/4 The Laine, Russian barque,..took the ground on the Somersetshire side.
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona Summary p. viii The Covenant took ground and sank off the coast of Mull.
1893 ‘Q’ Delectable Duchy 295 Miss..Lear heard her brother's boat take ground on the narrow beach.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > grounding of vessel > aground [phrase]
fast aground1583
on ground1600
fast ashore1751
a-strand1810
the world > movement > absence of movement > [adjective] > coming to rest > run aground
on ground1600
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > [adverb] > stuck or at an impasse
aground?1575
on ground1600
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > perplex, nonplus [phrase]
to bring (drive, or put) to one's wit's end1377
to cast (also throw) a mist before a person's eyes?a1475
to set (also run) on ground1600
to make butter and cheese of1642
to put to the gaze1646
philogrobolized in one's brains1653
to strike all of (on) a heap1711
to blow, cast, throw stour in one's eyes1823
knot1860
to give (one) furiously to think1910
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. iii. 40 Like a whale on ground . View more context for this quotation
1601 L. Andrewes Serm. (1843) V. 127 The Pharisees and Sadducees had no further end but to set Him on ground, and so to expose him to the contempt of the people.
a1642 W. Monson Naval Tracts (1704) vi. 522/1 The English..may come on Ground.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 442 Will God heale, that man may be set on ground and bee convinced of his owne impotency.
1659 J. Arrowsmith Armilla Catechetica 138 Whilest others run themselves on ground, and dispute it till their understandings be nonplust.
1667 London Gaz. No. 217/4 The Ship called the Van Hoorn..is on ground without the mouth of the Texell.
3. figurative.1629 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. 44 Fulfil with joy the remnant of the grounds and remainders of the afflictions of Christ in your body.1642 J. Hales Tract conc. Schisme 4 If so be you be animo defæcato, if you have cleared your selfe from froath and grownes.1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 185 How much another thing it is to hear him speak that hath cleared himself from froth and growns.
a. In plural. The particles deposited by a liquid in the bottom of the vessel containing it; dregs, lees. †Also singular: a residuum, sediment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > state of being solid rather than fluid > [noun] > solid matter which falls to bottom of liquid
drega1300
groundsa1340
upon the lee1390
foundersc1450
residence1539
sediment1547
resident1558
precipitate1594
settling1594
precipitation1605
crassament1615
subsistence1622
subsidence1646
sedimen1655
crassamentum1657
deposit1781
sludge1839
ppt1864
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > [noun] > specific impurities > sediment
drastc1000
groundsa1340
ground-sopec1440
hovec1440
faecesa1475
groundingsa1475
fex1540
suds1548
grummel1558
foot1560
grout1697
sludge1702
faecula1815
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter lxiv. 9 Ill men sall drynke þe grundis of þe chalice.
c1450 Middle Eng. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 93 Streyne hit wel þorouȝ a caneuas, and do awey þe groundes of þe roses.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 159 The grounds or dregs of the black oile oliue.
1625 J. Hart Anat. Urines ii. viii. 98 Whersoeuer there is a swim..there is also a ground or residence.
1742 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 4) I. 53 The unwholesome Settlements or Grounds of the Beer.
1775 R. B. Sheridan St. Patrick's Day ii. iv Just. Did you perceive anything in my chocolate cup..? Ser. Nothing,..unless it was a little grounds.
1824 T. B. Macaulay Misc. Writings (1860) I. 141 [Telling fortunes] neither from the lines of a hand, nor the grounds of a teacup.
1860 All Year Round 11 Feb. 367 Cups of smoking black coffee (half grounds as the Turks drink it).
b. Refuse (of meal, wool, etc.). rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > refuse or rubbish > [noun] > refuse part of anything
dreg1531
tail1542
excrement1576
lee1593
garbage1598
recrement1599
tap-lash1623
ground1629
gross1708
tailings1889
1629 G. Chapman tr. Juvenal Fifth Satyre in Iustification Nero 12 The mustiest grounds Of Barly-griest (bak'd purposely for hounds).
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler v. 117 You must be sure you want not..the Peacocks feather, and grounds of such wool and crewel as will make the Grasshopper. View more context for this quotation
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Grounds, the refuse of flax, left in dressing it.
II. Base, foundation.† 4. † 7. The fundamental constituent or the essential part of any thing. Obsolete.
a. The solid base or foundation on which an edifice or other structure is raised. In early use plural in the same sense (cf. foundations). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > [noun] > foundations
groundc950
ground-wallc1000
fundamentc1300
foundation1398
sole1417
paepae1846
raft1891
raft foundation1895
the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > condition of being placed under > that which lies under > base on which a thing rests
staddlea900
groundc950
base?c1335
standinga1382
foundation1398
basingc1400
bottom1440
subjecta1500
groundworka1557
basis?a1560
pedestal1563
understand1580
footwork1611
centrea1616
underwork1624
skaddle1635
substructure1641
foot piece1657
pediment1660
seat1661
sedes1662
under-warp1668
plantationa1680
terrace1735
substructure1789
footing1791
seating1805
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke vi. 48 Gelic is [he] ðæm menn timbrende hus seðe delfæð..& gesette ða grundas [L. fundamenta] ofer carr vel stan.
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xiv. 29.
a1300 E.E. Psalter xvii. 8 Groundes ofe hilles todreued are.
a1300 E.E. Psalter xvii. 16 Groundes ofe ertheli werlde vn-hiled are.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezra v. 16 Thilke Zazabazar cam, and sette the groundis of the temple of God in Jerusalem.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 128 (MED) For-þi þat na werc may stand Wit-outen grundwall to be lastand, þar-for þis werc sal i fund Apon a selcuth stedfast grund.
1423 Kingis Quair cxxx On him traist and call, That corner-stone and ground is of the wall.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Kings vi. 15 Salomon..buylded the walles..from the grounde of ye house vnto the rofe.
1581 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xliv. 35 As ȝour maisters grund is laid, Lyk do the vallis and bigging be.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 57 There be but nineteene standing,..howbeit the ruines and ground of fourescore more, are yet visible.
c1720 N. Dubois & G. Leoni tr. A. Palladio Architecture III. viii. 18 The beams which make the ground or bottom of the Bridge.
b. The floor.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > floor > [noun]
fleta1000
floorc1000
floorth1303
loftingc1540
contignation1592
loft1596
contabulation1615
flooring1624
planchera1825
contablature1827
ground1847
Rory O'More1857
floor level1874
Rory1938
1847 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Ground, a floor or pavement.
1900 Eng. Dial. Dict. Put the baby an the ground and let 'er craal.
1921 E. O'Neill Emperor Jones (1925) i. 7 (stage direct.) Woman (seeing the uselessness of struggling, gives way to frantic terror, and sinks to the ground).
1937 A. Christie Murder in Mews i. 14 We.. forced the door open. Mrs. Allen was lying in a heap on the ground shot through the head.
1939 J. Joyce Finnegans Wake 452 Pricking up ears to my phono on the ground and picking up airs from th'other over th'ether.
5. In various immaterial applications.† b. A fundamental principle; (also in plural) the elements or rudiments of any study or branch of knowledge. Obsolete.
a. That on which a system, work, institution, art, or condition of things, is founded; the basis, foundation. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [noun]
ground1340
root1340
substancec1384
fundament1395
foundationc1400
groundment?a1412
footing1440
anvila1450
bottom ground1557
groundwork1557
foot1559
platform1568
subsistence1586
subject matter1600
ground-colour1614
basisa1616
substratum1631
basement1637
bottoma1639
fonda1650
fibre1656
fund1671
fundamen1677
substruction1765
starting ground1802
fundus1839
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 209 Mekenes, Þat es grund of al vertus..On whilk al vertus may be sette fast.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 793 (842) As he þat is þe welle of worþinesse Of trouþe ground, myrour of goodlyhed.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19307 Þat was to strenght þair trout[h] in grund.
1423 Kingis Quair vi And so the vertew of his ȝouth before Was in his age the ground of his delytis.
a1483 Liber Niger in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 18 He ordeyned his groundes for household so sure that his greete hospitalitie dayly stode wurshypfully without decay xxxiii yeres.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 150 Cuvatyce, Rute of all evill and grund of vyce.
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng Prol. sig. B3 For a grounde of this treatyse..I do take an olde statute named Extenta manerii, as a principall grounde therof.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy Prol. 80 How þe groundes first grew..Bothe of torfer and tene þat hom tide aftur.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. i. sig. Z3v Which of all goodly manners is the ground, And roote of ciuill conuersation. View more context for this quotation
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 4 The Edition of the Seuentie..was vsed by the Greeke fathers for the ground and foundation of their Commentaries.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 110 These and the May-fly are the ground of all fly-Angling. View more context for this quotation
1654 J. Playford Breefe Introd. Skill Musick 1 The Gam-ut is the Ground and Foundation of all Musick.
1867 F. D. Maurice Patriarchs & Law-givers (1877) x. 198 The ground of the national existence was laid in sacrifice.
1870 W. S. Jevons Elem. Lessons Logic xxvi. 219 Upon a similar ground rests all the vast body of certain knowledge.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > study > subject or object of study > [noun] > rudiments
elements1382
ABCa1393
ground1528
introduction1532
principles1532
rudiments1534
institution1537
accidence1562
institute1578
alphabet1593
ut, re1598
gamut1600
Christ-cross-row1608
grammates1633
initiament1727
notion1839
propaedeutics1842
rudimentaries1852
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical reasoning > [noun] > deductivism or a priori reasoning > a principle or axiom
principlea1387
maximc1450
first principle1525
ground1528
principal1545
principium1550
protasis1572
theorem1588
postulate1590
axiom1593
groundsel1604
postulatuma1620
praecognitum1624
datum1646
self-evident1675
philosopheme1678
dictum of all and none1697
dictum of Aristotle1827
prius1882
ground rule1890
posit1900
1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. i There is a grounde in lawe, that inherytaunce may..nat lynyally assende.
?1530 St. German's Dyaloge in Englysshe Introd. f. iiv I wyll gladly shewe the as me thynkyth what be the groundes of the lawe of Englande.
1599 J. Davies Nosce Teipsum 14 Marrying diuerse principles and grounds, Out of their match a true Conclusion brings.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Aa1v Let this ground therefore be layd, that [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) xii. 63 Men that vndertake great Cures..but want the Grounds of Science.
1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. xx. 160 And counselled me to learn the..language, (whereof I had already got some grounds).
1708 Chamberlayne's Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (1743) ii. iii. x. 434 They have likewise a chaplain to instruct them in the grounds of learning.
1762 S. Foote Orators i. 10 Tho' he is the Poitier who teaches you the step and the grounds; yet I am the Gallini who gives you the air, and the grace of the minuet.
c. A circumstance on which an opinion, inference, argument, statement, or claim is founded, or which has given rise to an action, procedure, or mental feeling; a reason, motive. Often with additional implication: a valid reason, justifying motive, or what is alleged as such. on the ground of: by reason of (some circumstance alleged in justification of a procedure). on public (also religious, etc.) grounds: for reasons of the nature specified.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > reason or ground
achesounc1230
anchesouna1250
reasona1250
groundc1275
matter1340
purposec1350
cause1413
quarrel1476
actiona1500
subject1577
spring of action1583
qualitya1586
inducement1593
place1593
theme1594
instance1597
motive1605
impulsivea1628
justifiera1635
foundation1641
rise1641
plummet1679
mainspring1695
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > for specified or many reasons
for many sakes1753
on public (also religious, etc.) grounds1856
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > because of or by reason of
for (one's, a thing's) sake?c1225
for sake of1340
because1356
for the sake of1393
on (also upon) account of1625
thanks to1631
on the foot of1675
on the ground of1882
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1594 Al þis ilka ich wulle don. Iseid ich habbe þene grund.
c1374 G. Chaucer Compl. Mars 160–3 The grounde an cause of al my peyn..I wol reherse not for to haue redresse But to declare my grounde of heuynesse.
1395 Remonstr. Rom. Corrup. (1851) 20 Ambrose and Crisostom witnessen, with greet ground of holi writ and opin resoun, that confessioun to God sufficith to saluacioun.
1467 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 171 He..sawe his growende scholde be preved nowte, thanne he mad a new mater.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. xli. C Stonde at youre cause (saieth the Lorde) and bringe forth youre strongest grounde.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 179 The true ground of all these piteous woes. View more context for this quotation
1599 H. Buttes Dyets Dry Dinner sig. E3 Chestnut, Chastnut: say some. I knowe not upon what ground.
1605 S. V. in R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence Commend. Verses To gratifie that nation is his ground To whome he thinks his best endeuours bound.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iv. xx. 343 The beginning of a rumour is sometimes all the ground thereof.
1657 P. Henry Diaries & Lett. (1882) 42 Hee refus'd; his grounds I know not.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. iii. §6 Then all former ages have believed without sufficient ground for faith.
a1693 M. Bruce Good News in Evil Times (1708) 18 A great ground of Gladness.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 340 On which ground it is, that their best Cities seldom have splendid Edifices..from..private Hands.
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 124 The ground, and reason of this tradition, I could not learn.
1729 W. Law Serious Call xi. 167 Let but any complaining, disquieted man tell you the ground of his uneasiness.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i What grounds for apprehension?
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 19 There is ground enough for the opinion that all the kingdoms of Europe were, at a remote period, elective. View more context for this quotation
1794 R. B. Sheridan Duenna (new ed.) i. 18 That is to be the ground of my dismission.
1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France i. 130 I thought the insolent, unprovoked aggression..a good ground of war.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 134 His desire was publicly urged on public grounds, and..thus only, the pope was at liberty to consider it.
1859 J. S. Mill On Liberty ii. 67 He has no ground for preferring either opinion.
1868 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. I. 283 The modern usurer will on such grounds leave his money to a hospital.
1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 223 Thus all ground of offence is taken away.
1876 W. E. Gladstone Homeric Synchronism 57 I am unable to perceive the grounds of the assumption.
1882 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. II. 293 Ferrar was deprived..on the ground of his marriage.
1883 C. J. Wills In Land of Lion & Sun 109 Whether or no this legend had any ground I cannot say.
1895 F. Hall Two Trifles iii My grounds for doing so shall soon be stated explicitly.
6. The foundation or substratum on which other parts are overlaid, or on which they rest for support or display. In various technical uses:figurative.1633 S. Marmion Fine Compan. i. vii, in Dramatic Wks. (1875) 124 A man cannot discern the ground of their discourse for oaths.1828 Lights & Shades Eng. Life II. 157 Cockneyism is a ground of native shallowness, mounted with pertness and conceit.† c. Music. The plainsong or melody on which a descant is raised. Also: = ground bass n. 1. Obsolete.† f. In plural. (See quots.) Obsolete.
a. The chief or underlying part in a composite textile fabric; a piece of cloth used as a basis for embroidery or decoration. In Lace-making: the meshes upon which the pattern is worked.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric for specific purpose > [noun] > for embroidery or tapestry
groundc1386
champa1450
cammes1540
canvas1611
working canvas1612
Penelope canvas1851
Aida1877
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > ground
groundc1386
rasour1578
fond1761
réseau1865
treille1865
c1386 G. Chaucer Prol. 453 Hir couerchiefs ful fyne weren of ground I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound.
1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 116 Cloth of gold broched upon satyn ground.
1494 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 27 They pluck off both the Nap and Cotton of the same Fustians, and break commonly both the Ground and Threads in sunder.
1668 J. Dryden Secret-love iii. i. 25 No mortal hand so ignorant is found To weave course work upon a precious ground.
1722 London Gaz. No. 6068/8 A Suit of Double Ground, yellow and white, lined with a yellow Mantua Silk.
1781 R. B. Sheridan Critic i. i Your occasional tropes and flowers suit the general coarseness of your style as tambour sprigs would a ground of linsey-woolsey.
1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 151/1 Devonia Ground. A ground..used in Duchesse lace, and as a variety when making Honiton lace.
b. Any material surface, natural or prepared, which is taken as a basis for working upon: esp. in painting or decorative art, a main surface or first coating of colour, serving as a support for other colours or a background for designs; the prevailing or principal colour of any object, picture, etc.; that portion of a surface which is not coloured, decorated, or operated upon. Also in plural.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [noun] > surface material for working upon
grounda1398
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > art of colouring > [noun] > laying on of colour > of preparatory layer > preparatory layer
grounda1398
champ1573
ground-colour1614
sublition1656
dead colour1658
imprimatura1951
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. xi. 1285 Þe mene colours beþ ygrounded in non colour bettre þan in white. And þe more white þe grounde is, þe fastere þe colour cleueþ.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H2v My sable ground of sinne I will not paint. View more context for this quotation
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 621 The rest had need of a ground of Latton foile to giue them a lustre.
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated i. vii. 168 In the Plaine-Chart..the Ground is the space or plat-forme wherein the Lines are to be inscribed.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 200 All the Wall is painted in lovely Mosaick Work of Green, upon a Ground of fine Gold.
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (rev. ed.) xi. 236 When you begin to work, lay a thick ground against the ceiling or wall, with plaister.
1820 W. Scott Monastery II. iv. 148 The gems, being relieved and set off by the darker and more grave ground of the stuff, show like stars.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 921 Laying the grounds [of wall-paper] is done with earthy colours or coloured lakes thickened with size, and applied with brushes.
1860 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters V. 124 Seen in broken flakes on a deep purple ground of heavier cloud beyond.
1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues II. 43 Dyers first prepare the white ground and then lay on the dye of purple.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > [noun] > part in harmony or counterpoint > melody or ground
plainsonga1450
ground1592
melody1728
cantilena1740
canto1782
canto fermo1789
air1813
cantus firmus1847
cantus1887
musica plana1940
1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 19 A cunning Musition, who hauing deuised his plaine grounde in right measure [etc.].
1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. C1v Ah what a world of descant makes my soule, Vpon this voluntarie ground of loue. View more context for this quotation
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vii. 49 For on that ground Ile build a holy descant. View more context for this quotation
a1637 B. Jonson Kings Entertainm. at Welbeck sig. Oo1 in Wks. (1640) III Welcome is all our Song, is all our sound, The Treble part, the Tenor, and the Ground.
1670 S. Wilson Lassels's Voy. Italy (new ed.) ii. 310 An vntouched organ vnderneath the hill, playes à soft ground to the Muses instruments.
1719 I. Watts Let God the Father in Doxol. Sinners from his free Love derive The Ground of all their Songs.
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Ground, the name given to a composition in which the bass, consisting of a few bars of independent notes, is perpetually repeated to a continually varying melody: as in Purcel's Ground, Pepusch's Ground, etc.
d. Etching. (See quots. 18371, 18372.) Also etching-ground. Cf. German ätzgrund.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > [noun] > ground
ground1728
back-front1752
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > printmaking > engraving > intaglio printing > [noun] > etching > ground
soft ground1662
etching-ground1728
stop-ground1809
stopping mixture1815
stopping-ground1837
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Ground, in Etching, is a gummous Composition, smeared over the Surface of the Metal to be etch'd; to prevent the Aqua Fortis from eating, or having effect, except in Places where this Ground is cut thro', or pared off, with the Points of Needles.
?1790 J. Imison Curious & Misc. Articles (new ed.) 51 in School of Arts (ed. 2) Take a copper plate prepared as before..lay the etching ground upon it, and etch the outlines of your design.
1821 W. M. Craig Lect. Drawing vii. 386 This ground must be made up into small balls.
1834 Penny Cycl. II. 203/1 [article Aquatinta] He..formed a granulated surface on the plate, usually called a ground.
1837 Penny Cycl. IX. 441 This etching-ground is a substance composed of wax, asphaltum, gum-mastic, resin, etc... The laying of the ground, as it is called, is thus effected [etc.].
1837 Penny Cycl. IX. 442 The parts which are bitten-in enough are now to be covered with what is called stopping-ground, which is a mixture of lamp-black and Venice turpentine.
1885 Chemist's Circular Holding the plate perfectly level, pour on the centre as much of the Liquid Ground as will freely flow over the entire surface.
e. Carpentry. (See quots.) Usually in plural.
ΚΠ
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 225 Grounds.—Pieces of wood concealed in a wall, to which the facings or finishings are attached.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 593 Ground, or boxing-stile, grooved to receive the plastering.
1847 A. C. Smeaton Builder's Pocket Man. (new ed.) 248 Grounds.—Those pieces of wood imbedded in the plastering of walls, to which skirting and other joiner's finishings are attached.
1876 Encycl. Brit. IV. 492 Where the plasterer's work joins the grounds, they should have a small groove ploughed in the edge to form a key for the plaster.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > granular texture > [noun] > state of being powdery > as base for preparation
ground1664
1664 J. Evelyn Sylva (1729) i. xvii. 79 Of the whitest part of the old Wood..is made the Grounds of our effeminate farined Gallants Sweet Powder.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Chalk, used in Powder by the Perfumers to mix with their Grounds.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Grounds, unscented Hair Powder, made of Starch or Rice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > essence or intrinsic nature > [noun] > essence or essential constituent
substancec1480
basea1550
marrowbone1554
ground1580
subsistence1581
basis1601
essence1656
body1664
hardpan1842
1580 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Bk. Medicines agaynst Venome in Ioyfull Newes (new ed.) f. 123v Taking away the grounde, and euill qualitie, that the venomes doe infuse into the bodies.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 553 Our muske is compounded of diuers things, the ground whereof is the bloud of a little beast.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 149 Though the meat be particoloured, or party named. Yet the ground and meate is Pelo and no other.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. i. 14 The Ground of the Eye (as they call it) should be large and full... What they mean by the Ground of the Eye, is the Pupil or Hole thro' the Iris and Uvea.
III. The surface of the earth, or a part of it.
8. † e. The bare floor which constituted the pit of a theatre. Obsolete.
a. The earth regarded as the surface upon which man and his surroundings naturally rest or move; frequently in prepositional phrases, as along (also on, to) the ground (†formerly also without the article), above (also under) ground.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > ground > [noun]
ground971
earthOE
fleta1000
foldOE
landOE
floor?a1400
soila1400
margin?a1425
yird1433
sulye1434
swardc1440
leaa1475
paithmentc1480
visagea1500
crust1555
mother earth1568
solum1829
carpet1918
deck1925
dutty1925
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > downwards [phrase] > to or towards the ground
along (also on, to) the ground971
to the groundward1562
the world > space > relative position > low position > [adverb] > under > under the ground
underground1598
above (also under) grounda1604
subterraneous1712
subterraneously1764
subterraneanly1859
971 Blickl. Hom. 221 Ða eodan hie eft to ðæm tune, & þæt gild gebræcan & gefyldan eal oþ grund.
OE Beowulf 2294 Hordweard sohte georne æfter grunde, wolde guman findan.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9285 Illc an treo þatt..Ne bereþþ nohht god wasstme Shall bi þe grund beon hæwenn upp.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2768 Wat is binuþe þe gronde, þat makeþ þat þe fondement ne stont none stounde.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2640 Ðe child it warp dun to de [read ðe] grund.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 246 Ase þet trau þet is ykarked mid frut, þe more hit bouȝ to þe grunde.
c1386 G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale 223 He fil al plat vp on the grounde.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 8738 Oon gaf him on the ere Such a clap with his fist That he thoo the ground kyst.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 10 In Aperill, quhen cleithit is..The abill ground be wyrking off natur.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid xii. Prol. 29 On the fertill skyrt lappis of the ground.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. June 6 The simple ayre, the gentle warbling wynde..The grassye ground with daintye Daysies dight.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. xii. sig. Oo6 To ground He fell halfe dead.
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 86 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) If any be much under grownd, the dampnesse of the earth takes away their lively colour.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 43 Were the City again in the hands of the Moors, or even with the Ground, it were better for us.
1772 G. White Let. 12 Apr. in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 149 After I left Sussex the tortoise retired into the ground under the hepatica.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 61 He looked on the ground while he answered her.
1888 J. McCarthy & R. C. Praed Ladies' Gallery II. xi. 214 He stumbled..and I came to the ground with him.
b. figurative in †to bring to the ground: to cast down, overthrow, overcome, subdue; to come (also go) to the ground: to be overcome; to perish; so to be dashed to the ground (of hopes); down to the ground: completely, thoroughly, in every respect (colloquial); from the ground up (colloquial, originally U.S.), completely, entirely; ‘down to the ground’; to get off the ground, to make a successful start; on the ground, in situ, on the spot. See also to fall to the ground at fall v. Phrases 1d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > be defeated or overthrown [verb (intransitive)]
fallOE
to come (also go) to the groundc1175
confusec1330
to go away (also flee) with the worsea1413
to go to (also unto) the worse1485
to go to the wall (or walls)1549
foil1591
to go to the posta1624
to have had one's chips1959
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or overwhelm > completely or overthrow
shrenchc897
allayOE
fellOE
quellOE
to bring to the groundc1175
forlesec1200
to lay downa1225
acastc1225
accumberc1275
cumber1303
confoundc1330
overthrowc1375
cumrayc1425
overquell?c1450
overwhelvec1450
to nip in (also by, on) the head (also neck, pate)?a1500
prostrate1531
quash1556
couch1577
unhorse1577
prosternate1593
overbeata1616
unchariot1715
floor1828
quench1841
to knock over1853
fling1889
to throw down1890
steamroller1912
wipe1972
zonk1973
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > be beyond hope [verb (intransitive)] > of hopes: fail
to be dashed to the ground1849
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > thoroughly > from beginning to end or through and through
to the boneOE
through and throughc1225
out and outc1300
from top to tail1303
out and inc1390
(from) head to heel (also heels)c1400
(from) head to foot (also feet)c1425
from top to (into, unto) toec1425
to the skin1526
to one's (also the) finger (also fingers') ends1530
from first to last1536
up and down1542
whole out1562
to the pith1587
to the back1594
from A to (also until) Z1612
from clew to earing1627
from top to bottom1666
back and edge1673
all hollow1762
(all) to pieces1788
from A to Za1821
to one's (also the) fingertips1825
to one's fingernails1851
from tip to toe1853
down to the ground1859
to the backbone1864
right the way1867
pur sang1893
from the ground up1895
in and out1895
from soda (card) to hock1902
the world > space > place > presence > present [phrase]
in (also into, intil, to) present?c1225
in (the) presencea1393
in placea1400
upon the place1600
in evidence1612
to the fore1637
on (also upon) hand (also hands)1835
sur place1915
on-site1946
on the ground1960
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > begin [verb (intransitive)] > well
to get (also be) off the (also one's) mark1914
to get off the ground1961
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11773 Þatt illke wise. þatt adam. I paradys wass fandedd. & brohht to grund.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 1292 Þis lond was ibroȝt þoru treson verst to grounde.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7495 Þus lo þe englisse folc vor noȝt to grounde com.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 9888 Arthur..preyed hym of help a stounde, Or elles he scholde go to grounde.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 9342 Hit greuys me full gretly, & to ground brynges.
1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 411 It must needes fall to the ground.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xiv. 252 Let such vanities passe, and come to the ground.
1640 C. Harvey Church-gate iii He holds us up, whilst in him we are found: If once we fall from him, we go to ground.
1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting II. ii. 62 It fell to the ground with the rest of the King's plans and attempts.
1849 E. E. Napier Excursions Southern Afr. II. 5 These poor fellows' hopes were suddenly dashed to the ground.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits v. 82 The strong survived, the weaker went to the ground.
1859 County Courts Chron. 1 Nov. 148/3 Barring the blind eye and the broken knees, I'll warrant the horse to suit you down to the ground.
1867 R. Broughton Cometh up as Flower II. vii. 104 Suited me down to the ground.
1879 M. E. Braddon Cloven Foot xlv Some sea-coast city in South America would suit me down to the ground.
1889 T. A. Trollope What I Remember III. 289 The occupation..suited my tastes and habits ‘down to the ground’, as the modern slang phrase has it.
1894 G. Du Maurier Trilby (1895) 421 He looks as if he could be trusted down to the ground.
1895 Congress. Rec. 6 Feb. App. 207/1 There never has been a time that a democratic administration has not been American from the ground up.
1910 W. M. Raine Bucky O'Connor 52 We suited each other from the ground up.
1960 Guardian 25 Nov. 15/1 On-the-ground investigations.
1961 New Statesman 28 July 129/3 Intended as a half-way point of the Festival, at which audience and platform might fruitfully interact, it never got off the ground.
1963 Listener 10 Jan. 59/2 There is no longer any good reason why the young..American writer should undergo a European apprenticeship unless it be to satisfy his curiosity or to watch the operations of another literature on the ground.
1969 Listener 3 Apr. 469/1 It soon became evident..that the history of contemporary music required reconsidering from the ground up.
1969 Guardian 4 July 5/5 If thefts continue, the future plans for the Crewe to Glasgow [railway] line can never really get off the ground.
c. Regarded as the place of burial. above ground: unburied, alive. to bring (also come) to the ground (now only dialect): to bury, be buried.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > [noun] > earth or ground as place of burial
eartheOE
groundc1400
c1400 Siege Troy 1334 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen 72 44 So doughty a body..That soo lowe is leyd in þe ground.
?c1430 St. Greg. Trental in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 79 Sone to the gronde the con hor bere bryng And beryd hor.
1570 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 157 To see me honestly brought to the grownde.
1611 Bible (King James) Gen. iii. 19.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iv. i. 52 While I remaine aboue the ground, you shall Heare from me still. View more context for this quotation
1694 L. Echard tr. Plautus Rudens iv. vii, in tr. Plautus Comedies 208 I'll find out my Master, if he be above Ground, and bring him t'ye.
1858 N. Hawthorne Fr. & Ital. Jrnls. (1872) I. 19 Rachel, who died last week, and is still above ground.
1877 L. J. Jennings Field Paths 28 Poor thing! it was only fourteen months afore she came to the ground.
d. The portion of the earth's surface on which a person or thing stands or moves; often figurative in to cut the ground from under one (or one's feet).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > tract > [noun] > on which one stands
groundc1530
sod1691
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery, superiority, or advantage [verb (intransitive)] > defeat completely
to break one's back or neck1579
to be too many for1692
to do for ——1740
to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835
to fix (another's) flint1836
to cut the ground from under one (or one's feet)1855
c1530 Interl. Beauties Women A vi Yet worship I the ground that thou gost on.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas II. iv. i. 5 I took all possible pains to feel the ground under my feet, and to study the characters of the whole household.
1855 A. Trollope Warden xi. 183 The ground was cut from under her on every side.
1869 A. Trollope He knew he was Right I. lxiii. 115 Why should you have cut the ground away from your feet in that way?
1938 B. Lunn in ‘H. Kingsmill’ Eng. Genius 205 The Presbyterian divines were maddened by answers which cut the ground from institutional religion.
1962 Christian Cent. 18 July 886/2 In short, Veterum Sapientia has actually succeeded in cutting the ground from under the feet of the exponents of a living liturgy.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > auditorium > [noun] > pit or ground floor
yard1609
ground1631
pit1649
ground-stand1659
cockpit1698
parterre1711
parquet1773
1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre Induct. sig. A4v in Wks. II The vnderstanding Gentlemen o' the ground.
f. Fox-hunting. (to run) to ground: into a burrow or hole in the ground, ‘to earth’; cf. run v. Phrases 3g. Also to lie at ground. to go to ground: also said of a dog. Also in other phrases, and figurative (of a person), to withdraw from public notice and live quietly or ‘lie low’.to run into the ground: see run v. Phrases 3g.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > action of game > [verb (intransitive)]
to stand, be (abide obs.) at bayc1314
to steal awayc1369
stalla1425
starta1425
rusec1425
beatc1470
lodgec1470
trason1486
rouse1532
angle1575
bolt1575
to take squat1583
baya1657
watch1677
fall1697
tree1699
to go away1755
to sink the wind1776
to get up1787
to go to ground1797
lie1797
to stand up1891
fly1897
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > be or become private [verb (intransitive)]
to go to ground1964
1797 Monthly Mag. 3 246 They soon found a fox, who..saved himself by running to ground.
1801 W. B. Daniel Rural Sports I. 90 In deep Snow, Foxes will lie at ground.
1801 W. B. Daniel Rural Sports I. 91 When a Fox goes to ground, after a long chase..With respect to the digging of Foxes which hounds run to ground.
1860 G. D. Prentice Prenticeana 175 A Party of our friends..chased a fox thirty-six hours. They actually ‘ran the thing into the ground’.
1871 H. B. Stowe My Wife & I ix. 93 Show me up the weak points of those reformers; raise a laugh at those temperance men,—those religionists, who, like all us poor human trash, are running religion, and morals, and progress into the ground.
1900 Daily News 23 Oct. 6/2 The British infantrymen watched the race for shelter, their sporting spirit rising..above all racial hatred, and hailing with a ‘gone to ground’ whoop the final disappearance of the gun.
1905 F. C. Loder-Symonds & E. P. Crowdy Hist. Old Berks Hunt xv. 292 Hatford. Gorse, where they soon marked him [the fox] to ground.
1920 A. C. Smith Dog 18 Strictly speaking..Airedales and bull terriers should not be classified among the terriers, both being much too big to go to ground.
1925 Times 7 Jan. 5/6 Sticking to their fox, the pace continued good to Chesterton, where he was marked to ground.
1930 ‘Sapper’ Finger of Fate 265 It so happens that on occasions members of the fraternity [sc. snakes] go to ground in the bunches of fruit as they lie stacked beside the railway line.
1931 Our Dogs 23 Oct. 292/2 Working Terrier Dog..goes to ground to fox or badger, and stays.
1964 Ann. Reg. 1963 326 The four men ‘went to ground’, probably in Johannesburg.
1968 K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 39 When they found where a fox had been caught they would track it, sometimes for miles, and shoot it, but often the fox would go to ground and another trap was lost.
1968 Times 11 May 4/6 They are looking for a suburban villa where they can go to ground.
9. † a. The earth as contrasted with heaven. Chiefly in on (the) ground. (In later use perhaps not different from sense 8.) Obsolete.† b. The earth as distinguished from the sea; the dry land. to lay on dry ground: to floor, gravel (cf. sense 2c). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > [adverb] > situation
here971
under the sunOE
on (the) grounda1000
an-earthOE
on (the) moulda1350
a1000 Hymns (Gr.) ix. 39 And we men cweðað on grunde her.
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. ix. 52 God saue þe from mischaunce, And ȝiue þe grace vppon grounde, In good lyf to ende.
a1400–50 Alexander 1964 All þe gracieux goddez þat þe ground viseten All er vndir my obedience.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvi. 201 Ther goys none on grownde That has sich a wyght.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. vi. 146 A Nobler Sir, ne're liu'd 'Twixt sky and ground . View more context for this quotation
1631 B. Jonson Divell is Asse iv. iv. 135 in Wks. II There's not a finer Officer goes on ground.
1742 W. Shenstone School-mistress viii And think, no doubt, she been the greatest Wight on Ground.
1883 R. W. Dixon Mano iii. iii. 123 The truest gentleman that is on ground.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > [noun]
landc900
groundOE
earthOE
dry landa1225
sandc1275
dry1382
continent1590
fastland1680
terra firma1692
region1697
firm land1872
OE Andreas (1932) 747 Ge mon cigað godes ece bearn, þone þe grund ond sund, heofon ond eorðan ond hreo wægas, salte sæstreamas ond swegluppe amearcode mundum sinum.
a1300 K. Horn 142 Of schip þe gon fonde An sette fot on grunde.
?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. Cviij But sir if that aman sayle farre Upon the see wyll than that starre Do there as on the grounde.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C6 The glad marchant, that does vew from ground His ship far come.
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 50 Who this king should bee, beshackled theyr wits, and layd them a dry ground euery one.
?1614 W. Drummond Song: It Autumne was in Poems Can not beleeue..That other Elements be to be found Than is the Water and this Ball of Ground.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xix. 67 Then we unladed all her furniture..and set her on ground for to caulk her.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 526 Too late young Turnus the Delusion found, Far on the Sea, still making from the Ground.
10. With a and plural.† a. A region, land, country. Obsolete. rare.† b. A piece or parcel of land. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > [noun]
landc725
kithc888
thedec888
earthOE
groundOE
foldOE
countryc1300
marchc1330
nationc1330
wonec1330
provincea1382
soila1400
strandc1400
terragec1440
room1468
limita1513
limitationa1527
seat1535
terrene1863
negara1955
negeri1958
OE Widsith 136 Swa scriþende gesceapum hweorfað gleomen gumena geond grunda fela.
OE Beowulf 2073 Heofones gim glad ofer grundas.
c1436 Libel Eng. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 188 In alle Cristendome Ys no grounde ne lond to Yreland lyche, So large, so gode.
c1436 Libel Eng. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 191 Kepe welle that grounde [Wales].
1609 B. Jonson Case is Alterd i. sig. A2v Though I haue no learning, yet I honour a scholer in any ground of the earth sir. View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral sources > [noun] > tract of land
ground1548
coalfield1734
gas field1833
tin-ground1839
gold-diggings1848
goldfield1848
oilfield1863
oil belt1865
flat1869
tin-field1898
copper belt1955
oil patch1958
the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > [noun] > portion or unit of
pounds worthOE
school land1466
shot1478
ground1548
officiary1594
canton1643
lotment1651
bovate1688
fraction1789
mahal1793
erf1812
fractional section1815
forty1845
tan1871
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. xxvii. 7 And with that moneye they bought a ground of a certayne potter for godlye vses.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Arborum contemplatione fundum comparare, to bye a grounde for the trees that is in it.
1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry vi. 23 When Part of a Ground has been better Till'd than the rest [etc.].
c. In plural. An enclosed portion of land of considerable extent surrounding or attached to a dwelling-house or other building, serving chiefly for ornament or recreation. †Formerly in more general sense: = lands, fields.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > garden > [noun] > other types of garden
grounda1500
knot-garden1519
back-garden1535
summer garden1589
spring garden1612
spring gardena1625
water gardena1626
walled gardena1631
wildernessa1644
window garden1649
botanic garden1662
Hanging Gardens1705
winter garden1736
cottage garden1765
Vauxhall1770
English garden1771
wall garden1780
chinampa1787
moat garden1826
gardenesque1832
sunk garden1835
roof garden1844
weedery1847
wild garden1852
rootery1855
beer-garden1863
Japanese garden1863
bog-garden1883
Italian garden1883
community garden1884
sink garden1894
trough garden1935
sand garden1936
Zen garden1937
hydroponicum1938
tub garden1974
rain garden1994
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > [noun] > land round a house
curtilagec1330
grounda1500
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvi. 194 Markys, rentys, and powndys, Greatt castels and groundys.
1538 A. Fitzherbert Newe Bk. Justyces Peas 158 b No person shall kepe..in his owne proper landes, nor in the possession, londes or groundes of any other..aboue the nombre of two thousande Shepe at one tyme.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. ix. 33 Like a Theefe to come to rob my grounds: Climbing my walles inspight of me the Owner. View more context for this quotation
1678 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 184 Giant Despair..caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds . View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 53 His [labours] who plows across the furrow'd Grounds . View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 55 No..Marks nor Bounds Distinguish'd Acres of litigious Grounds . View more context for this quotation
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 161. ⁋2 Till he has learned the history of his grounds.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. ii. 31 After having cut down every foot of grass upon your grounds.
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xix. 195 The Captain's house was a villa, and his land ‘grounds’, and it was all very high, and mighty, and great.
1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. ii. iv. 465 Extensive grounds were also laid out around the palace, and a park was formed.
11. figurative.1727 A. Hamilton New Acct. E. Indies II. xlvii. 170 And thought that the Kings Refusal to make good their Demands, was a sufficient Piece of Ground to build their War on.
a. Area or distance on the face of the earth. (Usually without article, and most commonly depending on a word implying extent or partition.) Also figurative (cf. senses 4, 5).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > [noun] > distance on the face of the earth
ground?1523
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. viii An acre of grounde..as moch grounde.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 12556 Naules..hade londes full long, & of leue brede, And the grettist of grise, of gronnde & of pepull.
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. Ep. Ded. sig. ¶iijv Anon, haueing gone a litle ground, mine eyes were fead with most delectable appearaunces.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. ii. 99 I will not rest till I haue runne some ground . View more context for this quotation
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated ii. xi. 185 That parcell of ground..was before the time of Moses become the Salt Sea.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 21 Apr. (1974) VIII. 173 I took him..to look upon the ground which is to be let there, where I have a mind to buy enough to build a coach-house and stable.
a1774 O. Goldsmith tr. P. Scarron Comic Romance (1775) II. vi. 58 We travelled till night, and afterwards having gone a great deal more ground [etc.].
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy iii. 34 ‘I bungle the loading of pistols! I that have stepped more ground than any man in the country!’
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xvii. 121 The glacier..takes up ground which belonged to it in former ages.
1900 Pilot 24 Mar. 110/2 Much of the ground covered in these expeditions is practically new to the modern European.
b. esp. in to break (new) ground, to make progress in a new direction (see break v. Phrases 3c); to gain (also gather, get) ground: to advance, make progress; literal and figurative (see gain v.2 8, gather v. 9, get v. Phrases 2b); to give ground: to recede, retire (see give v. Phrases 1b); to lose ground: to fall back, decline (see lose v.1 3d); to make (up) ground, to make progress.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)]
wadeOE
agoOE
forthganga1000
forthgoOE
syeOE
kenc1275
to-stepc1275
vaunce1303
forthnima1325
passc1330
throc1330
forthpass1382
to pass forthc1384
to carry forthc1390
proceedc1392
to go alongc1400
to be forthwardc1430
get) groundc1436
to set onc1450
avauntc1460
pretend1481
to make way1490
advance?1507
to get forward1523
promove1570
to rid ground (also space)1572
to rid (the) way1581
progressa1586
to gather grounda1593
to make forth1594
to make on1597
to work up1603
perge1607
to work one's (also its) way1609
to pass on1611
to gain ground1625
to make its way1645
vadea1660
propagate1700
to gain one's way1777
further1789
to pull up1829
on1840
to make (up) ground1921
society > armed hostility > defeat > be defeated [verb (intransitive)] > be driven back
to lose groundc1436
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > be forced back
to lose groundc1436
to leave place1487
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat
withdraw1297
recoilc1330
give place1382
arrear1399
to draw backa1400
resortc1425
adrawc1450
recedec1450
retraya1470
returna1470
rebut1481
wyke1481
umbedrawc1485
retreata1500
retract1535
retire1542
to give back1548
regress1552
to fall back?1567
peak1576
flinch1578
to fall offa1586
to draw off1602
to give ground1607
retrograde1613
to train off1796
to beat a retreat1861
to back off1938
the world > action or operation > adversity > be in adversity [verb (intransitive)] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition
afalleOE
wanec1000
fallOE
ebba1420
to go backward?a1425
to go down?1440
decay1483
sink?a1513
delapsea1530
reel1529
decline1530
to go backwards1562
rue1576
droop1577
ruina1600
set1607
lapse1641
to lose ground1647
to go to pigs and whistles1794
to come (also go) down in the world1819
to peg out1852
to lose hold, one's balance1877
to go under1879
toboggan1887
slip1930
to turn down1936
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > progress or advance in an action [verb (intransitive)] > in something new
to break (new) ground1895
c1436 Libel Eng. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 188 Wylde Yrishe so muche of grounde have gotyne There upon us.
c1436 Libel Eng. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 189 In that land..we lesse every yere More grounde and more.
?1529 S. Fish Supplicacyon for Beggers sig. A3 The Turke..shulde neuer be abill to get so moche grounde of cristendome.
1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Plinius Novocomensis in Panoplie Epist. 254 To outrunne the ringleader, and thereby to gett ground.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster Famous Hist. Thomas Wyat sig. Ev They come, no man giue ground..Be Englishmen and berd them to their faces.
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 6 To deale plainly with you, you have lost some ground at Court by it.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 111 Though we beat and tack'd to and agen till the evening, we gained no ground.
a1776 R. James Diss. Fevers (1778) 53 He sweated profusely and the delirium began to give ground.
1804 W. Tennant Indian Recreat. (ed. 2) I. 39 A more independent spirit..is daily gaining ground among that class of men.
1870 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 VII. lxxiii. 170 They were steadily losing ground in the war.
1895 E. C. Brewer Dict. Phrase & Fable (rev. ed.) 557/2 To break ground, to be the first to commence a project, etc.; to take the first step in an undertaking.
1906 H. C. Wyld Hist. Study Mother Tongue v. 94 Those tendencies..which are peculiar to the individual, and which are not shared by the community, will not gain ground, but will be eliminated.
1921 Granta 30 Nov. The local side again and again made ground galore with long kicks down wind.
1928 Nation & Athenæum 7 Jan. 537/2 Montesquieu..had been the first to break the new ground.
1931 F. L. Allen Only Yesterday ix. 229 Theodore Dreiser, Willa Cather,..the Imagists and exponents of free verse had been breaking new ground since before the war.
1932 Sunday Express 3 July 22/7 Udaipur is gradually making up ground on the colts in Butters' stable.
1954 G. D. H. Cole Hist. Socialist Thought II. xiii. 362 Communities breaking new ground were in constant danger of becoming the prey of fraudulent financiers and bankers.
1954 A. S. C. Ross in Neuphilologische Mitteilungen 55 45 Posh ‘smart’ is essentially non-U, but recently, it has gained ground among schoolboys of all classes.
1966 Listener 10 Mar. 345/2 I've had to break new ground in all directions in order to say them.
c. to take ground: to take up, or move into, a certain position. literal and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > position or situation > be positioned or situated [verb (intransitive)] > take up position
to take (a tree) to stallc1275
pitch1535
range1582
suit1591
to take (up) (one's) station?1596
to fall in1627
to take ground1700
fix1710
to take one's (also a) perch1871
post1872
1700 [see sense 13b].
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. v. 489 Uncertainty was at last removed, by his marching towards Arcot, and taking ground before it on the 21st of August.
1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 18 Take ground to the right (or left) in fours.
1883 Harper's Mag. Nov. 850/1 He took new ground..as to..painting.
d. figurative. With allusion to a metaphorical ‘travelling’ or the like: subject matter, things that may be the object of study or discourse. Also rarely with a: a department of study.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun]
thingeOE
evenOE
questionc1225
purposec1350
themec1380
mattera1387
reasonc1390
substancea1393
chapter1393
occasion1426
titlec1450
intentc1460
article1531
place1532
scope1549
subject1563
argumenta1568
string1583
matter subject1586
subject matter1587
qu.1608
haunt1622
seat1628
object matter1653
business1655
topic1728
locus1753
sub1779
ground1796
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > affair, business, concern > [noun] > field of interest
mattera1387
campa1538
champian1596
domain1764
champaign1839
ground1847
one's line of country1861
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. 12 His pupil had the courage to walk over the same ground after him.
1804 W. Tennant Indian Recreat. (ed. 2) I. 117 The learned Dr. Robertson has travelled partly over the same ground.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xiii. 112 Mr. B...thought he had touched on forbidden ground.
1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Bks. I. i. 8 The more we know of any one ground of knowledge, the further we see into the general domains of intellect.
1933 H. L. Ickes Diary 12 Sept. in Secret Diary (1953) I. 88 At eleven o'clock we had a meeting of the Public Works Board and we covered a great deal of ground.
12. Preceded by a descriptive or limiting adjective, or an attributive noun: area or space having a specified extent or character, or adapted for a specified purpose. literal and figurative.
a. With a and plural. (Now only with attributive noun or with an adjective indicating relative position or change of level.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > [noun] > place set apart for special purpose
groundc1400
placec1420
sitea1443
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §29. 39 Lat thyn Astrelabie kowch adown euene vp-on a smothe grond.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. iii. 5 The place where vpon thou stondest, is an wholy grounde.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ps. cvi[i]. 35 He maketh..water sprynges of a drye grounde.
1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 225 I feare none, because I stande uppon a saufe grounde.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 823/1 The king..lodged within three miles of the citie, on a corne ground by the river.
1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. 117 Hee..did beat the enemie from a ground of aduantage.
1662 B. Gerbier Brief Disc. Princ. Building 14 On a low ground by the River side.
1707 J. Freind Acct. Earl of Peterborow's Conduct in Spain 215 The Country..was full of little rising Grounds and Valleys.
1777 W. Robertson Hist. Amer. (1783) II. 61 Tribes seated on..hunting-grounds abounding so much with game, that they have a regular and plentiful supply of nourishment with little labour.
1805 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 14 565 That our author may be able to meet Dr. Jackson..on equal grounds.
1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. i. viii. 267 A level ground, four leagues in breadth, lay between the armies.
1872 J. Yeats Growth Commerce 112 The fishing grounds of Portugal and England were used in common.
1894 J. T. Fowler in St. Adamnan Vita S. Columbae Introd. 59 The spot was on a rising ground in a bend of the Foyle.
b. in generalized sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > tract > [noun]
placec1325
piecec1330
soil1430
groundc1436
territory?a1439
land1604
strain1614
track1686
reaching1727
terrain1766
land-score1828
outstretch1858
c1436 Libel Eng. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 192 Lytelle wenythe the fole..What woo it were for alle this Englysshe grounde.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. iiiiv In tough clay, and vpon hilly ground.
1568 (a1508) W. Kennedy Flyting (Bannatyne) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 209 Out of Dumbar that theif he maid exyle Vnto Edward and Inglis grund agane.
1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xxvi. vi I..Sett on plaine ground will thee Jehovah praise.
1611 Bible (King James) Exod. iii. 5 [cf. 1535 Coverdale in a].
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iii. i. 192 My credit now stands on such slippery ground . View more context for this quotation
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iv. xiv. 192 Though he stood on the lower ground in point of birth.
1781 W. Cowper Friendship 34 If..on forbidden ground..We sought without attaining.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Masque of Anarchy (1832) lxv. 33 On some spot of English ground.
1853 Ld. Tennyson To E. L. 10 I..track'd you still on classic ground.
1888 J. Inglis Tent Life Tigerland 1 The best tiger-shooting ground in the world.
13. With reference to possessor or occupier, denoted by a genitive noun or possessive pronoun.
a. The portion of land forming the property (†or territory) of a person (†or people), or occupied by one as a tenant.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > possessions > [noun] > real or immovable property > land > portion of land owned or occupied
grounda1400
acres1697
a1400–50 Alexander 188 Ȝour king sall..gett agayn his avyn gronde.
a1400–50 Alexander 1973 Miȝt þou þe marches of Messe~doyne mayntene þi-selfe And gouerne bot þine awen gronde.
c1436 Libel Eng. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 188 Oure grounde there is a lytelle cornere To alle Yrelonde in trewe comparisone.
1533 Presentm. Juries in Surtees Misc. (1888) 34 That every man ryng his swyne, except they kepe theyme of theire owne growinde.
1548 W. Forrest Pleasaunt Poesye 375 in T. Starkey Eng. in Reign King Henry VIII (1878) i. p. xcv Hee [sc. the poor man] cannot els lyue so deeare is his grownde.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. ii. 209 Like a fair house, built on another mans ground . View more context for this quotation
1787 W. Cowper Let. 30 Aug. (1982) III. 19 Mr. T. having long since put me in possession of all his grounds, has now given me possession of his library.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Amphion in Poems (new ed.) II. 169 'Tis in my neighbour's ground.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xx, in Maud & Other Poems 66 Rivulet crossing my ground.
b. The space upon which a person, etc., takes his stand; the position maintained or defended by one; esp. in phrases to hold one's ground, to keep one's ground, to maintain one's ground, to stand one's ground, to shift one's ground; now usually figurative (sometimes with suggestion of sense 5a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > position or situation > [noun] > where one takes up a position, residence, etc. > position maintained by a person
ground1616
1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale (Chaucer Soc.) ix. 176 He fightinge to maintaine Fregilia towne, they bearinge in to make his grown their grown.
1657 A. Sparrow Rationale Bk. Common Prayer (1661) 239 The Church thereby keeping as it were her ground.
1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 1 A friend, as willing to shift his ground as I, gave me an Overture which I accepted.
1700 J. Dryden Flower & Leaf in Fables 394 Drawn in two Lines adverse they wheel'd around, And in the middle Meadow took their Ground.
1707 London Gaz. No. 4353/1 The Deserters..stood their Ground, and..fir'd on 'em.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 278 We can hardly keep our Ground against the Current.
1797 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry (rev. ed.) App. 234 The commanding officer turns on his own ground.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod i. i. 4 The sports of the field still maintained their ground.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. ii. vii. 287 She met me on my own ground.
1833 H. Martineau Briery Creek v. 113 Here the humblest slave might stand erect on the ground of his humanity.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 34 The government was strong enough to hold its ground.
1859 J. S. Mill On Liberty iii. 132 It is not easy to see how it [Individuality] can stand its ground.
1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 197 I, like him taking the ground of future expediency, stoutly maintain the contrary position.
14.
a. The particular space or area under consideration, or one used for some special purpose, esp. the scene of any contest, or meeting. off the ground: out of the way. on the ground: engaged in a duel.
ΚΠ
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1174 A noumbur hoge Of Grekes were gedret & þe grounde hade.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1352 The Troiens..ffleddon in fere..When the Grekys hade the gre & the grounde wonen.
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 115 Content to talk with the Governour, providit that the Cardinall and his cumpany war of the ground.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iv. ii. 49 Bid our Commanders leade their Charges off A little from this ground . View more context for this quotation
1679 J. Dryden & N. Lee Oedipus iv. 60 I'm too well acquainted with the ground, quite to forget it.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality vi, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 132 Why came ye na hame when other folk left the grund?
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) iv. 35 There were sentries posted to keep the ground for the troops.
1843 W. M. Thackeray Ravenswing vii, in Fraser's Mag. Sept. 327/1 He has been ‘on the ground’ I don't know how many times.
1850 H. T. Cheever Whale & his Captors iii. 60 They had just arrived on the ground, and had not yet taken any whales.
1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 72 Ground, a rectangular sheet of ice, measuring not more than 200 yds. × 100 yds. and not less than 100 × 50.
b. Cricket. (a) The space on which the game is played; (b) the space within which a player may lawfully stand while taking a particular part in the game; the (also his, etc.) ground, (of a batter) = the ground behind the popping-crease; (c) the paid staff of players attached to a club (also ground-staff).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun]
ground1718
cricket ground1745
cricket field1760
field1816
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > place where player may stand
ground1775
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > paid staff of players
the (also his, etc.) ground1850
ground-staff1880
1718 Weekly Jrnl. 6 Sept. Three of their Men made an Elopement, and got off the Ground without going in.
1733 London Evening-post 20 Sept. There will be a Line around the Ground as usual, within which none but the Gamesters are to be admitted.
1775 New Articles Game of Cricket 4 The Strikers need not keep within their Ground till the Umpire has called Play.
1795 S. Britcher Compl. List Grand Matches Cricket 34 This rule is not meant..to prevent the Bowler from filling up holes, watering his ground, or using sawdust, &c., when the ground is wet.
1850 ‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (rev. ed.) 78 The..players of ‘the Ground’..act in the..capacity of..umpire.
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 388 He is never in his ground, except when his wicket is down.
1880 James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Ann. ii. i. 49 The ground staff for 1879 at Lord's consisted of [the twenty-two professional players named].
1882 Daily Tel. 27 May His colleague driving the ball into his wicket whilst he was just out of the ground.
1894 Times 23 Mar. 10/2 There are various additions to the ground staff... The list of ‘the ground’ is now as follows.
1955 T. H. Pear Eng. Social Differences xi. 260 Boys of outstanding promise [at cricket] can receive coaching if they take jobs on a club ground-staff.
c. to have the ground on one's side: to have the advantage of position (in a contest.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery, superiority, or advantage [verb (intransitive)] > have position of advantage
to have the ground on one's side1650
to be on a good wicket1941
1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 1 He knows well that he hath gotten the ground and winde on his side, but I think I have the Sun on my back.
15. In technical uses.† a. (See quot. 1753.) Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Bowling Ground, a bag or handkerchief laid down to mark where a bowl is to go.
b. Telegraphy. The contact of the conductor of an electric circuit with the earth; the escape of current resulting from this.
ΚΠ
1870 F. L. Pope Electr. Telegr. (1872) v. 63 The effect of a ground or escape is..to exhaust the batteries more rapidly.
1883 T. D. Lockwood Electr., Magn., & Electr. Telegr. 138 If an accidental connection with the ground should occur, or, as it is technically said, a ground appears on the wires.
1892 T. O'C. Sloane Standard Electr. Dict. (1893)
IV. Soil, earth.
16.
a. The soil of the earth. Also without article: Soil, earth, mould; now only in Mining (see quot. 1881) except with descriptive adjective. to break ground (see break v. Phrases 3).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > [noun]
earthOE
claya1300
grita1325
groota1400
grounda1400
loama1400
soilc1440
marl1590
terroir1653
dirt1698
dutty1873
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6747 Theif hus brecand, or gruband grund.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. vi If the grounde be good put the more beanes to ye pees.
1547 Certain Serm. or Homilies Misery Mankind i, in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) i. 16 We may learn to know ourselves to be but ground, earth, and ashes.
1660 T. Willsford Scales Commerce & Trade 196 This Trench (where the labourers first break ground).
1696 tr. J. Dumont New Voy. Levant 131 There are no Woods in it by reason of the shallowness of the Ground.
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 17 He ought to dig it deeper till he comes to firm ground; or if it proves to be loose, or made Ground [etc.]
1795 Gentleman's Mag. 65 539/1 The extreme wetness of the ground had delayed the operation of the share.
1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 143 Ground, the rock in which a vein is found; also, any given portion of the mineral deposit itself.
1884 Public Opinion 12 Sept. 338/1 The loose shale..has moved forward..and carried away both shafts..down to blue ground.
b. With a and plural. A kind or variety of soil. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > kind of earth or soil > [noun]
grounda1398
soil1560
soil type1902
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. lxv. 956 Som corn þryueþ [in] on ground and fayleþ in anoþer.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. i Ther is many maner of groundes and soyle. Some white cley, somme reed cley [etc.].
1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth iv. sig. C.iv Let hym make his fundacyon vpon a graualy grownde myxt with clay.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. G2v They know exactly..what ground is best for euerie kinde of corne.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §409 In some Grounds which are strong, you shall haue a Raddish, &c. come in a Moneth.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 51 This Ground with Bacchus, that with Ceres suits. View more context for this quotation
1787 G. Winter New Syst. Husbandry 9 When a farmer cannot keep the produce of each ground separate.
Compounds
C1. General combinations.† c. With adjectives and pples. = ‘to the bottom’, hence ‘completely, thoroughly, extremely’, as ground-filled, ground-hot, ground-laden, ground-stalwart. (Cf. German grundfalsch, etc.) Obsolete.
a. Simple attributive, locative and objective (in senses of branches I., III.)
(a)
ground-bed n.
ΚΠ
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 88 Vntil rowzed from our ground-beds by the report of the Cannon.
ground-builder n.
ΚΠ
1859 New Amer. Cycl. III. 282/1 The hawks are platform-builders, ground-builders, occupants of hollow trees, &c.
ground-clearance n.
ΚΠ
1959 Motor Man. (ed. 36) 4 The chassis frame cannot be lowered beyond a certain point without endangering the ground clearance of the car.
ground-end n.
ΚΠ
1819 A. Rees Cycl. XVII Ground-end, of a Mine, signifies the forefield or foremost place of working, in the whole or footground.
ground-fabric n.
ΚΠ
1938 Burlington Mag. Sept. 115/1 The loosely-woven linen ground-fabric is entirely covered..with rich ornament.
1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage i. 19 These all entail cutting away part of the ground fabric.
ground-feeder n.
ΚΠ
1887 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 611 Sturgeons are ground-feeders.
ground-herb n.
ΚΠ
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §530 To make the Herbe grow contrary to his Nature; As to make Ground-Herbs rise in Heighth.
ground-level n.
ΚΠ
1910 Daily Chron. 8 Mar. 1/6 The Parisian ‘star’, returning to her room at midnight, sees a strange object approaching her ground-level windows from the garden.
1959 Times 22 Aug. 9/4 Being nearer to eye-level can be better appreciated than when at ground-level in the border or rockery.
ground-mark n.
ΚΠ
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia (1810) ii. xiii. 368 That the Artillery might play as well by night as day himself did take and score out his ground-markes.
ground-nest n.
ΚΠ
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 280 And now the Herald Lark Left his ground-nest . View more context for this quotation
1833 H. Martineau Briery Creek vi. 134 A lark sprang up from the ground-nest where she was sitting solitary.
ground-nester n.
ΚΠ
1875 Field & Forest 1 10 It was a very neat structure, and looked to me as though the owner was habitually a ‘ground-nester’.
1964 A. L. Thomson New Dict. Birds 524/1 Other non-passerines may be broadly divided into ground-nesters, hole-nesters, and the builders of simple nests in trees.
ground-pipe n.
ΚΠ
1691 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense (ed. 8) 159 The Air Ground-pipe, laid..in the middle of the Floor.
ground-soil n.
ΚΠ
1834 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) II. 645 The lowness and original swampiness of the ground-soil.
ground-sward n.
ΚΠ
1829 S. T. Coleridge Garden of Boccaccio 66 I..sit on the ground-sward.
ground-tilth n.
ΚΠ
1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Duties i. f. 59 For of all thinges, whereoute anie gayne is sought, nothing is better than ground tilth.
ground-whirl n.
ΚΠ
1881 D. G. Rossetti House of Life iv The ground-whirl of the perished leaves of Hope.
(b)
ground-building n.
ΚΠ
1864 J. C. Atkinson Stanton Grange 114 I think the mouse has the odds in an attack on a ground-building bee's nest.
ground-deep adj.
ΚΠ
1610 W. Folkingham Feudigraphia i. iv. 9 The Goates of Angori are hung with shag ground-deepe.
ground-feeding adj.
ΚΠ
1859 C. Darwin Origin of Species v. 134 The larger ground-feeding birds seldom take flight except to escape danger.
1938 Brit. Birds 32 222 An attempt to measure the frequency of association in the same fields of the more conspicuous ground-feeding birds was made.
ground-nesting adj.
ΚΠ
1880 A. R. Wallace Island Life 79 The seeds becoming attached to the plumage of ground-nesting birds.
ground-routing adj.
ΚΠ
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling i. 42 Barbel, which are a ground-routing fish.
b. Attributive (in senses of branch II.). Often quasi-adjectival = ‘fundamental’, †‘deep-seated’, etc.Many of these formations are recent imitations of German compounds of grund, such as grundform, grundgedanke, grundidee, etc.† ground-harm n. Obsolete† ground-hate n. Obsolete
ground-basis n.
ΚΠ
1920 T. P. Nunn Education 156 The function of the self-regarding sentiment is to exercise control over the ‘objective’ sentiments that form the ground-basis of the self.
ground-fact n.
ΚΠ
1905 Spectator 11 Mar. 353/1 The underlying ground-fact of Russia, the inadequacy of her food-supply.
ground-faith n.
ΚΠ
1871 R. H. Hutton Ess. (1877) I. 37 In the absence of this ground-faith.
ground-feature n.
ΚΠ
1807 tr. C. A. G. Goede Stranger in Eng. II. 221 The ground-features of his portrait must be natural.
ground-form n.
ΚΠ
1847 J. D. Morell Hist. View Speculative Philos. (ed. 2) I. i. 118 The native construction of the intellectual faculty..contains all those ground-forms of the understanding, by which knowledge from experience can be assimilated.
1879 J. A. H. Murray in Trans. Philol. Soc. 611 From the ground-form—Ostyak ma, Samoyed man.
1881 Amer. Jrnl. Math. 4 41 Tables of the..Groundforms of the Binary Duodecimic.
1938 J. R. Carpenter Ecol. Gloss. Ground form, elementary form, as distinguished from growth form.
ΚΠ
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1431 A light wrathe..growes into ground harme.
ΚΠ
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1403 Thurgh vnhappe of þat kynde..Myche greuance shall groo & a ground hate.
ground-idea n.
ΚΠ
1865 Sat. Rev. 7 Jan. 16/1 Moulding his ground-idea into a poetical whole.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire vi. 299 When we come to the ground idea of the Essay on Manners.
ground-principle n.
ΚΠ
1847 J. D. Morell Hist. View Speculative Philos. (ed. 2) I. 3 The primary efforts of reason to get at the ground principles of human knowledge were naturally weak and imperfect.
1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma iii. 86 This was the very ground-principle in Christ's teaching.
ground-quality n.
ΚΠ
1897 T. Hardy Well-beloved ii. iii. 115 Avice..had yet possessed a ground-quality absent from her rivals.
1897 T. Hardy Well-beloved iii. vii. 314 Pierston heard a voice below, the accents of a woman. They had a ground quality of familiarity, a superficial articulation of strangeness.
ground-root n.
ΚΠ
a1569 A. Kingsmill Viewe Mans Estate (1580) xi. 65 That this love might take a more groundroote in our hartes.
ground-sense n.
ΚΠ
1909 E. B. Titchener Text-bk. Psychol. i. 116 The sense of smell..is also a ground-sense:..our own disregard of smell sensations is largely due to our assumption of the upright position.
ground-thought n.
ΚΠ
1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma viii. 256 Righteousness is its ground-thought.
ground-tint n.
ΚΠ
1875 tr. H. W. Vogel Chem. Light & Photogr. vii. 59 The painter indeed contents himself with three ground tints—yellow, blue, and red.
ground-tone n.
ΚΠ
1841–4 R. W. Emerson Poet in Wks. (1906) I. 157 We hear, through all the varied music, the ground-tone of conventional life.
1874 H. R. Reynolds John the Baptist iii. §3. 199 David's psalms reveal the ground-tone and key-notes of Nathan's prophecies.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 8 Mar. 5/2 Her sash will repeat the ground-tone of her dress.
ΚΠ
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2839 Ofte heo letten grund-hat læd gliden heom an heore hæfd.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 555 Feower scipen greate þe weren grund-ladene [c1300 Otho grund-lade].
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 546 Þa scipen weoren igreþede mid gode grund-fulled.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1025 Þe ston was mikel, and ek greth,..Grund stalwrthe man he sholde be, Þat mouthe liften it to his kne.
d. In Aviation.
(a)
ground alert adj.
ΚΠ
1965 H. Kahn On Escalation 294 A ground-alert bomber.
ground attack n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings i. vii. 203 We shall see a great extension of ground attacks by air cavalry.
1954 Economist 11 Sept. 11/1 In some countries..special aircraft for ground attack duties only have been developed.
ground boost n.
ΚΠ
1930 Flight 14 Mar. 305/2 Supercharging was the expression used to denote restoring the ground h.p. at some height, while ground boost was used to get increased power at ground level.
ground control n. Landing, etc., by instrument direction from the ground.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > regulation and control of flying > [noun] > system using radio or radar
ground control1933
1933 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 37 31 How would he suggest the air control and ground control should be organised there?
1945 Newsweek 20 Aug. 42/3 GCA (Ground Control Approach) which permits blind landings of planes through overcast.
1969 Listener 1 May 596/1 He explained to ground control what was happening and ordered the crew to bail out.
(b)
ground control approach n. (also ground controlled approach) (Abbreviated G.C.A.)
ΚΠ
1945 Amer. Speech 20 309/2 GCA, Ground Controlled Approach, Ground radar landing system.
1959 R. Collier City that wouldn't Die vii. 105 His navigator..was in minute-by-minute touch with the new G.C.I. (Ground Controlled Interception).
ground controller n.
ΚΠ
1958 Listener 21 Aug. 259/1 It is the ground controllers' job to see that collisions do not happen.
1970 Daily Tel. 15 Apr. 1/7 Ground controllers..decided against a speed-up plan that would have brought Apollo 13 down by tomorrow night.
(c)
ground crew n.
ΚΠ
1934 Sci. Amer. Feb. 83 (caption) The ground crew guiding the ship [sc. airship] into the hangar.
1940 Flight 7 Nov. b/2 The efficient devotion of ground crews and excellence of material is responsible for the trouble-free journeys made each night.
1952 Ann. Reg. 1951 109 The Government announced that pilots and ground crews had won 154 U.S. decorations.
ground cushion n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1949 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 53 317/1 For take-off at altitude, a strong ‘ground cushion’ is an advantage.
1956 N.Y. Times 8 Jan. x. 41/5 The issue revolves about a phenomenon peculiar to helicopters known as ground cushion effect. What it means is this: Up to ten or twelve feet off the ground, or over water, a helicopter receives added buoyancy by the packed mass of air churned downward from the overhead rotors.
ground defence n.
ΚΠ
1952 R. Sherbrooke-Walker Khaki & Blue i. 3 The problem became acute when ‘Ground Defence’ came along in the early days.
ground effect n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [noun] > landing > ground effect on landing aircraft
ground effect1935
1935 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 39 277 The machine was a high wing monoplane and one would not expect much ‘ground effect’.
1938 Aeronaut. Res. Comm. Rep. & Mem. No. 1865 1 General formulae for..corrections to ground effect have been obtained for wings of any span.
1959 Observer 18 Jan. 15/4 The principle on which the Hovercraft is built has a good deal in common with an infuriating phenomenon known to pilots as ‘ground effect’, which occurs when certain types of aircraft come in to land. Their closeness to the ground creates something akin to a pad of air on which the aircraft floats tantalisingly a foot or so above the runway instead of sinking to the ground.
1966 Electronics 17 Oct. 131 It would be carried on anything from a hydrofoil craft and a ground-effect machine, which rides over water and land on a cushion of air, to helicopters and pilotless drone aircraft.
ground engineer n.
ΚΠ
1920 Flight 11 Nov. 1182/2 Under present arrangements, a machine is supposed to receive an inspection by a ground engineer.
1928 Daily Mail 9 Aug. 7/1 Ground engineer of the London Aero Club.
1932 D. Garnett Rabbit in Air i. 7 The ground engineer gave us pamphlets about the Flying Club.
1958 ‘N. Shute’ Rainbow & Rose i. 2 He had a ground engineer.
ground loop v. and n.
ΚΠ
1921 Flight 5 May 315/2 The aeroplane has a tendency to ground loop in landing or in taxying in a strong wind.
1928 Daily Mail 7 May 6/4 Ground Loops.—Touching the ground and rising again.
1959 F. D. Adams Aeronaut. Dict. 86/1 Ground loop, 1. a violent, whirling turn of an airplane while moving on the ground... 2. loosely, a nose~over.
ground looping n.
ΚΠ
1937 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 41 829 The author investigates some of the causes of so-called ‘ground looping’, i.e., the instability observed with certain machines when landing in a cross wind and which causes them to swing violently after touching ground.
1950 Gloss. Aeronaut. Terms (B.S.I.) i. 11 Ground looping, an uncontrollable violent turn of an aircraft while taxying, alighting or taking-off.
(d)
ground marker n.
ΚΠ
1944 Times 26 Apr. 4/1 A number of crews were bombing from a clear sky while others at the same moment were aiming at the ground markers through the clouds.
ground mechanic n.
ΚΠ
1935 C. Day Lewis Time to Dance & Other Poems 57 But those hands have been always The ground mechanics of our wide-wing pride.
ground organization n.
ΚΠ
1920 Proc. Air Conf. 11 in Parl. Papers 1921 (Cmd. 1157) VIII. 299 A problem of considerable difficulty is the ground organisation for night flying.
1933 Discovery Dec. 367/1 All these difficulties could..be got over if there was a good ground organization and aircraft..to operate at such heights with multi-engines.
ground position n.
ΚΠ
1951 Gloss. Aeronaut. Terms (B.S.I.) iii. 7 Ground position, the position on the earth vertically below an aircraft.
ground resonance n.
ΚΠ
1940 Jrnl. Aeronaut. Sci. Aug. 449/2 A series of high-speed motion pictures were taken of a turning rotor which was made to oscillate in ground resonance.
1959 F. D. Adams Aeronaut. Dict. 86/1 Ground resonance, a self-excited, mechanical, potentially destructive vibration of a rotary-wing aircraft in operation on the ground or surface, involving a coupling between the motion of the rotor blades and the motion of the supporting structure or the motion of the aircraft as a whole on its landing gear.
ground school n.
ΚΠ
1924 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Addenda Ground school, a school giving courses in aërodynamics, map-making, photography, etc., for aviators.
ground speed n.
ΚΠ
1917 Blackwood's Mag. May 805/2 Our ground speed was now a good deal greater than if we had travelled directly west.
1924 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Addenda Ground speed, the horizontal component of the velocity of an aircraft relative to the earth.
1928 C. F. S. Gamble Story N. Sea Air Station i If there be no wind..a very much greater ‘ground speed’ has to be attained..before the machine will gain enough flying speed for the wings to take some load off the floats, and eventually enable the machine to ‘take-off’ from the surface of the sea.
1967 F. G. Mercer Appl. Aviation Sci. viii. 48 An airplane flying eastward at a true airspeed..of 120 mph in still air, will have a ground speed exactly the same—120 mph.
ground staff n.
ΚΠ
1933 P. Fleming Brazilian Adventure iv. 35 He..joined the ground staff of an aerodrome there.
1957 R. W. Zandvoort et al. Wartime Eng. 8 Aircrew,..a collective term for flying personnel, as opp. to ground staff.
ground stunt n.
ΚΠ
1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings i. vii. 196 Fighting squadrons soon caught the craze for ground stunts and carried it well beyond the lines.
ground support n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1953 Aero Digest Oct. 37/3 An entire system of enemy destruction..includes a four-jet delta-wing supersonic bomber including its..reconnaissance, training, ground support and logistics systems.
1956 W. A. Heflin U.S. Air Force Dict. 238/2 Ground support, 1. either close air support or general air support. 2. the maintenance and care of flying equipment by the ground echelon.
1962 J. Glenn in J. Glenn et al. Into Orbit 11 I flew..jets for sixty-three ground-support missions.
1967 Technol. Week 20 Feb. 41/3 Design openings include development of..ground support equipment.
ground troops n.
ΚΠ
1941 Flight 6 Feb. 107/2 A Rhodesian squadron has been giving support to the ground troops.
ground wallah n.
ΚΠ
1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 112 Ground wallah, an Air Force term for a member of the R.A.F. whose duties were concerned with administrative, or office and aerodrome technical work.
(e)
ground-based adj.
ΚΠ
1958 Chambers's Techn. Dict. Suppl. 1018/1 Ground-based..radio duct.
1960 Times 23 Feb. 5/3 In the semi~active homing system a ground-based radar illuminates the target.
1965 H. Kahn On Escalation ix. 171 Ground-based missiles.
1965 Punch 7 Apr. 506/2 A report just published by the National Academy of Sciences (counterpart of the Royal Society) surveys the requirements of ‘ground-based’ astronomy over the next ten years.
(f)
(i)
ground-strafe v. [as a back-formation] transitive.
ΚΠ
1943 C. H. Ward-Jackson It's a Piece of Cake 35 Ground-strafe, to attack ground objectives.
ground-strafer n.
ΚΠ
1938 Flight 15 Sept. 222/2 The ground-strafer's weapon should be..the light bomb.
ground-strafing n. (also ground-straffing)
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities in the air > [noun] > air operation > attack from low level
strafe1915
ground-strafing1928
1928 C. F. S. Gamble Story N. Sea Air Station iv ‘Ground-straffing’ by low-flying machines.
1934 V. M. Yeates Winged Victory i. iii. 31 Unfortunately they were good machines for ground-strafing. They could dive straight down on anything, and when a few feet off the ground, go straight up again.
1941 Times Weekly 5 Feb. 8 In Libya..air activity was mainly confined to protective fighter patrols for our advancing troops and ground-strafing of the retreating enemy between Derna and Barce.
1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 38 Ground-strafing, low-flying attack on transport or trenches; careless driving by servicemen.
1963 S. Douglas Years of Combat viii. 194 Ground strafing..had been a somewhat haphazard sort of business.
(ii) Used esp. as attributive phrases.
ground-to-air adj.
ΚΠ
1945 Aeroplane 30 Nov. 619/2 An interesting point about the German development of air-to-air and ground-to-air weapons was the way in which ‘pukka’ aircraft designers were brought in to design missiles.
1951 Gloss. Aeronaut. Terms (B.S.I.) iii. 18 Ground-to-air communication, one-way communication from ground stations to aircraft.
1958 Observer 15 June 18/6 The Russians can be assumed to be building ground-to-air missiles that are every bit as good.
ground-to-ground adj.
ΚΠ
1920 Flight 10 June 624/2 Radio Telephony..Procedure.—Ground to ground. The following abbreviated procedure to be used between ground stations A and B.
1943 L. Cheshire Bomber Pilot 18 It was ground-to-ground tracer, firing east and so probably British.
1958 Times 11 Sept. 4/5 The huge Corporal ground-to-ground guided missile.
C2.
a. † ground-drawer n. Obsolete (see quots.).† ground-ebb n. Obsolete low water; also as adj., at low water.† ground-hold n. Obsolete the anchors of a vessel.† ground-hop n. Obsolete a leap from the ground, in quot figurative. † ground-measure n. Obsolete ? a dance set to a ‘ground’ or ground-bass. † ground-pillar n. Obsolete a supporting pillar.† ground-pinning n. Obsolete underpinning.† ground-planked adj. Obsolete ? having beds on the floor.† ground-salt n. Obsolete a movement in the manege (see quot.).† ground-smooth adj. Obsolete level with the ground.† ground-sope n. Obsolete (= Dutch grond-sop), dregs, sediment (quots. c725, 14.. are obscure, perhaps mistranslations; Palsgrave's rendering may be an error).† ground-stand n. Obsolete a standing place in the pit of a theatre.† ground-statheling n. Obsolete = ground-stathelness n. † ground-toiled adj. Obsolete field-working.† ground-wart n. Obsolete a small eminence resembling a wart.† ground-wind n. Obsolete a wind blowing at the level of the sea; opposed to rack-wind.
ground-air n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1886 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon Ground air, the air contained in the soil. This contains a large portion of carbonic acid gas due to the disintegration of organic substances.
ground and lofty n. applied to acrobatic feats or performers on the ground and on a rope, etc.; also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > acrobatic performance > [adjective]
ground and lofty1796
balancing1801
acrobatic1838
1796 Gazette of U.S. (Philadelphia) 19 Nov. (advt.) Ground and Lofty Tumbling [at the Pantheon, Philadelphia].
1840 Southern Literary Messenger 6 386/1 He is an adept in the art of walking on his head, turning somersets, and ground and lofty tumbling generally.
1843 T. Weed Let. 19 July (1866) 108 A strolling company of ‘Ground and Lofty’ Tumblers.
1898 J. Hollingshead Gaiety Chron. viii. 330 The ‘talented Cocksure family’ in their celebrated ground and lofty performance.
1907 M. C. Harris Tents of Wickedness iii. iv. 260 He has resigned his parish, left the ministry and bought a seat on the Stock Exchange. Isn't that ground and lofty tumbling?
ground-angling n. fishing with a weighted line without a float, bottom-fishing ( Dict. Rusticum 1704); similarly ground angler.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fisher > [noun] > angler > others
troller1653
ground angler1835
spinner1836
bankster1885
switcher1893
plunker1926
moocher1947
flatliner1984
1835 T. T. Stoddart Art of Angling in Scotl. 47 Remarkably fine gut ought to be used by all ground anglers.
ground-bailiff n. a superintendent or inspector of mines (Simmonds Dict. Trade, 1858).
ground ball n. Cricket and Baseball = grounder n. 3c.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > types of delivery or ball
full toss1826
long hop1830
twister1832
bail ball1833
bailer1833
grubber1837
slow ball1838
wide1838
ground ball1839
shooter1843
slower ball1846
twiddler1847
creeper1848
lob1851
sneak1851
sneaker1851
slow1854
bumper1855
teaser1856
daisy-cutter1857
popper1857
yorker1861
sharpshooter1863
headball1866
screwball1866
underhand1866
skimmerc1868
grub1870
ramrod1870
raymonder1870
round-armer1871
grass cutter1876
short pitch1877
leg break1878
lob ball1880
off-break1883
donkey-drop1888
tice1888
fast break1889
leg-breaker1892
kicker1894
spinner1895
wrong 'un1897
googly1903
fizzer1904
dolly1906
short ball1911
wrong 'un1911
bosie1912
bouncer1913
flyer1913
percher1913
finger-spinner1920
inswinger1920
outswinger1920
swinger1920
off-spinner1924
away swinger1925
Chinaman1929
overspinner1930
tweaker1938
riser1944
leg-cutter1949
seamer1952
leggy1954
off-cutter1955
squatter1955
flipper1959
lifter1959
cutter1960
beamer1961
loosener1962
doosra1999
1839 Bell's Life in London 13 Oct. It was for the umpire at the bowler's end to decide whether it was a ‘ground’ ball.
1851 J. Pycroft Cricket Field vii. 99 The toss, the tice, the half volley, the long hop, and ground balls.
1948 P.C.C. Chron. (Pasadena, Calif.) 7 May 4/5 Salter hit a hard ground ball to shortstop Bill Davis.
ground-beam n. ‘the sill of a frame’ ( Cent. Dict.).
ground-bowler n. (see quot. 1934).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > bowls or bowling > [noun] > player
bowler?1518
timber-turner1599
sidesman1843
ground-bowler1874
soft second1905
1874 Baily's Monthly Mag. June 225 The club has an efficient staff of ground bowlers.
1891 W. G. Grace Cricket xi. 314 So pleased were the authorities of the M.C.C. with his [sc. W. Gunn's] first display at Lord's, that they made him the offer of a place as one of the ground-bowlers.
1934 W. J. Lewis Lang. Cricket 113 Ground-bowler, a professional bowler attached to a club as a member of its ‘ground staff’.
ground-bridge n. U.S. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) Ground Bridge, the well-known corduroy road of the South, laid on the bed of a creek or other body of water, to render it fordable.
ground-bundle n. Anatomy one of the bundles of nerve-fibres lying on either side of the grey matter of the spinal cord.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > nervous system > cerebrospinal axis > spinal cord > [noun] > parts of
segment1870
ciliospinal centre1881
myelocoele1885
ground-bundle1893
myelocele1896
1893 H. Morris Treat. Human Anat. 781 The anterior ground bundle appears to be continuous with the posterior longitudinal bundle..The lateral ground bundle is a mixed tract.
ground-cable n. that portion of a mooring-cable which is intended to lie on the sea-bottom.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > anchoring equipment > [noun] > anchor rope or cable > portion intended to lie on bottom
ground-cable1793
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §129 Our ground cables for the sloop could not yet be got ready.
ground chain n. Nautical (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > anchoring equipment > [noun] > anchor rope or cable > formed of chain > small piece which can come through hawse pipe
ground chain1883
1883 Man. Seamanship for Boys' Training Ships Royal Navy 195 Q. What is ground chain? A. A piece of small chain shackled to the anchor shackle,..of sufficient length to come through the hawse pipe when the anchor is high enough for catting.
ground-chamber n. a chamber on the ground floor.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > types of room by situation > [noun] > room on ground floor
ground-chamber1638
ground room1662
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 169 The ground chambers were large.
1886 R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. I. 223 The first floor, as usual, overhangs the ground-chamber.
ground cloth n. (a) (see quot. 1919); (b) = groundsheet n.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > tent > [noun] > floor
tent-bottom1902
groundsheet1907
ground cloth1919
1919 Gloss. Aeronaut. Terms (Royal Aeronaut. Soc.) 54 Ground cloth, a floor covering, usually of canvas, placed on the ground under an envelope to protect it from damage.
1931 T. S. Stribling Forge xxiv. 204 The oilcloths were for raincoats or for ground cloths, or they could be propped up with sticks for tents.
ground-colour n. (a) a first coating of paint (cf. 6b); (b) the prevailing colour of any object, diversified with markings of other colours.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [noun]
ground1340
root1340
substancec1384
fundament1395
foundationc1400
groundment?a1412
footing1440
anvila1450
bottom ground1557
groundwork1557
foot1559
platform1568
subsistence1586
subject matter1600
ground-colour1614
basisa1616
substratum1631
basement1637
bottoma1639
fonda1650
fibre1656
fund1671
fundamen1677
substruction1765
starting ground1802
fundus1839
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > art of colouring > [noun] > laying on of colour > of preparatory layer > preparatory layer
grounda1398
champ1573
ground-colour1614
sublition1656
dead colour1658
imprimatura1951
the world > matter > colour > [noun] > background colour
ground-colour1849
grounding1882
1614 T. Jackson Third Bk. Comm. Apostles Creede ii. 286 This conceit..serues as a ground colour for disposing mens soules to take the sable dye of Hell.
1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) III. 558 Do..as Zeuxis did, who painted for eternity; which you can never do, unless your ground-colours be well laid.
1849 Sketches Nat. Hist.: Mammalia III. 147 In adult specimens the ground-colour of the back is yellowish-white, with markings varying from dark gray to dusky black.
1860 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters V. 192 The ground-colours then to be laid firmly... On this first colour, the second colours.
1904 W. H. Hudson Green Mansions vi. 72 A coral snake..its ground colour a brilliant vermilion.
1912 Catal. Birds' Eggs Brit. Mus. V. 105 The ground-colour varies from greyish-white to very pale greyish-green.
1970 H. E. Smith Bantams iii. 20 Females..should be chosen for clear ground colour.
ground cover n. the plants covering the surface of the earth, esp., in horticulture, plants whose low, spreading habit of growth smothers weeds; so ground-coverer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > plants collectively > [noun] > covering the surface of the ground
sheet1793
screef1817
ground cover1900
plant cover1906
cover1909
1900 Cycl. Amer. Hort.: E–M 629/2 In suitable soil they [sc. Gaultherias] are apt to form a handsome, evergreen ground-cover.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 31 May 4/2 As soon as the ground-cover was gone, the soil lost its moisture.
1946 Nature 13 July 71/1 Sparse ground-cover of herbs and dense undergrowth of hawthorn, bird-cherry, etc.
1970 G. S. Thomas Plants for Ground-cover i. 3 Ground-cover can be of any height in nature or in the garden.
1970 G. S. Thomas Plants for Ground-cover i. 4 The use of ground-cover plants may be the epitome of natural gardening.
1970 G. S. Thomas Plants for Ground-cover p. xvii Herbaceous plants..were limited to the stalwart clump-formers and the ground-coverers.
ground-crab n. a kind of hoisting-apparatus used in mining (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1849 G. C. Greenwell Gloss. Terms Coal Trade Northumberland & Durham 17 Ground crabs are used in sinking, for lowering the sinking set of pumps as the pit is deepened.
ground detector n. any instrument which is used to detect an accidental connection to earth in a circuit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > conduction to earth > [noun] > instrument detecting connection
ground detector1904
1904 B. V. Swenson & B. Frankenfield Testing Electro-magn. Machinery I. 36 Figure Q shows a General Electric Ground Detector.
1958 Van Nostrand's Sci. Encycl. (ed. 3) 768/1 Lamp type ground detectors are used to a considerable extent on low-voltage circuits because they are reliable and cheap.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > surgical instruments > [noun] > instruments for extracting foreign bodies
ground-drawer1598
upheaver1598
crow-bill1611
probang1657
stork's bill1671
goose-bill1676
alphonsine1688
protracter1726
protractor1728
bullet-drawer1752
parasol probang1882
coin-catcher1895
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 7 b/1 If the bullet sticke faste in anye bone, we drawe him forth with that instrument which we call Extractor or Grownde-drawer.
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 13 b/2 This Grounde-drawer is verye acute on his end, becaus the bullet might sticke fast therone.
ground-drove adj. Obsolete (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1819 A. Rees Cycl. XVII Ground drove, in a Mine, is said of such parts as have been worked, or excavated for the ore or minerals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > tide > type of tide > [noun] > low
ground-ebba1420
low waterc1460
low tide1539
undertide1851
M.L.W.1904
a1420 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 669 God..whan þat his lust was, withdrow þe flood Of welþe, & at grounde ebbe sette he me.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 50 The floode was passed and sodainly of newe A lowe ground ebbe was fast by the strond.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 6680 It may noȝt full wele be sene Bot when the se grounde eb bene.
ground-end n. Mining (see quot.).
ΚΠ
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. x The grounde ende of a yong asshe.
ground-fast adj. firmly fixed in the ground; †also as n., that which holds a thing firm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > insertion or putting in > [adjective] > so as to be firmly fixed > in the ground
earthfastOE
ground-fast1659
sitfast1795
1659 C. Hoole tr. J. A. Comenius Orbis Sensualium Pictus lxxxiv. 173/1 The Nave, is the ground-fast [L. basis] of the Wheel.
c1680 E. Hickeringill Hist. Whiggism in Wks. (1716) I. 25 He is ground-fast and safe, that keeps to this certain Principle of Truth.
1720 D. Campbell in Hist. Life & Adventures D. Campbell Ep. Ded. p. xii In Yorkshire they kneel on a Ground-fast Stone..and say, All hail to the Moon.
1891 J. C. Atkinson Last of Giant-killers 215 Earth and sods and ground~fast rocks.
ground-fielding n. fielding or stopping a cricket-ball near the ground.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > [noun] > types of fielding
long-stopping1832
outfielding1851
pointing1863
ground-fielding1884
groundwork1898
outwork1899
glovework1906
slip-fielding1906
1884 I. Bligh in James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Ann. i. ii. 5 Our ground fielding throughout was both brilliant and effective.
ground-fish n. a fish which lives at the bottom of the water.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > [noun] > defined by habitat > that lives near bottom
grundel14..
bottom fish1828
ground-fish1856
1856 S. P. Woodward Man. Mollusca iii. 426 Immense quantities of Crustacea and shell-fish are taken with the trawl, as well as ground-fish.
1883 E. P. Ramsay Food Fishes New S. Wales 13 The Flathead is a ground-fish, but is found on a sandy bottom only.
ground-fishery n. fishing with the bait at or near the bottom of the water.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > using bait > on bottom
ground-fishing1833
ground-fishery1856
1856 S. P. Woodward Man. Mollusca iii. 427 In North Britain an extensive ground-fishery is conducted by means of long lines,—often a mile in length.
ground-fishing n. = ground-fishery n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > using bait > on bottom
ground-fishing1833
ground-fishery1856
1833 J. Rennie Alphabet Sci. Angling 64 It requires a finer top for fly-fishing than for trolling or ground-fishing.
ground-flat n. = ground floor n.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > [noun] > floor or storey > ground floor
first storeyc1384
first floor1549
ground floor1601
ground-story1657
terreno1740
rez-de-chaussée1802
street floor1813
street level1830
downstairs1841
ground-flat1865
1865 Daily Tel. 8 July In the consulting-room on the ground-flat.
ground force n. Military = land-force n.; also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > [noun] > an army
ferd823
herec855
drightOE
drightfolkOE
ferdingc1000
gingOE
land-fyrd11..
hostc1290
powerc1300
preyc1300
chivalry1382
puissance1423
enarmec1430
exercite1485
force1487
armya1522
land-force1614
wall1657
ground force1929
1929 F. P. Gibbons Red Napoleon ix. 222 The ground forces were exposed constantly day and night to bomb and gas attacks from above.
1951 Ann. Reg. 1950 322 Our people's ground forces must be strengthened continuously so that they can defeat any aggression.
1959 N.Z. Listener 17 Apr. 6/3 The reduction in the ground forces of the United States and Britain impairs their ability to fight limited wars.
1965 H. Kahn On Escalation vi. 128 Tactical nuclear weapons were a relatively small part of the NATO ground-force structure.
ground frost n. (also ground-frost) a frost on the surface of the ground, or in the upper layer of the soil (see also quot. ground n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [noun] > freezing or frosty weather > frost > specific types
black frosta1425
wet frost1832
radiation frost1889
ground frost1900
1900 Daily News 12 Oct. 5/1 Towards night, the thermometer fell briskly, and it seemed probable that a sharp ground frost would occur.
1958 H. M. Hayward & M. Harari tr. B. Pasternak Dr. Zhivago ii. viii. 249 Probably there's still ground frost in the mornings.
1963 Meteorol. Gloss. (Meteorol. Office) (ed. 4) 122 From 1906 to 1960, inclusive, the [British] Meteorological office practice was to record a ‘ground frost’ when the grass minimum thermometer reached 30°F or below... From 1 January 1961..no statistics have referred to ‘ground frost’. The use of the term ‘ground frost’ in forecasts signifies a grass minimum temperature below 0°C (32°F).
ground-game n. game which lives on the ground, as hares and rabbits.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > [noun]
preya1250
gamec1330
chase1393
waitha1400
purchasea1450
small gamec1474
quarryc1500
gibier1514
meat1529
hunt-beast1535
hunt1588
course1607
felon1735
ground-game1872
1872 Spectator 5 Oct. 1262 To give the occupant a right to kill ground-game (i.e., hares and rabbits).
1895 Law Times 13 July 255 The Ground Game Act, 1880.
ground gripper n. U.S. a shoe made so as to give the wearer a secure footing.
ΚΠ
1927 Sat. Evening Post (N.Y.) 24 Dec. 24/3 One day the boys would train on pemmican. The next day they would run in moccasins. Then they would discard the leather ground-grippers and skip around barefoot.
ground-grue n. dialect = ground-ice n.
ΚΠ
1835 J. Farquharson in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 125 330 [At Alford] they call it ground-gru; gru being the term by which they designate snow saturated with, or swimming in water.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > anchoring equipment > [noun] > anchor > set of belonging to a vessel
anchorage1593
anchorage1594
ground-hold1596
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. iv. sig. Cc Like as a ship with dreadfull storme long tost, Hauing spent all her mastes and her ground-hold . View more context for this quotation
ΚΠ
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 37 Nay thei [farms] are taken mostly at a ground-hop, before they fall, for feare of comming too late.
ground-itch n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > skin disorders > [noun] > itching diseases
cratcha1400
pruritusa1400
prurit1612
prurigoa1646
prurition1748
prurigo1798
ground-itch1823
frost itch1887
Morgellons2002
1823 J. Thacher Mil. Jrnl. 177 Men infected with the ground itch generated by laying on the ground.
ground-joint n. the joining of one stone or course in masonry with the ground or course immediately below.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > disposition of stones or bricks > [noun] > types of joint
tenon and mortise1610
mortise and tenon1631
meeting1663
rustic1728
white joint1758
ground-joint1793
flat joint1825
hick-joint1842
perpend1867
struck joint1876
tuck-joint1879
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §149 The ground joint of the work with the rock.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §199 The ground joint, or under-bed of each stone.
ground-joist n. a joist supporting the ground floor of a building ( Dict. Archit. 1851).
groundkeeper n. (a) Cricket = groundsman n.; (b) a root vegetable accidentally left in the ground during harvesting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > wild and cultivated plants > food plant or vegetable > [noun] > edible root(s) or bulb(s)
provision1800
groundkeeper1876
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > ground-keeper
groundkeeper1876
groundsman1886
1876 A. Haygarth's Cricket Scores & Biogr. V. 16 [G. H. Wright was engaged] on the Bramhall Ground, at Sheffield, where he still remains as groundkeeper.
1938 Nature 17 Sept. 530/1 Future policy..should aim at..the suppression of ground-keepers, always a fertile source of virus infection [in potatoes].
1961 New Scientist 30 Mar. 795/3 The mild winter has also meant that more beet crowns, ‘groundkeepers’ (the beet missed by the lifting machines), and common weeds infected by the virus will have lasted through the winter.
ground-landlord n. the owner of the land which is leased for building on.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > possessor > [noun] > owner > landowner > owner of land leased for building
ground-landlord1719
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 50 If they were Ground-Landlords, he hoped, if they built Tenements upon their Land..they would..grant them a long Lease.
1848 J. S. Mill Princ. Polit. Econ. II. v. iii. §6. 379 A tax on ground-rent, one would suppose, must fall on the ground landlord.
ground-layer n. †(a) one who lays a foundation; (b) in Pottery, etc., the workman who lays the ‘ground’ (sense 6b); similarly ground-laying n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > [noun] > peacemaker
peacemaker?a1425
make-peacea1513
pacifier1533
compounder1539
pacificator1539
truce-maker1552
ground-layer1603
stickler1615
peace-wright1718
peacemonger1808
honest broker1878
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > producer > potter > [noun] > involved in specific process
glazer1839
slapper1860
mould-runner1863
lathe-treader1865
jollier?1881
tower1894
ground-layer1898
placer1898
lead-glazier1899
glazier1900
thimble-picker1901
jiggerer1921
1603 King James VI & I Speech Parl. (1604) sig. B Hee was also the first ground-layer of the other Peace.
1884 C. T. Davis Pract. Treat. Manuf. Bricks 89 In fine enamelling, ground-laying is the first process.
1898 Daily News 8 June 2/5 Employed as a ground-layer at Stoke.
ground-leaf n. a leaf, spec. of a tobacco plant, growing next to the ground.
ΚΠ
1640 in Maryland Arch. 98 Bad Tobacco shall be judged ground leafes [etc.].
1784 J. F. D. Smyth Tour U.S.A. II. 136 In stripping they are careful to throw away all the ground leaves, and faulty tobacco.
1850 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1849: Agric. 320 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (31st Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 20, Pt. 2) VI ‘Ground leaves’ are those leaves at the bottom of the plant which become dry on the stalk, and ought to be gathered early in the morning when they will not crumble.
1851 E. B. Browning Casa Guidi Windows i. vi. 15 To let the ground-leaves of the place confer A natural bowl.
ground level n. Physics = ground state n.; (see also Compounds 1a above).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > raising energy level, excitation > [noun] > state of lowest level
ground level1923
ground state1926
1923 H. L. Brose tr. A. J. W. Sommerfeld Atomic Struct. & Spectral Lines vi. 325 In our diagram the absorption lines would have to be represented by arrows that start out from the natural or ground level and are directed upwards.
1953 L. H. Aller Astrophysics 25 The excitation potential in ev is the potential through which a bombarding electron must drop in order to acquire sufficient energy to excite an atom from the ground level to the level in question.
ground-mail n. Scottish payment for burying-ground.
ΚΠ
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor x, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 240 ‘Reasonable charges?’ said the sexton; ‘ou, there's ground-mail, and bell-siller..and the kist.’
ground-mass n. the compact basal part of an igneous rock, in which the distinctive crystals are imbedded.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > igneous rock > [noun] > part of
ground-mass1879
1879 F. Rutley Study of Rocks x. 168 In many cases felsite, or the groundmass of porphyries, consists of a microscopically fine-grained aggregate.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > other dances > [noun]
dance of Macabre?c1430
springc1450
lege de moya1529
bobc1550
lusty gallant1569
duret1613
fading1613
huckler1617
ground-measure1621
entry1631
slatter de pouchc1640
ballo1651
Irish trot1651
omnium gatheruma1652
clutterdepouch1652
upspring1654
passacaglia1659
shuffle1659
passacaille1667
flip-flap1676
chaconne1685
charmer1702
Cheshire-round1706
Louvre1729
stick dance1730
white joke1730
baby dance1744
Nancy Dawson1766
fricassee1775
bumpkin1785
Totentanz1789
Flora('s) dance1790
goombay1790
egg-dance1801
supper dance1820
Congo dance1823
slip-jig1829
bran-dance1833
roly-poly1833
Congo1835
mazy1841
furry1848
bull-dance1855
stampede1856
double-shuffling1859
frog dance1863
hokee-pokee1873
plait dance1876
slow dancing1884
snake dance1895
beast dance1900
soft-shoe1900
cakewalk1902
floral dance1911
snake dance1911
apache dance1912
grizzly bear1912
jazz dance1917
jazz dancing1917
jazz1919
wine-dance1920
camel-walk1921
furry dance1928
snake-dance1931
pas d'action1936
trance dancing1956
touch dance1965
hokey-cokey1966
moonwalk1969
moonwalking1983
Crip Walk1989
mapantsula1990
1621 B. Jonson Masque of Augures 145 Very sufficient Beares, as any..and can dance..and play their owne tunes..the Beareward offers to play them with any Citie-Dancers, christned, for a ground measure.
ground-moraine n. subglacial till, boulder-clay; also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > clay > [noun] > boulder clay
till1842
boulder-clay1859
ground-moraine1863
1863 A. C. Ramsay Physical Geol. & Geogr. Great Brit. (1878) xxiv. 395 Ground-moraine matter, the moraine profonde of Swiss and French authors.
1880 A. R. Wallace Island Life ix. 169 The ground-moraine, consisting of mud and imbedded stones.
ground-net n. a trawl or dragnet ( Cent. Dict.).
ΚΠ
1889 Cent. Dict. III. 2636/2 Ground-net.
ground-niche n. a niche having its base on a level with the floor or ground (Chambers Cycl. 1741, at Niche).
ground noise n. in sound reproduction, noise that is introduced by the recording medium (e.g. needle hiss on a gramophone record).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > signal > [noun] > unwanted part of signal > types of
stray1901
atmospherics1905
static1905
pickup1925
ambient noise1926
background1927
ground noise1929
hum1929
Johnson noise1929
microphonic1929
thermal noise1930
parasitic1943
flicker noise1947
overhang1971
1929 Trans. Soc. Motion Picture Engin. 13 53 Ground noise, any noise due to foreign matter or imperfections in or on the film arising during manufacture, processing or handling; does not include amplifier or photoelectric cell noises.
1938 Motion Picture Sound Engin. (Acad. Motion Pict. Arts & Sci.) iv. 44 Such a system..will differ from the ideal in several respects, one of which is the introduction of ‘ground noise’ during the recording process.
1942 Electronic Engin. 14 709 The fundamental failing of the disk is the fact that reproduction of the full frequency range recorded involves the production of atrocious scratch... We must not regard this ground noise as a defect altogether beyond improvement.
ground-note n. Music (see quot. 1877); also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > chord > [noun] > root of chord
radix1673
fundamental1721
generator?1775
root1806
pedal1854
ground-note1877
1877 J. Stainer Harmony vii. §77 The note on which a common chord is built..is called by some the Fundamental Bass, by others the Root or Ground-note.
1878 N. Amer. Rev. 126 305 Seriousness is..the ground-note of his temperament.
ground-officer n. one who has charge of the grounds and lands of an estate.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > steward or bailiff in charge of another's property
town-reeveeOE
reeveeOE
gravec1175
procuratorc1300
dispender1340
provost1340
bailiec1375
officerc1375
dispenserc1380
proctora1382
dispensator1382
farmerc1384
approverc1386
husbanda1387
stewardc1405
chamberlain1423
procurer1477
factor1520
bailiff1528
land-steward1535
improver1536
grieve1537
amtman1582
administrator1596
stead-man1609
dapifer1636
vogt1694
house jobber1709
commissioner1760
foreman1774
house agent1793
ground-officer1815
land-agent1846
wic-reeve1853
steadward1876
house farmer1882
house-knacker1884
land-sergeant1894
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. vii. 110 Their asses were poinded by the ground-officer when left in the plantations.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > framework of building > [noun] > members of
pan1284
balka1300
lacec1330
pautre1360
dorman1374
rib1378
montant1438
dormant?1454
transom1487
ground-pillar?a1500
barge-couple1562
spar foot1579
frankpost1587
tracing1601
sleeper1607
bressumer1611
master-beam1611
muntin1611
discharge1620
dormer1623
mounting post1629
tassel1632
baufrey1640
pier1663
storey post1663
breastplate?1667
mudsill1685
template1700
brow-post1706
brow-stone1761
runner1772
stretching beam1776
pole plate1787
sabliere1800
frame stud1803
bent1815
mounting1819
bond-timber1823
storey rod1823
wall-hold1833
wall-strap1833
truss-block1883
sleeper-beam1937
shell1952
?a1500 Nominale (Yale Beinecke 594) in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 779/15 Hec basys, the grownd-pelyr.
ground pin n. a main pin or beam in any structure.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > specific parts built or constructed > [noun] > beams or supports
sillc897
sole-tree1527
spur1529
brace1530
rance1574
strut1587
ground pin1632
ground-plate1663
strut-beam1668
wale-piece1739
strutting-beam1753
wale1754
stretcher1774
tie1793
tie-beam1823
strutting1833
lattice frame1838
tie-bolt1838
tie rod1839
brace-rod1844
web1845
box girder1849
plate girder1849
lattice beam1850
lattice girder1852
girder1853
twister1875
under-girder1875
truss-beam1877
raker1880
wind-bracing1890
portal strut1894
stirrup1909
knee-brace1912
tee-beam1930
tee section1963
binder-
1632 J. Vicars tr. Virgil XII Aeneids ii. 44 We..hack in twain The joyn'd crosse beams, and rais'd the ground-pins main.
a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (1635) 284 The ground-Pins of this Cottage begin to faile.
1843 J. C. Frémont Rep. Explor. Rocky Mts. (1845) 54 Our lodge had been planted, and, on account of the heat, the ground pins had been taken out, and the lower part slightly raised.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > specific parts built or constructed > [noun] > foundation(s)
staddlea900
ground-stathelnessa1300
foundation1398
groundsel1433
ground-pinning1448
underpinning1538
groundworka1557
footing1611
substruction1624
under-filling1624
substructure1726
found1818
pinninga1825
well1832
soling1838
masonite1840
ground-statheling-
1448 Acct. in Berks, Bucks & Oxon Archæol. Jrnl. (1907) 13 51 Item, we payde for groude [read grounde] pynnyng & mete & drynke iiii d.
1507–8 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 415 Cronall laboranti circa facturam muri superioris coquine, et grownde-pynnyng, et circa tegulacionem coquine.
1763 R. Forster in Philos. Trans. 1762 (Royal Soc.) 52 476 The ground-pinning of some houses, which had been burnt down.
ground-plane n. the horizontal plane of projection in perspective drawing.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > perspective > [noun] > planes, lines, or points
horizontal plane1638
eye-pointa1650
table1670
principal point1671
plan1678
geometrical plane1695
terrestrial line1704
vertical plane1704
baseline1724
station line1724
middle ground1753
picture plane1771
middle distance1778
primitive plane1798
seat1815
mid-distance1828
ground-plane1833
station point1859
mid-ground1864
no-sky line1927
1833 J. F. W. Herschel Astronomy viii. 271 The ecliptic is the plane to which an inhabitant of the earth most naturally refers the rest of the solar system, as a sort of ground-plane.
1859 J. R. Dicksee School Perspective i. v. 32 Ground plane, the plane on which objects to be represented stand.
ΚΠ
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. viii. 360 I stayed in a Spaniards house..who kept a roguish Taverne, and a ground planked Hospitality.
ground-plumbing n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1704 Dict. Rusticum Ground-plumbing; is to find out the depth of Water in fishing.
ground-provisions n. root-crops suitable for food, as yams, potatoes, etc.
ΚΠ
1827 O. W. Roberts Narr. Voy. Central Amer. 108 The raising of stock, and cultivation of ground provisions.
ground-retted adj. dew-retted.
ΚΠ
1898 Daily News 22 Oct. 9/6 Water and ground retted flaxes.
ground return n. U.S. = earth return n. 1.
ΚΠ
1893 E. J. Houston Electr. Transmiss. Intell. i. 9 The line wire or conductor may form what is technically known as a ground-return circuit.
1893 E. J. Houston Electr. Transmiss. Intell. i. 10 This is..called a ground-return, because the ground acts as the return conductor.
1968 D. G. Fink & J. M. Carroll Standard Handbk. Electr. Engineers (ed. 10) xiv. 3 In d-c transmission ground return can be used as one conductor. This means that each separately insulated transmission conductor, together with the ground-return path, forms a separate electric circuit.
ground room n. a room on the ground floor.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > types of room by situation > [noun] > room on ground floor
ground-chamber1638
ground room1662
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 294 The ground-rooms of the House.
1798 M. Edgeworth & R. L. Edgeworth Pract. Educ. I. x. 267 Locked up in a ground room.
ground-rope n. a rope by which the lower edge of a trawl is kept on the ground.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > net > [noun] > ropes on nets
norsel1440
head-roping1615
nostelling1615
warrope1615
way-rope1641
head rope?1748
warp1835
balk1847
trawl-warp1864
ground-rope1874
brail1883
shoreline1887
shore-rope-
1874 E. W. H. Holdsworth Deep-sea Fishing i. 58 The curved lower margin of the mouth of the trawl is fastened to and protected by the ‘ground rope’. This..answers the useful purpose of keeping the edge of the net on the ground.
ground-row n. a row of gas-jets on the floor of a theatre-stage.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > theatrical equipment or accessories > [noun] > stage lights
footlight1776
limelight1826
float1829
spotlight1875
ground-row1881
lime1892
baby spot1910
amber1913
spot1920
strip light1920
perch1933
follow spot1937
Mickey Mouse1937
pin spot1947
1881 Daily News 28 Dec. 2/1 The light distributed about the stage from concealed ‘battens’ and ‘ground rows’.
ground rule n. (a) Sport a rule devised for a particular ground; (b) a basic principle.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > judging or umpiring > [noun] > rule
ground rule1890
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical reasoning > [noun] > deductivism or a priori reasoning > a principle or axiom
principlea1387
maximc1450
first principle1525
ground1528
principal1545
principium1550
protasis1572
theorem1588
postulate1590
axiom1593
groundsel1604
postulatuma1620
praecognitum1624
datum1646
self-evident1675
philosopheme1678
dictum of all and none1697
dictum of Aristotle1827
prius1882
ground rule1890
posit1900
1890 H. C. Palmer Stories of Base Ball Field 70 In the olden days there was a ground rule which only allowed two bases for a hit over this fence.
1953 Manch. Guardian Weekly 27 Aug. 1 Ground rules of American press-conferences.
1965 G. McInnes Road to Gundagai vi. 104 His ground~rules were so elastic.
1967 M. McLuhan & Q. Fiore Medium is Massage 68 The groundrules, pervasive structure, and overall patterns of environments elude easy perception.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > special movements performed by trained horse > [noun] > types of jump > miscellaneous types of jump
gallop galliard1607
ground-salt1614
ballotade1686
1614 G. Markham Cheape & Good Husbandry (1668) i. ii. 23 To pass them about in ground-salts, as by taking up his fore-Legs from the ground both together, and bringing his hinder Feet into their place.
ground-seine n. a form of seine or dragnet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > net > [noun] > seine-net
seinec950
seine-net1603
sweep-net1605
shackle-head1762
sweeping-net1809
hang-net1812
stop-seine1825
purse seine1838
ring net1851
scringe1851
trawl-net1855
sweep-seine1856
ground-seine1874
purse seine net1879
shore seine1884
trek-net1913
1874 E. W. H. Holdsworth Deep-sea Fishing iv. 157 Seans may be divided into three classes, namely, the sean proper,..the ‘tuck-sean’, and the ‘ground or foot-sean’.
groundsheet n. a waterproof sheet for spreading on the ground as a protection against damp.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > tent > [noun] > floor
tent-bottom1902
groundsheet1907
ground cloth1919
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > [noun] > a covering > cloth or textile > for the person > used when sleeping outdoors
nap1892
groundsheet1907
1907 Daily Chron. 15 Mar. 9/5 Groundsheet (waterproof).
1928 Daily Express 12 May 5/5 Some of the motorists were having tea in the cars, and some had spread ground~sheets and cushions on the ground.
1959 S. Clark Puma's Claw v. 65 We could not afford heavy luxuries like..groundsheets.
1970 Which? May 132/1 The other half of the outer tent (the living room) does not have a groundsheet.
ground-sluice n. Mining (see quot. 1869).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places where raw materials are extracted > mine > [noun] > other places in mine
work1474
firework1606
stemple1653
stool1653
bink1675
engine pit1687
swamp1691
feeder1702
wall1728
bag1742
sill1747
stope1747
rose cistern1778
striking-house1824
plat1828
stemplar1828
screen chamber1829
offtake1835
footwall1837
triple pit1839
stamp1849
paddock1852
working floor1858
pit house1866
ground-sluice1869
screen tower1871
planilla1877
undercurrent1877
mill1878
blanket-sluice1881
stringing-deal1881
wagon-breast1881
brushing-bed1883
poppet-leg1890
slippet1898
stable1906
overcut1940
1869 R. B. Smyth Gold Fields Victoria 612 Ground-sluice, a channel cut in the bottom or bed-rock, into which the earth is conveyed by a stream of water.
ground-sluice v. to wash down earth by means of a stream of water.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > mining > mine [verb (intransitive)] > wash or stream > for gold
pan1850
ground-sluice1862
1862 J. G. Walker Jrnl. Voy. N.Z. (1863) Jan. We..watched a man ground-sluicing.
1879 R. J. Atcherley Trip to Boërland 138 Our host took us to his workings, where he was ground-sluicing.
ground-sluicing n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > mining > [noun] > washing or streaming > for gold
gold washing1683
panning1838
pan-washing1850
rocking1850
ground-sluicing1857
gold panning1882
wash-up1890
blacksanding1906
1857 Hutching's Mag. July 8/1 Among the more important operations connected with gold mining upon an extensive scale, is ‘ground sluicing’.
1860 Harper's Mag. Apr. 612/2 Ground-sluicing accomplishes the same result..with the chance of obtaining from the upper earth some gold, which..would be lost by the first plan.
1865 V. Pyke in App. Jrnls. House of Representatives N.Z. (5th Sess. 3rd Parl.) C.–4 a. 10 Of the various methods of working, that of ground sluicing is most universally adopted—a ground sluice being nothing more than a rectangular drain cut for a depth of about a foot into the surface soil.
1874 A. Bathgate Colonial Experiences viii. 91 In Otago, the principal kind of mining is ground-sluicing..similar to the method of working for tin in Cornwall.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > horizontal position or condition > [adjective] > level with the ground
ground-smooth?1520
?1520 A. Barclay tr. Sallust Cron. Warre agaynst Iugurth liv. f. 76 Whan Marius cam to any such towne..he set fyre in them and brent them grounde smothe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > structural parts > cartilage > [noun] > as substance
gristlea700
ground-sopec725
crushelc1440
cartilage?1541
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > [noun] > specific impurities > sediment
drastc1000
groundsa1340
ground-sopec1440
hovec1440
faecesa1475
groundingsa1475
fex1540
suds1548
grummel1558
foot1560
grout1697
sludge1702
faecula1815
c725 Corpus Gloss. (Hessels) C 186 Cartilago, grundsopa.
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 717/36 Hoc suber, intima pars corticis, Hoc abdomen, grundsope.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 216/1 Growndesope of any lycoure..fex, sedimen.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 228/1 Grounde soppe in lycoure, payn trempé.
ground-space n. the area of ground occupied by a structure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > position or situation > [noun] > actually occupied > on the ground
ground-space1866
1866 Chambers's Jrnl. 18 Aug. 521/2 The houses..are large.., with very little accommodation, considering the ground-space they occupy.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 28 Mar. 9/2 All citizens are users or consumers of air, water, ground-space.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > auditorium > [noun] > pit or ground floor
yard1609
ground1631
pit1649
ground-stand1659
cockpit1698
parterre1711
parquet1773
1659 Lady Alimony i. iv. sig. B2 All our Galleries and Ground-stands are long ago furnished.
ground state n. [translating German grundzustand, lit. ‘fundamental state’] Physics the stationary state of lowest energy of a quantized system (as an atom or molecule).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > raising energy level, excitation > [noun] > state of lowest level
ground level1923
ground state1926
1926 H. H. L. A. Brose tr. A. J. W. Sommerfeld Three Lect. Atomic Physics ii. 35 To every electron in its ground state there belongs an original momentum s = ½.
1946 Nature 26 Oct. 593/2 To evaluate D for a diatomic gas, it is necessary to examine the vibrational energy-levels of the ground-state.
1963 B. Fozard Instrumentation Nucl. Reactors ii. 13 This is duly emitted as radiant energy as the excited electrons return to the ground state.
Thesaurus »
Categories »
ground-stathelness n. foundations.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > specific parts built or constructed > [noun] > foundation(s)
staddlea900
ground-stathelnessa1300
foundation1398
groundsel1433
ground-pinning1448
underpinning1538
groundworka1557
footing1611
substruction1624
under-filling1624
substructure1726
found1818
pinninga1825
well1832
soling1838
masonite1840
ground-statheling-
a1300 E.E. Psalter cxxxvi. 7 Vnto þe grond-staþelnes [v.r. groun~staþelinge] in it.
ground station n. Radio a complex of buildings where radio and radar equipment is used in connection with aeronautical and aerospace projects.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > navigation of course of aircraft > [noun] > navigational systems > buildings for
ground station1919
1919 Radio Rev. Dec. 105 On aeroplanes, the problem of the reception of wireless signals is complicated... There is always so much noise that signals must be of much greater intensity than at ground stations in order to be of any use.
1920 Flight 10 June 624/1 Radio-Telephony.. Procedure.—Ground to air and vice versa. The following illustrates the procedure adopted for work between a ground and an air station.
1966 Electronics 14 Nov. 58 The ground station, which was publicly introduced Nov. 10 in Melbourne, Fla., is also behind schedule and running 40% over cost expectations.
ground-story n. = ground floor n.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > [noun] > floor or storey > ground floor
first storeyc1384
first floor1549
ground floor1601
ground-story1657
terreno1740
rez-de-chaussée1802
street floor1813
street level1830
downstairs1841
ground-flat1865
1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 103 You shall feele that heat above..in the ground stories below, though your sieling be a foot thick.
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 307 Brick walls in the basement and ground-stories of buildings.
ground-strake n. = garboard strake at garboard n. (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867).
ΚΠ
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Ground-strake.
ground stroke n. Tennis a stroke played near the ground, after the ball has hit the court.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > types of stroke
service1611
serving1688
screw1865
cut1874
cutting service1874
boast1878
first serve1878
smash1882
twister1884
cross-shot1889
lob1890
ground stroke1895
lob ball1900
twist service1901
boasting1902
cross-volley1905
get1911
chop1913
forehander1922
kick serve1925
forehand1934
touch shot1936
dink1939
net shot1961
overhead1964
groundie1967
slice1969
moonball1975
moonballing1977
1895 H. W. W. Wilberforce Lawn Tennis 51 There are two ways in which a ground-stroke may be taken, namely, at the top of the bound, and again quite late, when the ball is near the ground.
1970 Times 5 June 14/6 His services and ground strokes were hit to a good length.
ground-substance n. Physiology the homogeneous matrix in which the structural elements of a tissue are embedded.
ΚΠ
1882 Quain's Elements Anat. (ed. 9) II. 58 The ground-substance, matrix or intercellular substance of the connective tissue.
ground-sweat n. slang the grave; to take a ground-sweat, to lie in the grave.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > grave or burial-place > [noun]
buriels854
througheOE
burianOE
graveOE
lairc1000
lair-stowc1000
lich-restc1000
pitOE
grass-bedOE
buriness1175
earth housec1200
sepulchrec1200
tombc1300
lakec1320
buriala1325
monumenta1325
burying-place1382
resting placea1387
sepulturea1387
beda1400
earth-beda1400
longhousea1400
laystow1452
lying1480
delfa1500
worms' kitchen?a1500
bier1513
laystall1527
funeral?a1534
lay-bed1541
restall1557
cellarc1560
burying-grave1599
pit-hole1602
urn1607
cell1609
hearse1610
polyandrum1627
requietory1631
burial-place1633
mortuary1654
narrow cell1686
ground-sweat1699
sacred place1728
narrow house1792
plot1852
narrow bed1854
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > burial > be buried [verb (intransitive)]
underlie1648
to lay one's bones1698
to take a ground-sweat1834
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Grownd-Sweat, a Grave.
1834 F. Mahony Rel. Father Prout (1836) II. 117 We waked him in clover, And sent him to take a ground-sweat.
ground-sype n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > [noun] > water in or percolating through soil
sock1799
ground-sype1839
soil water1892
soil solution1901
pore water1927
1839 W. B. Stonehouse Hist. Isle of Axholme 25 The water..is not spring water, but merely what is termed a ground sype, i.e. water filtering through from the surface.
ground-table n. Architecture the plinth or projecting course resting on the foundation of a wall; an earth-table.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > wall of building > [noun] > other parts of wall
quoin1532
ground-table1640
breast1655
patand1656
raddling1673
breast1674
offset1721
breastwork1779
base1790
breast beam1828
dry area1833
chimney-breast1842
wall-head1898
1640 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 97 Plinth and Ground-table for ye South Range.
ground-tier n. (a) the lowest tier of goods in a vessel's hold (Young Naut. Dict. 1846); (b) the lowest range of boxes in a theatre.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > bottom or part under water > [noun] > hold > lowest tier of goods in
ground-tier1820
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 305 The hold of the ship must be cleared of its superstructure of casks, until the ‘ground-tier’, or lowest stratum of casks, is exposed.
ground-timbers n. the main timbers laid on the keel of a ship, floor-timbers.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > [noun] > timbers of hull > floor timber(s)
wrongc1000
runga1625
ground-timbers1627
cross-piece1706
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ii. 2 Before you vse any plankes, they lay the Rungs, called floore timbers, or ground timbers, thwart the keele.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §85 The interior ground timbers.
1881 L. R. Hamersly Naval Encycl. at Ground-timber In making up the frame of a wooden ship, the timbers of the lower course are called ground-timbers.
ground-tissue n. Botany the mass of cells separating the vascular bundles from each other and from the epidermis.
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the world > plants > part of plant > cell or aggregate tissue > [noun] > tissue > specific types of tissue
parenchyma1651
parenchyme1811
suberin1815
mesophyllum1832
prosenchyma1832
cinenchyma1835
bothrenchyma1838
merenchyma1839
pleurenchyma1839
mesophyll1848
trachenchyma1848
inenchyma1851
sterenchyma1856
collenchyma1857
rhytidome1861
procambium1872
palisade tissue1875
trace1875
taphrenchyma1876
phellem1877
ground-tissue1882
palisade parenchyma1882
stone-sclerenchyma1884
stereome1885
aerenchyma1889
chlorenchyma1894
1882 S. H. Vines tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. (ed. 2) 482 A loose spongy parenchyma..sharply defined from the firm compact ground-tissue.
1895 J. R. Green Man. Bot. I. 329 A mass of cells which constitutes the ground or fundamental tissue.
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1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. viii. 359 Arabs, who falling downe from the Mountaines..upon the ground toyled Moores [etc.].
ground-torpedo n. a torpedo fixed to the ground or bottom of the sea.
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society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > mine
undermine1682
American turtle1775
torpedo1776
submarine1846
mine1862
pole torpedo1877
ground-torpedo1878
spar torpedo1878
countermine1880
acoustic mine1923
magnetic mine1939
limpet1942
pressure mine1943
oyster1945
1878 N. Amer. Rev. 127 389 The ground-torpedo is fired by a wire connected with a battery from the shore.
ground-tow n. (see quot. 1794 and cf. 3b above).
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1669 J. Cox in St. Papers, Dom. 574 The ground tow sold to Mr. Gould is not fetched away.
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 54 Ground-tow, the loose hemp that comes from the sides of the hatchellers and spinners.
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the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > rising ground or eminence > [noun] > hummock
ground-wart1568
hub1669
mamelle1779
mamelon1830
hump1838
hummock1839
mammillation1849
1568 C. Watson tr. Polybius Hystories f. 68 This hill is straitly incompassed with stepe rocks, hauing a plain on ye very tippe..in ye midst there is a ground wart, which serueth for ye watch-house.
groundwater n. (see quots.).
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the world > the earth > water > [noun] > water in or percolating through soil > specific
groundwater1890
gravitational water1907
1890 Nature 27 Nov. 94 Mr. Latham defines ‘ground water’ as all water found in the surface soil of the crust of the earth, except such as may be in combination with the materials forming the crust of the earth.
ground wave n. the radio wave that passes from a transmitter to a receiver other than by reflection from the ionosphere, comprising one or more of the direct wave, the ground-reflected wave, and the surface-wave; also attributive.
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society > communication > telecommunication > radio communications > [noun] > radio wave > types of
space wave1899
surface wave1913
CW1920
beam1924
sky wave1924
ground wave1927
tweek1933
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > [noun] > waveform > types of waveform > radio waves
carrier1911
ground wave1927
1927 E. V. Appleton in Wireless World 5 Jan. 3/2 There is a very real difference between a ground wave and an atmospheric wave if we consider the magnetic force in the wave as well as the electric wave. For a horizontally travelling ground wave, such as that which travels direct from transmitter to receiver, [etc.].
1941 K. Henney Radio Engin. Handbk. (ed. 3) xv. 514 The signal..may have been propagated either by the ground wave, which travels along the earth's surface, or by the sky wave.
1943 F. E. Terman Radio Engineers' Handbk. x. 675 The surface wave..represents the whole of the ground wave when both transmitting and receiving antennas are located at the surface of the earth.
1965 BBC Handbk. 115 The signals which carry domestic broadcasting programmes are usually designed to be received by ground-wave on medium and long waves.
1965 BBC Handbk. 115 Ground-wave propagation of short waves is not feasible over long distances.
ground-ways n. (see quots.).
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [noun] > slip on which ships built or repaired > framework on which vessel rests > blocks or planks supporting
shorec1440
ground-ways1711
shole1711
ribband1779
block1850
breast shore1851
cleat1856
trussc1860
bilge-block1862
1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 160 Ground-ways; large Pieces of Timber lying a-thwart the Bottom of a Dock, or Launch, to make the Foundation firm and substantial.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Ground ways, the large blocks and thick planks which support the cradle on which a ship is launched. Also, the foundation whereon a vessel is built.
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the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > wind blowing at low level
ground-wind1618
underwind1726
undertow1879
1618 S. Ward Iethro's Iustice of Peace 56 It is the ground-winde, not the rack-winde, that driues mills and ships.
1620 T. Scott High-waies of God (1633) 16 It is for me to observe the ground-winde, not the rack-winde.
ground wire n. Telegraphy (a) (see quot. 1892); (b) U.S. an earth wire, i.e. a wire that is connected to earth, either directly or through another earthed conductor (the usual sense).
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1892 T. O'C. Sloane Standard Electr. Dict. (1893) 281 Ground-wire, a metaphorical term applied to the earth when used as a return circuit.
1910 Hawkins' Electr. Dict. Ground Wire.
1922 J. C. Wright Automotive Repair II. 208 If the ground wire is disconnected the generator will build up an excessive pressure within itself.
1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. (rev. ed.) XIV. 54/1 Lines built where severe thunderstorms are prevalent are equipped with overhead ground wires..for intercepting the lightning stroke and leading it to ground at the nearest tower.
ground-worm n. an earth-worm.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Annelida > [noun] > class Chaetopoda > order Oligochaeta > family Lumbricidae > member of (earthworm)
angletwitcheOE
earthworma1400
maddocka1400
tweyangle14..
wormc1400
grass worm1565
easse1582
mad1586
dew-worm1598
ground-worm1599
earth-mad1601
yellowtail1608
twatchel1661
rainworm1731
fish-worm1854
mudworm1871
intraclitellian1888
Morrenian1890
terricole1890
1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 158/2 For the Dropsye. Take groundewormes, choppe..them smalle [etc.]
1708 Colonial Rec. N. Carolina I. 682 The Fly, the ground worme, the house wormes [etc.].
1770 in Maryland Hist. Mag. 12 362 There are such Quantities of ground wormes, that I am afraid it will be difficult to get our tobacco Plants to stand when favoured with a Season.
1830 T. Carlyle in Foreign Rev. Jan. 29 Fools that we are! To dig, and bore like ground-worms.
1844 R. W. Emerson New Eng. Reformers in Wks. (1906) I. 259 Ground-worms, slugs, and mosquitos.
ground zero n. that part of the ground situated immediately under an exploding bomb, esp. an atomic one.
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society > armed hostility > hostilities in the air > [noun] > air operation > bombing raid > dropping of bombs > ground under exploding bomb
ground zero1946
hypocentre1960
1946 N.Y. Times 7 July E10/1 The intense heat of the blast started fires as far as 3,500 feet from ‘ground zero’.
1955 Bull. Atomic Scientists Sept. 255/1 There was no noticeable contamination even at ground zero at Hiroshima.
b. In names of animals (denoting generally, in regard to birds, those of terrestrial habits; in regard to other animals, those that burrow, or lie in holes or on the ground). Also ground-bird n., groundhog n., ground-squirrel n.
ground-bear n. the common brown bear, Ursus arctos (Cassell, 1884).
ground-bee n. a bee that nests in the ground.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [noun] > suborder Apocrita, Petiolata, or Heterophaga > group Aculeata (stinging) > superfamily Apoidea (bees) > bee that nests in the ground
ground-bee1849
1849 C. Brontë Shirley III. ii. 36 The nest..of some ground-bees, who had burrowed in the turf under an old cherry-tree.
1890 F. D. Lugard Diary 17 Apr. (1959) I. 195 Found ground bees' nest, and tried to dig it out, but it was some 16 inches down.
ground-beetle n. a general name for all beetles of the family Carabidæ.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Adephaga (carnivorous beetles) > Geadephaga (terrestrial) > family Carabidae > member of
carabid1835
scaritidan1837
ground-beetle1848
1848 Rural Cycl. II. 532 Ground beetle, a coleopterous insect, whose larva is found in corn-fields.
ground-cuckoo n. a member of one of the four genera of Neomorphinæ, a subfamily of the Cuculidæ.
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Cuculiformes (cuckoos, etc.) > [noun] > family Cuculidae > member of genus Carpococcyx (ground-cuckoo)
ground-cuckoo1883
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Cuculiformes (cuckoos, etc.) > [noun] > family Cuculidae > other members or allies of
malkoha1769
whetsaw1778
railbird1793
channelbill1801
guira1866
ground-cuckoo1883
channel-billed cuckoo1887
1883 Cassell's Nat. Hist. IV. 134 The Malays..capture..Ground Cuckoos.
1895 R. B. Sharpe in R. Lydekker Royal Nat. Hist. IV. 11 The four genera of ground-cuckoos, all of which are terrestrial birds with powerful feet for running.
ground-dove n. a dove or pigeon of terrestrial habits, esp. of the genera Chamæpelia and Geopelia (cf. ground-pigeon n.).
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > genus Geopelia (ground-dove)
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > member of genus Gallicolumba
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > pigeon > frequenting the ground
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > dove > frequenting the ground
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
1792 M. Riddell Voy. Madeira 60 Five kinds of doves are natives of Antigua, of which the ramier and the ground dove are the most beautiful.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. IV. 247 The ground-doves, little creatures which pass their time on the ground almost exclusively.
ground-finch n. (a) a bird of Swainson's sub-family Fringillinæ or true finches; (b) an American finch of the genus Pipilo ( Cent. Dict.).
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the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > arboreal families > family Fringillidae (finch) > [noun] > subfamily Fringillinae
ground-finch1837
1837 W. Swainson On Nat. Hist. & Classif. Birds II. 122 The Fringillinæ may correctly be termed ground finches; since, with scarcely an exception, they are all birds which habitually walk or hop in such situations.
ground-flicker n. the genus Soroplex of woodpeckers.
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1884–5 Riverside Nat. Hist. (1888) IV. 428 The South American ground flickers.
ground-gudgeon n. the loach.
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the world > animals > fish > class Osteichthyes or Teleostomi > order Salmoniformes (salmon or trout) > superorder Ostariophysi or order Cypriniformes > [noun] > suborder Cyprinoidei > member of family Cobitidae (loach)
loach1357
grundel14..
groundling1601
smerlin1668
ground-gudgeon1867
thunder-fish1882
weather-fish1886
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Ground-gudgeon, a little fish, the Cobitis barbatula.
1880–4 F. Day Fishes Great Brit. & Ireland II. 204 The loach..ground-bait or ground-gudgeon, Northumberland.
ground-hornbill n. the African genus Bucorvus (or Bucorax) of horn-bills.
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Coraciiformes (kingfisher, etc.) > [noun] > family Bucerotidae (hornbill) > miscellaneous types of
homrai1832
ground-hornbill1883
trumpeter hornbill1899
1883 Cassell's Nat. Hist. III. 355 The Ground Hornbills (Bucorax). These are an African form, of which there are two or three kinds.
ground-hornet n. a hornet that has its nest on the ground.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [noun] > suborder Apocrita, Petiolata, or Heterophaga > group Aculeata (stinging) > the wasps > superfamily Vespoidea (hornets) > vespa crabro (hornet)
hornetc725
scrabrouna1425
yellow jacket1796
ground-hornet1822
paper hornet1870
1822 Z. Hawley Tour 95 A nest of ground hornets, concealed under the logway.
1888 J. Inglis Tent Life Tigerland 68 I have known an elephant to bolt..through the attacks of wasps or ground hornets.
ground-lackey n. (see quots.).
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Bombycidae > genus Bombyx > silk moth > bombyx castrensis
ground-lackey1869
1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths (1874) 42 The Ground Lackey (Bombyx castrensis)..Very abundant in the Isle of Sheppey.
ground-lark n. (see quots.).
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the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > seed eaters > [noun] > family Emberizidae > subfamily Emberizinae (bunting)
buntinga1350
bunkin1570
ground-lark1848
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > non-arboreal (larks, etc.) > [noun] > family Motacillidae > genus Anthus > anthus trivialis
field titling1828
ground-lark1848
tree-lark-
1848 Zoologist 6 2290 The tree pipit is the ‘ground lark’.
1849 Zoologist 7 2354 The bunting is the ‘ground lark’.
ground-lizard n. (see quots.).
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the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Lacertilia (lizards) > [noun] > family Teiidae > amena dorsalis (ground-lizard)
ground-lizard1792
1792 M. Riddell Voy. Madeira 65 The ground lizard is commonly of the colour of the earth on which it creeps.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. III. 432 Ameiva dorsalis, the ground lizard, is one of the most abundant lizards in Jamaica.
ground-mite n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1847 W. B. Carpenter Zool.: Systematic Acct. II. §840 The Trombiidæ, or Ground-Mites, are distinguished by having the palpi converted into raptorial organs.
ground-mouse n. U.S. a field mouse of the genus Reithrodontomys.
ΚΠ
1839 J. Buel Farmer's Compan. 99 Moles or ground-mice cannot penetrate and find a shelter.
1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 462/2 A storm of expletives that must have startled the ground-mice and the birds.
ground parakeet n. any bird of the genera Geopsittacus and Pezoporus.
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Psittaciformes (parrots, etc.) > [noun] > genus Geopsittacus (night parrot)
ground-parrot1794
night parrot1847
ground parakeet1865
1865 J. Gould Handbk. Birds Austral. II. 87 The Ground-Parrakeet is diffused over the whole of the southern portions of Australia, including Tasmania.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. IV. 356 The crested ground-parakeet (Callipsittacus novæ-hollandiæ).
ground-parrot n. (a) = ground parakeet n.; (b) the Kakapo of New Zealand ( Strigops habroptilus).
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Psittaciformes (parrots, etc.) > [noun] > genus Pezoporus (ground-parrot)
ground-parrot1794
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Psittaciformes (parrots, etc.) > [noun] > genus Geopsittacus (night parrot)
ground-parrot1794
night parrot1847
ground parakeet1865
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Psittaciformes (parrots, etc.) > [noun] > genus Stringops (kakapo)
kakapo1843
owl parrot1861
ground-parrot1895
1794 G. Shaw Zool. New Holland 10 Psittacus terrestris. The Ground Parrot.
1827 N. A. Vigors & T. Horsfield in Trans. Linn. Soc. 15 278 Psittacus pulchellus... The settlers call it Ground Parrot.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. IV. 351 The single genus Geopsittacus..is the ground-parrot of Southern and Western Australia.
1895 Pop. Sci. Monthly Apr. 776 The Kakapo of New Zealand..also known as the ‘owl parrot’ or ‘ground parrot’.
ground-pearl n. (see quots.).
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Hemiptera > unspecified types > that lives beneath soil
ground-pearl1884
1884 Standard Nat. Hist. II. 218 Another [bug] is the curious ‘Ground Pearl’ of the Bahama Islands. It lives beneath the soil in crevices frequented by ants, and acquires a shell-like calcareous scaly covering.
ground-pig n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1883 Cassell's Nat. Hist. III. 133 In Sierra Leone it [Aulacodus Swinderianus] is known as the Ground Rat, or Ground Pig.
ground-pigeon n. a pigeon which passes most of its time on the ground; esp. one of the family Gouridæ; also = ground-dove n.
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > genus Geopelia (ground-dove)
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > member of genus Gallicolumba
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > genus Goura
crowned pigeon1779
crown pigeon1822
Goura1855
Victoria crowned pigeonc1882
ground-pigeon1885
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > pigeon > frequenting the ground
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > dove > frequenting the ground
ground-dove1792
ground-pigeon1885
1885 Challenger Rep. I. ii. 535 A little Ground Pigeon (Geopelia), not much bigger than a sparrow.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. IV. 242 The Gouridæ comprises the great ground-pigeons..They are natives of the Papuan Archipelago.
ground-pike n. the sauger ( S. canadense).
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. at Pike Ground-pike.
ground-puppy n. = hellbender n.
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the world > animals > amphibians > order Urodela or Caudata > [noun] > family Cryptobranchidae > cryptobranchus alleghaniensis (hellbender)
land pike1687
hellbender1812
mud-devil1825
water-puppy1832
Menopoma1835
menopome1842
man-eater1859
ground-puppy1863
mud puppy1877
1863 J. G. Wood Illustr. Nat. Hist. (new ed.) III. 185 A large array of names, among which are Tweeg, Hellbender, Mud Devil, and Ground Puppy.
ground-rat n. (see ground-pig n.).
ground rattler n. U.S. (see quot. ).
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the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > types of snake > [noun] > family Viperidae (vipers) > subfamily Crotalinae > member of genus Sistrurus
rattlesnake1624
cascabel1758
prairie rattlesnake1817
rattler1827
massasauga1835
Mississauga rattler1843
mangrove cascabel1858
sidewiper1873
prairie rattler1878
ground rattler1908
1908 Daily Chron. 29 Aug. 7/5 The red dog..jumped a ground-rattler.
1931 R. L. Ditmars Snakes of World x. 105 The Pygmy Rattlesnake or ‘Ground’ Rattler, Sistrurus miliarius, seldom more than sixteen to twenty inches long, has a rattle so minute it would be unnoticed outside a distance of about eight feet.
ground-robin n. U.S. any of several small American buntings, esp. the most common one, Pipilo erythrophthalmus; see chewink n.
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the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > seed eaters > [noun] > family Emberizidae > subfamily Emberizinae (bunting) > genus Piplio (ground-robin)
towhee1731
swamp robin1769
chewink1792
ground-robin1794
joree1884
1794 Philos. Soc. Trans. 4 110 This bird was the chewink, or ground robin.
1844 J. E. De Kay Zool. N.-Y. ii. 172 (heading) The Chewink or Ground Robin. Pipilo Erythrophthalmus.
1844 J. E. De Kay Zool. N.-Y. ii. 172 This beautiful and unobtrusive little species is..known..under the name of Ground Robin.
1883 W. Whitman Specimen Days in Specimen Days & Collect 100 Let me make a list of those [birds] I find here [in New Jersey]. Ground robins.
1955 Sci. News Let. 23 Apr. 271 The towhee is a bird of many aliases. ‘Ground robin’ is a popular name, and justified by his deceptively robin-like appearance.
ground-roller n. (see quot. and roller n.1).
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Coraciiformes (kingfisher, etc.) > [noun] > family Coraciidae > miscellaneous types of
ground-roller1883
1883 Cassell's Nat. Hist. III. 364 In Madagascar..there are found the Ground Rollers (Atelornis), extraordinary birds which live entirely on the ground, and only come out at dusk.
ground-scratcher n. a name for the Rasores or gallinaceous birds.
ΚΠ
1840 E. Blyth et al. tr. G. Cuvier Animal Kingdom (1849) 251 Rasores (ground-scratchers)—the Poultry.
ground-seal n. a large species of seal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Pinnipedia (seal, sea lion, or walrus) > [noun] > family Phocidae > seal > unspecified type of
clapmatch1744
ground-seal1868
1868 R. Brown in Proc. Zool. Soc. 427 The Grey Seal,..possibly this species may be confounded with the ‘Ground-Seal’.
1880 Standard 20 May 3 The ‘ground seal’, the largest of all the species.
ground-shark n. any species of shark that rarely comes to the surface, esp. the spinous shark ( Echinorrhinus spinosus).
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the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Pleurotremata > [noun] > miscellaneous types of
tiburon1555
dog1673
picked dog1673
picked dogfish1740
tiger-shark1787
piked dogfish1805
ground-shark1834
sea-attorney1849
gazer1861
shovel head1881
puff shark1902
spur-dog1921
whaler shark1937
megamouth1977
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Pleurotremata > [noun] > echinorrhinus spinosus (ground-shark)
ground-shark1834
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. x. 168 There are several kinds of sharks, but the most dangerous are the great white shark and the ground shark.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. III. 76 The sleeper shark Somniosus microcephala..By the fishermen it is known as ground-shark or gurry-shark.
ground sloth n. one of an extinct group of New World herbivorous mammals of the group Edentata, intermediate between the existing sloths and ant-eaters.
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the world > animals > mammals > order Edentata > [noun] > family Bradypodidae (sloth) > extinct sloths
sloth1791
Megalonyx1796
gravigrade1847
ground sloth1860
1860 R. Owen (title) Memoir on the Megatherium, or Giant Ground-Sloth of America.
1896 B.M. Guide Fossil Mammals 69 The entire skeleton of the great extinct ‘Ground Sloth’.
ground-snake n. (see quots.).
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the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > types of snake > [noun] > family Colubridae > miscellaneous types of
grey snake1703
garter-snake1775
boomslang1793
scarlet snake1842
blunt head1869
tiger-snake1869
house snake1870
ground-snake1885
lycodont1887
mole snake1893
sling-snake1895
file snake1912
mussurana1914
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > types of snake > [noun] > family Colubridae > member of genus Carphophis (worm-snake)
thunder-snake1800
ground-snake1885
worm-snake1885
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. III. 362 The genus Carphophis is very generally distributed; in the United States, the species amœna,..as the thunder, ground, or worm-snake, is most familiar.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. III. 363 The Coronella australis, or the Australian ground-snake.
ground-sparrow n. U.S. one of several sparrows of terrestrial habits, e.g. the grass-finch and savannah-sparrow ( Cent. Dict.).
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1874 B. F. Taylor World on Wheels ii. vii. 249 The ground-sparrows build in its margins.
1882 7th Vermont Agric. Rep. 1881–2 67 The blue bird, cat bird, wren and ground sparrows are acknowledged beneficial.
ground-spearing n. a fish ( Trachinocephalus myops) found in the tropical parts of the Western Atlantic (1896 Jordan & Everman Fishes Amer. 296).
ground-spider n. any kind of spider that burrows or lives under stones.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Arachnida > [noun] > order Aranea > member of (spider) > unspecified type > that burrows or lives under stones
ground-spider1867
1867 G. Lincecum in Amer. Naturalist 1 410 Some of the ground spiders carry their eggs in a sack attached to the tip of their abdomen.
1880 Handbk. S. Afr. (S. W. Silver & Co.) (ed. 3) 179 One of the great ground spiders in the Karroo districts..has a body 2½ inches long.
ground-thrush n. (a) a thrush of the genus Geocichla; (b) a bird of the Australian genus Cinclosoma; (c) the pitta or ant-thrush.
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the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > [noun] > genus Pitta
short-tail1792
pitta1826
ground-thrush1855
pittid1895
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > [noun] > miscellaneous types of
babbler?a1808
thrush-nightingale1840
wedge-bill1848
ground-thrush1855
thrush-babbler1878
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Turdinae > [noun] > genus Zoothera (ground-thrush)
White's thrush1836
ground-thrush1855
Siberian thrush1901
1855 J. Gould Birds Austral.: Suppl. (1869) Pl. 63 Cinctosoma castaneothorax,..this richly coloured and very distinct species of Ground Thrush.
1881 H. Seebohm Catal. Birds Brit. Mus. V. 147 The genus Geocichla comprises a well-defined group of forty Thrushes, which may be distinguished as Ground-Thrushes.
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. IV. 467 The pittas, or ground-thrushes, are a group of insectivorous birds which inhabit the forests of the eastern tropics.
ground-tit n. a small Californian bird ( Chamæa fasciata), allied to the wrens and titmice.
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the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > [noun] > subfamily Timaliinae > genus Chamaea (wren-tit)
wren-tit1872
ground-tit1885
1885 Standard Nat. Hist. IV. 506 The so-called ground-tit, or perhaps better wren-tit (Chamœa fasciata)..has very little in common with the true tits.
ground-wasp n. a wasp that has its nest on the ground.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [noun] > suborder Apocrita, Petiolata, or Heterophaga > group Aculeata (stinging) > the wasps > with nest on ground
ground-wasp1880
1880 M. Allan-Olney New Virginians I. 98 There is a small ground-wasp, like the English wasp in shape and colour; and a very large ground-wasp, whose sting is very vicious.
ground woodpecker n. a member of the family Picidæ that lives on the ground, esp. Colaptes campestris of South America and Geocolaptes olivaceus of South Africa.
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Piciformes > [noun] > family Picidae > genus Picus (woodpecker) > unspecified and miscellaneous types of
sheregrig1790
ground woodpecker1867
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Piciformes > [noun] > family Picidae > genus Colaptes (flicker) > colaptes campestris (pampas flicker)
ground woodpecker1867
pampas woodpecker1870
pampas flicker1912
1867 E. L. Layard Birds S. Afr. 238 The Sub-Family, Colaptinæ, or Ground Woodpeckers, have the bill broad at the base.
1958 E. T. Gilliard Living Birds of World 258/2 Tunnels of the Ground Woodpecker are often several feet deep.
1964 A. L. Thomson New Dict. Birds 896/2 The ‘ground woodpeckers’ prefer stumps or rotten branches where many insects (especially ants) have their favourite haunts.
ground-wren n. (a) the willow wren, Sylvia trochilus; (b) = ground-tit n.
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the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Sylviidae (warbler) > [noun] > genus Phylloscopus > species trochilus (willow-warbler)
willow-wren1766
wood-wren1794
feather-poke1831
ground-wren1837
willow-warbler1846
feather-bed1854
mealy-mouth1885
sally picker1885
ox-eye1888
1837 W. Macgillivray Hist. Brit. Birds II. 371 Willow Wren. Ground Wren.
c. In names of plants, generally denoting plants dwarfish in height and sometimes those of a trailing habit. Also ground-ash n., ground-ivy n., ground-pine n. † ground-chestnut n. Obsolete (see quot.). † ground-furze n. Obsolete = cammock n.1† ground-hele n. [ < German grundheil] Obsolete Veronica officinalis. † ground liverwort n. obsolete the lichen Peltigera canina† ground-myrtle n. Obsolete Butcher's Broom ( Ruscus aculeatus).† ground-saligot n. Obsolete Tribulus terrestris.
Categories »
ground-archil n. Lecanora parella, a species of lichen used in dyeing ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon 1886).
ground-berry n. (a) U.S. = checker-berry n. ( Cent. Dict.); (b) Australian (see quot.).
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > berry-bush or -tree > [noun] > Australasian
redberry1785
five-corner1826
wax-cluster1834
mako1848
makomako1848
snowberry1880
sea-berry1884
ground-berry1889
wineberry1889
1889 J. H. Maiden Useful Native Plants Austral. 8 Astroloma humifusum..and A. pinifolium..Commonly called ‘Ground~berry’.
ground-birch n. ? the dwarf birch (see birch n. 1b).
ΚΠ
1885 G. M. Fenn This Man's Wife in Good Words 61 A dozen bundles of clean-looking ground-birch sticks.
ground-box n. Buxus sempervirens, the small variety used for edgings.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > box-tree or shrub > [noun]
box treeOE
boxOE
busshe1430
dwarf box1578
ground-box1578
bush-tree1595
boxwood1652
tree-box1731
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. xxxii. 699 The smal Boxe is called..in Latine, Humi Buxus: that is to say, Ground Boxe, or Dwarffe Boxe.
ground-cedar n. (see quot.).
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1836 C. P. Traill Backwoods of Canada 120 A trailing plant bearing a near resemblance to the cedar, which..has..a claim to the name of ground or creeping cedar.
ground-cherry n. (a) the Dwarf Cherry, Cerasus Chamæcerasus; (b) an American plant of the genus Physalis.
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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > trees or plants bearing stone fruit > cherry tree > types of
mahaleb1558
goynire1572
mazzard1578
bird cherry1597
ground-cherry1601
wild cherry1666
red cherry1681
Royal Ann1724
sand cherry1778
rum cherry1818
marasca1852
sakura1884
black cherry1898
Japanese cherry1901
Tibetan cherry1948
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 448 Certain dwarfe Cherries..called Chamecerasi (i. ground cherry-shrubs).
1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) Ground cherry (Physalis),..sometimes called Winter Cherry.
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1693 C. Dryden in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires vii. 143 Treuffles, in English, call'd Ground-Chest-nuts, or Pignuts.
ground-cistus n. Rhododendron Chamæcistus (Paxton Bot. Dict. 1840).
ground-cypress n. Santolina Chamæcyparissus (Paxton Bot. Dict. 1840).
ground-elder n. a name for Sambucus Ebulus, Angelica silvestris, Ægopodium Podagraria (Britten & Holland Plant-n. 1879), and Mercurialis perennis (Paxton).
ground-enell n. (see quot. 1879).
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1597 J. Gerard Herball App. Ground Emell is Venus combe.
1879 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Ground Enell, Scandix Pecten. Hal. and Wr. print the name incorrectly Ground-evil.
ground-fir n. = ground-pine n. ( Cent. Dict.).
ground-flax n. the genus Camelina (Paxton).
ground flower n. a low-growing wild flower.
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the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > [noun] > characterized by habit or mode of growth
ground flower1818
1818 A. Eaton Man. Bot. (ed. 2) ii. 368 Polygala..rubella..false low-centuary, ground-flower.
1902 Daily Chron. 1 Apr. 2/1 At Easter there are but the ground-flowers.
1928 D. Cottrell Singing Gold I. vi. 50 The cup-like tufts of the little white ground-flower, with the sweetest scent in all Australia.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorn-tree or -bush > [noun] > rest-harrow
cammockc1000
ironhardOE
restelbowea1400
restharrow?1550
petty whin1551
gammock1578
ground furze1578
ground-furze1578
fin1649
cat whin1684
sitfast1808
thorny rest-harrow1822
land-whina1825
lady-whin1886
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. x. 669 Cammocke or ground Furze hath many small, lythey, or weake branches.
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the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Scrophulariaceae (figwort and allies) > [noun] > Veronica or speedwell
lemkea1300
God's eye?a1350
waterlink?a1425
brooklimea1450
fluellin1548
Paul's betony1548
wood-penny1570
water pimpernel1575
ground-hele1578
speedwell1578
wild germander1578
germander chickweed1597
leper's herb1600
lime-wort1666
water purpy1683
water-speedwell1690
beccabunga1706
rock speedwell1719
Welsh speedwell1731
germander speedwell1732
St. Paul's betony1736
vernal speedwell1796
wall speedwell1796
cat's-eye1817
wellink1826
skull-cap1846
forget-me-not1853
veronica1855
angels' eyes1862
horse-cress1879
faverel1884
St. Paul's betony1884
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. xvii. 26 Paules Betony, Herbe Fluellyn, or Speede~well, Ground-hele.
ground-hemlock n. an American variety of the common yew, Taxus baccata.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > conifers > yew trees > [noun]
yeweOE
yew treea1398
tax1541
vew1570
shin wood1778
ground-hemlock1807
taxad1846
Pacific yew1903
1807 F. Pursh Jrnl. Bot. Excursion 20 July (1869) 64 Here I found..taxus braccata or procumbens, calld Ground Hemlock.
1834 J. J. Audubon Ornithol. Biogr. II. 170 The Ground Hemlock (Taxus canadensis), or Canadian Yew.
ground-holly n. = checker-berry n. ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon).
ground honeysuckle n. a name for Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus.
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the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > lotus or bird's-foot trefoil
lote1548
ground honeysuckle1592
bird's-foot trefoil1650
bird's-foot lote1714
lotus1731
winged pea1739
bird's-foot trefoil1760
bloom-fell1799
fingers and thumbs1815
bird's-foot lotus1832
devil's claw1833
five-finger1845
lady's slipper1852
1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. B2 A little dapper flowre, like a grounde Hunnisuckle, called thrift.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. vi. 107/2 The Trefoil flower..is called, the ground honysuckle, the head being circle-like.
1918 L. B. Wilder Colour in my Garden 362 Lotus corniculatus—Bird's-foot-trefoil, Crow-toe, Ground-Honeysuckle.
1935 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 22 576 Ground Honeysuckle..Introduced in Boone and Clay counties.
ground-jasmine n. Passerina Stelleri ( Treasury Bot. 1866).
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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > other ornamental trees or shrubs
ambrosieOE
minced pie1739
Christmas bush1750
black-gum1785
Nandina1787
allamanda1789
restio1796
moutan1808
tree peony1811
snowberry1815
aucuba1819
zamang1819
Deutzia1837
ground-jasmine1848
nandin1866
heavenly bamboo1871
spathodea1873
Escallonia1882
nanten1884
o-matsu1916
Japanese pagoda tree1924
dove tree1933
1848 Rural Cycl. II. 532 Ground-jasmine, an ornamental, evergreen, white-flowered, Siberian undershrub of the wild olive-tree family. It is regarded by some botanists as a Stellera, and by others as a sparrow-wort.
ground-laurel n. the Trailing Arbutus ( Epigæa repens) of North America.
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the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > climbing or creeping plants > non-British climbing or creeping plants > [noun] > North American
woodbine1624
Virginia vine1629
staff-tree1633
Virginia creeper?1703
climbing vine1760
mayflower1778
pepper vine1783
arbutus1785
trailing arbutus1785
pipe vine1803
Ampelopsis1805
ground-laurel1814
waxwork1818
ivory plum1828
fever twig1830
yerba buena1847
mountain pink1850
New England mayflower1855
creeping snowberry1856
Virginian creeper1856
May blossom1871
sand verbena1880
staff-vine1884
1814 J. Bigelow Florula Bostoniensis 101 Ground laurel..grows in woods.
1867 Amer. Naturalist 1 154 In the books, this plant is known as the ‘Epigea repens’, but otherwise as the Trailing Arbutus, May Flower, and Ground Laurel.
1877 W. C. Bryant Twenty-seventh Mar. 27 Within the woods Tufts of ground-laurel,..send their sweets Up to the chilly air.
1932 P. A. Rydberg Flora Prairies & Plains Central N. Amer. 615 Epigaea L. Trailing Arbutus, Ground Laurel.
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the world > plants > particular plants > lichen > [noun] > other lichens
cup-moss1597
ground liverwort1597
Usnea1597
perelle1712
oak moss1728
necklace moss1759
rag1759
thrush-lichen1759
Iceland lichen1777
Iceland moss1785
map lichen1796
scripture-wort1835
letter lichen1846
dog lichen1853
fairy cups1855
velvet moss1858
manna lichen1864
tree-hair1866
famine-bread1887
old man's beard1888
sea ivory1966
1597 J. Gerard Herball iii. 1375 Hepatica terrestris. Ground Liuerwoort.
1736 N. Bailey Dict. Domesticum 296 Lichen cinereus terrestris,..Ash coloured Ground Liverwort.
1746 B. Franklin 27 Mar. in Papers (1961) III. 95 He has had two fair Specimens of the English ash-colour'd Ground-Liverwort, sent him.
1811 Select Rev. & Spirit of Foreign Mag. 5 292/2 It [sc. a disease] is remedied by bathing them [sc. blisters] with a decoction of ground liverwort.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 858/1 Peltidea, a genus of lichens the species of which are vulgarly confounded with Marchantia under the name of liverwort. The herbalists, however, distinguish them as Ground Liverwort.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > butcher's broom > [noun]
knee-hollyc1000
butcher's broom1538
petigrew1538
horse-tongue1562
knee-holm1562
knee-hull1562
ruscus1562
double-tongue1578
prickly box1578
tongue-blade1578
ground-myrtle1601
uvularia1706
Alexandrian laurel1760
punnai1794
shepherd's myrtlec1840
Jew's myrtle1856
knee-hul-
knee-hulver-
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 284 As for the herb Idæa, the leaues therof resemble those of ground-Myrtle or Butchers broom.
ground-needle n. Erodium moschatum.
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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > geranium and allied flowers > allied flowers > stork's bill
ground-needlea1400
pookneedlea1425
pink needle1548
stork's bill1562
heronsbill1578
moschata1578
musk cranesbill1640
Muscovy1648
musk stork's-bill1853
pin clover1880
a1400 Med. MS Gloss., in Archaeologia (1844) 30 409 Ground Nedle. Acus muscula.
1597 J. Gerard Herball App. Groundneedle is Geranium Muscatum.
ground-oak n. (a) an oak-sapling; (b) a species of dwarf-oak.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > oak and allies > [noun] > sapling or young tree
oakling1664
ground-oaka1723
oaklet1872
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > oak and allies > [noun] > dwarf, scrub, or shrub varieties
scrub oak1671
ground-oaka1723
shrub oak1753
bear oak1810
shin-oak1844
Sadler's oak1897
a1723 R. Hood & Little John in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1888) III. v. 135 Then Robin Hood stept to a thicket of trees, And chose him a staff of ground-oak.
1767 Bartram's Jrnl. 43 in W. Stork Acct. E. Florida (ed. 2) Rising ground producing..bay and water-oak, then ground-oak, chamærops.
1809 A. Wilson Foresters in Port Folio Nov. 454 Waving reeds and scrubby ground-oak grew Where stores and taverns now arrest the view.
ground pink n. Silene virginica; see fire pink n. at fire n. and int. Compounds 2b.
ΚΠ
1829 J. Togno & E. Durand tr. H. Milne-Edwards & P. Vavasseur Man. Materia Medica Table 479 Ground pink. Silene virginiana.
ground-plum n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) Ground Plum (Astragalus caryocarpus), a plant growing on dry soil on the Mississippi River..The fruit, which is a pod, closely resembles a plum.
ground-rattan n. and adj. (see quots.).
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > palm trees > [noun] > other palms
prickly palm1666
thorny palm1666
palm1681
sagwire1681
wine-palm1681
prickle-palm1684
prickly pole1696
brab1698
palmyra1698
thatch-tree1756
double coconut1775
nibong1779
nipa1779
rhapis1789
cocorite1796
groo-groo1796
borassus1798
cohune1805
traveller's tree1809
tucum1810
gomuti1811
taliera1814
lontar1820
salak1820
ground-rattan1823
geonoma1824
tucuma1824
nikau1827
wax-palm1830
murumuru1834
piassava1835
traveller's palm1850
bangalow1851
inajá palm1853
jacitara1853
peach palm1853
pupunha palm1853
jipijapa1858
urucuri1860
climbing palm1863
sea-apple1864
Alexandra palm1865
coquito1866
thatch1866
thatch-palm1866
açai1868
walking-stick palm1869
kentia1870
toquilla1877
Guadalupe palm1895
tortoiseshell palm1902
pimpler1909
1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict. Ground-ratan, the Rhapis flabelliformis.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 970/2 Rhapis flabelliformis is commonly called the Ground Rattan Palm, and is said to yield the walking-canes known by that name in this country.
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1597 J. Gerard Herball Table Eng. Names Grounde Saligot, that is Landcaltrops.
ground-sorrel n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1776 W. Clayton in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 66 100 Ground-sorrel every where [in the Falkland Islands] abounds in the greatest plenty;..the flower it produces is exactly like the wild rose which grows in the hedges in England.
ground-thistle n. the cardoon ( Cynara cardunculus).
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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > stalk vegetables > artichokes
artichoke1531
ground-thistle1591
cardoon1594
cactus1607
sherdoon1661
Spanish cardon1699
globe artichoke1763
Chinese artichoke1891
Japanese artichoke1902
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Cepa cavalle Ground thistle.
ground-willow n. a dwarf willow; also dialect = Polygonum amphibium (Britten & Holland).
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > willow and allies > [noun] > other types of willow
red willow1547
water willow1583
goat's willow1597
rose willow1597
sweet willow1597
French willow1601
siler1607
palm-withy1609
sallowie1610
swallowtail willow1626
willow bay1650
black willow1670
crack-willow1670
grey willow1697
water sallow1761
almond willowa1763
swallow-tailed willow1764
swamp willow1765
golden osier1772
golden willow1772
purple willow1773
sand-willow1786
goat willow1787
purple osier1797
whipcord1812
Arctic willow1818
sage-willow1846
pussy willow1851
Kilmarnock willow1854
sweet-bay willow1857
pussy1858
palm willow1869
Spaniard1871
ground-willow1875
Spanish willow1875
snap-willow1880
diamond willow1884
sandbar willow1884
pussy palm1886
creeping willow1894
bat-willow1907
cricket bat willow1907
silver willow1914
1875 J. Croll Climate & Time xvi. 262 In a region where..the ground-willow and dwarf-birch have to struggle for existence.
ground-yew n. = crowberry n. 1.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > berry-bush or -tree > [noun] > crowberry bush
crowberry1597
ground-yew1674
crake-berry1777
1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 141 The thin leaved heath, that bears a Berry, which some call ground Ewe.
Draft additions March 2006
ground share n. Sport (chiefly Association Football) = ground sharing n. at Additions; (also) an arrangement to share in this way.
ΚΠ
1986 Guardian 3 May 12/1 Charlton, so destitute they had earlier this season..put together a ground share scheme with Crystal Palace, are heading for the first division.
2005 Blackpool Gaz. (Nexis) 14 May The Lions are in the second season of their groundshare with Sedgley Park RUFC in Whitefield, near Bury.
Draft additions March 2006
groundshare v. Sport (chiefly Association Football) intransitive (of a team) to share a home ground with at least one other team, esp. temporarily.
ΚΠ
1987 Sunday Times 8 Mar. 21/1 Clyde, who groundshare with Thistle, seem to prefer the thought of sharing with greyhounds at their old ground, Shawfield.
2003 Guardian 7 June i. 13/4 Fulham... Currently groundsharing with neighbours QPR under a two-year deal.
Draft additions March 2006
ground sharing n. Sport (chiefly Association Football) the sharing of a home ground by two or more teams, esp. as a temporary arrangement.
ΚΠ
1975 Operational Res. Q. 26 811 Ground sharing could mean reduced season tickets for both clubs.
2004 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 15 Dec. 10 He said there is no specific rule about groundsharing but added: ‘Everything comes down to a simple straight vote between the member clubs.’
Draft additions October 2021
ground source adj. designating a type of heat pump that extracts heat from the ground, which can then be circulated through a building to warm it; (of energy) obtained using such a pump.A ground source pump system uses a system of fluid-filled pipes buried in the ground (which, in winter, is warmer than the air). After absorbing heat from the ground, the fluid passes through a compressor to raise it to a higher temperature.
ΚΠ
1954 Heating & Ventilating Feb. 78/2 This investigation was conducted with air to air heat pumps of the self-contained package types... However, a similar system with minor modifications will operate as well with water or ground source units.
2007 N. Rosen How to live Off-grid iv. 130 He also has a ground source heat pump which transfers the warmth from the ground to your living room.
2019 Herald (Scotland) 10 Dec. Glasgow, which is greener than most cities, has been identified as the local authority area in Scotland with the highest untapped capacity for ground source energy.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
groundadj.
/ɡraʊnd/, U.S. /ɡraʊnd/ 1.
a. Reduced to fine particles by grinding or crushing.
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the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > grinding or pounding > [adjective] > ground
poundedOE
bruiseda1382
brayed1382
groundenc1386
ystampeda1425
ybraidc1430
brayded1561
stamped1600
grinded1613
contrited1640
well grinded1651
beaten1666
comminuted1725
contunding1739
ground1765
beat1793
kibbled1826
machine-ground1862
ground-up1897
mortarized1929
micronized1940
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > materials having undergone process > [adjective] > ground or crushed
crumbleda1475
contunded1599
stamped1600
powdered1646
rough-ground1754
pulverized1762
ground1765
crushed1855
plough-ground1896
profile-ground1941
1765 Universal Mag. 37 320/2 Ground and powdered refined sugar.
1781 in D. Davis Hist. Shopping (1966) x. Pl. 11 Rice whole. Do. ground.
1818 Art of preserving Feet 131 A cataplasm of oatmeal and ground linseed.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 225 8 ounces of ground indigo.
1845 J. R. McCulloch Treat. Taxation ii. v. 224 The roots of chiccory..when dried and ground, bear a strong resemblance to ground coffee.
1846 Lady Montefiore Jewish Man. i. 2 Mix a little potatoe-flour, ground rice, or pounded vermicelli, in a little water.
1905 H. G. Wells Kipps i. i. 15 Toke and cold ground-rice puddin' with plums.
1947 ‘G. Orwell’ Shooting Elephant (1950) 165 Cold ground-rice pudding.
b. With adverbs, as ground-down (also figurative, exhausted), ground-up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective]
wearyc825
asadc1306
ateyntc1325
attaintc1325
recrayed1340
methefula1350
for-wearya1375
matea1375
taintc1380
heavy1382
fortireda1400
methefula1400
afoundered?a1425
tewedc1440
travailedc1440
wearisomec1460
fatigate1471
defatigatec1487
tired1488
recreant1490
yolden?1507
fulyeit?a1513
traiked?a1513
tavert1535
wearied1538
fatigated1552
awearya1555
forwearied1562
overtired1567
spenta1568
done1575
awearied1577
stank1579
languishinga1586
bankrupt?1589
fordone1590
spent1591
overwearied1592
overworn1592
outworn1597
half-dead1601
back-broken1603
tiry1611
defatigated1612
dog-wearya1616
overweary1617
exhaust1621
worn-out1639
embossed1651
outspent1652
exhausted1667
beaten1681
bejaded1687
harassed1693
jaded1693
lassate1694
defeata1732
beat out1758
fagged1764
dog-tired1770
fessive1773
done-up1784
forjeskit1786
ramfeezled1786
done-over1789
fatigued1791
forfoughten1794
worn-up1812
dead1813
out-burnta1821
prostrate1820
dead beat1822
told out1822
bone-tireda1825
traiky1825
overfatigued1834
outwearied1837
done like (a) dinner1838
magged1839
used up1839
tuckered outc1840
drained1855
floored1857
weariful1862
wappered1868
bushed1870
bezzled1875
dead-beaten1875
down1885
tucked up1891
ready (or fit) to drop1892
buggered-up1893
ground-down1897
played1897
veal-bled1899
stove-up1901
trachled1910
ragged1912
beat up1914
done in1917
whacked1919
washy1922
pooped1928
shattered1930
punchy1932
shagged1932
shot1939
whipped1940
buggered1942
flaked (out)1942
fucked1949
sold-out1958
wiped1958
burnt out1959
wrung out1962
juiced1965
hanging1971
zonked1972
maxed1978
raddled1978
zoned1980
cream crackered1983
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > grinding or pounding > [adjective] > ground
poundedOE
bruiseda1382
brayed1382
groundenc1386
ystampeda1425
ybraidc1430
brayded1561
stamped1600
grinded1613
contrited1640
well grinded1651
beaten1666
comminuted1725
contunding1739
ground1765
beat1793
kibbled1826
machine-ground1862
ground-up1897
mortarized1929
micronized1940
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. III. 80 Synovia..mixed with ground-down particles of cartilage.
1899 Outing 30 171/1 A country of ground-up pebbles and water.
1911 J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 49 The ground-down starving man.
1946 S. Spender European Witness (1947) 32 The German soldiers now have the soulless ground-down expression as in carved-wood faces of Slav peasants.
2.
a. Having the surface abraded or fashioned by grinding, esp. of joints, stoppers, etc. intended to fit closely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > smoothness > [adjective] > made smooth > by grinding
ground1807
1807 T. Thomson Syst. Chem. (ed. 3) II. 41 Phials with ground stoppers.
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Ground-joint.
a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 427/2 Ground-cock.
b. ground-down n. (n.): the trade designation of a kind of needle (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > sewing > equipment for > needle > types of
pack-needle1327
packing needle1597
Whitechapel needle1737
quadrille1818
blunt1833
sharps1834
darning-needle1848
between1849
ground-down1862
straw1862
darner1882
wool-needle1882
stocking needle1886
swing needle1954
1862 M. T. Morrall Hist. Needle-making 39 The Ground downs are..for tailors, and are shorter than the Short Sharps.
1880 L. S. Floyer Plain Hints Examiners Needlework 95 There are sharps, the ordinary long sewing-needles; ground downs, short and stumpy.
3. ground glass: †(a) glass which has its surface polished by grinding; plate glass (obsolete); (b) glass which has had its transparency destroyed by grinding or other processes; also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > glass and glass-like materials > [noun] > glass > glass polished by grinding
ground glass1793
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > glass and glass-like materials > [noun] > glass > glass destroyed by grinding
ground glass1793
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) Explan. Plate 6 The panes were of ground glass, on account of strength.
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 420.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xviii. 170 The ground-glass windows are made more dim by shutters.
1869 J. Tyndall Notes 9 Lect. on Light §103 If the screen be semi-transparent, say of ground glass or tracing-paper.
1885 W. D. Howells Rise Silas Lapham i. 2 He..pushed the ground-glass door shut.
4. ground wood n. (see quot. 1937).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > [noun] > pulp
pulp1727
stuff1745
paper pulp1839
wood-pulp1876
ground wood1885
mechanical wood pulp1887
straw pulp1888
soda pulp1893
sulphate pulp1907
1885 G. F. Green in Rattray & Mill Forestry & Forest Products xviii. 473 Ground wood was first used for paper~making about the year 1846, when it was manufactured by Keller.
1937 E. J. Labarre Dict. Paper 119/1 Ground wood, wood pulp produced by grinding wood; another term for mechanical wood.
1955 Times 5 July p. ii/2 Some will be cut into lengths for the groundwood mill.
Draft additions 1993
Chiefly North American. Of meat, esp. beef: reduced to very small pieces in a mincing-machine; (finely) minced. Cf. grounden adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of meat > [adjective] > methods of dressing meat
triped1597
hasheda1643
oliveda1643
estamped1648
boned1660
fricasseed1672
collared1689
rolled1747
filleted1871
venisonized1881
Frenched1900
piqué1904
Cumberland1905
bone-in1914
ground1929
1929 E. Hemingway Farewell to Arms ii. xv. 106 They had the look of not too freshly ground hamburger steak.
1936 I. S. Rombauer Joy of Cooking (ed. 2) 209 Combine the vegetables and add: 1 pound ground beef, 1 pound ground pork, ½ teaspoon salt, 1/ 8 teaspoon paprika.
1955 W. Gaddis Recognitions ii. i. 292 A half-pound of ground beef waited in the kitchen.
1970 D. MacKenzie Night Boat to Puerto Vedra 172 A few seamen were at the taco stands... He..bought himself a cone of maize flour filled with peppered ground meat.
1991 Business Traveller Jan. 43/2 A splendid stew of veal, blood pudding, chicken, ground pork, eggs and vegetables (escudella i carn d'olla).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
groundv.
/ɡraʊnd/, U.S. /ɡraʊnd/ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > make stable, establish [verb (transitive)]
fastenOE
grounda1300
confirmc1300
establec1386
settlec1386
establish1533
entrench?1587
fix1605
stabilitate1642
substantiate1792
stabilify1871
stabilize1875
freeze1936
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > build or provide with specific parts [verb (transitive)] > lay foundations
grounda1300
foundc1330
groundsel1486
lay1594
a1300 E.E. Psalter viii. 4 Þe mone and sternes..Þat þou grounded to be swa.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28853 Almus..es to þe sawl als a wall grunded ful fast and will noght fall.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xxiii. 2 He abouen þe seas grundid it.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. viii. 74 Gret God, that all thys warld began And growndyd it in good degré.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 86 The drye erthe, hys handes hathe grounded.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Luke vi. 48 That house..was grounded vpon ye rocke.
1591 E. Spenser Virgil's Gnat in Complaints sig. K Th' Okes deep grounded in the earthly molde.
1627 P. Fletcher Locustæ iv. ii Deep grounded on that Rocke most firmely stood.
2. To set on a firm basis, to establish (an institution, a principle of action, belief, science, conclusion or argument), on some fact, circumstance, or authority.† b. simply.
a. const. on; also in (now only in passive).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > make stable, establish [verb (transitive)] > on, in, or into
groundc1374
confirmc1386
inground1581
secure1609
fix1662
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 1644 (1672) Moral vertue grounded vpon trouþe.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 332 He can not grounde þis lawe in reson.
a1415 J. Lydgate Temple Glas 1199 Lat no dispeire hindir þe with drede, But ay þi trust opon hir merci grovnd.
1539 Act 31 Hen. VIII c. 4 Actions of det..grounded vpon contract or specialties.
1583 A. Nowell et al. True Rep. Disput. E. Campion sig. D1v You ground the credit of S. Iames Epistle..vpon these Councils.
1639 J. Woodall Wks. (1653) Pref. 5 Galen saith..all arts are grounded upon experience and reason.
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 13 The impossibility of grounding Evangelick government in the imitation of the Jewish Priesthood.
1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 74 They must necessarily have had some probabilities whereon they grounded their opinion.
a1727 I. Newton Chronol. Anc. Kingdoms Amended (1728) ii. 252 Nechepsos..invented Astrology, grounding it upon the aspects of the Planets.
1769 in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. 134 It is..the..law of the land, grounded upon the clearest principles of reason and common sense.
1789 Durnford & East's Reports III. 467 The right of a seller to his goods, where he cannot receive payment for them, is grounded in conscience.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) II. 104 An oligarchy which grounded its political claims solely on superior wealth.
1875 A. Helps Self-discipline in Ess. 16 Self-discipline is grounded on self~knowledge.
1884 B. Bosanquet et al. tr. H. Lotze Metaphysic 516 The nature and occurrence of these actions being..grounded in something external.
ΚΠ
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 362 Þis state or power is þe vicar of þe godheede as it may be growndid here.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 342 Firste shulde þe fend grownde þat þis pope is Petris viker.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor i. xx. 125 Doom of resoun and lawe of kinde and not Holi Scripture muste expresseli grounde this..if it be in eny wise groundable and leeful.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 132 Wythout that ther ys no gud ordynance can be stablyschyd nor grondyd.
1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xlii. v Still my hope is grounded, That thy anger being spent, I by day thy love shall tast.
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xii. 331 Copernicus hath so well grounded this doctrine, that [etc.].
1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) 15 Yf he confesse, we may ground our sentence.
a1628 F. Greville Alaham ii. iv, in Certaine Wks. (1633) 35 How should I ground a faith, that faithlesse know My selfe to be?
1650 T. Bayly Worcesters Apophthegmes 55 That is it they desire, and thence they would ground their quarrel.
a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) i. 28 We knew not wherein to insist, nor where to ground a complaint.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) i. ii. 50 But intellectual Reason hath to do with universals, and for the most part grounds and directs its Ratiocination by them.
1724 A. Collins Disc. Grounds Christian Relig. 5 The Apostles ground and prove Christianity from the Old Testament.
c. In passive with adverbs. Of conjectures, fears, etc.: To have a (good or bad) foundation.
ΚΠ
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. ix. 228 We afterwards found our suspicions..to be well grounded.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. i. i. 127 A fear of battery, or being beaten, though never so well grounded, is no duress.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) II. xvi. 322 Their suspicions and fears were not ill grounded.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > fix or establish in position > specifically a person
ground1382
instate1613
fix1638
install1647
induct1707
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Hab. i. 12 Thou groundidist [L. fundasti] hym strong, that thou shuldist chastise.
1423 Kingis Quair cxxxviii Gif the hert be groundit ferm and stable In goddis law.
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. viii. 75 If he be grounded in very mekenes & fulfilled wiþ dyvine charite.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. liv. C In rightuousnes shalt thou be grounded.
a1540 R. Barnes Lawfull for Priestes to marry Wiues in W. Tyndale et al. Wks. (1573) ii. 326/2 They themselues are grounded onely of their owne sensuall mynde, hauyng no learnyng, nor reason for them.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 7579 He is gret of degre, groundit of old.
1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον iv. 205 Appolonia a virgin, but somewhat grounded in years.
1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 56 Such a losse as this, is able to undo a Planter, that is not very well grounded.
a. reflexive. To rest or rely upon, esp. in argument. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > trust [verb (reflexive)]
trowc950
tresta1250
affyc1350
grounda1387
sickera1400
traista1400
repose1539
stay1549
rest1574
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > argument, source of conviction > use as basis [verb]
ground?1531
predicate1754
to start with ——1820
to start from ——1827
to start from ——1827
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 401 Som..fondith for to grounde hem uppon þe auctorite of Quintilianus.
1471 G. Ripley Compound of Alchymy Admon. xii. in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 192 Uppon my wrytynge therfore to ground the be bold.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clxxvi. f. ciiv Antonyus, whiche groundeth hym vpon ye said Uyncent.
?1531 J. Frith Disput. Purgatorye i. sig. d In solutinge this argument he groundeth him on two lyes atonce.
1635 G. Hakewill Apologie (ed. 3) v. vi. 340 Some..grounding themselves upon those words, have beene so bold as to affirme [etc.].
1827 J. Bentham Rationale Judicial Evid. III. vii. v. 625 The state of things on which the above question grounds itself, is [etc.].
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > trust [verb (intransitive)] > rely on
wrethea1225
treousec1275
resta1382
to stand upon ——a1393
hang1393
lengc1440
arrest1523
reckon1547
ground1551
stay1560
depend1563
repose1567
rely1574
count1642
to make stay upon1682
allot1816
tie1867
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > argue, dispute, discuss [verb (intransitive)] > rely on in argument
ground1551
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Qviii If herin they grounded vpon reason they wold mock them.
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits xi. 165 Graue and learned men..labour to deliuer their opinion, concealing the reasons whereon they ground.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) ii. §10 I say moreover, and I ground upon experience, that poisons contain within themselves their own antidotes.
a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) iii. 113 He..wisely grounding upon true Christian Expectations..will wholly fix upon what is to come.
5. transitive. To instruct (a person) in the fundamental or elementary principles of any branch of study. to be grounded in: to be (well or ill) acquainted with (a subject or science).
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > [verb (transitive)] > ground or initiate
foundc1394
groundc1405
introduce1475
induce1490
enter?1529
institutea1538
flesh1591
induct1603
initiate1603
principle1608
elementa1639
foundation1661
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > be or become conversant [verb (intransitive)]
to be grounded inc1405
skill?1529
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 416 He was grounded in Astronomye.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 3 In all poynctes throughly grounded and acquainted with the preceptes.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 47 Touching his studies..he came young and not well grounded from Oxford University.
1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid ii. viii. 73 He that is well grounded in Surgery will find Receipts enough in his daily practise.
1725 G. Berkeley Proposal in Wks. (1871) III. 217 To ground these young Americans thoroughly in religion.
1839 Ld. Brougham Hist. Sketches Statesmen George III, Horner (ed. 2) 319 He was well grounded in the exacter sciences.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. viii. 135 I grounded myself pretty well in Latin and Greek.
1884 L. J. Jennings in Croker Papers I. i. 27 He always sought to ground himself thoroughly in the facts [etc.].
6. Of a non-personal subject: To form or supply a basis, ground, or reason for (something). rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > reason or cause [verb (transitive)] > be a reason for
ground1667
1667 S. Pepys Diary 2 Sept. (1974) VIII. 415 I did then desire to know what was the great matter that grounded his desire of the Chancellor's removal.
a1677 I. Barrow Wks. (1683) II. 141 Every attribute, every title, every relation of God doth ground an obligation.
1788 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 353 A single day's retard in which [the payment of interest] would ground a prejudice of long duration.
1875 E. Poste tr. Gaius Institutionum Iuris Civilis (ed. 2) iii. Comm. 444 A convention is statutory which derives validity from some statute, and grounds or destroys a right of action.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > close examination, scrutiny > scrutinize [verb (transitive)]
through-seekOE
gropea1250
to search outa1382
ensearch1382
boltc1386
examinea1387
ransackc1390
ripea1400
search1409
overreach?a1425
considerc1425
perquirec1460
examec1480
peruse?1520
grounda1529
study1528
oversearch1532
perscrute1536
scrute1536
to go over ——1537
scan1548
examinate1560
rifle1566
to consider of1569
excuss1570
ripe1573
sift1573
sift1577
to pry into ——1581
dive1582
rub1591
explore1596
pervestigate1610
dissecta1631
profound1643
circumspect1667
scrutinize1671
perscrutatea1679
introspect1683
rummage1690
reconnoitre1740
scrutinate1742
to look through1744
scrutiny1755
parse1788
gun1819
cat-haul1840
vivisect1876
scour1882
microscope1888
tooth-comb1893
X-ray1896
comb1904
fine-tooth comb1949
a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. C.ii Some other man That..can Well scrypture expounde And textes grounde.
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 6/2 M. Paré hath verye learnedlye discussed, and, as it weare, grownded this questione, in his boockes of Chyrurgerye.
8. To furnish with a ground or basis for painting, embroidery, etc. (see ground n. 6). Also to ground in: in Calico-printing, to apply (a second colour or a mordant) to a piece of material already printed with the colour of the first block.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > [verb (transitive)] > prepare
grounda1398
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. xi. 1285 Þe mene colours beþ ygrounded in non colour bettre þan in white.
1581 Act 23 Eliz. c. 9 §3 No kynde of Clothe..shall from henceforth bee mathered for a Blacke, excepte the same be firste grounded with Woade onelye.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 230 (Calico-printing) Ground-in the neutral reserve..Ground-in the topical colours at pleasure.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 921 Pieces [of wall-paper] intended to be satined, are grounded with fine Paris plaster.
1860 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters V. 194 It is all the same to him whether he grounds a head..or whether he grounds the whole picture.
1862 C. M. Yonge Countess Kate iii. 52 She had a bunch of flowers in Berlin wool which she was supposed to be grounding.
9. † b. figurative. To ‘floor’, ‘gravel’. Obsolete. rare.
a. To bring to the ground, knock down. In quot. c1275 there is apparently some error in the text.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > bring to the ground/lay low
layc888
afelleOE
to throw downa1250
groundc1275
to lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird)c1275
stoopc1275
evena1382
abatec1390
to bring downa1400
falla1400
welt?a1400
throwa1450
tumble1487
succumb1490
strewa1500
vaila1592
flat1607
level1614
floor1642
to fetch down1705
drop1726
supplant1751
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13253 Þus we [perh. insert eou] scullen grundien [c1300 Otho sarui] ȝif Godd us wule fulsten.
1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) ii. ii. 121 a Their aduersaries bete doune and grounded.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iv. xxxi. 193 Swich a strok he yaf me þat.. doun he hadde gronded me ne hadde my burdoun be.
1812 Sporting Mag. 39 187 Penton was ultimately grounded by a doubler on the left side.
1908 H. G. Wells War in Air viii. 252 Not one third..succeeded in getting back to the mother airship. The rest were either smashed up or grounded.
1968 R. D. Eagleson & I. McKie Terminol. Austral. Nat. Football ii. 13 Ground, a variant for bring down, recorded by two informants.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > confuse, perplex, bewilder [verb (transitive)] > nonplus
stagger1556
gravel1566
set1577
trump1586
bumbaze1587
puzzlec1595
ground1597
stunt1603
nonplus1605
pose1605
stumble1605
buzzard1624
quandary1681
bamboozle1712
hobble1762
stump1807
have1816
floor1830
flummox1837
stick1851
get1868
to stick up1897
buffalo1903
1597 R. Tofte Laura ii. sig. D3 Tis a worke to ground the wisest Hed.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 398 Miracles that ground Mans wrangling reason, and his wits confound.
10. in extended use.1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 102. ¶6 When the Fans are thus discharged, the Word of Command in Course is to ground their Fans.
a. To place or set on the ground; to cause to touch the ground; to lay down. †Also, to bring down (a weapon).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > use or wield (a weapon) [verb (transitive)]
wieldOE
swipc1275
layc1330
fall1597
ground?1650
the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > put or lay down
allayOE
seta1000
to lay downc1275
to put downa1382
to set downa1400
deposec1420
to sit down1600
depositate1618
deposit1749
ground1751
plank1859
?1650 Don Bellianis 228 He..hoisted aloft his sword..and grounded it with mighty force upon the Giants head.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 96. ⁋9 When once she had grounded her foot, neither gods nor men could force her to retire.
1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins II. xx. 255 I ordered my Bearers..to ground me just at the Foot of the Wood.
1773 J. Duncombe Surrey Triumphant in T. Evans Old Ballads (1784) IV. 331 Ere the foe could ground his bat, His ardour Lewis quell'd.
1774 Laws of Cricket (Ridley) 11 Except his bat is grounded within it [i.e. the popping-crease]... If..the Wicket is struck down..before his Foot, Hand, or Bat, is grounded over the Popping-Crease.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod ii. iii. 99 Before the striker is at home, or can ground his bat.
1884 Instr. Mil. Engin. (ed. 3) I. ii. 90 In grounding ladders, the men..lower the ladders gently on to the ground.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 10 Nov. 2/1 The Rules Committee have decided that..the [golf] club may be grounded.
b. to ground arms (Military): to lay one's arms upon the ground, esp. as an act of surrender.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defeat > suffer defeat [verb (transitive)] > surrender (a town, etc.)
yield1297
ayield1450
render1481
surrender1509
capitulate1610
to lay down (one's) arms1659
to ground arms1855
1711 Mil. & Sea Dict. (ed. 4) i, at Straw A word of Command, to dismiss the Soldiers when they have grounded their Arms.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. Ground arms, a word of command on which the soldiers lay down their arms upon the ground. This word of command has been exploded since the introduction of the new exercise. Soldiers are now ordered to pile arms.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 325 Every burgher who should anywhere meet a person wearing the Macdonald tartan should ground arms, in token of submission.
1874 Rifle Exercises & Musketry Instructions 58 Ground Arms—Turn the rifle on the heel, lock to the rear, sink the body, bending both knees; and place the rifle flat on the ground.
1884 M. Thornhill Pers. Adventures Indian Mutiny ii. 13 Eventually the native officer ordered the guard to ground their arms, and allowed us to enter the office.
c. To connect with the earth as an electrical conductor. Also absol. Chiefly U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > conduction to earth > connect to earth [verb (intransitive)]
ground1881
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > conduction to earth > connect to earth [verb (transitive)]
ground1881
earth1885
1881 Operator 15 June 218/1 Never, if possible, ground within a hundred feet of any place where an electric light wire is grounded.
1882 T. D. Lockwood Pract. Information for Telephonists 28 It is not well to ground on a plate of one metal at one end and another metal at the other.
1883 T. D. Lockwood Electr., Magn., & Electr. Telegr. 138 If an accidental connection with the ground should occur..it is at once tested for by grounding the circuit at the office.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 21 Mar. 7/3 One wire would be grounded.
1967 Technol. Week 20 Feb. 35/1 A resistance inserted in the ‘V's’ effectively ‘grounds’ the antennas.
d. intransitive. To alight on the ground; to come to or strike the ground.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > descend and settle > on the ground
land1693
ground1751
1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins II. xx. 261 I hovered over the City a considerable time, to be sure of grounding right.
1801 J. Strutt Sports & Pastimes ii. iii. 85 [Trap-ball] He is also out if he strikes the ball into the air and it is caught..before it grounds.
1908 H. G. Wells War in Air viii. 258 The Zeppelin..circled down and grounded in Prospect Park, in order to land the wounded.
e. To keep ‘on the ground’, prevent (an aircraft, pilot, etc.) from flying.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > regulation and control of flying > [verb (transitive)] > prohibit from flying
ground1931
1931 Vanity Fair Nov. 78/1 A flying ticket is the pilot's license, which he holds until he is grounded by having the license cancelled.
a1940 F. S. Fitzgerald Last Tycoon (1941) i. 6 The assistant pilot is always in uniform... I want to find out if we're going to be grounded in Nashville.
1940 War Weekly 2 Feb. 464/2 With catapults at an aerodrome, damage done by the enemy would not ‘ground’ all the aeroplanes in the hangars.
1944 Flight 20 July 61 That's young Begley. He's being grounded to-morrow!
1970 Daily Tel. 28 Apr. 1/8 Three..jets were grounded by mechanical faults and an accident.
11. in extended use.1850 H. T. Cheever Whale & his Captors ix. 137 The bow of the boat grounded on the body of the whale.
a. intransitive. Of a vessel: To run ashore or aground; to strand. Const. on.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > grounding of vessel > be aground [verb (intransitive)] > go aground
ground1624
to take (the) ground1880
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iii. v. 59 Our bote..chansing to grownd vpon a many shoules lying in the entrances.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. iii. 146 She..grounded between two small Islands.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles v. xiv. 191 With that the boats approach'd the land, But Edward's grounded on the sand.
1868 E. Edwards Life Sir W. Ralegh I. xxv. 615 The flagship had already grounded under circumstances of peril.
b. transitive. To cause to run ashore. †Also figurative in passive. To be stuck fast, unable to help oneself.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > grounding of vessel > be aground (by so much) [verb (transitive)] > cause to run aground
ground1658
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words To Ground a ship, to bring her on the ground to be trimmed.
1704 J. Logan in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1870) IX. 288 My life..is not worth the living: I am grounded on all sides.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. App. 16 If you water above in the River, do not ground your Boat.
1806 Naval Chron. 15 388 Three of our ships seemed to be grounded.
12.
a. transitive. To lower (an anchor) to the bottom.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor (a ship) [verb (transitive)] > anchor (a ship) > cast (anchor) > lower to bottom
ground1632
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. vii. 329 Our Anchors being grounded, and our Boate ready to court the shoare, I bad farwell to all.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §143 We proceeded lowering till our anchor was grounded.
b. intransitive. To sink to, or settle on, the bottom.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink > in liquid > to the bottom of the sea
ground1739
1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 30 We sunk the Caisson..to try how it sat and grounded.
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling ii. 53 The bait grounds too soon.
Draft additions December 2016
Rugby. transitive. To touch (the ball) on the ground, esp. in scoring a try.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > play rugby football [verb (transitive)] > actions to ball
to knock on1642
punt1845
to touch down1859
ground1863
touch1864
scrimmage1871
heel1886
scrum1889
hook1906
tap-kick1960
1863 Sporting Gaz. 5 Dec. 917/2 Those clubs who allow carrying the ball, and thus are allowed to run in to their opponents' goal and ground the ball behind the line.
1878 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports (ed. 14) 682a/2 The possessor of the ball is running to touch it down, which must be done by grounding it behind his rivals' goal-line.
1879 Boy's Own Paper 18 Jan. 2/3 The players [at Rugby football] are scrambling to their feet, and waiting for the ball to be ‘grounded’.
1912 Times 7 Oct. 12/4 Stegmann outwitted his opponents and grounded the ball between the posts.
1965 Irish Times 6 Feb. 14 Stanley Williams, our full-back, who could tackle any man, put his hands in his pockets, and let Morkel run past him and ground the ball under the posts.
1983 Manch. Guardian Weekly 30 Jan. 24 Dyl went over but was turned on to his back before he could ground the ball.
2016 Sunday Times (Nexis) 28 Feb. (Sport section) 2 Ireland were grossly unlucky not to be awarded a try when Josh van der Flier almost certainly grounded the ball over the line but there was no angle for the TMO to confirm it.
Draft additions June 2003
Baseball.
a. intransitive. To hit a ground ball, esp. to a player or position on the field. Also (of a batter): to be put out by having a ground ball fielded successfully before he or she reaches first base. Frequently in to ground out (to).
ΚΠ
1896 Washington Post 1 Sept. 8/3 Smith grounded out to Dahlen.
1901 N.Y. Times 2 Aug. 5/5 Lowe grounded to Davis, who threw him out at first, Murphy scoring while the play was being made.
1915 Z. Grey Redheaded Outfield (1920) vi. 124 Rand grounded to second.
1954 S. Povich Washington Senators vi. 182 The Giants got their fourth run home when Jackson grounded out.
1986 USA Today 11 July c4/3 Angels 8th: Petlis grounded out to second.
1997 Chicago Tribune 31 May ii. 9/5 Moises Alou grounded into a forceout at second and Bonilla hit a high hopper past first baseman Andres Galarraga.
b. transitive. To hit (a ground ball); to bat (a hit) along the ground.
ΚΠ
1926 N.Y. Times 26 July 9/4 Frisch grounded an easy one to Flowers, who fumbled the ball.
1955 A. Hano Day in Bleachers viii. 91 Lockman grounded a high bouncer to Avila who threw easily to first.
1973 K. Wagenheim Clemente! x. 203 Willie Stargell grounded a single to the left of second base.
1992 Buffalo (N.Y.) News 23 Aug. b5/1 Jose Canseco grounded an RBI double into the left-field corner.
Draft additions June 2003
transitive. Originally U.S. To confine (a child) to his or her home outside school hours, as a punishment. Cf. grounded adj.1 and gate v.1
ΚΠ
1953 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 4 Apr. 118/4 If the infraction is a minor one, I lock up the TV set... If it's big, I ground them for a fortnight.
1959 W. C. Gault Drag Strip ii. 27 I told my dad about that race I had with you and he's grounded me for two weeks.
1974 Evening Herald (Rock Hill, S. Carolina) 18 Apr. 17/4 I have been smoking for a long time. My Mother has been trying to get me to quit. Every time she has caught me at it she has grounded me for three days.
1997 Independent 18 Aug. 2/1 A seven-year-old boy burned down his family home after he was grounded for being naughty.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c725
adj.1765
v.c1275