meetv.

Brit.

/miːt/, U.S.

/mit/, Scottish English

/mit/

Inflections: Past tense and past participle met;

Forms: Old English metan, Old English moeta (Northumbrian), Middle English met, Middle English mett, Middle English meyt, Middle English meytt, Middle English miete, Middle English–1500s mete, Middle English–1600s meete, Middle English– meet, 1500s meate, 1500s might, 1500s–1600s meat; Scottish pre-1700 meat, pre-1700 meett, pre-1700 meette, pre-1700 meit, pre-1700 meite, pre-1700 meitt, pre-1700 met, pre-1700 mete, pre-1700 mett, pre-1700 meyt, pre-1700 miet, pre-1700 mit, pre-1700 1700s– meet. Past tense Old English moette (Northumbrian), Old English–1500s mette, Middle English meth, Middle English meyt, Middle English–1600s mett, Middle English– met; Scottish pre-1700 mate, pre-1700 meit, pre-1700 mete, pre-1700 mett, pre-1700 mette, pre-1700 meyt, pre-1700 1700s– met. Past participle Old English gemeted, Old English gemett, Old English gemoetad (Northumbrian), Old English meted, Old English–Middle English mett, Middle English imet, Middle English imett, Middle English imette, Middle English mete, Middle English meyt, Middle English ymette, Middle English–1500s mette, Middle English–1600s ymet, Middle English– met, 1600s meet, 1600s meett; Scottish pre-1700 maitt, pre-1700 1700s– met.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian mēta , Middle Dutch moeten , moten , muoten (Dutch †moeten ; now only in the compound ontmoeten ), Old Saxon mōtian (Middle Low German mōten ), Middle High German muoten , muozen , Old Icelandic mœta (Icelandic mæta ), Old Swedish möta (Swedish möta ), Danish møde < a Germanic weak verb derived from the base of moot n.¹In intransitive use the perfect tenses were frequently formed with the auxiliary be in Middle English and early modern English; subsequently this became archaic and poetic. See, for example, senses 7c, 7e. Compare ymete v.

I. To come upon by chance.

1. transitive. To find, come across, come upon by chance. Now only in regional use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)]

meeteOE

yaina1000

yseeOE

oftakelOE

to meet withc1300

finda1325

encounter1520

occur1527

bemeet1608

to fall in1675

society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > fight (a battle, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > meet in battle

meeteOE

to meet withc1325

abattlec1400

recounter1455

check1535

to come up against1535

entertain1555

yoke1581

cope1594

conflict1599

clash1650

engage1697

engage1698

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of people

meeteOE

joinc1400

to meet up1884

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific with object a thing

meeteOE

strike1798

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > coming from another direction (of person)

meeteOE

to come (also go, run, etc.) to meeta1325

nose1816

to bump into ——1894

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iii. vii. 62 He hwæðre þa burg gewann & eall þæt moncynn acwealde þæt he ðærinne mette.

OE Cynewulf Elene 985 Ðæt sigorbeacen þurh meotodes est meted wære, funden in foldan, þæt ær feala mæla behyded wæs.

OE Paris Psalter (1932) cxviii. 160 Þæt is weorðlic fruma worda þinra, þæt þær byð soð symble meted.

OE tr. Theodulf of Orleans Capitula (Corpus Cambr.) xxi. 325 Mon on þam feldum þara haligra gewryta swiðe eaðe þa wæpnu metan mæg, mid þam mon þa uncysta ofercuman mæg.

lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xxx. 69 Hwi ofermodige ge þonne ofer oðre men for eowrum gebyrdum buton anweorce, nu ge nanne ne magon metan unæþelne?

?a1300 Names Hare (Digby 86) in Proc. Leeds Philos. & Lit. Soc. (1935) 6 350 (MED) Þe mon þat þe hare Imet, Ne shal him neuere be þe bet.

c1425 (?a1400) Arthur (Longleat 55) 343 Þe ferst lond þat he gan Meete, Forsoþe hyt was Bareflete.

c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 83 (MED) He ne haþ no parfiȝt siȝt, but he stumbliþ comounly at alle þingis þat he metiþ.

1652 J. Shirley Doubtful Heir ii. 26 We have scap'd a Brook, to meet a greater stream.

1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. ii. iii. 174 Of this Intemperies you will find an Observation in Herpes... And whereever you meet it, you shall find difficulty.

1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. i. 14 We met the main stream where it parts into the 2 Channels.

1739 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature I. iii. 184 A person, who stops short in his journey upon meeting a river in his way, foresees the consequences of his proceeding forward.

1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 117 I had not gone..a mile, when, meeting a dirty road, I turned over a stile.

1796 J. Austen Let. 15 Sept. (1995) 9 We met Lady Sondes' picture over the Mantlepeice in the Dining room.

1825 J. K. Paulding John Bull in Amer. xi. 124 My first disappointment in not meeting the back country close by the sea shore, was nothing to those I encountered here.

1867 W. F. Allen Slave Songs U.S. xxviii Meet is used in the sense of find. ‘I meet him here an' he remain wid me,’ was the cook's explanation when a missing chair was found in the kitchen.

1888 E. Laws Hist. Little Eng. beyond Wales 241 I met this glove on the road.

1930 T. J. Woofter Black Yeomanry 54 Meet, to find... The fisherman is asked, ‘Did oona [= you] meet plenty feesh?’

1950 Proc. Amer. Dial. Soc. 14 46 Meet, to find. ‘I meet um gone,’ ‘I found them gone, they were gone when I arrived.’

II. To experience.

2. transitive. To encounter, experience (a particular fortune or destiny, a phenomenon, event, etc.); to receive (reward, punishment, or treatment of a certain kind); (now) esp. to suffer (one's death).Now largely superseded by to meet with (see to meet with 6 at Phrasal verbs), except with reference to death.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience

ymetec893

findeOE

meetOE

counterc1325

overtakec1390

limp?a1400

tidea1400

runa1450

to fall with ——?c1475

onlightc1475

recounterc1485

recount1490

to come in witha1500

occur1531

to fall on ——1533

to fall upon ——1533

beshine1574

rencontre1582

entertain1591

cope with1594

happen1594

tocome1596

incur1599

forgather1600

thwart1601

to fall in1675

cross1684

to come across ——1738

to cross upon (or on)1748

to fall across ——1760

experience1786

to drop in1802

encounter1814

to come upon ——1820

to run against ——1821

to come in contact with1862

to run across ——1864

to knock or run up against1886

to knock up against1887

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience > of a person

meetOE

rencounter1574

to come on ——a1599

intersect1858

OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) xxii. 368 Ne mette ic næfre on minum life swa mycles sares ne yfeles gemæccan, swa ic me nu ætforan geseo.

lOE Canterbury Psalter lxiv. 3 Tribulationem et dolorem inveni : eærfoþnesse & sær ic mette.

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 47 Vmbe while y am to wene when y shal murþes meten.

a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iii. 1246 With worse hap God lat us nevere mete!

a1450 York Plays (1885) 85 Mo mervaylles mon he mett.

1607 J. Donne Lett. (1651) 11 I have a little satisfaction in seeing a letter written to you upon my table, though I meet no opportunity of sending it.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. i. 15 Wish me partaker in thy happinesse, When thou do'st meet good hap.

1661 R. Boyle Some Consider. Style of Script. (1675) 243 Those..met a destiny not ill resembling that of Zacheus.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. v. 91 In this Exercise I once met an Accident.

1782 J. Brown Compend. View Nat. & Revealed Relig. (1796) 355 Christ's death being stinged by the curse, he met it with agony and terror.

1833 H. Martineau French Wines & Politics iv. 61 He met only threats and laughter.

1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 79 This generous appeal met no response.

1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 587 The first Anti-Christ, Simon Magus, was said to have met his death in some attempt to fly.

1955 ‘N. Shute’ Requiem for Wren (1956) 116 Death was due to drowning. That is how my brother came to meet his end.

1987 Heritage Aug.–Sept. 40/3 He met his death in the hunting field when only 27.

III. To arrive in the same place as another person or thing.

a. transitive. To come face to face with or encounter (a person, or occasionally an animal).

ΚΠ

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iii. xi. 78 Þa hie from ðære byrg hamweard wæron, þa metton hie Leonantius, þe sceolde Antipatrume to fultume cuman, & þær ofslagen wearð.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9045 In are brade strete, he igon mete. þreo cnihtes & heore sweines.

c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 7 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 54 (MED) Ase he cam..bi þe wei, he gan mieten bi cas Ane kniȝt.

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. v. 82 Whon I mette him in þe Market þat I most hate, Ich heilede him as hendely as I his frend weore.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 635/1 I mette hym a myle beyonde the towne.

1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 609 He met ane Porter swayne Cummand raith him agayne.

1693 W. Congreve Old Batchelour iv. i. 32 I would have overtaken, not have met my Game.

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 103 I..had been so shye of my self, that if I met any Body in the Street, I would cross the Way from them.

1835 A. Steedman Wanderings S. Afr. II. iii. iii. 53 The next day we met a Trek Boor, with his cattle.

1903 W. D. Howells Lett. Home iii. 20 They say that New-Yorkers never meet each other on the street, but if two country fellows happen to be in New York at the same time they are sure to bump against each other before the day's out.

1943 A. M. Lindbergh Diary 2 May in War within & Without (1980) 346 I go for a walk down the path and meet a squirrel coming up it.

1989 S. Chinodya Harvest of Thorns xxx. 219 They..went down into the village where they met a group of women carrying large calabashes of beer to the fields.

b. transitive. To arrive deliberately, or as previously arranged, in the presence of (an approaching person, etc.) from the opposite or a different direction. Frequently in to come (also go, run, etc.) to meet. Also: to go somewhere in order to be present at the arrival of (a traveller, train, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

meeteOE

to come (also go, run, etc.) to meeta1325

nose1816

to bump into ——1894

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > as intended result of going to

to meet withc1300

meeta1325

join1713

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1790 Ðat stede he calde manaim, Ðor ðis wird of engeles metten him.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10555 Þi lauerd es comand als suith, Ga to mete him.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 62 Till Noramkirk he come withoutyn mar. The consell than of Scotland mett hym thar.

1582 Bible (Rheims) Acts x. 25 Cornelius came to meete him, and falling at his feete adored.

a1600 Sonnge Sir A. Barton in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 74 To might my Lord came the kinge and quen.

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 91 Good signior Leonato, are you come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is, to auoyd cost, and you incounter it.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iv. ii. 86 Ile appoint my men to carry the basket againe, to meete him at the doore with it.

1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 cx. 28 As, in a drought, the thirsty creatures cry, And gape upon the gather'd clowds for rain, And first the Martlet meets it in the sky.

1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. §97 Bid your servant meet you at such a time.

1755 T. Turner Diary 2 Oct. (1984) (modernized text) 15 My brother Moses came and called me to go to Lewes to meet the Manchesterman.

1808 W. Scott Marmion i. xiii. 34 Then stepped to meet that noble lord, Sir Hugh the Heron bold.

1871 D. G. Rossetti Let. July (1967) III. 955 I could get you met by a trap at Lechlade station.

1894 A. Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes 49 I'll meet the seven o'clock train and take no steps till you arrive.

1910 Bradshaw's Railway Guide Apr. 1049 The Hotel omnibus meets the principal London trains.

1992 B. Anderson Portrait of Artist's Wife (1993) ii. 37 She ran to meet Nelson each afternoon when he appeared at the kitchen door.

c. intransitive. Of two or more people: to happen upon one another; to come face to face.

ΚΠ

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) : Prov. (Bodl. 959) xxii. 2 Þe riche man & þe pore metten togidere.

c1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Complaint of Mars 72 The grete joye that was betwix hem two, When they be mette.

?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 889 Þai met neuer eftir whils þai leued.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 678/2 As sone as we mette, he rayned his horse and talked with me a good while.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 142 Vpon the next occasion that we meete .

1615 W. Bedwell tr. Mohammedis Imposturæ ii. §90 To morrow if God Almighty say, Amen, we will meet.

1720 J. Gay Sweet William's Farewell iv We only part to meet again.

1781 J. Logan in Sc. Paraphr. liii. viii Where death-divided friends at last shall meet, to part no more.

1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair xliv. 398 When they met by mischance, he made sarcastic bows or remarks to the child.

1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh II. 259 They had not met for years.

1937 M. Sharp Nutmeg Tree xvi. 208 ‘We meet again!’ she exclaimed cordially.

1997 A. Yen Mah Falling Leaves xix. 189 The couples met by chance at social functions.

d. transitive. Chiefly figurative. to meet halfway: †to forestall, anticipate (obsolete); to respond in kind to the friendly advances of; to make concessions to (a person) in response to or in expectation of equal concessions; to come to a compromise with. to meet trouble halfway: to anticipate distress.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > precede or come before [verb (transitive)] > anticipate or forestall

before-takea1382

preventc1425

devance1485

prevenea1500

lurch1530

to take before the bounda1556

to be aforehand with1570

to be beforehand with1574

to meet halfwaya1586

preoccupate1588

forestall1589

fore-run1591

surprise1591

antedate1595

foreprise1597

preoccupy1607

preoccupy1638

pre-act1655

anticipatea1682

obviate1712

to head off1841

beat1847

to beat out1893

pre-empt1957

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > compromise > [verb (intransitive)]

to give and take1519

compoundc1547

to meet halfway1638

compromise1656

palliate1672

moderate1713

to split the difference1713

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > be friendly [verb (intransitive)] > become friendly > respond to friendly advances

to meet halfway1706

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxiv. f. 229 Artaxia..euen met them halfe way in excusing her brothers murder.

1594 T. Nashe Vnfortunate Traveller sig. B3^v Presently he remembred himselfe, and had like to haue fallen into his memento againe, but that I met him halfe waies, and askt his Lordship [etc.].

1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 321 Let not the Iudge meet the Cause halfe Way; Nor giue Occasion to the Partie to say; His Counsell or Proofes were not heard.

1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. III. 112 I like this popular Divinitie, which meets us halfe way, and stoops a little, that we may not strayne our selves too much.

1706 G. Farquhar Recruiting Officer iii. i. 24 We lov'd two Ladies; they met us half way.

1799 Ld. Nelson in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) IV. 66 There is not a thing that the Admiral could propose that I would not meet him half-way.

1823 C. Lamb Valentine's Day in Elia 130 The world meets nobody half-way.

1884 Times (Weekly ed.) 5 Sept. 12/2 The Polish peasantry..will meet the Czar halfway in whatever he does for their good.

1896 J. C. Hutcheson Crown & Anchor xvi. 162 I can't see the use of anticipating the worst and trying to meet troubles half-way.

1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xxxi. 350 But I don't see the use of meeting trouble halfway, do you, Marilla?

1923 Glasgow Herald 14 Aug. 7 If France does not meet us half way, enabling the Allied front to realign, there will be a separate reply to Germany.

1957 R. Hoggart Uses of Literacy (1959) 70 It's all bound to be ups and downs,..roundabouts and swings; ‘It's no good moaning’;..‘don't meet trouble 'alfway’.

1989 Constr. News 22 June 5/2 Contractors are making efforts to bring British producers into the market but many were reluctant to meet the contractor half-way in developing the right products to satisfy the final customers.

e. transitive. colloquial (chiefly North American) to meet and greet: to welcome or receive (a person) formally or professionally. Also in extended use and intransitive. Cf. meet-and-greet adj. and n.

ΚΠ

1815 Morning Post 14 June The inhabitants flocked with rapture to meet and greet him, mingling with their expressions of joy sentiments of utter detestation of the expelled perfidious Despot.

1833 New-Bedford (Mass.) Mercury 14 June 1/5 The Lowell Mercury says—‘Among other tokens of respect which will be shown to the President and Vice President, about five thousand of the fairest of the fair, unmarried, and young, elegantly dressed in white, will join a procession to meet and greet them on their arrival in town!’

1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. xi. 294 At our entrance, Mrs. Fairfax, Adèle, Sophie, Leah, advanced to meet and greet us.

1910 Charlotte (N. Carolina) Daily Observer 30 Nov. 5/3 The shallowness of the conversational standard at formal [printed foral] receptions..which were once described by a New York Sun man in the alliterative phrases, ‘Meet, greet, eat, beat’ or ‘Go, grab, git’.

1950 Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale) 24 May 7/6 One of the many University of Illinois coaches who meet, greet, wine, dine prep athletes, their coaches and their families upon every occasion..walked up to talk to Anderson.

1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 27 June 4 d1 (advt.) Secretary-Receptionist, versatile spot, meet & greet, pleasant atmosphere, profit sharing, $475.

1999 Linedancer Jan. 49/2 The role also dictated the crew ‘meet and greet’ their audience as they entered and left the arena.

f. transitive. Nautical. to meet her: to check the swing of a turning vessel's bow by steering towards the opposite side. Frequently as int.

ΚΠ

1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Transl. French Terms at Rencontre The order to the steersman, to meet the ship, right the helm, or put it towards the side opposite..in order to check the ship's sheer.]

1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 183 If the order is..‘Ease her!’ ‘Meet her!’ or the like, the man should answer by repeating..the order.

1856 C. Nordhoff Merchant Vessel 233 The obstinate craft takes a mighty, almost resistless sweep to the other side, and ‘meet her’, is the cry, while poor Jack tugs desperately at the heavy-moving wheel.

1902 B. Lubbock Round Horn 187 Occasionally he says sharply, ‘Meet her! Meet her!’ and sometimes he jumps to the wheel and gives us his powerful aid in grinding it up and down.

1968 H. F. Chase Boatswain's Man. (ed. 3) xi. 255 If given too much wheel,..her head may start to fall off to port. When this is about to happen the helmsman will ‘meet her’ by putting the wheel to starboard for a few moments.

1981 B. Webb Schult's Sailing Dict. 175/2 To meet her is to apply a certain amount of helm to keep the boat on course by checking a yaw or swing.

a. intransitive. Of two or more things: to come into contact with each other; to come together so as to occupy the same place, or follow the same line or course; to run or flow together. Of a single thing: to form a closed circle, etc., with the two ends in contact.to make (both) ends meet: see end n. 24.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > nearness > be near [verb (intransitive)] > be in contact

meet?a1300

touch?c1425

apply?a1439

abut1492

abut1826

contact1876

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of inanimate objects

meet?a1300

?a1300 Dame Sirith 358 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 16 (MED) Loke hou hire heien greten; On hire cheken þe teres meten.

?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 123 (MED) All the lynes meeten at the centre.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 635/1 Hylles do never mete, but acquayntaunce dothe often.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccxij Where the Rhine and Moselle mete.

1666 S. Pepys Diary 4 Nov. (1972) VII. 353 My vest being new and thin, and the Coate cut not to meet before upon my breast.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 784 Our circuit meets full West.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 311 It was very hard to see where the Tiles met.

1783 B. Porteus Serm. v. 116 How two mathematical lines, indefinitely produced, can be for ever approaching each other, and yet never meet.

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 16 Where seemed the cliffs to meet on high.

1842 Ld. Tennyson May Queen (new ed.) Concl. vi, in Poems (new ed.) I. 171 There came a sweeter token when the night and morning meet.

1892 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads 75 Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.

a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. vi. 144 Their lips met, and it was to her as if a hot flame..swept round and embraced her whole body.

1958 M. Dickens Man Overboard ii. 28 He tripped over a large metal junction-box, where several thick cables met in a writhing tangle.

1979 R. Howard Misgivings iii. 61 As hands met, reaching down for what was up, we thirsted.

b. transitive. [In many cases with some allusion to sense 3a.] Of a thing: to come into contact, association, or junction with (something or someone moving on a different course). Also, of a thing that has motion attributed to it, as a line, road, etc.: to arrive at a point of contact or intersection with (another line, road, etc.). Also with a person as subject.figurative in earliest use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > nearness > be near to [verb (transitive)] > be in contact with

toucha1350

meeta1400

to meet witha1400

raise1591

buss1609

taste1634

osculate1740

incidea1774

nuzzle1891

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > come into physical contact with (of things)

meeta1400

to meet witha1400

meeta1400

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 23161 Oft i was wit malisce mette [a1400 Gött. mett].

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. iii. sig. Ee Let no whit thee dismay The hard beginne, that meetes thee in the dore.

1606 Returne from Pernassus ii. i. sig. C2^v Whersoeuer we run there meets vs greefe.

1765 R. Rogers Conc. Acct. N. Amer. 190 The Muddy River rises from the south of the central mountains..and runs south..till it meets the Mississippi.

1832 Ld. Tennyson Lady of Shalott i, in Poems (new ed.) 8 Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold, and meet the sky.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Sir Galahad vi, in Poems (new ed.) II. 177 I yearn to breathe the airs of heaven That often meet me here.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 663 The gibbet was set up where King Street meets Cheapside.

1905 Baroness Orczy Scarlet Pimpernel xvi. 155 His passion..was..as strong, as intense, as overwhelming, as when first her lips met his in one long, maddening kiss.

1925 W. Cather Professor's House ii. ii. 195 I rode clear around the mesa, until I met the river again where it flowed under the south flank.

1934 H. Roth Call it Sleep i. x. 98 The raw night air met him at the end of the doorway.

1977 H. O'Hagan School-marm Tree iii. 47 She and Peter dropped out of sight of the town into a draw and met the road's more leisurely progress up the hill and pursued it across a creek.

1992 T. Pow In Palace of Serpents (BNC) 53 Every hundred metres or so..we met the road zigzagging its six kilometres to the top.

1993 D. Coyle Hardball v. i. 214 He..pulled himself onto the massive crosspiece that held the tracks up, wedging both feet in the notch where the crosspiece met the girder.

†c. intransitive. To lie or fit close to. Cf. meet adj. 1. Obsolete. rare.

ΚΠ

1568 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlviii. 30 It meites lyk stemmyne to ȝo^r theis.

†d. intransitive. To agree, tally, match. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree/be in harmony/be congruous [verb (intransitive)]

accord1340

cord1340

concordc1374

agree1447

to stand togetherc1449

rhyme?a1475

commonc1475

gree?a1513

correspond1529

consent1540

cotton1567

pan1572

reciprocate1574

concur1576

meet1579

suit1589

sorta1592

condog1592

square1592

fit1594

congrue1600

sympathize1601

symbolize1605

to go even1607

coherea1616

congreea1616

hita1616

piece1622

to fall in1626

harmonize1629

consist1638

comply1645

shadow1648

quare1651

atonea1657

symphonize1661

syncretize1675

chime1690

jibe1813

consone1873

1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 9^v He that compareth our instruments, with those that were vsed in ancient tymes, shall see them agree like dogges and cattes, and meete as iump as Germans lippes.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. vi. §1 It was yet greater difficulty to regulate it by the course of the Sun, and to make the accounts of the Sun and Moon meet.

1737 A. Ramsay Coll. Scots Prov. 61 The greedy Man and the Gielainger are well met.

1828 C. Lamb Old China in Elia 2nd Ser. 114 It is mighty pleasant at the end of the year to make all meet—and much ado we used to have every thirty-first night of December to account for our exceedings.

e. intransitive. Of qualities, etc.: to be united in the same person or (esp. in later use) the same thing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > combine [verb (intransitive)]

adjoin1483

combinate1578

meet1581

symbolize1601

cohere1606

to run together1662

consolidate1690

combine1712

to run into ——a1715

compound1727

accrete1730

amalgamate1797

concrete1853

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 114 Al the three beauties meet together..in young men.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. vi. §9 The uniformity and perfect harmony of all these several Prophecies..all giving light to each other, and exactly meeting at last in the accomplishment.

1697 K. Chetwood Life Virgil in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. **3 It being rarely found that a very fluent Elocution, and depth of judgment meet in the same Person.

1781 W. Cowper Charity 37 In baser souls unnumbered evils meet.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Morte d'Arthur in Poems (new ed.) II. 9 Thou, the latest-left of all my knights, In whom should meet the offices of all.

1894 J. T. Fowler in St. Adamnan Vita S. Columbae Introd. 57 The nobility of two races met in the child.

1971 Archivum Linguisticum 2 39 The aspects of meaning we are distinguishing intermesh and often meet in one text, in one sentence, even in one word or syllable.

1993 L. Beinhart Amer. Hero xii. 90 Art and spirituality and technology and biogenetics are all going to meet in a new synthesis.

a. transitive. to meet a person's eye (also gaze, etc.): to see that a person is looking at one; (also) to reciprocate a person's look without turning away.

ΚΠ

1636 King & Queenes Entertainement Richmond 26 Why should you feare their eyes to meet? You haue a sure defence.

1670 J. Dryden Tyrannick Love v. i. 48 So much of guilt in my refusal lyes, That Debtor-like, I dare not meet your eyes.

1769 C. Lennox Sister i. ii. 7 You cannot meet the steady gaze with the confident stare.

1799 S. W. Morton Virtues of Society 22 The careless band, Meet her soft glance, and hear her fond demand.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 74 I..Not yet endured to meet her opening eyes.

1883 F. M. Peard Contradictions xxxii As she turned her head..she met his eyes.

1963 E. Wilson Jrnl. 25 July in Sixties: Last Jrnl. (1993) 229 He looks like the perfect ideal of the fighting Slavic revolutionist,..square-chinned, meeting one's gaze with defiance.

1985 L. McMurtry Lonesome Dove (1986) xx. 191 He looked out the window and wouldn't meet her eye.

b. transitive. Of an object of attention: to present itself to, to come to the notice of (a person's sight, hearing, etc.). Esp. in to meet the eye (also ear), etc. Also to meet the eye of: to happen to be seen by. more than meets the eye (also ear): more significance or complexity than is at first apparent.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be visible [verb (intransitive)]

tootc897

appearc1360

to meet the eye (also ear)1645

notice1961

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > be or become audible [verb (intransitive)]

bursta1325

risea1325

sounda1325

arisec1330

wrestc1400

uprise?a1513

to meet the eye (also ear)1645

ascend1667

to breeze up1752

well1825

to break stillness1853

fade1879

the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)]

exercisea1538

entertainc1540

replenish1548

rouse1583

catcha1586

amuse1586

detainc1595

attract1599

grope1602

concerna1616

take1634

stay1639

engage1642

meet1645

nudge1675

strike1697

hitcha1764

seize1772

interest1780

acuminate1806

arrest1835

grip1891

intrigue1894

grab1966

work1969

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > meaning of linguistic unit > implied meaning > [noun] > instance of

implicative1589

subintelligitur1612

subintelligence1631

undersong1631

deuteroscopy1646

implication1657

subauditur1702

undermeaning1841

implial1846

more than meets the eye (also ear)1853

under-sense1859

overtone1869

implicate1881

1645 J. Milton Il Penseroso in Poems 42 Of Forests, and inchantments drear, Where more is meant then meets the ear.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 18 Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view.

1781 W. Cowper Progress of Error 48 Where'er he turns, enjoyment and delight..meet his sight.

1853 ‘P. Paxton’ Stray Yankee in Texas 308 There might be more in it than at first met the eye.

1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xviii. 211 Striking pious attitudes at every object of reverence that meets his eye.

1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. iii. viii. 368 There's more here, sir, however,..than meets the eye. I don't believe in suicide, nor in pure accident, myself.

1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves ii. 21 ‘There is more in this than meets the eye,’ I said. ‘Why should your uncle ask a fellow to lunch whom he's never seen?’

1924 R. H. Mottram Spanish Farm iii. 199 The first object that met the gaze of the little party, as they rounded the corner of the building, was Leon's garden ladder.

1994 Wall St. Jrnl. 25 Feb. b6/3 There may be more to corporate-restructuring charges than meets the eye of the average shareholder.

2001 New Statesman 23 July 8/1 Clarke..and Dunwoody..have more in common than first meets the eye.

c. intransitive. Of eyes, glances, etc.: to encounter each other (accidentally or intentionally).

ΚΠ

1696 Alcander & Philocrates iii. 79 I saw a Man who never took his Eyes off me, but look'd on me with a passionate Air, and sometimes our Eyes met.

1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. viii. vii. 324 Their eyes met not again; delighted and conscious, she turned hers hastily away.

1826 J. F. Cooper Last of Mohicans I. ii. 23 Their eyes met in a look, which the young man lingered a moment to prolong.

1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 215 He raised his head, their eyes met and hers fell.

1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby vii. 142 Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space.

1988 Independent 14 Oct. 3/1 The eyes of gunmen Michael Flynn and Nicholas Payne met.

IV. To come together in conflict.

a. transitive. To come together with or confront in a battle, fight, etc.; to stand up to in combat (esp. with a weapon or force). Also [after French rencontrer] : to fight a duel with (now historical).to meet one's match: see match n.¹ 2a.

ΚΠ

eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 800 Þy ilcan dæge rad Æþelmund aldorman of Hwiccium ofer æt Cynemæresforda; þa mette hine Weoxstan aldorman mid Wilsætum. Þær wearþ micel gefeoht.., & Wilsætan namon sige.

c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 16365 Ten þusend Scottes he sende..þe heaþene to mete [c1275 Calig. imete].

c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) 1114 Ȝif y may mete him ariȝt, Wiþ mi brond, þat is so briȝt.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 226 Meit thame with speris hardely.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 6527 All þat met hym with malis..Auther dyet of his dynttes, or were ded wondit.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 159 At thair cuming baldlie and w^t scharpe weiris thay meit thame.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1123 I only with an Oak'n staff will meet thee.

1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 16 We should not have been displeased..to have met them with our whole Force.

1771 in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lxiii. 293 His opponents..never meet him fairly upon his own ground.

?1856 F. E. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship lii. 384 I suppose I should be forced to meet him..if he were to challenge me.

1917 E. R. Burroughs Princess of Mars xiv. 151 My only choice was to draw my own and meet him in fair fight.

1932 G. Heyer Devil's Cub iv. 60 Mr Quarles wrenched himself free. ‘You'll meet me for this, my lord!’ he roared.

1990 J. Burke Traveller's Hist. Scotl. (BNC) 60 He led an army of some 18,000 to meet the Scots at Pinkie, six miles east of Edinburgh.

b. Originally †transitive (reflexive); now intransitive. To come together as rivals in a battle, fight, etc. †to meet on: to come into conflict with (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle [verb (reflexive)] > meet in battle

meetc1325

OE Beowulf 2592 Næs ða long to ðon, þæt ða aglæcean hy eft gemetton.]

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 1950 Bi side winchestre in a feld to gadere hii hom mette.

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 3325 (MED) Þai metten hem in asty Bi o forestes side.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 139 (MED) Whan þey mette to gidres, hap was vnstable and vnstedefast.

c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) 1638 Þe styward..Fell of hys stede bakward: So harde þey two metten.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 7815 Bothe þe grekis on þe grene, & þe grym troiens, Mettyn with mayne þaire myghtis to kythe.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 8288 He macchit hym to Menelay, & met on þe kyng.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 215 The day of battel is sett, baith pairties meites, baith sydes ȝokis.

1616 S. S. Honest Lawyer v. sig. K2 We met in single combate in the field.

1673 P. Leycester Antiq. Great Brit. ii. ii. iv. 122 Both Armies meet near the Town of Lincoln, and being put in order, joyn Battel.

1707 E. Ward Hudibras Redivivus II. xi. 13 In Naseby-Fields both Armies, met, Their Envy, like their Numbers, great.

1782 W. Cowper Friendship 137 How fiercely will they meet and charge! No combatants are stiffer.

1831 W. Scott Rob Roy (new ed.) p. xliv Where so many gallant men were met in arms, it would be shameful to part without a trial of skill.

1898 B. Mitford Induna's Wife 5 At that place we met in fierce battle and rolled back the night of Dingane and thus saved the Amandebeli as a nation.

1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 818/1 Both sides [in the American Civil War] fought with an even more relentless determination than is usual when ‘armed nations’ meet in battle.

1998 S. Anderson 1314 & all That 82 The two armies met on either side of the River Forth at Stirling.

†c. transitive. To strike at, smite. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 2526 (MED) Abram..þa hethen men he mett [a1400 Vesp. smat] ay emang.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 2148 (MED) Þis kyng gan Alisaunder myssigge, And first hym mette wiþ speres egge Þorouȝ shelde.

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 3841 (MED) Þan he moues to sir Modrede..And mett hym in þe myde-schelde, and mallis hym thorowe.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 119 (MED) Antor..met hym so hedylyche with a grete spere, that bothe the tymbir and stelen heede shewed thourgh his shuldre.

d. transitive. To encounter, oppose, or face (a weapon, an attack). Frequently in extended use: to oppose, counteract, cope, or contend with (an action, objection, difficulty, etc.); to counter with. Cf. to meet with 7 at Phrasal verbs.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > confront

abidec1275

stand?1316

visagec1386

bidec1400

to stand to ——1562

affront1569

to look (a person, etc.) in the face1573

outface1574

front1582

to meet with1585

confront1594

propose1594

to stand up to1596

outfront1631

to stand forth to1631

head1682

meet1725

1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. ii. sig. C4^v Send thou sweet looks, ile meet them with sweet looks.

a1599 R. Rollock Sel. Wks. (1849) I. 391 The apostle meitis this in the first words quhilk we have red.

a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) viii. xii. f. 276^v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Met(e Vtheris..deuisit to mete the gluthering of Hengist be sic like adulacioun and polecie.

1634 J. Russell Two Famous Pitcht Battels Lypsich & Lutzen 13 Foes, Who now were marching on to meet their blowes.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 323 It met The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Descending.

1725 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman I. vii. 94 He will..not be afraid of meeting the mischief which he sees follows too fast for him to escape.

1806 T. C. Metcalfe in Marquess Wellesley Select. Despatches (1877) 807 To meet their ambition..with the language of peace, would be to preach to the roaring ocean to be still.

1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (ed. 2) III. xi. 166 Who does not see, that to bear pain well, is to meet it courageously?

1854 D. Brewster More Worlds xv. 221 It is vain to argue against assertions like these which can only be met by an equally positive denial of them.

1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. ii. 186 The impetus of a push or a squeeze received on the hand is measured by the muscular exertion induced to meet it.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People i. §4. 40 The threats of Charles were met by Offa with defiance.

1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 51 Peel off,..to break away from a formation in order to meet an attack, or to leave a squadron to initiate an attack.

1959 P. H. Spaak Why Nato? iv. 30 The allies could only meet the global challenge of the Soviet Union with a global retort.

1981 N. Gordimer July's People 8 They were temporarily short of ammunition and they had long since given up the heroism of meeting bullets with sticks and stones.

†e. transitive. To get even with, pay back; = to meet with at Phrasal verbs. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > treat one as he has been treated [verb (transitive)] > requite or pay back (a person)

foryield971

to quit or yield (one) his whilec1175

acquitc1300

quitc1330

restore?a1400

refound1438

requite1530

regrate?c1550

repay1557

redub1558

quittance1590

to meet witha1593

to pay (a person) (off) scot and lot1598

meeta1625

retaliate1629

reimburse1644

compensate1804

to even up on1879

a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune iii. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Vuuuu3^v/2 I have heard of your tricks,..well I may live To meet thee.

a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) v. 57 Some trick upon my credit, I shall meet it.

f. intransitive. Of two competitors or teams: to compete in a sporting contest. Also transitive: to compete against in a sporting contest.Since quot. 1887 refers to a pugilistic contest, it may be regarded as belonging to sense 6b.

ΚΠ

1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 24 It not unfrequently happened, if a well matched pair or two met and had not had their ‘wap’ out, both pits would be thrown idle on the Monday that all who wished might see the affair wound up.

1897 W. J. Ford in K. S. Ranjitsinhji Jubilee Bk. Cricket vii. 290 The first elevens meet in a series of matches.

1904 J. P. Paret Lawn Tennis iii. 24 The matches are generally played on what is called the ‘round robin’ system, each of the players meeting all of the others in turn.

1948 Daily Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Okla.) 15 Jan. 6/3 The Ardmore Douglass high school Dragon cagers will meet the Lawton Lions in their second conference game of the season.

1976 Milton Keynes Express 16 July 39 The winner and runner-up of the one league will meet in a two-legged final.

1992 E. Johnson My Life xii. 177 We were all juiced up when we met Boston in the Finals again.

V. To come into company with one or more others.

†a. transitive (reflexive). Of two or more people or groups of people: †to come together with one another. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet [verb (reflexive)]

meetc1300

c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 302 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 354 Bi þe watere of pireford þis two schirene hem mette, And conteckeden for þis holie bodie.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10563 Quen þis seli mett þam same, Þai grett þam-self wit gastli game.

b. transitive. Of a person: to come (whether by accident or design) into the company of, or into social interaction with; to have a meeting with.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate with [verb (transitive)]

seeOE

drawc1275

mella1300

meeta1325

fellow1340

usec1384

conjoinc1386

joinc1390

knitc1400

accompany1461

enfellowship1470

frequent1477

haunt1477

mixa1513

encompanya1533

combinea1535

contract1548

to take with ——1562

associate1581

to have a saying toa1593

cope1594

sort1594

to take in1597

consort1600

herd1606

factionate1611

to keep company (with)a1616

accost1633

solder1641

converse1649

walk1650

consociate1653

coalite1734

to get with ——a1772

forgather1786

unionize1810

to go rounda1867

to mix in1870

cop1940

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific object person(s)

meeta1325

occur1531

cope1594

to meet in with1821

to meet up with1870

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2828 Aaron ðin broðer can wel speken, Ðu salt him meten and vnsteken Him bodeword min.

c1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Complaint of Mars 138 Alas! when shal I mete yow, herte dere?

1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 284/2 He refused to meete vs in y^e borders of the kyng.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. iii. 142 Remaines, that in th'Officiall Markes inuested, You anon doe meet the Senate.

1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. i. xxi. 114 The next day in the afternoon the two Physicians and some of the Chirurgeons met me at the Patient's Chamber.

1677 J. Dryden State Innocence v. i. 44 And not look back to see, When what we love we ne'er must meet again.

1767 P. Gibbes Woman of Fashion I. 127 I was..struck with the Person, but much more with the good Sense, of the young Creature I accidently met.

1796 F. Burney Camilla III. 438 She..wished to meet Edgar..to apologise for her non-appearance the preceding evening.

1837 Ld. Tennyson Oh! that 'twere Possible in Ld. Northampton Tribute 247 I loathe the squares and streets, And the faces that one meets.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 81 It was not strange that the king did not then wish to meet them.

1888 Sat. Rev. 14 Apr. 444/2 O, meet me by moonlight alone, Since our meetings by day are proclaimed.

1917 D. F. Canfield Understood Betsy x. 205 They were to meet the Wendells in the shadow of Industrial Hall and eat their picnic lunch together.

1996 Daily Tel. 30 Apr. 4/1 An amendment that requires couples to meet a marriage guidance counsellor before embarking on divorce proceedings.

c. intransitive. Of two or more people: to come together by arrangement. Also with together.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle or give battle [verb (intransitive)] > join or meet in battle

to come togetherOE

to lay togetherc1275

smitec1275

to have, keep, make, smite, strike, battle1297

joustc1330

meetc1330

copec1350

assemblea1375

semblea1375

coup?a1400

to fight togethera1400

strikea1400

joinc1400

to join the battle1455

to commit battle?a1475

rencounter1497

to set ina1500

to pitch a battlea1513

concura1522

rescounter1543

scontre1545

journey1572

shock1575

yoke1581

to give in1610

mix1697

to engage a combat1855

to run (or ride) a-tilt1862

society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > meeting or assembling for common purpose > meet or assemble for common purpose [verb (intransitive)] > at appointed time or place

meetc1330

to make rendezvous1596

rendezvous1648

trysta1842

OE Guthlac A 1 Se bið gefeana fægrast þonne hy æt frymðe gemetað, engel ond seo eadge sawl!]

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2103 (MED) Sir mark sat in þe tre Þer metten þai to.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 22963 Þe stede o dome quar all sal mete.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 4571 Expectant ay till I may mete To geten mercy of that swete.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 18 Seying that we be now here mete..accordyng to our promys.

1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 252 Baith the King and the Quene meitis in Paris, For to hald thair ȝule togidder.

1628 J. Mead in R. F. Williams Birch's Court & Times Charles I (1848) (modernized text) I. 314 One bade him come to the lord mayor; he answered, my lord mayor might come to him: but in fine they agreed to meet half way.

1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. i. 11 Though they met at least every other evening..they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of conversation.

1859 W. M. Thackeray Virginians II. xix. 158 The two gentlemen, with a few more friends, were met round General Lambert's supper-table.

1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 20 Nov. 680/5 They meet in his hideaway to discuss the state of the world.

d. intransitive. To keep an appointment; to be present at a meeting. rare.

ΘΚΠ

meetc1390

c1390 G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale 1873 Ther he is now, god leue vs for to meete.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 176 So departed to mete at his day.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. i. 18 Hath any body enquir'd for mee here today; much vpon this time haue I promis'd here to meete .

1694 J. Addison tr. Ovid Metamorphoses iv, in Ann. Misc. 141 She fain wou'd meet him but refus'd to meet Before her looks were set with nicest Care.

1999 S. Stewart Sharking iv. 63 I vaguely remember..refusing to go home with him and then agreeing to meet for lunch the next day.

e. intransitive. Of the members of a group, society, or regular assembly: to assemble for social, business, or religious purposes. Also with together. Often with collective noun as subject.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > meeting or assembling for common purpose > meet or assemble for common purpose [verb (intransitive)]

to come togetherOE

meetc1425

convene1429

convent1544

convocate1685

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 3975 (MED) Whan þe lordis..Wern to-gedre in þat place mette..Pelleus..Be-gan riȝt þus.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 635/2 Whan they mete to gyther I wyll put them in mynde of your mater.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. x^v These beynge called to an assemblie..mette at Franckefourt.

1611 Bible (King James) 2 Macc. xiv. 21 And [they] appointed a day to meet in together by themselues.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. iii. 145 The People..are summon'd To meet anon, vpon your approbation.

1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 1 Dec. (1948) II. 426 The parliament will certainly meet on Friday next.

1791 J. Hampson Mem. J. Wesley III. 82 Many of these [classes] are subdivided into smaller companies called bands, which also meet once a week.

1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 77 The bishops..were summoned to meet in synod, at Paris.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §2. 469 The Parliament..met in another mood from that of any Parliament which had met for a hundred years.

1920 A. Carnegie Autobiogr. xi. 150 The club met at their house once a month for the discussion of various topics.

1981 M. Angelou Heart of Woman ii. 37 The Harlem Writers Guild was meeting at John's house.

f. to be well (also happily, etc.) met: to be welcome in a person's or one another's company; (hence) to be well received, welcome. Now archaic.See also well-met int., hail fellow well met at hail-fellow adj. b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > courteous expressions [interjection] > expressions of welcome

welcomec890

to be well meta1470

well-met1522

welcome aboard1962

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 70 ‘Now go we hense,’ seyde Balyne, ‘and well we beth mette.’

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. iv. 19 You are happilie met.

1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. lxxi. 269 He..reminding him of the jovial purpose on which they were happily met.

1888 E. Arnold Secret of Death 231 Well met in some far-off serenest session, The unimpassioned rest of great men gone.

1923 L. Hart Band of Ne'er-do-wells in Compl. Lyrics (1986) 35/1 The cockleshells are all well met; We sneak into our cellarette And cluster round our king.

1970 T. Murphy Whistle in Dark iii. 63 You couldn't be up to Bitchey. Ye're well met, Michael and yourself.

1992 P. McCabe Butcher Boy (1993) 170 You and Philip Nugent are well met.

g. intransitive. Of the minds of two or more people: to be in agreement.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > be in agreement [verb (intransitive)] > come to or arrive at an agreement

saughtel1154

assentc1300

appointc1374

consent1487

concord1489

convenec1550

to join issue1600

consigna1616

meet1781

gree1786

1781 W. Cowper Epist. to Lady Austen 32 When minds, that never met before, Shall meet, unite, and part no more.

1802 Noble Wanderers I. 51 When kindred minds meet..they instantly start into amity, and become incorporated in affection.

1851 E. B. Pusey Let. to Bp. London (ed. 3) 127/1 Devout minds, of every school, who meditate on the Passion, meet at least in this.

1960 J. W. Bellah Sergeant Rutledge xvii. 95 The tragedy of memory so long trammeled in the morass of minds that could never meet.

†8. transitive. To have sexual intercourse with; (more generally) to embrace, caress, etc. Also intransitive. See also to meet with at Phrasal verbs. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with

mingeOE

haveOE

knowc1175

ofliec1275

to lie with (or by)a1300

knowledgec1300

meetc1330

beliea1350

yknowc1350

touchc1384

deala1387

dightc1386

usea1387

takec1390

commona1400

to meet witha1400

servea1400

occupy?a1475

engender1483

jangle1488

to be busy with1525

to come in1530

visitc1540

niggle1567

mow1568

to mix one's thigh with1593

do1594

grind1598

pepper1600

yark1600

tumble1603

to taste of1607

compressc1611

jumble1611

mix?1614

consort?1615

tastea1616

bumfiddle1630

ingressa1631

sheet1637

carnal1643

night-work1654

bump1669

bumble1680

frig?c1680

fuck1707

stick1707

screw1719

soil1722

to do over1730

shag1770

hump1785

subagitatec1830

diddle1879

to give (someone) onec1882

charver1889

fuckeec1890

plugc1890

dick1892

to make a baby1911

to know (a person) in the biblical sense1912

jazz1920

rock1922

yentz1924

roll1926

to make love1927

shtupa1934

to give (or get) a tumble1934

shack1935

bang1937

to have it off1937

rump1937

tom1949

to hop into bed (with)1951

ball1955

to make it1957

plank1958

score1960

naughty1961

pull1965

pleasurea1967

to have away1968

to have off1968

dork1970

shaft1970

bonk1975

knob1984

boink1985

fand-

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2058 In orchard mett þai inne, Tristrem and ysonde fre; Ay when þai miȝt a winne, þer playd ysonde and he.

a1350 in K. Böddeker Altengl. Dichtungen (1878) 259 (MED) Leue dohter, þou art mid childe; Who is þe fader..Wher mette ȝe ou yfere?

a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) 1485 (MED) In his arms he gan hir mete, And þus he said, ‘My leman swete, My life, my hele and al my hert.’

a. intransitive. Of two or more people: to become acquainted with one another for the first time; to come across each other in the course of social or business dealings.

ΚΠ

1632 B. Jonson Magn. Lady ii. v. 38 in Wks. (1640) II Com. Where was first The birth of your acquaintance? or the Cradle Of your strickt friendship made? Dia. We met in France, Sir.

1701 C. Trotter Love at Loss iv. 38 When they first met..they seem'd to have very little kind thoughts for one another.

1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph I. 301 When we first met, you had a husband.

1828 A. A. Watts Poet. Sketches 58 On the hour we first met, and last parted, I'll ponder.

1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations II. xviii. 288 I told him how we had first met.

1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xvi. 199 She was a stenographer in a music-publisher's office when we first met.

1990 R. Malan My Traitor's Heart (1991) 124 They had met at church. Both were members of the Apostolic Church,..into the laying on of hands, faith healing, and speaking in tongues.

b. transitive. To become acquainted with (a person) for the first time; to come across (a person) in the course of social or business dealings. In later use also in the imperative as part of a formula of introduction.

ΚΠ

1789 A. Young Jrnl. 21 Nov. in Trav. France (1792) i. 238 In the evening to the conversazione of Signore Fabbroni, where I met Signore Pella, director of the gallery.

1872 Daily News 30 Sept. A nominative personal invitation from M. Vogeli to meet M. Gambetta.

1887 W. Beatty-Kingston (title) Monarchs I have met.

1920 C. E. Mulford Johnny Nelson vi. 37 ‘Meet th' Doc, Nelson,’ said Dave. Johnny turned. ‘Glad to meet you, Doctor.’

1933 ‘I. Hay’ & ‘A. Armstrong’ Orders are Orders ii. 46 Good morning, boys! Meet Miss Marigold, my secretary and continuity girl.

1961 T. Hughes (title) Meet my folks!

1987 Grimsby Evening Tel. 30 Nov. 14 There will be an after-match buffet for both teams and invited guests followed by a chance to meet the players.

c. transitive. In extended use: to encounter (a character), esp. for the first time, in a novel, play, etc.

ΚΠ

1860 N. Hawthorne Let. 11 Feb. in Atlantic Monthly (1871) Apr. 505/1 Give my best regards to William Story, and look well at his Cleopatra, for you will meet her again in one of the chapters [sc. of The Marble Faun] which I wrote with most pleasure.

1936 G. Greene in Spectator 17 July 97/2 The new picture is particularly agreeable, for we see Mr Chan for the first time in a domestic setting and meet not only his amorous eldest son but his complete family of fourteen.

1994 W. R. Newman Gehennical Fire 2 Here the reader will meet Eirenaeus Philalethes in..a literary world of anonymous adepts and their desperate followers.

d. to meet cute: (of two characters in a film, novel, etc.) to have an amusing or charming accidental meeting which leads to, or is followed by, romantic involvement. Also in extended use.

ΚΠ

1941 A. Boucher Case of Solid Key iii. 49 Last night was nice, but this is today. We met cute, as they say in story conferences; but people don't live cute.

1956 G. Axelrod Will Success spoil Rock Hunter? 82 Irving: Dear boy, the beginning of a movie is childishly simple. The boy and girl meet. The only important thing to remember is that—in a movie—the boy and the girl must meet in some cute way. They cannot..meet like normal people at, perhaps, a cocktail party or some other social function. No. It is terribly important that they meet cute.

1966 F. Pohl Day Million in Rogue Feb.–Mar. 48/2 ‘Oh, hell!’ she cried in pretty confusion, reaching out to catch her balance and finding herself tumbled against a total stranger, whom we will call Don. They met cute.

1978 Washington Post (Nexis) 3 Feb. d6 They met ‘cute’ at something called Ohio Southern University in the late '40s.

1985 Observer 5 May 21/2 They both commute into New York..and literally bump into each other—‘meet cute’ in screenwriters' jargon.

1995 Observer 23 Apr. (Review section) 8/5 A romantic tale of an American student..and a French student..meeting cute (as they say in Hollywood) on a train.

2020 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 8 Nov. e1 The novel follows the classic arc... The couple meet cute as young kids—and then again a decade later.

e. transitive. —— meets ——: used to describe or designate something which combines characteristics or qualities of both the subject and the object of the phrase. Hyphenated in attributive use.Used esp. in describing film, music, writing, etc., which represents a hybrid or synthesis of two different styles.

ΚΠ

1971 King's Cross Whisper (Sydney) No. 102. 3/2 Anglo-Australian film interests are planning their biggest venture yet—Coronation Street Meets Bellbird.

1983 Washington Post 3 Apr. c3/2 Bloom describes the sound as ‘Sunny Ade meets Laurie Anderson, ethnic pop.’

1992 Boston Globe 31 July 29/1 Their furniture looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger meets Audrey Hepburn, but somehow it works.

1998 Muzik June 97/2 In its current Ian Pooley-meets-early-Deep Dish dub form, ‘So Good’ is already one of the fattest records I've heard this year.

VI. To agree, conform, satisfy.

10. transitive. To conform with, concede to (a person, or his or her wishes, opinions, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > agree with [verb (transitive)]

to go ineOE

cordc1380

consentc1386

covin1393

condescend1477

agree1481

correspond1545

concur1590

to fall in1602

suffrage1614

to hit it1634

colour1639

to take with ——1646

to be with1648

to fall into ——1668

to run in1688

to think with1688

meet1694

coincide1705

to go in1713

to say ditto to1775

to see with ——1802

sympathize1828

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > suit or be suitable for [verb (transitive)] > be adequate for the case or conditions > for one's wishes or opinions

meet1785

1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer v. i. 72 By Heav'n, he meets my wishes.

1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 788 He..leaves the accomplished plan Just when it..meets his hopes.

1842 J. Bischoff Comprehensive Hist. Woollen Manuf. II. 69 Such duties on the importation of foreign woollen manufactures as would meet their views.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 120 The Estates..would go as far as their consciences would allow to meet His Majesty's wishes.

a1864 N. Hawthorne Septimius Felton (1872) 66 If her thoughts..had settled on that..wholesome young man, instead of on himself, who met her on so few points.

1898 Contemp. Rev. Jan. 96 The Lord's Supper was modified to meet the Christians who had been converted from Mithraicism.

1906 N.E.D. (at cited word) I will do my best to meet you in the matter.

1991 R. Reiner Chief Constables iii. vi. 109 The definition isn't sufficiently broad to meet the views of Joe Public.

11.

a. transitive. To fulfil (a demand or need); to satisfy the requirements of (a particular case, a deadline, etc.); to be able or sufficient to discharge (a financial obligation).With quot. 1785 cf. sense 11b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > suit or be suitable for [verb (transitive)] > be adequate for the case or conditions

fulfila1425

serve1445

satisfy1526

answer1581

fit1603

respond1677

meet1785

implement1857

to fill the bill1882

society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > pay (a claim, dues, or charge) > be sufficient to

pay1439

cover1828

meet1834

1785 Parl. Reg. 1781–96 XVIII. 189 They had always fashioned the estimates of their affairs to meet the moment, and totally disregarded whether they were founded or not.

1795 Herald (N.Y.) 28 Feb. 3/5 (advt.) The succesful [sic] establishment of their extensive works..will enable them to meet the demands for window glass.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xi. 144 The money..was..not more than sufficient to meet one of the demands.

1876 H. D. Macleod Elem. Banking 167 Even under the best circumstances, an acceptor may fail to meet his bill.

1884 Sir E. E. Kay in Law Times Rep. 10 May 322/2 A remedy which exactly meets the necessities of the case.

1894 S. Baring-Gould Kitty Alone II. 84 Five hundred pounds will not suffice to meet all claims.

1956 H. L. Mencken Minority Rep. 27 The man who met the Russian test of merit—that is, one who was a faithful party hack—was compensated so much better than the skeptic that he appeared to belong to an altogether superior order of society.

1975 Ann. Rep. Manpower Services Comm. 1974–5 8/3 The government's vocational training programmes..were to be developed into the Training Opportunities Scheme..to meet the needs of individuals.

1989 RIBA Jrnl. Aug. 48/2 The fee was £12,000..but to earn it and meet the deadlines, he had to work day and night.

b. to meet the moment: to do what is required at the time or in the circumstances; to prove equal to a particular need or demand (cf. to rise to the occasion).

ΚΠ

1899 Philadelphia Inquirer 2 Jan. 1/1 They ran away from final humiliation, Captain-General Castellanos failing to make good his word that he would meet the moment with fortitude.

1922 Pittsburgh Press 4 Jan. 20/1 Jim squared back his shoulders to meet the moment. ‘Consult me about anything you like, old man.’

1993 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 10 Mar. (Sports section) 2 d Once he was on deck and about to begin his remarks, his reluctance disappeared... Olympic champions have a way of meeting the moment.

2021 News Bites Private Companies (Nexis) 27 Apr. After the murder of George Floyd sparked national protests and a resurgence in calls for racial justice last summer, [they]..quickly met the moment, developing a campus call to action.

Phrasal verbs

With adverbs and prepositions in specialized senses. to meet in with

Scottish. Now rare.

intransitive. To encounter (a person), by chance or by arrangement.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific object person(s)

meeta1325

occur1531

cope1594

to meet in with1821

to meet up with1870

1821 Life D. Haggart 104 I met in with two Edinburgh snibs, who were hard up.

1828 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch xi. 96 I..advised him to take a step in at his leisure to St. Mary's Wynd, where he would meet in with merchants in scores.

1878 R. Cuddie Corstorphine Lyrics 18 I met my auld frien' Tam. Wha had met in wi' some guid chiel' and tasted half a dram.

1889 R. L. Stevenson Master of Ballantrae ix. 247 I was not always as I am to-day; nor (had I met in with a friend of your description) should I have ever been so.

to meet up

intransitive. To meet, assemble, esp. by prior arrangement.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of people

meeteOE

joinc1400

to meet up1884

1884 Cent. Mag. Sept. 702 We kin slack up some more, now; we want to get our critters lookin' cool and quiet ag'in as quick as we kin, befo' we meet up with somebody.

1935 Punch 4 Sept. 262/2 Already from Australia I hear of ‘meet up’, ‘rest up’, and ‘get it over with’.

1972 D. Haston In High Places xi. 116 Everyone met up on Pokhara airstrip.

1988 L. Ellmann Sweet Desserts 135 They met up for a bad movie at the Screen on the Green.

to meet up with

1. intransitive. To overtake. Now rare (regional).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > gain (ground) upon > catch up or overtake

betakea1000

oftakelOE

overtakec1225

ofgoc1300

under-get1390

attain1393

overget?a1400

overgoc1425

gaincopec1440

overhiec1440

overhalec1540

overcatch1570

overhent1590

win1596

to grow on or upon1603

catcha1616

to fetch up1622

to fetch of, upon1659

overhaul1793

to meet up with1837

to catch up1838

to get past1857

1837 A. Sherwood Gazetteer Georgia (ed. 3) (Provincialisms) Met up with, for overtook.

1905 Dial. Notes 3 87 He started before I did, but I met up with him before we got to town.

2. intransitive. Originally U.S. To encounter; to become acquainted with; to come together with (a person) by arrangement.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific object person(s)

meeta1325

occur1531

cope1594

to meet in with1821

to meet up with1870

1870 J. C. Duval Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace vii. 31 Here, most unexpectedly, I met up with a companion that was never separated from me afterward.

1889 K. Munroe Golden Days of ’49 ix. 96 They'd meet up with you somewheres along Coloma way.

1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 297 Tell him his little Sid is here with thirty minutes before she meets up with the show on the ten-forty.

1949 G. Davenport Family Fortunes i. i. 10 It was better than staying at home and they would probably meet up with friends.

1973 C. Bonington Next Horizon v. 92 I met up with Mick Burke in the camp site.

1998 R. Ray Certain Age 100 I didn't say much. I was meeting up with him again, though..so I guess I didn't really need to.

3. intransitive. To satisfy (one's requirements). rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > be suitable, appropriate, or suit [verb (intransitive)] > suit a person

to sit loose1591

to be up (down, in) one's street1903

to be (right) up (also down) one's alley1922

to meet up with1972

1972 Daily Tel. 13 May 20/8 The Sun Life is a very competitive office and would seem to meet up with your requirements.

to meet with

1. intransitive. To come across, come upon by chance, find, encounter (a thing or person). Now rare with a personal or physical object.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)]

meeteOE

yaina1000

yseeOE

oftakelOE

to meet withc1300

finda1325

encounter1520

occur1527

bemeet1608

to fall in1675

c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 1426 Hii mette wid [v.r. Imetten heo faren] Numbert þeos kinges sonde of þan erþ.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 19604 (MED) Saulus soght aiquar and thrett All þe cristen he wit mett.

?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4327 (MED) Þai spared nouthir kynn na kyth, Man na woman þat þai mett with.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Gii^v His grace preuenteth vs, before we mete with it.

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 27 Socrates mette full butte with Xenophon, in a narrowe backe lane, where he could not stert from hym.

a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 51 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) When hee commeth to experience of service abroad..hee maketh as worthie a Souldiour as any Nation hee meeteth with.

1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis 21 in Sylua Syluarum And continually we mett with many things, right worthy of Obseruation, and Relation.

1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 14 Others..wander up and downe to meet somewhere with a refreshing shade.

1686 tr. P. O. de Vaumorière Agiatis 59 As he returned, he was met with by an Achaian.

1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1885) I. 52 Mr. Dalton..met with some High-Constable, who not giving way, there was some justleing.

1740 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature III. iii. 217 'Tis..rare to meet with persons, who can pardon another any opposition he makes to their interest.

1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. III. lxi. 318 This was the first public opportunity he had met with.

1782 S. Johnson Lett. to Mrs. Thrale 13 June In the penury of fuel..I have yet met with none so frugal as to sit without fire.

1830 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I III. vi. 94 We cannot read a history of foreign art without meeting with the name of Charles.

1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch IV. lxxxii. 304 If..he should chance by some strange coincidence to meet with her, there was no reason for him to be ashamed.

1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VII. 592 Though abscess beneath the tentorium usually occurs in the substance of the hemisphere it may be met with in other situations.

1949 H. W. C. Vines Green's Man. Pathol. (ed. 17) xxxiii. 922 Eclampsia..is more common in primiparæ, and is met with in about one out of every 500 pregnancies.

1991 P. Fussell BAD 14 It will deal also with numerous awful things to be met with in the United States.

2. intransitive. To go to see, come together with (a person) intentionally; to have a meeting with. Now chiefly North American.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > as intended result of going to

to meet withc1300

meeta1325

join1713

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 155 (MED) Þe children ȝede to Tune..Hy metten wiþ almair king.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 3778 Þat body forþ þai bryngeþ..to þe pauyllouns..& meteþ with þ^e Amyrel.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 20145 In þe temple wit her he met, Anurd hir and tar hir grette.

1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 120 Whan Iason was come to this temple Medea cam & mette with him.

1567 G. Turberville Epitaphes, Epigrams f. 123 ^v So hazard thou to come Vnto the pointed place, To thwart thy Friend, and meete with him That longs to see thy face.

1661 A. Brome Songs & Other Poems 186 Pray come to T.—bring thy beloved Sue, My Mat. and I will meet with her and you.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 41 I had met with the Portugal Captain.

1816 T. Chalmers Let. in W. Hanna Mem. T. Chalmers (1850) II. 78 We fell in with Mr. Cook, who came out to meet with me.

1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth viii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 227 An appointment to meet with the others of his company at the sign of the Griffin.

1968 E. Cleaver Soul on Ice ii. ii. 89 Robert Kennedy called together a group of ‘influential’ Negro entertainers and athletes to meet with him in secret.

1993 N.Y. Times 7 Nov. v. 9/1 Men..wander home to meet with friends and chew until early evening.

†3. intransitive. To confront (an enemy); = sense 6a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > fight (a battle, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > meet in battle

meeteOE

to meet withc1325

abattlec1400

recounter1455

check1535

to come up against1535

entertain1555

yoke1581

cope1594

conflict1599

clash1650

engage1697

engage1698

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 3205 Vter..wende toward seint dauid to mete wiþ is fon.

c1390 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale 693 Is it swich peril with hym for to meete? I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 250 Thus Wallace sone can with the capteyn meite.

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. iv. 13 At Shrewsbury..The king with mighty and quicke raised power Meetes with Lord Harry.

1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. iii. 202 How in fight you met At Kingston with a May-pole Idol.

1678 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 176 Let us never desire to meet with an enemy, nor vaunt as if we could do better, when we hear of others that they have been foiled.

†4. intransitive. To come into or be in physical contact with; to reach; to strike. Also of a river: to merge with (another river). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > nearness > be near to [verb (transitive)] > be in contact with

toucha1350

meeta1400

to meet witha1400

raise1591

buss1609

taste1634

osculate1740

incidea1774

nuzzle1891

meeta1400

to meet witha1400

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 9915 (MED) Þe grund neist þar es ful tru Metand wit þat rochen stan.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 371 When þe water of þe welkyn wyth þe worlde mette.

a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 4460 (MED) Ful litle wanted the soket That with the throte it had y-met.

c1500 Lyfe Roberte Deuyll 324 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 232 With hys shyelde Robert mette playne And stroke so soore that he smote it euen in twayne.

1574 A. Golding tr. A. Marlorat Catholike Expos. Reuelation 22 A long garment..[which] meteth iust with the feete.

1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. ii. i. f. 48^v/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I The Winrush..meeteth wyth the Isis west by south of Northmore.

1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Abbut,..one lands end meets with another.

1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 145 In its Fall, meeting with the Fore-yard broke it in the Slings.

†5. intransitive. To have sexual intercourse with. Cf. sense 8. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with

mingeOE

haveOE

knowc1175

ofliec1275

to lie with (or by)a1300

knowledgec1300

meetc1330

beliea1350

yknowc1350

touchc1384

deala1387

dightc1386

usea1387

takec1390

commona1400

to meet witha1400

servea1400

occupy?a1475

engender1483

jangle1488

to be busy with1525

to come in1530

visitc1540

niggle1567

mow1568

to mix one's thigh with1593

do1594

grind1598

pepper1600

yark1600

tumble1603

to taste of1607

compressc1611

jumble1611

mix?1614

consort?1615

tastea1616

bumfiddle1630

ingressa1631

sheet1637

carnal1643

night-work1654

bump1669

bumble1680

frig?c1680

fuck1707

stick1707

screw1719

soil1722

to do over1730

shag1770

hump1785

subagitatec1830

diddle1879

to give (someone) onec1882

charver1889

fuckeec1890

plugc1890

dick1892

to make a baby1911

to know (a person) in the biblical sense1912

jazz1920

rock1922

yentz1924

roll1926

to make love1927

shtupa1934

to give (or get) a tumble1934

shack1935

bang1937

to have it off1937

rump1937

tom1949

to hop into bed (with)1951

ball1955

to make it1957

plank1958

score1960

naughty1961

pull1965

pleasurea1967

to have away1968

to have off1968

dork1970

shaft1970

bonk1975

knob1984

boink1985

fand-

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 1197 (MED) Bod-word..þat he suld wit his wijf yete mete..A child to rais.

a1450 York Plays (1885) 107 (MED) Thy wombe..wreyes þe þat þou has mette with man.

c1450 (?a1400) Quatrefoil of Love (BL Add.) (1935) 121 (MED) Þat were a mekill meruelle þat I a childe solde bere; Was I neuer maryede ne with man mett.

6. intransitive. To experience, undergo (a particular fortune or treatment); to receive (a particular reaction); = sense 2.

ΚΠ

c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. iv. 126 (MED) For nullum malum he may mete with Inpunitum.

a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) 2009 God..Yff grace that she mete with good!

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iv. 50 He that hath [printed htah] suffered this disordered spring, Hath now himselfe met with the fall of leafe.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. iii. 6 Elsewhere they meete with charitie.

1660 T. Blount Boscobel 3 At Warrington Bridge [he] met with the first opposition made by the Rebels.

1697 J. Pollexfen Disc. Trade & Coyn 100 These Manufactured Goods from India, met with such a kind reception, that [etc.].

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 122. ¶9 In our Return home we met with a very odd Accident.

1718 Free-thinker No. 75. 1 It has always met with the Approbation of the Wisest Men.

1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. II. 176 Sir William Gascoigne..met with praises instead of reproaches.

1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. viii. 168 I have..never met with ill-usage, except once..amongst the Papists.

1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xix. 323 Mariners..who had met with their death on this rocky coast.

1893 Earl of Dunmore Pamirs II. 311 This system of semi-official marauding met with the approval of the Czar.

1926 E. A. Powell In Barbary xvii. 317 In spite of government encouragement, the industry has not met with much success.

1936 D. Carnegie How to win Friends iii. iv. 185 If I had tried to get the rent reduced by the methods the other tenants were using, I am positive I should have met with the same failure they encountered.

1958 Life 14 Apr. 113 (advt.) The new shining star among motorcars... Never has a car met with such a magnificent reception.

1988 D. Hogan Lebanon Lodge 85 The coloured lights had still slashed into the black street the night her son had met with the accident.

†7. intransitive. To oppose, contend with (an error, objection, or malpractice), take precautions against (a danger); to provide for (an emergency). Also: to cope with (a person). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > confront

abidec1275

stand?1316

visagec1386

bidec1400

to stand to ——1562

affront1569

to look (a person, etc.) in the face1573

outface1574

front1582

to meet with1585

confront1594

propose1594

to stand up to1596

outfront1631

to stand forth to1631

head1682

meet1725

1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 285/1 And all this good fruite woulde a fewe mischieuous persons..vndoutedlye bring into thys realme, if the prince and prelates..did not in the beginnyng mete with their malice.

1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xi. 172 Paul in this treatie of a magistrate meeteth with both these errors.

1600 in W. K. Clay Liturg. Services Q. Eliz. (1847) 694 Meet with the purposes and practices of all ambitious Absalons.

1603 H. Crosse Vertues Common-wealth sig. B2^v A prudent man..meeteth with euerie mischiefe, and is not ouertaken, with non putaui, had I wist.

1668 Rolle's Abridgment Publ. Pref. The body of Laws..consists of infinite particulars, and must meet with various Emergencies.

1698 R. South 12 Serm. III. 524 To meet with their doubts, and to answer their Objections.

1712 J. Arbuthnot Lewis Baboon iv. iv. 20 Let it suffice at present that you have been met with.

†8. intransitive. To agree or be in accord with. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > be in agreement [verb (intransitive)]

accord1340

cordc1380

to be condescendedc1386

to be consentedc1386

consenta1400

intend1421

onec1450

drawc1480

to be of (also in) one (or a) mind?1496

agreea1513

gree?a1513

to draw by one string1558

conspire1579

to meet witha1586

conclude1586

condog1592

consign1600

centre1652

to be of (another's) mind1717

to go all the way (also the whole way) with1829

to sing the same song1846

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. C1 Wherein I know not, whether by lucke or wisedome, wee Englishmen haue mette with the Greekes, in calling him a maker.

1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 83 Lords of right noble extraction..(whose titles met with their estates in the Northern Parts).

1661 J. Worthington Let. 14 Nov. in Diary & Corr. (1855) II. i. 68 Upon enquiry I cannot meet with Sebaldus Schnellius against Abarbanel.

†9. intransitive. To exact requital; to get even with, pay back, settle with. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > treat one as he has been treated [verb (transitive)] > requite or pay back (a person)

foryield971

to quit or yield (one) his whilec1175

acquitc1300

quitc1330

restore?a1400

refound1438

requite1530

regrate?c1550

repay1557

redub1558

quittance1590

to meet witha1593

to pay (a person) (off) scot and lot1598

meeta1625

retaliate1629

reimburse1644

compensate1804

to even up on1879

a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. E Ile meete with you anone for interrupting me so.

1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 330 God..though he meete with some in this life, yet he lets thousands escape.

1667 E. Waterhouse Short Narr. Fire London 129 For which sins God may meet with you also.

†10. intransitive. Scottish. To pay (a creditor). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > payment of debt > pay debt [verb (transitive)] > pay a creditor

satisfy1426

repaya1530

dischargea1560

clear1609

to meet with1854

straighten1946

1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters xiii. 276 They had been unable, term after term, to meet with the laird, and were now three years in arrears.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	meet
释义	† meetn.¹ Forms: see meet adj. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: meet adj. Etymology: < meet adj. Obsolete. An equal. Cf. meet adj. 3a. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > equal, counterpart, or equivalent ylikeeOE likea1200 make?c1225 fellow?a1425 proportion?a1425 countervailc1430 matcha1450 meetc1450 pareil?c1450 resemblant1484 equivalent1502 countermatch1587 second1599 parallel1600 equipollent1611 balancea1616 tantamount1637 analogy1646 analogate1652 form-fellow1659 equivalency1698 par1711 homologizer1716 peel1722 analogon1797 quits1806 correlate1821 analogue1837 representant1847 homologue1848 countertype1855 homologon1871 correlative1875 vis-à-vis1900 counterpart1903 c1450 ( G. Chaucer Bk. Duchess 486 Of al goodnesse she had no mete. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2018). meetn.² Brit. /miːt/, U.S. /mit/ Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: meet v. Etymology: < meet v. 1. colloquial. a. A meeting, an appointment. Also (now chiefly Australian): an assignation, a date with a boyfriend or girlfriend. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun] > an agreement forewardOE accordc1275 covenant1297 end1297 form1297 frettec1330 conjurationc1374 treatc1380 bargainc1386 contractc1386 comenaunt1389 compositionc1405 treaty1427 pact1429 paction1440 reconventionc1449 treatisea1464 hostage1470 packa1475 trystc1480 bond (also band) of manrent1482 covenance1484 concordance1490 patisement1529 capitulation1535 conventmenta1547 convenience1551 compact1555 negotiation1563 sacrament1563 match1569 consortship1592 after-agreementa1600 combourgeoisie1602 convention1603 comburghership1606 transaction1611 end-makingc1613 obligement1627 bare contract1641 stipulation1649 accompackmentc1650 rue-bargaina1657 concordat1683 minute1720 tacka1758 understanding1803 meet1804 it's a go1821 deal1863 whizz1869 stand-in1870 gentlemen's agreement1880 meeting of minds1883 1804 W. Clark Jrnl. 24 Sept. in Jrnls. Lewis & Clark Exped. (1987) III. 108 Our Perogus went to the Island for the meet. 1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxix. 249 When shall we have a meet?.. Can't you come Tuesday? 1879 Macmillan's Mag. Oct. 503/1 At six I was at the meet (trysting-place). 1889 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. (1917) II. 512 We'll manage a meet yet. 1915 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke 23 I dunno 'ow I 'ad the nerve ter speak, An' make that meet wiv 'er fer Sundee week! 1930 Amer. Speech 6 118 Coast dental meet set for July 8–12. 1945 L. Glassop We were Rats i. i. 5 You know them two grouse sheilas we've got the meet on with tomorrer night? 1974 N. Phillipson As Other Men 118 This guy had a meet on with the girl. 1993 Guardian 30 July i. 12/4 LW Investment's liquidator Robson Rhodes, anxious to trace missing money, has written suggesting a ‘meet’ in a European capital. b. spec. A meeting of criminals, a meeting with a supplier of illegal drugs. Also: a meeting-place, esp. one used by criminals. ΚΠ 1865 Leaves from Diary Celebrated Burglar 173/1 In consequence of something dropped by a friendly ‘cop’, the ‘meet’ would be held at a public house on Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden. 1929 Chicago Tribune 11 Oct. 14/3 The [drug-]peddler takes his stock to a point on the street or possibly a pool hall. The place where he meets his customer is called a ‘meet’ or a ‘stand’. 1955 W. Gaddis Recognitions ii. v. 490 I'm going to make a meet, he answered..—I'm going out to meet a passer, to hand this stuff over to him. 1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed xxv. 183 Your man made a meet... No drugs changed hands. 2. a. A gathering of riders and hounds for a hunt; a hunt. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > [noun] > meeting of hunt field day1774 meet1838 lawn-meet1890 gala meet1894 the world > food and drink > hunting > hunter > [noun] > hunt hunt1579 meet1884 1838 R. S. Surtees Jorrocks's Jaunts 39 They overtook a gentleman perusing a long bill of the meets for the next week, of at least half a dozen packs. 1854 J. W. Warter Last of Old Squires vi. 58 If it so happened that the fox-hounds did not make their usual meets in the neighbourhood. 1884 R. Jefferies Red Deer vi. 104 The work of the ‘harbourer’ is to find where a runnable stag is in ‘harbour’ on the morning of the meet. 1933 Speculum 8 i. 40 Today the emphasis in hunting is on speed: we hunt to ride; our fathers rode to hunt. We appear at the meet to gallop across country; our fathers to watch hounds work out the scent. 1986 Horse & Hound 18 Apr. 82/3 After lunch the Clifton Foot arrived with 12 couple of their hounds to join with 11 couple of the Ilminster pack at a joint meet at Priory Farm. b. An organized event at which a number of athletic or other sporting contests are held. Now also: any organized social gathering of a society, club, etc. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > series of, as public spectacle gamea1387 sports1535 Olympic Games1636 gymkhana1861 meet1893 sportfest1919 summer games1928 sportsfest1953 Commonwealth Games1954 motorkhana1954 1893 Times 4 May 12/1 The interesting meet of the stage-coaches to be held to-day. 1897 Outing 30 493/2 For sixteen years the club's meet has been one of the most popular cycling events. 1932 Sun (Baltimore) 6 Sept. 14/1 (heading) Coast netter stops invader. Stoefen injects drama into Forest Hills meet defeating Japanese. 1957 Muscle Power Jan. 47/1 Bill also entered the Junior weightlifting meet and came in second. 1986 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch 28 May 5 e/1 It easily was Meyer's best meet performance of the season. 2000 Folk Group Newslet. (Camping & Caravanning Club) Mar. 3 It was a pleasure to see so many at the North Central New Year meet joining together to celebrate. 3. a. Geometry. A point, line, or surface of intersection. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > geometry > point > [noun] > of intersection or contact toucha1398 touchpoint1585 foot1652 contact1660 section?1677 origin1723 node1866 biflecnode1879 intersect1886 meet1893 the world > relative properties > number > geometry > surface > [noun] > intersection of meet1893 1893 J. W. Russell Elem. Treat. Pure Geom. 156 The meets of opposite sides of a hexagon..inscribed in a conic are collinear. 1893 J. W. Russell Elem. Treat. Pure Geom. 236 Given five points on each of two conics, to construct the conic which passes through the four meets of these conics and also touches a given line. 1908 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 9 400 The two remaining fixed points are the two meets of this cubic and the harmonic conic. 1958 A. Barton Introd. Coordinate Geom. viii. 147 (heading) Meet of two tangents. 1958 A. Barton Introd. Coordinate Geom. x. 213 Find the equation of the lines joining O to the meets of 4x − 3y = 10 and x² + y² + 3x − 6y − 20 = 0. b. Mathematics. The intersection of two or more sets; (also) the infimum of two or more elements of a lattice. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > transformation > [noun] > set or values in > intersection of meet1933 1933 G. Birkhoff in Proc. Cambr. Philos. Soc. 29 441 Let Π be any collection of subalgebras S_k... By the meet ∆{Π} of Π we mean the set of elements in every S_k of Π. 1933 H. F. Baker Princ. Geom. VI. ii. 70 [h] and [k] have a common space [m], which we may call their meet. 1938 T. G. Room Geom. of Determinantal Loci i. 6 The join of two spaces is defined as the space of least dimension which contains all the points of each of them, and the meet (or intersection) of the two spaces as the space of least dimension containing all points common to both of them. 1965 D. E. Rutherford Introd. Lattice Theory i. 3 We frequently call the l.u.b. of a subset the union of the elements which compose the subset, and correspondingly we call the g.l.b. of the subset the intersection or meet of its elements. 1972 A. G. Howson Handbk. Terms Algebra & Anal. xv. 76 Every two elements of P have a meet and a join, e.g. 12 ∧ 30 = 6, 3 ∨ 5 = 15, and so P is a lattice. 1990 Proc. London Math. Soc. 61 609 Regarding J₁ ∨ J₂ as the join operation and J₁ ∧ J₂ = J₁ ∩ J₂ as the meet operation, we see that the set Id A, of all ideals, is a lattice called the ideal lattice of A. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022). meetadj. Brit. /miːt/, U.S. /mit/ Forms: Middle English met, Middle English mett, Middle English–1500s mete, Middle English–1500s mette, Middle English–1600s meete, 1500s meat, 1500s meate, 1500s miet, 1500s mytt, 1500s– meet; Scottish pre-1700 mait, pre-1700 meat, pre-1700 meate, pre-1700 meete, pre-1700 meit, pre-1700 meite, pre-1700 meitt, pre-1700 met, pre-1700 mete, pre-1700 meyit, pre-1700 meyt, pre-1700 miet, pre-1700 mit, pre-1700 1700s– meet. Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: i-mete adj. Etymology: Aphetic < i-mete adj.Alongside Old English gemǣte is found mǣte from the same Germanic base, but without the prefix; this occurs only in the sense ‘mean, moderate, poor, inferior, small, bad’, and is therefore very unlikely to be an antecedent form of meet . In phrase to be meet with (see sense 2b) the variant with meets is not easily explained: perhaps compare evens adj., quits adj. and n., odds n. Eng. Dial. Dict. records s.v. a variant to be to meets with. Now archaic and British regional. 1. Having the proper dimensions; made to fit. In later use: close-fitting, barely large enough. Now Scottish, and only in compounds, as meet-bodied adj.; meet-coat, meet-marrow (see marrow n.²). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > of appropriate size or amount meeta1325 skilful1387 reasonablec1405 equala1674 a1325 (?c1300) Northern Passion (Cambr. Gg.1.1) 1502 To þe bores a leiden is armes swete, To lok yef þei wer þer to mete. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2899 (MED) His skyn was schape al meete, And nayled on the same seete. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 8809 Þe tre was als mete & queme as any mon..cowde deme. c1480 (a1400) St. Matthias 50 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 223 Þar-for of spechis a cowyne þa mad til hyme met. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 157 Sowtaris, with schone weill maid and meit Ȝe mend the faltis of ill maid feit. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) viii. viii. 10 Apon his feyt his meyit schois hoit War buklit. a1700 Will Stewart & John in F. J. Furnivall Ballads from MSS (1868) III. 225 Iohn hee gott on a clouted cloake, Soe meete & low then by his knee. 1727 in R. Renwick Extracts Rec. Stirling (1889) II. 200 They will allow him [sc. the town's piper] a meet bodied coat with the towns livery thereon. a1763 Sweet William's Ghost xiii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1885) II. iii. 229 There's no room at my side..My coffin's made so meet. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. (at cited word) Meet-coat, a term used by old people for a coat that is exactly meet for the size of the body, as distinguished from a long coat. 1900 Weekly Free Press & Aberdeen Herald 1 Dec. 3/1 When the finished production was sent home..Aunty Ann pronounced it the very ‘meet-marrows’ of the one she had held so long in loving memory. 2. a. Suitable, fit, proper for some purpose or occasion, expressed or implied. Frequently with infinitive; also with †to, for. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] goodeOE rightOE queemlOE belonglOE behovingc1175 limplyc1200 tidefula1300 avenantc1300 mackc1330 worthy1340 hemea1350 convenientc1374 seemlya1375 shapelyc1374 ablea1382 cordant1382 meetc1385 accordable1386 accordinga1387 appurtenantc1386 pertinentc1390 accordanta1393 likea1393 setea1400 throa1400 agreeablec1425 habilec1425 suitly1426 competentc1430 suiting1431 fitc1440 proportionablec1443 justc1450 congruent?a1475 cordinga1475 congruec1475 afferant1480 belonging1483 cordable1485 hovable1508 attainanta1513 accommodate1525 agreeing1533 respondent1533 opportunate?1541 appropriate1544 commode1549 familiar1553 apt1563 pliant1565 liable1570 sortly1570 competible1586 sortable1586 fitty1589 accommodable1592 congruable1603 affining1606 feated1606 suity1607 reputable1611 suited1613 idoneousa1615 matchable1614 suitablea1616 congruous1631 fitten1642 responsal1647 appropriated1651 adapt1658 mack-like1672 squared1698 homogeneous1708 applicable1711 unforeign1718 fitted1736 congenial1738 assorted1790 accommodatable1874 OK1925 c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1631 Two harneys..Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne The bataille. c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 1043 Ther nys no woman to hym half so mete. a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 173 Mustard is..metest with alle maner salt herynge. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 31 Hadde we an halter whiche were mete for his necke and stronge ynough. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 574/1 Of all monethes Marche is the metest to set yonge plantes and to graffe in. 1548 Order of Communion sig. B.ii^v So shall ye be mete partakers of these holye mysteryes. 1552 in Vicary's Anat. Bodie of Man (1888) App. iii. 151 A gate or dore..for the Apte, commodyous, & meate passage of the gouernours. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 97 For to deceiue they be most mete, That best can play hypocrisy. 1616 R. Boyle in Lismore Papers (1886) I. 129 I am to pass back a lease of 40 yeares to Capⁿ Tynt at a meet Rent. a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Norf. 248 He was happy in a meet Yoke-fellow. 1692 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. iii. 8 The Eye is very proper and meet for seeing. 1776 W. J. Mickle tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad vii. 314 Both..rose, prepared to hear With meet attendance, or the meet reply. 1820 W. Scott Monastery II. iv. 147 To transmew myself into some civil form meeter for this worshipful company. 1898 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. V. 372 Thrombosis meet to explain the death is not always found. 1914 W. Owen Let. 15 June (1967) 260 Some things I say are not meet for an audience. 1983 S. Donaldson Gilden-fire 32 They could not accept gifts without making meet return. b. In predicative use, of an action: fitting, becoming, proper. Chiefly in it is meet that (also with infinitive), occasionally as (also than) is meet.In quot. 1549 after post-classical Latin dignum et iustum est in the Ordinary of the Mass. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > fitting or proper methelyeOE ylikeeOE fairOE i-meteOE rightOE becomelyc1175 proper?c1225 featc1325 conablea1340 rightful1340 worthyc1350 pursuanda1375 covenable1382 dignec1385 convenablec1386 thriftyc1386 sittingc1390 comenablea1400 gainlya1400 meeta1400 wortha1400 convenientc1400 meetlya1425 suinga1425 fitc1440 tallc1440 worthyc1450 good1477 dueful?a1527 beseeminga1530 fitting1535 straighta1538 decent1539 answerable1542 becoming1565 condecent1575 becomed1599 respective1605 befittinga1612 comely1617 decorous1664 shape-like1672 beseemly1737 farrantly?1748 fitly1840 in order1850 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 3675 (MED) His moder..cled him, sum it was mete, Wit his broþer robe þat smelled suete. c1500 in R. H. Robbins Secular Lyrics 14th & 15th Cent. (1952) 76 (MED) Among all other ther is no-thyng mor mete To the help of man then temperat diete. ?a1525 (c1450) Christ's Burial & Resurrection i. 686 in F. J. Furnivall Digby Plays (1896) 194 O swete child! it was nothinge mete..To lat Iudas kisse thes lippes so swete. 1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxvi^v It is mete and right so to do. 1611 Bible (King James) Jer. xxvi. 14 Doe with mee as seemeth good and meet vnto you. View more context for this quotation 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 56 Using far less diligence here than was meet. 1752 E. Young Brothers i. i My cities, which deserted in my wars, I thought it meet to punish. 1833 Ld. Tennyson Poems 116 This is lovelier and sweeter, Men of Ithaca, this is meeter, In the hollow rosy vale to tarry. 1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles Introd. iv. 34 His Son.., as was meet, was clothed with mightier powers. 1936 J. G. Cozzens Men & Brethren i. 35 It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs. 1989 A. B. Giamatti Take Time for Paradise iii. 95 While we have considered the abstract principles and patterns of our narrative, and its mythic fable, it is meet to be most concrete when thinking on the tellers of the tale. †c. Accommodating; submissive, mild, gentle. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > calmness > meekness or mildness > [adjective] stillc825 tamec888 mildeOE lithea1000 daftc1000 meekc1325 lambishc1374 meeklyc1375 benign1377 temperatec1380 quieta1382 gall-lessa1398 mansuetea1425 meeta1425 unwrathful1542 rageless1578 lamb-like?1592 mildya1603 milky1602 pigeon-livered1604 placid1614 spleenless?1615 passive1616 unprovokable1646 milken1648 uncaptious1661 stomachless1727 unindignant1789 pianoa1817 ireless1829 unquarrelsome1830 quiet-goinga1835 uncholeric1834 unoffendable1839 baby-milda1845 quiet-tempered1846 turtlish1855 pathic1857 the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > [adjective] stillc825 tamec888 nesheOE mildeOE softOE lithea1000 daftc1000 methefulOE sefteOE meekc1175 benign1377 pleasablea1382 mytha1400 tendera1400 unfelona1400 mansuetea1425 meeta1425 gentlec1450 moy1487 placablea1522 facile1539 effeminate1594 silver1596 mildya1603 unmalicious1605 uncruel1611 maliceless1614 tender-hefteda1616 unpersecutive1664 baby-milda1845 rose water1855 turtlish1855 unvindictive1857 soft-boiled1859 tenderful1901 soft-lining1967 a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1799 For to make me to hym mete, The thridde arowe he gan to shete..which was named Curtesie. a1450 (c1435) J. Lydgate Life SS. Edmund & Fremund (Harl.) 1007 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 394 He was..Large in yeuynge to folkes vertuous, To foryefnesse most mansuet and meete. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales iii. vii. 73 The Senators..thought Lepidus rather meete [L. mitem] then a coward. a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 320 Mansweit and meit, and full of gentres. a1835 J. Hogg Wks. Ettrick Shepherd (1876) 314 The virgin mould, so mild and meet, Is roll'd up in its winding sheet. 1855 R. Montgomery Sanctuary 138 Oh! then descends the Paraclete And calms them with mild comfort meet, And turns their sadness to victorious song. †d. Convenient, useful. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] bricheeOE behovelyc950 bihevec975 nutOE behovingc1175 behovesomec1330 noteful1372 helpfulc1384 serviceablea1393 nait?a1425 meet?a1439 steadable1467 opportunea1475 utile?1483 of service1559 good1577 deservient1578 steadful1585 useful1596 servient1606 handy1616 utible1623 utilious1652 lucky1703 functional1808 utility1895 eufunctional1963 a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ix. 604 To Constantynople he hasted hym... Be Cecile the weie was almost [perh. read most] meete. 3. †a. Equal, on the same level (with to). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [adjective] > equal or on the same level peera1325 paregalc1390 meeta1425 champian1642 fere for fere1768 a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) 2114 Þare es na sorow mete to myne. a1450 York Plays (1885) 136 (MED) Hayll! man þat is made to þi men mette. b. to be meet (also †meets) with: to be even or quits with; to be revenged upon. Now rare (English regional). Perhaps Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > execute (vengeance) [verb (transitive)] > take vengeance on > be revenged upon to be even witha1500 to have one's pennyworths out ofa1566 to be meet (also meets) with1584 to be with1597 to get even with1846 1584 B. R. tr. Herodotus Famous Hyst. i. f. 1^v It was cardes and cardes betwene them, the one being full meete and quit with the other. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 45 You taxe Signior Benedicke too much, but heele be meet with you. View more context for this quotation 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 187 The foule ill take me if I be not revenged and meet with thee. 1613 T. Potts Wonderfull Discov. Witches sig. E4^v Well said then (sayes Anne Chattox) I will be meet with the one of you. And vpon the next day after, she the said Anne Nutter fell sicke, and within three weekes after died. 1709 J. Reynolds Death's Vision Pref. 12 An Unjust, Terrible Devil..that..will be severely meet with them for all the..Scorn they have cast even on his Being and Power. 1837 J. F. Palmer Gloss. in M. Palmer Dialogue Devonshire Dial. (at cited word) I'll be meets with him. 1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale 54 I'll be meet wi' tha. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022). meetv. Brit. /miːt/, U.S. /mit/, Scottish English /mit/ Inflections: Past tense and past participle met; Forms: Old English metan, Old English moeta (Northumbrian), Middle English met, Middle English mett, Middle English meyt, Middle English meytt, Middle English miete, Middle English–1500s mete, Middle English–1600s meete, Middle English– meet, 1500s meate, 1500s might, 1500s–1600s meat; Scottish pre-1700 meat, pre-1700 meett, pre-1700 meette, pre-1700 meit, pre-1700 meite, pre-1700 meitt, pre-1700 met, pre-1700 mete, pre-1700 mett, pre-1700 meyt, pre-1700 miet, pre-1700 mit, pre-1700 1700s– meet. Past tense Old English moette (Northumbrian), Old English–1500s mette, Middle English meth, Middle English meyt, Middle English–1600s mett, Middle English– met; Scottish pre-1700 mate, pre-1700 meit, pre-1700 mete, pre-1700 mett, pre-1700 mette, pre-1700 meyt, pre-1700 1700s– met. Past participle Old English gemeted, Old English gemett, Old English gemoetad (Northumbrian), Old English meted, Old English–Middle English mett, Middle English imet, Middle English imett, Middle English imette, Middle English mete, Middle English meyt, Middle English ymette, Middle English–1500s mette, Middle English–1600s ymet, Middle English– met, 1600s meet, 1600s meett; Scottish pre-1700 maitt, pre-1700 1700s– met. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian mēta , Middle Dutch moeten , moten , muoten (Dutch †moeten ; now only in the compound ontmoeten ), Old Saxon mōtian (Middle Low German mōten ), Middle High German muoten , muozen , Old Icelandic mœta (Icelandic mæta ), Old Swedish möta (Swedish möta ), Danish møde < a Germanic weak verb derived from the base of moot n.¹In intransitive use the perfect tenses were frequently formed with the auxiliary be in Middle English and early modern English; subsequently this became archaic and poetic. See, for example, senses 7c, 7e. Compare ymete v. I. To come upon by chance. 1. transitive. To find, come across, come upon by chance. Now only in regional use. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] meeteOE yaina1000 yseeOE oftakelOE to meet withc1300 finda1325 encounter1520 occur1527 bemeet1608 to fall in1675 society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > fight (a battle, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > meet in battle meeteOE to meet withc1325 abattlec1400 recounter1455 check1535 to come up against1535 entertain1555 yoke1581 cope1594 conflict1599 clash1650 engage1697 engage1698 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of people meeteOE joinc1400 to meet up1884 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific with object a thing meeteOE strike1798 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > coming from another direction (of person) meeteOE to come (also go, run, etc.) to meeta1325 nose1816 to bump into ——1894 eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iii. vii. 62 He hwæðre þa burg gewann & eall þæt moncynn acwealde þæt he ðærinne mette. OE Cynewulf Elene 985 Ðæt sigorbeacen þurh meotodes est meted wære, funden in foldan, þæt ær feala mæla behyded wæs. OE Paris Psalter (1932) cxviii. 160 Þæt is weorðlic fruma worda þinra, þæt þær byð soð symble meted. OE tr. Theodulf of Orleans Capitula (Corpus Cambr.) xxi. 325 Mon on þam feldum þara haligra gewryta swiðe eaðe þa wæpnu metan mæg, mid þam mon þa uncysta ofercuman mæg. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xxx. 69 Hwi ofermodige ge þonne ofer oðre men for eowrum gebyrdum buton anweorce, nu ge nanne ne magon metan unæþelne? ?a1300 Names Hare (Digby 86) in Proc. Leeds Philos. & Lit. Soc. (1935) 6 350 (MED) Þe mon þat þe hare Imet, Ne shal him neuere be þe bet. c1425 (?a1400) Arthur (Longleat 55) 343 Þe ferst lond þat he gan Meete, Forsoþe hyt was Bareflete. c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 83 (MED) He ne haþ no parfiȝt siȝt, but he stumbliþ comounly at alle þingis þat he metiþ. 1652 J. Shirley Doubtful Heir ii. 26 We have scap'd a Brook, to meet a greater stream. 1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. ii. iii. 174 Of this Intemperies you will find an Observation in Herpes... And whereever you meet it, you shall find difficulty. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. i. 14 We met the main stream where it parts into the 2 Channels. 1739 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature I. iii. 184 A person, who stops short in his journey upon meeting a river in his way, foresees the consequences of his proceeding forward. 1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 117 I had not gone..a mile, when, meeting a dirty road, I turned over a stile. 1796 J. Austen Let. 15 Sept. (1995) 9 We met Lady Sondes' picture over the Mantlepeice in the Dining room. 1825 J. K. Paulding John Bull in Amer. xi. 124 My first disappointment in not meeting the back country close by the sea shore, was nothing to those I encountered here. 1867 W. F. Allen Slave Songs U.S. xxviii Meet is used in the sense of find. ‘I meet him here an' he remain wid me,’ was the cook's explanation when a missing chair was found in the kitchen. 1888 E. Laws Hist. Little Eng. beyond Wales 241 I met this glove on the road. 1930 T. J. Woofter Black Yeomanry 54 Meet, to find... The fisherman is asked, ‘Did oona [= you] meet plenty feesh?’ 1950 Proc. Amer. Dial. Soc. 14 46 Meet, to find. ‘I meet um gone,’ ‘I found them gone, they were gone when I arrived.’ II. To experience. 2. transitive. To encounter, experience (a particular fortune or destiny, a phenomenon, event, etc.); to receive (reward, punishment, or treatment of a certain kind); (now) esp. to suffer (one's death).Now largely superseded by to meet with (see to meet with 6 at Phrasal verbs), except with reference to death. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience ymetec893 findeOE meetOE counterc1325 overtakec1390 limp?a1400 tidea1400 runa1450 to fall with ——?c1475 onlightc1475 recounterc1485 recount1490 to come in witha1500 occur1531 to fall on ——1533 to fall upon ——1533 beshine1574 rencontre1582 entertain1591 cope with1594 happen1594 tocome1596 incur1599 forgather1600 thwart1601 to fall in1675 cross1684 to come across ——1738 to cross upon (or on)1748 to fall across ——1760 experience1786 to drop in1802 encounter1814 to come upon ——1820 to run against ——1821 to come in contact with1862 to run across ——1864 to knock or run up against1886 to knock up against1887 the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > encounter or experience > of a person meetOE rencounter1574 to come on ——a1599 intersect1858 OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) xxii. 368 Ne mette ic næfre on minum life swa mycles sares ne yfeles gemæccan, swa ic me nu ætforan geseo. lOE Canterbury Psalter lxiv. 3 Tribulationem et dolorem inveni : eærfoþnesse & sær ic mette. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 47 Vmbe while y am to wene when y shal murþes meten. a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iii. 1246 With worse hap God lat us nevere mete! a1450 York Plays (1885) 85 Mo mervaylles mon he mett. 1607 J. Donne Lett. (1651) 11 I have a little satisfaction in seeing a letter written to you upon my table, though I meet no opportunity of sending it. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. i. 15 Wish me partaker in thy happinesse, When thou do'st meet good hap. View more context for this quotation 1661 R. Boyle Some Consider. Style of Script. (1675) 243 Those..met a destiny not ill resembling that of Zacheus. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. v. 91 In this Exercise I once met an Accident. 1782 J. Brown Compend. View Nat. & Revealed Relig. (1796) 355 Christ's death being stinged by the curse, he met it with agony and terror. 1833 H. Martineau French Wines & Politics iv. 61 He met only threats and laughter. 1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 79 This generous appeal met no response. 1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 587 The first Anti-Christ, Simon Magus, was said to have met his death in some attempt to fly. 1955 ‘N. Shute’ Requiem for Wren (1956) 116 Death was due to drowning. That is how my brother came to meet his end. 1987 Heritage Aug.–Sept. 40/3 He met his death in the hunting field when only 27. III. To arrive in the same place as another person or thing. 3. a. transitive. To come face to face with or encounter (a person, or occasionally an animal). ΚΠ eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iii. xi. 78 Þa hie from ðære byrg hamweard wæron, þa metton hie Leonantius, þe sceolde Antipatrume to fultume cuman, & þær ofslagen wearð. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9045 In are brade strete, he igon mete. þreo cnihtes & heore sweines. c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 7 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 54 (MED) Ase he cam..bi þe wei, he gan mieten bi cas Ane kniȝt. c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. v. 82 Whon I mette him in þe Market þat I most hate, Ich heilede him as hendely as I his frend weore. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 635/1 I mette hym a myle beyonde the towne. 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 609 He met ane Porter swayne Cummand raith him agayne. 1693 W. Congreve Old Batchelour iv. i. 32 I would have overtaken, not have met my Game. 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 103 I..had been so shye of my self, that if I met any Body in the Street, I would cross the Way from them. 1835 A. Steedman Wanderings S. Afr. II. iii. iii. 53 The next day we met a Trek Boor, with his cattle. 1903 W. D. Howells Lett. Home iii. 20 They say that New-Yorkers never meet each other on the street, but if two country fellows happen to be in New York at the same time they are sure to bump against each other before the day's out. 1943 A. M. Lindbergh Diary 2 May in War within & Without (1980) 346 I go for a walk down the path and meet a squirrel coming up it. 1989 S. Chinodya Harvest of Thorns xxx. 219 They..went down into the village where they met a group of women carrying large calabashes of beer to the fields. b. transitive. To arrive deliberately, or as previously arranged, in the presence of (an approaching person, etc.) from the opposite or a different direction. Frequently in to come (also go, run, etc.) to meet. Also: to go somewhere in order to be present at the arrival of (a traveller, train, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > coming from another direction (of person) meeteOE to come (also go, run, etc.) to meeta1325 nose1816 to bump into ——1894 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > as intended result of going to to meet withc1300 meeta1325 join1713 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1790 Ðat stede he calde manaim, Ðor ðis wird of engeles metten him. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10555 Þi lauerd es comand als suith, Ga to mete him. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 62 Till Noramkirk he come withoutyn mar. The consell than of Scotland mett hym thar. 1582 Bible (Rheims) Acts x. 25 Cornelius came to meete him, and falling at his feete adored. a1600 Sonnge Sir A. Barton in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 74 To might my Lord came the kinge and quen. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 91 Good signior Leonato, are you come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is, to auoyd cost, and you incounter it. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iv. ii. 86 Ile appoint my men to carry the basket againe, to meete him at the doore with it. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 cx. 28 As, in a drought, the thirsty creatures cry, And gape upon the gather'd clowds for rain, And first the Martlet meets it in the sky. 1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. §97 Bid your servant meet you at such a time. 1755 T. Turner Diary 2 Oct. (1984) (modernized text) 15 My brother Moses came and called me to go to Lewes to meet the Manchesterman. 1808 W. Scott Marmion i. xiii. 34 Then stepped to meet that noble lord, Sir Hugh the Heron bold. 1871 D. G. Rossetti Let. July (1967) III. 955 I could get you met by a trap at Lechlade station. 1894 A. Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes 49 I'll meet the seven o'clock train and take no steps till you arrive. 1910 Bradshaw's Railway Guide Apr. 1049 The Hotel omnibus meets the principal London trains. 1992 B. Anderson Portrait of Artist's Wife (1993) ii. 37 She ran to meet Nelson each afternoon when he appeared at the kitchen door. c. intransitive. Of two or more people: to happen upon one another; to come face to face. ΚΠ a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) : Prov. (Bodl. 959) xxii. 2 Þe riche man & þe pore metten togidere. c1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Complaint of Mars 72 The grete joye that was betwix hem two, When they be mette. ?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 889 Þai met neuer eftir whils þai leued. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 678/2 As sone as we mette, he rayned his horse and talked with me a good while. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 142 Vpon the next occasion that we meete . View more context for this quotation 1615 W. Bedwell tr. Mohammedis Imposturæ ii. §90 To morrow if God Almighty say, Amen, we will meet. 1720 J. Gay Sweet William's Farewell iv We only part to meet again. 1781 J. Logan in Sc. Paraphr. liii. viii Where death-divided friends at last shall meet, to part no more. 1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair xliv. 398 When they met by mischance, he made sarcastic bows or remarks to the child. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh II. 259 They had not met for years. 1937 M. Sharp Nutmeg Tree xvi. 208 ‘We meet again!’ she exclaimed cordially. 1997 A. Yen Mah Falling Leaves xix. 189 The couples met by chance at social functions. d. transitive. Chiefly figurative. to meet halfway: †to forestall, anticipate (obsolete); to respond in kind to the friendly advances of; to make concessions to (a person) in response to or in expectation of equal concessions; to come to a compromise with. to meet trouble halfway: to anticipate distress. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > precede or come before [verb (transitive)] > anticipate or forestall before-takea1382 preventc1425 devance1485 prevenea1500 lurch1530 to take before the bounda1556 to be aforehand with1570 to be beforehand with1574 to meet halfwaya1586 preoccupate1588 forestall1589 fore-run1591 surprise1591 antedate1595 foreprise1597 preoccupy1607 preoccupy1638 pre-act1655 anticipatea1682 obviate1712 to head off1841 beat1847 to beat out1893 pre-empt1957 the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > compromise > [verb (intransitive)] to give and take1519 compoundc1547 to meet halfway1638 compromise1656 palliate1672 moderate1713 to split the difference1713 the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > be friendly [verb (intransitive)] > become friendly > respond to friendly advances to meet halfway1706 a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxiv. f. 229 Artaxia..euen met them halfe way in excusing her brothers murder. 1594 T. Nashe Vnfortunate Traveller sig. B3^v Presently he remembred himselfe, and had like to haue fallen into his memento againe, but that I met him halfe waies, and askt his Lordship [etc.]. 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 321 Let not the Iudge meet the Cause halfe Way; Nor giue Occasion to the Partie to say; His Counsell or Proofes were not heard. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. III. 112 I like this popular Divinitie, which meets us halfe way, and stoops a little, that we may not strayne our selves too much. 1706 G. Farquhar Recruiting Officer iii. i. 24 We lov'd two Ladies; they met us half way. 1799 Ld. Nelson in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) IV. 66 There is not a thing that the Admiral could propose that I would not meet him half-way. 1823 C. Lamb Valentine's Day in Elia 130 The world meets nobody half-way. 1884 Times (Weekly ed.) 5 Sept. 12/2 The Polish peasantry..will meet the Czar halfway in whatever he does for their good. 1896 J. C. Hutcheson Crown & Anchor xvi. 162 I can't see the use of anticipating the worst and trying to meet troubles half-way. 1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xxxi. 350 But I don't see the use of meeting trouble halfway, do you, Marilla? 1923 Glasgow Herald 14 Aug. 7 If France does not meet us half way, enabling the Allied front to realign, there will be a separate reply to Germany. 1957 R. Hoggart Uses of Literacy (1959) 70 It's all bound to be ups and downs,..roundabouts and swings; ‘It's no good moaning’;..‘don't meet trouble 'alfway’. 1989 Constr. News 22 June 5/2 Contractors are making efforts to bring British producers into the market but many were reluctant to meet the contractor half-way in developing the right products to satisfy the final customers. e. transitive. colloquial (chiefly North American) to meet and greet: to welcome or receive (a person) formally or professionally. Also in extended use and intransitive. Cf. meet-and-greet adj. and n. ΚΠ 1815 Morning Post 14 June The inhabitants flocked with rapture to meet and greet him, mingling with their expressions of joy sentiments of utter detestation of the expelled perfidious Despot. 1833 New-Bedford (Mass.) Mercury 14 June 1/5 The Lowell Mercury says—‘Among other tokens of respect which will be shown to the President and Vice President, about five thousand of the fairest of the fair, unmarried, and young, elegantly dressed in white, will join a procession to meet and greet them on their arrival in town!’ 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. xi. 294 At our entrance, Mrs. Fairfax, Adèle, Sophie, Leah, advanced to meet and greet us. 1910 Charlotte (N. Carolina) Daily Observer 30 Nov. 5/3 The shallowness of the conversational standard at formal [printed foral] receptions..which were once described by a New York Sun man in the alliterative phrases, ‘Meet, greet, eat, beat’ or ‘Go, grab, git’. 1950 Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale) 24 May 7/6 One of the many University of Illinois coaches who meet, greet, wine, dine prep athletes, their coaches and their families upon every occasion..walked up to talk to Anderson. 1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 27 June 4 d1 (advt.) Secretary-Receptionist, versatile spot, meet & greet, pleasant atmosphere, profit sharing, $475. 1999 Linedancer Jan. 49/2 The role also dictated the crew ‘meet and greet’ their audience as they entered and left the arena. f. transitive. Nautical. to meet her: to check the swing of a turning vessel's bow by steering towards the opposite side. Frequently as int. ΚΠ 1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Transl. French Terms at Rencontre The order to the steersman, to meet the ship, right the helm, or put it towards the side opposite..in order to check the ship's sheer.] 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 183 If the order is..‘Ease her!’ ‘Meet her!’ or the like, the man should answer by repeating..the order. 1856 C. Nordhoff Merchant Vessel 233 The obstinate craft takes a mighty, almost resistless sweep to the other side, and ‘meet her’, is the cry, while poor Jack tugs desperately at the heavy-moving wheel. 1902 B. Lubbock Round Horn 187 Occasionally he says sharply, ‘Meet her! Meet her!’ and sometimes he jumps to the wheel and gives us his powerful aid in grinding it up and down. 1968 H. F. Chase Boatswain's Man. (ed. 3) xi. 255 If given too much wheel,..her head may start to fall off to port. When this is about to happen the helmsman will ‘meet her’ by putting the wheel to starboard for a few moments. 1981 B. Webb Schult's Sailing Dict. 175/2 To meet her is to apply a certain amount of helm to keep the boat on course by checking a yaw or swing. 4. a. intransitive. Of two or more things: to come into contact with each other; to come together so as to occupy the same place, or follow the same line or course; to run or flow together. Of a single thing: to form a closed circle, etc., with the two ends in contact.to make (both) ends meet: see end n. 24. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > nearness > be near [verb (intransitive)] > be in contact meet?a1300 touch?c1425 apply?a1439 abut1492 abut1826 contact1876 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of inanimate objects meet?a1300 ?a1300 Dame Sirith 358 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 16 (MED) Loke hou hire heien greten; On hire cheken þe teres meten. ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 123 (MED) All the lynes meeten at the centre. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 635/1 Hylles do never mete, but acquayntaunce dothe often. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccxij Where the Rhine and Moselle mete. 1666 S. Pepys Diary 4 Nov. (1972) VII. 353 My vest being new and thin, and the Coate cut not to meet before upon my breast. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 784 Our circuit meets full West. View more context for this quotation 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 311 It was very hard to see where the Tiles met. 1783 B. Porteus Serm. v. 116 How two mathematical lines, indefinitely produced, can be for ever approaching each other, and yet never meet. 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 16 Where seemed the cliffs to meet on high. 1842 Ld. Tennyson May Queen (new ed.) Concl. vi, in Poems (new ed.) I. 171 There came a sweeter token when the night and morning meet. 1892 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads 75 Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet. a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. vi. 144 Their lips met, and it was to her as if a hot flame..swept round and embraced her whole body. 1958 M. Dickens Man Overboard ii. 28 He tripped over a large metal junction-box, where several thick cables met in a writhing tangle. 1979 R. Howard Misgivings iii. 61 As hands met, reaching down for what was up, we thirsted. b. transitive. [In many cases with some allusion to sense 3a.] Of a thing: to come into contact, association, or junction with (something or someone moving on a different course). Also, of a thing that has motion attributed to it, as a line, road, etc.: to arrive at a point of contact or intersection with (another line, road, etc.). Also with a person as subject.figurative in earliest use. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > nearness > be near to [verb (transitive)] > be in contact with toucha1350 meeta1400 to meet witha1400 raise1591 buss1609 taste1634 osculate1740 incidea1774 nuzzle1891 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > come into physical contact with (of things) meeta1400 to meet witha1400 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > coming from another direction (of person) > coming from another direction (of things) meeta1400 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 23161 Oft i was wit malisce mette [a1400 Gött. mett]. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. iii. sig. Ee Let no whit thee dismay The hard beginne, that meetes thee in the dore. 1606 Returne from Pernassus ii. i. sig. C2^v Whersoeuer we run there meets vs greefe. 1765 R. Rogers Conc. Acct. N. Amer. 190 The Muddy River rises from the south of the central mountains..and runs south..till it meets the Mississippi. 1832 Ld. Tennyson Lady of Shalott i, in Poems (new ed.) 8 Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold, and meet the sky. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Sir Galahad vi, in Poems (new ed.) II. 177 I yearn to breathe the airs of heaven That often meet me here. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 663 The gibbet was set up where King Street meets Cheapside. 1905 Baroness Orczy Scarlet Pimpernel xvi. 155 His passion..was..as strong, as intense, as overwhelming, as when first her lips met his in one long, maddening kiss. 1925 W. Cather Professor's House ii. ii. 195 I rode clear around the mesa, until I met the river again where it flowed under the south flank. 1934 H. Roth Call it Sleep i. x. 98 The raw night air met him at the end of the doorway. 1977 H. O'Hagan School-marm Tree iii. 47 She and Peter dropped out of sight of the town into a draw and met the road's more leisurely progress up the hill and pursued it across a creek. 1992 T. Pow In Palace of Serpents (BNC) 53 Every hundred metres or so..we met the road zigzagging its six kilometres to the top. 1993 D. Coyle Hardball v. i. 214 He..pulled himself onto the massive crosspiece that held the tracks up, wedging both feet in the notch where the crosspiece met the girder. †c. intransitive. To lie or fit close to. Cf. meet adj. 1. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ 1568 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlviii. 30 It meites lyk stemmyne to ȝo^r theis. †d. intransitive. To agree, tally, match. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree/be in harmony/be congruous [verb (intransitive)] accord1340 cord1340 concordc1374 agree1447 to stand togetherc1449 rhyme?a1475 commonc1475 gree?a1513 correspond1529 consent1540 cotton1567 pan1572 reciprocate1574 concur1576 meet1579 suit1589 sorta1592 condog1592 square1592 fit1594 congrue1600 sympathize1601 symbolize1605 to go even1607 coherea1616 congreea1616 hita1616 piece1622 to fall in1626 harmonize1629 consist1638 comply1645 shadow1648 quare1651 atonea1657 symphonize1661 syncretize1675 chime1690 jibe1813 consone1873 1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 9^v He that compareth our instruments, with those that were vsed in ancient tymes, shall see them agree like dogges and cattes, and meete as iump as Germans lippes. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. vi. §1 It was yet greater difficulty to regulate it by the course of the Sun, and to make the accounts of the Sun and Moon meet. 1737 A. Ramsay Coll. Scots Prov. 61 The greedy Man and the Gielainger are well met. 1828 C. Lamb Old China in Elia 2nd Ser. 114 It is mighty pleasant at the end of the year to make all meet—and much ado we used to have every thirty-first night of December to account for our exceedings. e. intransitive. Of qualities, etc.: to be united in the same person or (esp. in later use) the same thing. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > combine [verb (intransitive)] adjoin1483 combinate1578 meet1581 symbolize1601 cohere1606 to run together1662 consolidate1690 combine1712 to run into ——a1715 compound1727 accrete1730 amalgamate1797 concrete1853 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 114 Al the three beauties meet together..in young men. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. vi. §9 The uniformity and perfect harmony of all these several Prophecies..all giving light to each other, and exactly meeting at last in the accomplishment. 1697 K. Chetwood Life Virgil in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. *3 It being rarely found that a very fluent Elocution, and depth of judgment meet in the same Person. 1781 W. Cowper Charity* 37 In baser souls unnumbered evils meet. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Morte d'Arthur in Poems (new ed.) II. 9 Thou, the latest-left of all my knights, In whom should meet the offices of all. 1894 J. T. Fowler in St. Adamnan Vita S. Columbae Introd. 57 The nobility of two races met in the child. 1971 Archivum Linguisticum 2 39 The aspects of meaning we are distinguishing intermesh and often meet in one text, in one sentence, even in one word or syllable. 1993 L. Beinhart Amer. Hero xii. 90 Art and spirituality and technology and biogenetics are all going to meet in a new synthesis. 5. a. transitive. to meet a person's eye (also gaze, etc.): to see that a person is looking at one; (also) to reciprocate a person's look without turning away. ΚΠ 1636 King & Queenes Entertainement Richmond 26 Why should you feare their eyes to meet? You haue a sure defence. 1670 J. Dryden Tyrannick Love v. i. 48 So much of guilt in my refusal lyes, That Debtor-like, I dare not meet your eyes. 1769 C. Lennox Sister i. ii. 7 You cannot meet the steady gaze with the confident stare. 1799 S. W. Morton Virtues of Society 22 The careless band, Meet her soft glance, and hear her fond demand. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 74 I..Not yet endured to meet her opening eyes. 1883 F. M. Peard Contradictions xxxii As she turned her head..she met his eyes. 1963 E. Wilson Jrnl. 25 July in Sixties: Last Jrnl. (1993) 229 He looks like the perfect ideal of the fighting Slavic revolutionist,..square-chinned, meeting one's gaze with defiance. 1985 L. McMurtry Lonesome Dove (1986) xx. 191 He looked out the window and wouldn't meet her eye. b. transitive. Of an object of attention: to present itself to, to come to the notice of (a person's sight, hearing, etc.). Esp. in to meet the eye (also ear), etc. Also to meet the eye of: to happen to be seen by. more than meets the eye (also ear): more significance or complexity than is at first apparent. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be visible [verb (intransitive)] tootc897 appearc1360 to meet the eye (also ear)1645 notice1961 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > be or become audible [verb (intransitive)] bursta1325 risea1325 sounda1325 arisec1330 wrestc1400 uprise?a1513 to meet the eye (also ear)1645 ascend1667 to breeze up1752 well1825 to break stillness1853 fade1879 the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)] exercisea1538 entertainc1540 replenish1548 rouse1583 catcha1586 amuse1586 detainc1595 attract1599 grope1602 concerna1616 take1634 stay1639 engage1642 meet1645 nudge1675 strike1697 hitcha1764 seize1772 interest1780 acuminate1806 arrest1835 grip1891 intrigue1894 grab1966 work1969 the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > meaning of linguistic unit > implied meaning > [noun] > instance of implicative1589 subintelligitur1612 subintelligence1631 undersong1631 deuteroscopy1646 implication1657 subauditur1702 undermeaning1841 implial1846 more than meets the eye (also ear)1853 under-sense1859 overtone1869 implicate1881 1645 J. Milton Il Penseroso in Poems 42 Of Forests, and inchantments drear, Where more is meant then meets the ear. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 18 Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view. View more context for this quotation 1781 W. Cowper Progress of Error 48 Where'er he turns, enjoyment and delight..meet his sight. 1853 ‘P. Paxton’ Stray Yankee in Texas 308 There might be more in it than at first met the eye. 1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xviii. 211 Striking pious attitudes at every object of reverence that meets his eye. 1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. iii. viii. 368 There's more here, sir, however,..than meets the eye. I don't believe in suicide, nor in pure accident, myself. 1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves ii. 21 ‘There is more in this than meets the eye,’ I said. ‘Why should your uncle ask a fellow to lunch whom he's never seen?’ 1924 R. H. Mottram Spanish Farm iii. 199 The first object that met the gaze of the little party, as they rounded the corner of the building, was Leon's garden ladder. 1994 Wall St. Jrnl. 25 Feb. b6/3 There may be more to corporate-restructuring charges than meets the eye of the average shareholder. 2001 New Statesman 23 July 8/1 Clarke..and Dunwoody..have more in common than first meets the eye. c. intransitive. Of eyes, glances, etc.: to encounter each other (accidentally or intentionally). ΚΠ 1696 Alcander & Philocrates iii. 79 I saw a Man who never took his Eyes off me, but look'd on me with a passionate Air, and sometimes our Eyes met. 1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. viii. vii. 324 Their eyes met not again; delighted and conscious, she turned hers hastily away. 1826 J. F. Cooper Last of Mohicans I. ii. 23 Their eyes met in a look, which the young man lingered a moment to prolong. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 215 He raised his head, their eyes met and hers fell. 1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby vii. 142 Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. 1988 Independent 14 Oct. 3/1 The eyes of gunmen Michael Flynn and Nicholas Payne met. IV. To come together in conflict. 6. a. transitive. To come together with or confront in a battle, fight, etc.; to stand up to in combat (esp. with a weapon or force). Also [after French rencontrer] : to fight a duel with (now historical).to meet one's match: see match n.¹ 2a. ΚΠ eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 800 Þy ilcan dæge rad Æþelmund aldorman of Hwiccium ofer æt Cynemæresforda; þa mette hine Weoxstan aldorman mid Wilsætum. Þær wearþ micel gefeoht.., & Wilsætan namon sige. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 16365 Ten þusend Scottes he sende..þe heaþene to mete [c1275 Calig. imete]. c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) 1114 Ȝif y may mete him ariȝt, Wiþ mi brond, þat is so briȝt. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 226 Meit thame with speris hardely. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 6527 All þat met hym with malis..Auther dyet of his dynttes, or were ded wondit. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 159 At thair cuming baldlie and w^t scharpe weiris thay meit thame. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1123 I only with an Oak'n staff will meet thee. View more context for this quotation 1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 16 We should not have been displeased..to have met them with our whole Force. 1771 in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lxiii. 293 His opponents..never meet him fairly upon his own ground. ?1856 F. E. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship lii. 384 I suppose I should be forced to meet him..if he were to challenge me. 1917 E. R. Burroughs Princess of Mars xiv. 151 My only choice was to draw my own and meet him in fair fight. 1932 G. Heyer Devil's Cub iv. 60 Mr Quarles wrenched himself free. ‘You'll meet me for this, my lord!’ he roared. 1990 J. Burke Traveller's Hist. Scotl. (BNC) 60 He led an army of some 18,000 to meet the Scots at Pinkie, six miles east of Edinburgh. b. Originally †transitive (reflexive); now intransitive. To come together as rivals in a battle, fight, etc. †to meet on: to come into conflict with (obsolete). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle [verb (reflexive)] > meet in battle meetc1325 OE Beowulf 2592 Næs ða long to ðon, þæt ða aglæcean hy eft gemetton.] c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 1950 Bi side winchestre in a feld to gadere hii hom mette. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 3325 (MED) Þai metten hem in asty Bi o forestes side. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 139 (MED) Whan þey mette to gidres, hap was vnstable and vnstedefast. c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) 1638 Þe styward..Fell of hys stede bakward: So harde þey two metten. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 7815 Bothe þe grekis on þe grene, & þe grym troiens, Mettyn with mayne þaire myghtis to kythe. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 8288 He macchit hym to Menelay, & met on þe kyng. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 215 The day of battel is sett, baith pairties meites, baith sydes ȝokis. 1616 S. S. Honest Lawyer v. sig. K2 We met in single combate in the field. 1673 P. Leycester Antiq. Great Brit. ii. ii. iv. 122 Both Armies meet near the Town of Lincoln, and being put in order, joyn Battel. 1707 E. Ward Hudibras Redivivus II. xi. 13 In Naseby-Fields both Armies, met, Their Envy, like their Numbers, great. 1782 W. Cowper Friendship 137 How fiercely will they meet and charge! No combatants are stiffer. 1831 W. Scott Rob Roy (new ed.) p. xliv Where so many gallant men were met in arms, it would be shameful to part without a trial of skill. 1898 B. Mitford Induna's Wife 5 At that place we met in fierce battle and rolled back the night of Dingane and thus saved the Amandebeli as a nation. 1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 818/1 Both sides [in the American Civil War] fought with an even more relentless determination than is usual when ‘armed nations’ meet in battle. 1998 S. Anderson 1314 & all That 82 The two armies met on either side of the River Forth at Stirling. †c. transitive. To strike at, smite. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 2526 (MED) Abram..þa hethen men he mett [a1400 Vesp. smat] ay emang. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 2148 (MED) Þis kyng gan Alisaunder myssigge, And first hym mette wiþ speres egge Þorouȝ shelde. c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 3841 (MED) Þan he moues to sir Modrede..And mett hym in þe myde-schelde, and mallis hym thorowe. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 119 (MED) Antor..met hym so hedylyche with a grete spere, that bothe the tymbir and stelen heede shewed thourgh his shuldre. d. transitive. To encounter, oppose, or face (a weapon, an attack). Frequently in extended use: to oppose, counteract, cope, or contend with (an action, objection, difficulty, etc.); to counter with. Cf. to meet with 7 at Phrasal verbs. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > confront abidec1275 stand?1316 visagec1386 bidec1400 to stand to ——1562 affront1569 to look (a person, etc.) in the face1573 outface1574 front1582 to meet with1585 confront1594 propose1594 to stand up to1596 outfront1631 to stand forth to1631 head1682 meet1725 1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. ii. sig. C4^v Send thou sweet looks, ile meet them with sweet looks. a1599 R. Rollock Sel. Wks. (1849) I. 391 The apostle meitis this in the first words quhilk we have red. a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) viii. xii. f. 276^v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Met(e Vtheris..deuisit to mete the gluthering of Hengist be sic like adulacioun and polecie. 1634 J. Russell Two Famous Pitcht Battels Lypsich & Lutzen 13 Foes, Who now were marching on to meet their blowes. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 323 It met The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Descending. View more context for this quotation 1725 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman I. vii. 94 He will..not be afraid of meeting the mischief which he sees follows too fast for him to escape. 1806 T. C. Metcalfe in Marquess Wellesley Select. Despatches (1877) 807 To meet their ambition..with the language of peace, would be to preach to the roaring ocean to be still. 1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (ed. 2) III. xi. 166 Who does not see, that to bear pain well, is to meet it courageously? 1854 D. Brewster More Worlds xv. 221 It is vain to argue against assertions like these which can only be met by an equally positive denial of them. 1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. ii. 186 The impetus of a push or a squeeze received on the hand is measured by the muscular exertion induced to meet it. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People i. §4. 40 The threats of Charles were met by Offa with defiance. 1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 51 Peel off,..to break away from a formation in order to meet an attack, or to leave a squadron to initiate an attack. 1959 P. H. Spaak Why Nato? iv. 30 The allies could only meet the global challenge of the Soviet Union with a global retort. 1981 N. Gordimer July's People 8 They were temporarily short of ammunition and they had long since given up the heroism of meeting bullets with sticks and stones. †e. transitive. To get even with, pay back; = to meet with at Phrasal verbs. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > treat one as he has been treated [verb (transitive)] > requite or pay back (a person) foryield971 to quit or yield (one) his whilec1175 acquitc1300 quitc1330 restore?a1400 refound1438 requite1530 regrate?c1550 repay1557 redub1558 quittance1590 to meet witha1593 to pay (a person) (off) scot and lot1598 meeta1625 retaliate1629 reimburse1644 compensate1804 to even up on1879 a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune iii. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Vuuuu3^v/2 I have heard of your tricks,..well I may live To meet thee. a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) v. 57 Some trick upon my credit, I shall meet it. f. intransitive. Of two competitors or teams: to compete in a sporting contest. Also transitive: to compete against in a sporting contest.Since quot. 1887 refers to a pugilistic contest, it may be regarded as belonging to sense 6b. ΚΠ 1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 24 It not unfrequently happened, if a well matched pair or two met and had not had their ‘wap’ out, both pits would be thrown idle on the Monday that all who wished might see the affair wound up. 1897 W. J. Ford in K. S. Ranjitsinhji Jubilee Bk. Cricket vii. 290 The first elevens meet in a series of matches. 1904 J. P. Paret Lawn Tennis iii. 24 The matches are generally played on what is called the ‘round robin’ system, each of the players meeting all of the others in turn. 1948 Daily Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Okla.) 15 Jan. 6/3 The Ardmore Douglass high school Dragon cagers will meet the Lawton Lions in their second conference game of the season. 1976 Milton Keynes Express 16 July 39 The winner and runner-up of the one league will meet in a two-legged final. 1992 E. Johnson My Life xii. 177 We were all juiced up when we met Boston in the Finals again. V. To come into company with one or more others. 7. †a. transitive (reflexive). Of two or more people or groups of people: †to come together with one another. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet [verb (reflexive)] meetc1300 c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 302 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 354 Bi þe watere of pireford þis two schirene hem mette, And conteckeden for þis holie bodie. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10563 Quen þis seli mett þam same, Þai grett þam-self wit gastli game. b. transitive. Of a person: to come (whether by accident or design) into the company of, or into social interaction with; to have a meeting with. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate with [verb (transitive)] seeOE drawc1275 mella1300 meeta1325 fellow1340 usec1384 conjoinc1386 joinc1390 knitc1400 accompany1461 enfellowship1470 frequent1477 haunt1477 mixa1513 encompanya1533 combinea1535 contract1548 to take with ——1562 associate1581 to have a saying toa1593 cope1594 sort1594 to take in1597 consort1600 herd1606 factionate1611 to keep company (with)a1616 accost1633 solder1641 converse1649 walk1650 consociate1653 coalite1734 to get with ——a1772 forgather1786 unionize1810 to go rounda1867 to mix in1870 cop1940 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific object person(s) meeta1325 occur1531 cope1594 to meet in with1821 to meet up with1870 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2828 Aaron ðin broðer can wel speken, Ðu salt him meten and vnsteken Him bodeword min. c1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Complaint of Mars 138 Alas! when shal I mete yow, herte dere? 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 284/2 He refused to meete vs in y^e borders of the kyng. a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. iii. 142 Remaines, that in th'Officiall Markes inuested, You anon doe meet the Senate. View more context for this quotation 1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. i. xxi. 114 The next day in the afternoon the two Physicians and some of the Chirurgeons met me at the Patient's Chamber. 1677 J. Dryden State Innocence v. i. 44 And not look back to see, When what we love we ne'er must meet again. 1767 P. Gibbes Woman of Fashion I. 127 I was..struck with the Person, but much more with the good Sense, of the young Creature I accidently met. 1796 F. Burney Camilla III. 438 She..wished to meet Edgar..to apologise for her non-appearance the preceding evening. 1837 Ld. Tennyson Oh! that 'twere Possible in Ld. Northampton Tribute 247 I loathe the squares and streets, And the faces that one meets. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 81 It was not strange that the king did not then wish to meet them. 1888 Sat. Rev. 14 Apr. 444/2 O, meet me by moonlight alone, Since our meetings by day are proclaimed. 1917 D. F. Canfield Understood Betsy x. 205 They were to meet the Wendells in the shadow of Industrial Hall and eat their picnic lunch together. 1996 Daily Tel. 30 Apr. 4/1 An amendment that requires couples to meet a marriage guidance counsellor before embarking on divorce proceedings. c. intransitive. Of two or more people: to come together by arrangement. Also with together. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle or give battle [verb (intransitive)] > join or meet in battle to come togetherOE to lay togetherc1275 smitec1275 to have, keep, make, smite, strike, battle1297 joustc1330 meetc1330 copec1350 assemblea1375 semblea1375 coup?a1400 to fight togethera1400 strikea1400 joinc1400 to join the battle1455 to commit battle?a1475 rencounter1497 to set ina1500 to pitch a battlea1513 concura1522 rescounter1543 scontre1545 journey1572 shock1575 yoke1581 to give in1610 mix1697 to engage a combat1855 to run (or ride) a-tilt1862 society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > meeting or assembling for common purpose > meet or assemble for common purpose [verb (intransitive)] > at appointed time or place meetc1330 to make rendezvous1596 rendezvous1648 trysta1842 OE Guthlac A 1 Se bið gefeana fægrast þonne hy æt frymðe gemetað, engel ond seo eadge sawl!] c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2103 (MED) Sir mark sat in þe tre Þer metten þai to. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 22963 Þe stede o dome quar all sal mete. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 4571 Expectant ay till I may mete To geten mercy of that swete. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 18 Seying that we be now here mete..accordyng to our promys. 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 252 Baith the King and the Quene meitis in Paris, For to hald thair ȝule togidder. 1628 J. Mead in R. F. Williams Birch's Court & Times Charles I (1848) (modernized text) I. 314 One bade him come to the lord mayor; he answered, my lord mayor might come to him: but in fine they agreed to meet half way. 1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. i. 11 Though they met at least every other evening..they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of conversation. View more context for this quotation 1859 W. M. Thackeray Virginians II. xix. 158 The two gentlemen, with a few more friends, were met round General Lambert's supper-table. 1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 20 Nov. 680/5 They meet in his hideaway to discuss the state of the world. d. intransitive. To keep an appointment; to be present at a meeting. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of people > by appointment meetc1390 c1390 G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale 1873 Ther he is now, god leue vs for to meete. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 176 So departed to mete at his day. a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. i. 18 Hath any body enquir'd for mee here today; much vpon this time haue I promis'd here to meete . View more context for this quotation 1694 J. Addison tr. Ovid Metamorphoses iv, in Ann. Misc. 141 She fain wou'd meet him but refus'd to meet Before her looks were set with nicest Care. 1999 S. Stewart Sharking iv. 63 I vaguely remember..refusing to go home with him and then agreeing to meet for lunch the next day. e. intransitive. Of the members of a group, society, or regular assembly: to assemble for social, business, or religious purposes. Also with together. Often with collective noun as subject. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > meeting or assembling for common purpose > meet or assemble for common purpose [verb (intransitive)] to come togetherOE meetc1425 convene1429 convent1544 convocate1685 c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 3975 (MED) Whan þe lordis..Wern to-gedre in þat place mette..Pelleus..Be-gan riȝt þus. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 635/2 Whan they mete to gyther I wyll put them in mynde of your mater. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. x^v These beynge called to an assemblie..mette at Franckefourt. 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Macc. xiv. 21 And [they] appointed a day to meet in together by themselues. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. iii. 145 The People..are summon'd To meet anon, vpon your approbation. View more context for this quotation 1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 1 Dec. (1948) II. 426 The parliament will certainly meet on Friday next. 1791 J. Hampson Mem. J. Wesley III. 82 Many of these [classes] are subdivided into smaller companies called bands, which also meet once a week. 1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 77 The bishops..were summoned to meet in synod, at Paris. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §2. 469 The Parliament..met in another mood from that of any Parliament which had met for a hundred years. 1920 A. Carnegie Autobiogr. xi. 150 The club met at their house once a month for the discussion of various topics. 1981 M. Angelou Heart of Woman ii. 37 The Harlem Writers Guild was meeting at John's house. f. to be well (also happily, etc.) met: to be welcome in a person's or one another's company; (hence) to be well received, welcome. Now archaic.See also well-met int., hail fellow well met at hail-fellow adj. b. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > courteous expressions [interjection] > expressions of welcome welcomec890 to be well meta1470 well-met1522 welcome aboard1962 a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 70 ‘Now go we hense,’ seyde Balyne, ‘and well we beth mette.’ a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. iv. 19 You are happilie met. View more context for this quotation 1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. lxxi. 269 He..reminding him of the jovial purpose on which they were happily met. 1888 E. Arnold Secret of Death 231 Well met in some far-off serenest session, The unimpassioned rest of great men gone. 1923 L. Hart Band of Ne'er-do-wells in Compl. Lyrics (1986) 35/1 The cockleshells are all well met; We sneak into our cellarette And cluster round our king. 1970 T. Murphy Whistle in Dark iii. 63 You couldn't be up to Bitchey. Ye're well met, Michael and yourself. 1992 P. McCabe Butcher Boy (1993) 170 You and Philip Nugent are well met. g. intransitive. Of the minds of two or more people: to be in agreement. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > be in agreement [verb (intransitive)] > come to or arrive at an agreement saughtel1154 assentc1300 appointc1374 consent1487 concord1489 convenec1550 to join issue1600 consigna1616 meet1781 gree1786 1781 W. Cowper Epist. to Lady Austen 32 When minds, that never met before, Shall meet, unite, and part no more. 1802 Noble Wanderers I. 51 When kindred minds meet..they instantly start into amity, and become incorporated in affection. 1851 E. B. Pusey Let. to Bp. London (ed. 3) 127/1 Devout minds, of every school, who meditate on the Passion, meet at least in this. 1960 J. W. Bellah Sergeant Rutledge xvii. 95 The tragedy of memory so long trammeled in the morass of minds that could never meet. †8. transitive. To have sexual intercourse with; (more generally) to embrace, caress, etc. Also intransitive. See also to meet with at Phrasal verbs. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with mingeOE haveOE knowc1175 ofliec1275 to lie with (or by)a1300 knowledgec1300 meetc1330 beliea1350 yknowc1350 touchc1384 deala1387 dightc1386 usea1387 takec1390 commona1400 to meet witha1400 servea1400 occupy?a1475 engender1483 jangle1488 to be busy with1525 to come in1530 visitc1540 niggle1567 mow1568 to mix one's thigh with1593 do1594 grind1598 pepper1600 yark1600 tumble1603 to taste of1607 compressc1611 jumble1611 mix?1614 consort?1615 tastea1616 bumfiddle1630 ingressa1631 sheet1637 carnal1643 night-work1654 bump1669 bumble1680 frig?c1680 fuck1707 stick1707 screw1719 soil1722 to do over1730 shag1770 hump1785 subagitatec1830 diddle1879 to give (someone) onec1882 charver1889 fuckeec1890 plugc1890 dick1892 to make a baby1911 to know (a person) in the biblical sense1912 jazz1920 rock1922 yentz1924 roll1926 to make love1927 shtupa1934 to give (or get) a tumble1934 shack1935 bang1937 to have it off1937 rump1937 tom1949 to hop into bed (with)1951 ball1955 to make it1957 plank1958 score1960 naughty1961 pull1965 pleasurea1967 to have away1968 to have off1968 dork1970 shaft1970 bonk1975 knob1984 boink1985 fand- c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2058 In orchard mett þai inne, Tristrem and ysonde fre; Ay when þai miȝt a winne, þer playd ysonde and he. a1350 in K. Böddeker Altengl. Dichtungen (1878) 259 (MED) Leue dohter, þou art mid childe; Who is þe fader..Wher mette ȝe ou yfere? a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) 1485 (MED) In his arms he gan hir mete, And þus he said, ‘My leman swete, My life, my hele and al my hert.’ 9. a. intransitive. Of two or more people: to become acquainted with one another for the first time; to come across each other in the course of social or business dealings. ΚΠ 1632 B. Jonson Magn. Lady ii. v. 38 in Wks. (1640) II Com. Where was first The birth of your acquaintance? or the Cradle Of your strickt friendship made? Dia. We met in France, Sir. 1701 C. Trotter Love at Loss iv. 38 When they first met..they seem'd to have very little kind thoughts for one another. 1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph I. 301 When we first met, you had a husband. 1828 A. A. Watts Poet. Sketches 58 On the hour we first met, and last parted, I'll ponder. 1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations II. xviii. 288 I told him how we had first met. 1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xvi. 199 She was a stenographer in a music-publisher's office when we first met. 1990 R. Malan My Traitor's Heart (1991) 124 They had met at church. Both were members of the Apostolic Church,..into the laying on of hands, faith healing, and speaking in tongues. b. transitive. To become acquainted with (a person) for the first time; to come across (a person) in the course of social or business dealings. In later use also in the imperative as part of a formula of introduction. ΚΠ 1789 A. Young Jrnl. 21 Nov. in Trav. France (1792) i. 238 In the evening to the conversazione of Signore Fabbroni, where I met Signore Pella, director of the gallery. 1872 Daily News 30 Sept. A nominative personal invitation from M. Vogeli to meet M. Gambetta. 1887 W. Beatty-Kingston (title) Monarchs I have met. 1920 C. E. Mulford Johnny Nelson vi. 37 ‘Meet th' Doc, Nelson,’ said Dave. Johnny turned. ‘Glad to meet you, Doctor.’ 1933 ‘I. Hay’ & ‘A. Armstrong’ Orders are Orders ii. 46 Good morning, boys! Meet Miss Marigold, my secretary and continuity girl. 1961 T. Hughes (title) Meet my folks! 1987 Grimsby Evening Tel. 30 Nov. 14 There will be an after-match buffet for both teams and invited guests followed by a chance to meet the players. c. transitive. In extended use: to encounter (a character), esp. for the first time, in a novel, play, etc. ΚΠ 1860 N. Hawthorne Let. 11 Feb. in Atlantic Monthly (1871) Apr. 505/1 Give my best regards to William Story, and look well at his Cleopatra, for you will meet her again in one of the chapters [sc. of The Marble Faun] which I wrote with most pleasure. 1936 G. Greene in Spectator 17 July 97/2 The new picture is particularly agreeable, for we see Mr Chan for the first time in a domestic setting and meet not only his amorous eldest son but his complete family of fourteen. 1994 W. R. Newman Gehennical Fire 2 Here the reader will meet Eirenaeus Philalethes in..a literary world of anonymous adepts and their desperate followers. d. to meet cute: (of two characters in a film, novel, etc.) to have an amusing or charming accidental meeting which leads to, or is followed by, romantic involvement. Also in extended use. ΚΠ 1941 A. Boucher Case of Solid Key iii. 49 Last night was nice, but this is today. We met cute, as they say in story conferences; but people don't live cute. 1956 G. Axelrod Will Success spoil Rock Hunter? 82 Irving: Dear boy, the beginning of a movie is childishly simple. The boy and girl meet. The only important thing to remember is that—in a movie—the boy and the girl must meet in some cute way. They cannot..meet like normal people at, perhaps, a cocktail party or some other social function. No. It is terribly important that they meet cute. 1966 F. Pohl Day Million in Rogue Feb.–Mar. 48/2 ‘Oh, hell!’ she cried in pretty confusion, reaching out to catch her balance and finding herself tumbled against a total stranger, whom we will call Don. They met cute. 1978 Washington Post (Nexis) 3 Feb. d6 They met ‘cute’ at something called Ohio Southern University in the late '40s. 1985 Observer 5 May 21/2 They both commute into New York..and literally bump into each other—‘meet cute’ in screenwriters' jargon. 1995 Observer 23 Apr. (Review section) 8/5 A romantic tale of an American student..and a French student..meeting cute (as they say in Hollywood) on a train. 2020 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 8 Nov. e1 The novel follows the classic arc... The couple meet cute as young kids—and then again a decade later. e. transitive. —— meets ——: used to describe or designate something which combines characteristics or qualities of both the subject and the object of the phrase. Hyphenated in attributive use.Used esp. in describing film, music, writing, etc., which represents a hybrid or synthesis of two different styles. ΚΠ 1971 King's Cross Whisper (Sydney) No. 102. 3/2 Anglo-Australian film interests are planning their biggest venture yet—Coronation Street Meets Bellbird. 1983 Washington Post 3 Apr. c3/2 Bloom describes the sound as ‘Sunny Ade meets Laurie Anderson, ethnic pop.’ 1992 Boston Globe 31 July 29/1 Their furniture looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger meets Audrey Hepburn, but somehow it works. 1998 Muzik June 97/2 In its current Ian Pooley-meets-early-Deep Dish dub form, ‘So Good’ is already one of the fattest records I've heard this year. VI. To agree, conform, satisfy. 10. transitive. To conform with, concede to (a person, or his or her wishes, opinions, etc.). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > agree with [verb (transitive)] to go ineOE cordc1380 consentc1386 covin1393 condescend1477 agree1481 correspond1545 concur1590 to fall in1602 suffrage1614 to hit it1634 colour1639 to take with ——1646 to be with1648 to fall into ——1668 to run in1688 to think with1688 meet1694 coincide1705 to go in1713 to say ditto to1775 to see with ——1802 sympathize1828 the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > suit or be suitable for [verb (transitive)] > be adequate for the case or conditions > for one's wishes or opinions meet1785 1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer v. i. 72 By Heav'n, he meets my wishes. 1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 788 He..leaves the accomplished plan Just when it..meets his hopes. 1842 J. Bischoff Comprehensive Hist. Woollen Manuf. II. 69 Such duties on the importation of foreign woollen manufactures as would meet their views. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 120 The Estates..would go as far as their consciences would allow to meet His Majesty's wishes. a1864 N. Hawthorne Septimius Felton (1872) 66 If her thoughts..had settled on that..wholesome young man, instead of on himself, who met her on so few points. 1898 Contemp. Rev. Jan. 96 The Lord's Supper was modified to meet the Christians who had been converted from Mithraicism. 1906 N.E.D. (at cited word) I will do my best to meet you in the matter. 1991 R. Reiner Chief Constables iii. vi. 109 The definition isn't sufficiently broad to meet the views of Joe Public. 11. a. transitive. To fulfil (a demand or need); to satisfy the requirements of (a particular case, a deadline, etc.); to be able or sufficient to discharge (a financial obligation).With quot. 1785 cf. sense 11b. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > suit or be suitable for [verb (transitive)] > be adequate for the case or conditions fulfila1425 serve1445 satisfy1526 answer1581 fit1603 respond1677 meet1785 implement1857 to fill the bill1882 society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > pay (a claim, dues, or charge) > be sufficient to pay1439 cover1828 meet1834 1785 Parl. Reg. 1781–96 XVIII. 189 They had always fashioned the estimates of their affairs to meet the moment, and totally disregarded whether they were founded or not. 1795 Herald (N.Y.) 28 Feb. 3/5 (advt.) The succesful [sic] establishment of their extensive works..will enable them to meet the demands for window glass. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xi. 144 The money..was..not more than sufficient to meet one of the demands. 1876 H. D. Macleod Elem. Banking 167 Even under the best circumstances, an acceptor may fail to meet his bill. 1884 Sir E. E. Kay in Law Times Rep. 10 May 322/2 A remedy which exactly meets the necessities of the case. 1894 S. Baring-Gould Kitty Alone II. 84 Five hundred pounds will not suffice to meet all claims. 1956 H. L. Mencken Minority Rep. 27 The man who met the Russian test of merit—that is, one who was a faithful party hack—was compensated so much better than the skeptic that he appeared to belong to an altogether superior order of society. 1975 Ann. Rep. Manpower Services Comm. 1974–5 8/3 The government's vocational training programmes..were to be developed into the Training Opportunities Scheme..to meet the needs of individuals. 1989 RIBA Jrnl. Aug. 48/2 The fee was £12,000..but to earn it and meet the deadlines, he had to work day and night. b. to meet the moment: to do what is required at the time or in the circumstances; to prove equal to a particular need or demand (cf. to rise to the occasion). ΚΠ 1899 Philadelphia Inquirer 2 Jan. 1/1 They ran away from final humiliation, Captain-General Castellanos failing to make good his word that he would meet the moment with fortitude. 1922 Pittsburgh Press 4 Jan. 20/1 Jim squared back his shoulders to meet the moment. ‘Consult me about anything you like, old man.’ 1993 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 10 Mar. (Sports section) 2 d Once he was on deck and about to begin his remarks, his reluctance disappeared... Olympic champions have a way of meeting the moment. 2021 News Bites Private Companies (Nexis) 27 Apr. After the murder of George Floyd sparked national protests and a resurgence in calls for racial justice last summer, [they]..quickly met the moment, developing a campus call to action. Phrasal verbs With adverbs and prepositions in specialized senses. to meet in with Scottish. Now rare. intransitive. To encounter (a person), by chance or by arrangement. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific object person(s) meeta1325 occur1531 cope1594 to meet in with1821 to meet up with1870 1821 Life D. Haggart 104 I met in with two Edinburgh snibs, who were hard up. 1828 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch xi. 96 I..advised him to take a step in at his leisure to St. Mary's Wynd, where he would meet in with merchants in scores. 1878 R. Cuddie Corstorphine Lyrics 18 I met my auld frien' Tam. Wha had met in wi' some guid chiel' and tasted half a dram. 1889 R. L. Stevenson Master of Ballantrae ix. 247 I was not always as I am to-day; nor (had I met in with a friend of your description) should I have ever been so. to meet up intransitive. To meet, assemble, esp. by prior arrangement. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of people meeteOE joinc1400 to meet up1884 1884 Cent. Mag. Sept. 702 We kin slack up some more, now; we want to get our critters lookin' cool and quiet ag'in as quick as we kin, befo' we meet up with somebody. 1935 Punch 4 Sept. 262/2 Already from Australia I hear of ‘meet up’, ‘rest up’, and ‘get it over with’. 1972 D. Haston In High Places xi. 116 Everyone met up on Pokhara airstrip. 1988 L. Ellmann Sweet Desserts 135 They met up for a bad movie at the Screen on the Green. to meet up with 1. intransitive. To overtake. Now rare (regional). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > gain (ground) upon > catch up or overtake betakea1000 oftakelOE overtakec1225 ofgoc1300 under-get1390 attain1393 overget?a1400 overgoc1425 gaincopec1440 overhiec1440 overhalec1540 overcatch1570 overhent1590 win1596 to grow on or upon1603 catcha1616 to fetch up1622 to fetch of, upon1659 overhaul1793 to meet up with1837 to catch up1838 to get past1857 1837 A. Sherwood Gazetteer Georgia (ed. 3) (Provincialisms) Met up with, for overtook. 1905 Dial. Notes 3 87 He started before I did, but I met up with him before we got to town. 2. intransitive. Originally U.S. To encounter; to become acquainted with; to come together with (a person) by arrangement. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > specific object person(s) meeta1325 occur1531 cope1594 to meet in with1821 to meet up with1870 1870 J. C. Duval Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace vii. 31 Here, most unexpectedly, I met up with a companion that was never separated from me afterward. 1889 K. Munroe Golden Days of ’49 ix. 96 They'd meet up with you somewheres along Coloma way. 1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 297 Tell him his little Sid is here with thirty minutes before she meets up with the show on the ten-forty. 1949 G. Davenport Family Fortunes i. i. 10 It was better than staying at home and they would probably meet up with friends. 1973 C. Bonington Next Horizon v. 92 I met up with Mick Burke in the camp site. 1998 R. Ray Certain Age 100 I didn't say much. I was meeting up with him again, though..so I guess I didn't really need to. 3. intransitive. To satisfy (one's requirements). rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > be suitable, appropriate, or suit [verb (intransitive)] > suit a person to sit loose1591 to be up (down, in) one's street1903 to be (right) up (also down) one's alley1922 to meet up with1972 1972 Daily Tel. 13 May 20/8 The Sun Life is a very competitive office and would seem to meet up with your requirements. to meet with 1. intransitive. To come across, come upon by chance, find, encounter (a thing or person). Now rare with a personal or physical object. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] meeteOE yaina1000 yseeOE oftakelOE to meet withc1300 finda1325 encounter1520 occur1527 bemeet1608 to fall in1675 c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 1426 Hii mette wid [v.r. Imetten heo faren] Numbert þeos kinges sonde of þan erþ. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 19604 (MED) Saulus soght aiquar and thrett All þe cristen he wit mett. ?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4327 (MED) Þai spared nouthir kynn na kyth, Man na woman þat þai mett with. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Gii^v His grace preuenteth vs, before we mete with it. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 27 Socrates mette full butte with Xenophon, in a narrowe backe lane, where he could not stert from hym. a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 51 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) When hee commeth to experience of service abroad..hee maketh as worthie a Souldiour as any Nation hee meeteth with. 1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis 21 in Sylua Syluarum And continually we mett with many things, right worthy of Obseruation, and Relation. 1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 14 Others..wander up and downe to meet somewhere with a refreshing shade. 1686 tr. P. O. de Vaumorière Agiatis 59 As he returned, he was met with by an Achaian. 1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1885) I. 52 Mr. Dalton..met with some High-Constable, who not giving way, there was some justleing. 1740 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature III. iii. 217 'Tis..rare to meet with persons, who can pardon another any opposition he makes to their interest. 1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. III. lxi. 318 This was the first public opportunity he had met with. 1782 S. Johnson Lett. to Mrs. Thrale 13 June In the penury of fuel..I have yet met with none so frugal as to sit without fire. 1830 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I III. vi. 94 We cannot read a history of foreign art without meeting with the name of Charles. 1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch IV. lxxxii. 304 If..he should chance by some strange coincidence to meet with her, there was no reason for him to be ashamed. 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VII. 592 Though abscess beneath the tentorium usually occurs in the substance of the hemisphere it may be met with in other situations. 1949 H. W. C. Vines Green's Man. Pathol. (ed. 17) xxxiii. 922 Eclampsia..is more common in primiparæ, and is met with in about one out of every 500 pregnancies. 1991 P. Fussell BAD 14 It will deal also with numerous awful things to be met with in the United States. 2. intransitive. To go to see, come together with (a person) intentionally; to have a meeting with. Now chiefly North American. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > as intended result of going to to meet withc1300 meeta1325 join1713 c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 155 (MED) Þe children ȝede to Tune..Hy metten wiþ almair king. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 3778 Þat body forþ þai bryngeþ..to þe pauyllouns..& meteþ with þ^e Amyrel. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 20145 In þe temple wit her he met, Anurd hir and tar hir grette. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 120 Whan Iason was come to this temple Medea cam & mette with him. 1567 G. Turberville Epitaphes, Epigrams f. 123 ^v So hazard thou to come Vnto the pointed place, To thwart thy Friend, and meete with him That longs to see thy face. 1661 A. Brome Songs & Other Poems 186 Pray come to T.—bring thy beloved Sue, My Mat. and I will meet with her and you. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 41 I had met with the Portugal Captain. 1816 T. Chalmers Let. in W. Hanna Mem. T. Chalmers (1850) II. 78 We fell in with Mr. Cook, who came out to meet with me. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth viii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 227 An appointment to meet with the others of his company at the sign of the Griffin. 1968 E. Cleaver Soul on Ice ii. ii. 89 Robert Kennedy called together a group of ‘influential’ Negro entertainers and athletes to meet with him in secret. 1993 N.Y. Times 7 Nov. v. 9/1 Men..wander home to meet with friends and chew until early evening. †3. intransitive. To confront (an enemy); = sense 6a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > fight (a battle, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > meet in battle meeteOE to meet withc1325 abattlec1400 recounter1455 check1535 to come up against1535 entertain1555 yoke1581 cope1594 conflict1599 clash1650 engage1697 engage1698 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 3205 Vter..wende toward seint dauid to mete wiþ is fon. c1390 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale 693 Is it swich peril with hym for to meete? I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 250 Thus Wallace sone can with the capteyn meite. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. iv. 13 At Shrewsbury..The king with mighty and quicke raised power Meetes with Lord Harry. View more context for this quotation 1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. iii. 202 How in fight you met At Kingston with a May-pole Idol. 1678 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 176 Let us never desire to meet with an enemy, nor vaunt as if we could do better, when we hear of others that they have been foiled. View more context for this quotation †4. intransitive. To come into or be in physical contact with; to reach; to strike. Also of a river: to merge with (another river). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > nearness > be near to [verb (transitive)] > be in contact with toucha1350 meeta1400 to meet witha1400 raise1591 buss1609 taste1634 osculate1740 incidea1774 nuzzle1891 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > meeting or encounter > meet or encounter [verb (transitive)] > come into physical contact with (of things) meeta1400 to meet witha1400 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 9915 (MED) Þe grund neist þar es ful tru Metand wit þat rochen stan. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 371 When þe water of þe welkyn wyth þe worlde mette. a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 4460 (MED) Ful litle wanted the soket That with the throte it had y-met. c1500 Lyfe Roberte Deuyll 324 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 232 With hys shyelde Robert mette playne And stroke so soore that he smote it euen in twayne. 1574 A. Golding tr. A. Marlorat Catholike Expos. Reuelation 22 A long garment..[which] meteth iust with the feete. 1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. ii. i. f. 48^v/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I The Winrush..meeteth wyth the Isis west by south of Northmore. 1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Abbut,..one lands end meets with another. 1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 145 In its Fall, meeting with the Fore-yard broke it in the Slings. †5. intransitive. To have sexual intercourse with. Cf. sense 8. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with mingeOE haveOE knowc1175 ofliec1275 to lie with (or by)a1300 knowledgec1300 meetc1330 beliea1350 yknowc1350 touchc1384 deala1387 dightc1386 usea1387 takec1390 commona1400 to meet witha1400 servea1400 occupy?a1475 engender1483 jangle1488 to be busy with1525 to come in1530 visitc1540 niggle1567 mow1568 to mix one's thigh with1593 do1594 grind1598 pepper1600 yark1600 tumble1603 to taste of1607 compressc1611 jumble1611 mix?1614 consort?1615 tastea1616 bumfiddle1630 ingressa1631 sheet1637 carnal1643 night-work1654 bump1669 bumble1680 frig?c1680 fuck1707 stick1707 screw1719 soil1722 to do over1730 shag1770 hump1785 subagitatec1830 diddle1879 to give (someone) onec1882 charver1889 fuckeec1890 plugc1890 dick1892 to make a baby1911 to know (a person) in the biblical sense1912 jazz1920 rock1922 yentz1924 roll1926 to make love1927 shtupa1934 to give (or get) a tumble1934 shack1935 bang1937 to have it off1937 rump1937 tom1949 to hop into bed (with)1951 ball1955 to make it1957 plank1958 score1960 naughty1961 pull1965 pleasurea1967 to have away1968 to have off1968 dork1970 shaft1970 bonk1975 knob1984 boink1985 fand- a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 1197 (MED) Bod-word..þat he suld wit his wijf yete mete..A child to rais. a1450 York Plays (1885) 107 (MED) Thy wombe..wreyes þe þat þou has mette with man. c1450 (?a1400) Quatrefoil of Love (BL Add.) (1935) 121 (MED) Þat were a mekill meruelle þat I a childe solde bere; Was I neuer maryede ne with man mett. 6. intransitive. To experience, undergo (a particular fortune or treatment); to receive (a particular reaction); = sense 2. ΚΠ c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. iv. 126 (MED) For nullum malum he may mete with Inpunitum. a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) 2009 God..Yff grace that she mete with good! 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iv. 50 He that hath [printed htah] suffered this disordered spring, Hath now himselfe met with the fall of leafe. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. iii. 6 Elsewhere they meete with charitie. View more context for this quotation 1660 T. Blount Boscobel 3 At Warrington Bridge [he] met with the first opposition made by the Rebels. 1697 J. Pollexfen Disc. Trade & Coyn 100 These Manufactured Goods from India, met with such a kind reception, that [etc.]. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 122. ¶9 In our Return home we met with a very odd Accident. 1718 Free-thinker No. 75. 1 It has always met with the Approbation of the Wisest Men. 1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. II. 176 Sir William Gascoigne..met with praises instead of reproaches. 1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. viii. 168 I have..never met with ill-usage, except once..amongst the Papists. 1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xix. 323 Mariners..who had met with their death on this rocky coast. 1893 Earl of Dunmore Pamirs II. 311 This system of semi-official marauding met with the approval of the Czar. 1926 E. A. Powell In Barbary xvii. 317 In spite of government encouragement, the industry has not met with much success. 1936 D. Carnegie How to win Friends iii. iv. 185 If I had tried to get the rent reduced by the methods the other tenants were using, I am positive I should have met with the same failure they encountered. 1958 Life 14 Apr. 113 (advt.) The new shining star among motorcars... Never has a car met with such a magnificent reception. 1988 D. Hogan Lebanon Lodge 85 The coloured lights had still slashed into the black street the night her son had met with the accident. †7. intransitive. To oppose, contend with (an error, objection, or malpractice), take precautions against (a danger); to provide for (an emergency). Also: to cope with (a person). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > confront abidec1275 stand?1316 visagec1386 bidec1400 to stand to ——1562 affront1569 to look (a person, etc.) in the face1573 outface1574 front1582 to meet with1585 confront1594 propose1594 to stand up to1596 outfront1631 to stand forth to1631 head1682 meet1725 1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 285/1 And all this good fruite woulde a fewe mischieuous persons..vndoutedlye bring into thys realme, if the prince and prelates..did not in the beginnyng mete with their malice. 1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xi. 172 Paul in this treatie of a magistrate meeteth with both these errors. 1600 in W. K. Clay Liturg. Services Q. Eliz. (1847) 694 Meet with the purposes and practices of all ambitious Absalons. 1603 H. Crosse Vertues Common-wealth sig. B2^v A prudent man..meeteth with euerie mischiefe, and is not ouertaken, with non putaui, had I wist. 1668 Rolle's Abridgment Publ. Pref. The body of Laws..consists of infinite particulars, and must meet with various Emergencies. 1698 R. South 12 Serm. III. 524 To meet with their doubts, and to answer their Objections. 1712 J. Arbuthnot Lewis Baboon iv. iv. 20 Let it suffice at present that you have been met with. †8. intransitive. To agree or be in accord with. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > be in agreement [verb (intransitive)] accord1340 cordc1380 to be condescendedc1386 to be consentedc1386 consenta1400 intend1421 onec1450 drawc1480 to be of (also in) one (or a) mind?1496 agreea1513 gree?a1513 to draw by one string1558 conspire1579 to meet witha1586 conclude1586 condog1592 consign1600 hit1608 centre1652 to be of (another's) mind1717 to go all the way (also the whole way) with1829 to sing the same song1846 a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. C1 Wherein I know not, whether by lucke or wisedome, wee Englishmen haue mette with the Greekes, in calling him a maker. 1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 83 Lords of right noble extraction..(whose titles met with their estates in the Northern Parts). 1661 J. Worthington Let. 14 Nov. in Diary & Corr. (1855) II. i. 68 Upon enquiry I cannot meet with Sebaldus Schnellius against Abarbanel. †9. intransitive. To exact requital; to get even with, pay back, settle with. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > treat one as he has been treated [verb (transitive)] > requite or pay back (a person) foryield971 to quit or yield (one) his whilec1175 acquitc1300 quitc1330 restore?a1400 refound1438 requite1530 regrate?c1550 repay1557 redub1558 quittance1590 to meet witha1593 to pay (a person) (off) scot and lot1598 meeta1625 retaliate1629 reimburse1644 compensate1804 to even up on1879 a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. E Ile meete with you anone for interrupting me so. 1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 330 God..though he meete with some in this life, yet he lets thousands escape. 1667 E. Waterhouse Short Narr. Fire London 129 For which sins God may meet with you also. †10. intransitive. Scottish. To pay (a creditor). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > payment of debt > pay debt [verb (transitive)] > pay a creditor satisfy1426 repaya1530 dischargea1560 clear1609 to meet with1854 straighten1946 1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters xiii. 276 They had been unable, term after term, to meet with the laird, and were now three years in arrears. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022). meetadv. Brit. /miːt/, U.S. /mit/ Forms: see meet adj. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: meet adj. Etymology: < meet adj. Now archaic and British regional. †1. Sufficiently, copiously. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] enougheOE well enoughOE enowc1300 fairc1300 suffisantlya1340 enoughly1340 meeta1350 sufficientlyc1380 duly1393 competentlyc1440 sufficient1509 'nougha1618 adequately1639 nuff1778 sufficingly1821 a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 59 (MED) Ys woundes waxen wete; þei wepen stille ant mete. 1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia iii. i. 40 Yeow han given me so many Bumpers: I am meet Drunken already. †2. In a meet, fit, or proper manner. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adverb] > fittingly or properly welleOE fairOE meetlyOE rightOE worthlylOE haghelyc1175 worthilyc1175 becomelyc1200 properly?c1225 i-semelichec1275 thriftilyc1374 duly1382 sittinglyc1390 justlyc1392 rightfula1400 goodlyc1400 hemelyc1400 meeta1450 statelya1450 ensuingly?1518 handsomely1525 worshipfully1532 decently1552 due1581 meeterly1589 fairly1600 beseemingly1611 dightly1616 becomingly1624 befittingly1638 fittinglya1643 condecently1656 a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxxvi. 270 (MED) The Corde and the vessel down schal I lete, and þere-Inne þat ȝe dressen ȝow ful Mete. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xi. l. 149 That taill full meit thow has tauld be thi sell. ?a1610 A. Montgomerie Poems (1887) 185 Diana keeps this Margarit, Bot Hymen heghts to match hir meit. a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 334 All yet seemes well, and if it end so meete, The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. View more context for this quotation †3. Scottish. Closely, tightly. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] > nearly or closely nighlyOE nighc1387 throng?a1425 justc1440 narrowly1487 foot-hot1513 meeta1522 hardly1554 fastlings1568 nearly1569 neara1592 close1596 closely1634 nicely1690 narrow1697 snugly1800 snug1831 tight1888 a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. xi. 116 To town agane I sped..Claspit ful meit into fyne armour brycht. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 465 The cords being first laid meet to my skin. 4. Exactly, precisely, just. Frequently in meet now: just now, at this moment. Now rare (English regional). ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > position or situation > [adverb] > exactly (in a certain position) righta1225 meet1543 plumb1701 spang1843 smack-dab1892 bung1899 bang1924 slap-dab1949 slap-bang1963 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adverb] > exactly so, just rightOE evenOE alrightOE allOE evenlya1375 preciselyc1443 very1530 meet1543 on the spot1884 (right) on the button1925 spot on2009 1543 R. Record Ground of Artes i. sig. Hiii^v In them the two fyrst fygures were set euer mete one vnder the other. 1589 R. Robinson Golden Mirrour sig. B Gasing in the cloudes, these countreys far to vew, Meete vnderneath, the mountaine where I was. 1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 32 Meet now, just now. 1750 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. (new ed.) 23 So meet ofore eh geete teear, I took Nip, on rubb'd hur primely efeath. 1860 J. P. Kay-Shuttleworth Scarsdale II. 89 An' snored mete loike an eawl. 1886 H. Cunliffe Gloss. Rochdale-with-Rossendale Words & Phrases 58 Meet-naa, just now. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹c1450n.²1804adj.a1325v.eOEadv.a1350
随便看	pre-celtic pre-centrifuge pre-ceramic pre-cession pre-chaucerian pre-chemical pre-chloroform pre-christian pre-christianic pre-christmas pre-civil pre-civil war pre-civilized pre-classical pre-clear pre-clearance pre-close pre-clovis pre-coat pre-code pre-coetanean pre-coexistent pre-coital pre-coitally pre-coition

† meetn.1

meetn.2

meetadj.

meetv.

Phrasal verbs

meetadv.

† meetn.¹

meetn.²