英语词汇“to take up”的英英意思、用法、释义、翻译、读音、例句、短语、词组-英语词典

1. transitive.

a. To take (something) out of the ground or from a settled position in order to remove it; to pull or tear up.In quot. 1633 used intransitively in the progressive with passive meaning: (of a meal) to be cleared away.

ΚΠ

c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) l. 235 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 8 Huy [sc. þreo smale ȝerdene] stoden longue þare, and euere-more grene..; he tok hem op with gret honour and in faire cloþe heom wond.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xvi With his rake and his sickle taketh vp the barley or otes and layeth them vpon the bande.

1543 More's Hist. Richard III in Chron. J. Hardyng f. lxxxi^v Some saie that kyng Rychard caused y^e preest to take theim vp & close..theim in a coffine.

1566 in Trans. Leics. Archit. & Archaeol. Soc. (1874) 3 232 Certaine grave stonnes which wee were faine to take up of our church flower, and when the alters were taken downe we paved theim againe.

1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts i. ii. sig. B4^v 'Tis not twelue a clocke yet, Nor dinner taking vp.

1636 E. Pagitt Christianographie (ed. 2) iii. 93 To take up the body of Edith..and to shrine it.

1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 98 Rogues have taken up the causey or pavement before a doore.

1712 J. Henley tr. F. Vacca in tr. B. de Montfaucon Trav. Italy xiii. 203 Workmen..took up a Marble Table Stone, which stuck to the Wall in the nature of casing.

1797 Communications to Board of Agric. I. iii. xv. 189 The greatest part of the turnpike road, two and a half miles in length, has been taken up, new modelled, and repaved.

1808 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Devon i. 58 A slate formerly taken up at East Alwington, and exported under the name of Holland blues.

1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 328 The carpet was taken up.

1841 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 2 ii. 229 The turnips were taken up and carted.

1912 D. Knoop Princ. & Methods Munic. Trading ii. 44 The laying down of wires, where the underground system was adopted, necessitated taking up the streets.

1937 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1935–7 C. 43 88 The body..was taken up and reburied in this chamber.

2000 J. Barnes Love, Etc. (2002) xvii. 187 Nothing they like better than breaking down your front door at five in the morning and taking up the floorboards.

b. To lift or raise from the ground or any low position; to pick up. Also: to lift or raise (something hanging down). Now somewhat archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > make to go up or cause to rise [verb (transitive)] > lift or take up

aheaveeOE

to reach upOE

to draw upOE

bearc1225

upnimc1290

to take upc1330

upholda1400

lutchc1400

hovec1480

upweigha1593

lift1596

poise1689

to up with1825

c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 550 (MED) Adoun he fel aswon to grounde; His barouns him tok vp in þat stounde.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John v. 9 The man is maad hool, and took vp his bed, and wandride.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3064 (MED) Drightin has herd þi barn cri, Rise and tak it up for-þi.

c1425 (c1400) Prymer (Cambr.) (1895) 9 Þi riȝthond took me vp.

1526 W. Bonde Rosary sig. Ciii The chyldren..take vp stones and clay, and dyd throwe them.

?1537 T. Elyot Castell of Helthe ii. xxxiii. f. 50 Stoupynge and rysynge often tyme, or lyftynge great weightes, takynge up plummettes or other lyke..these do exercyse the backe and loines.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 278[287] The Garter..which fell from her as shee daunced, and the King tooke up from the floore.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. iii. 35 The Priest let fall the booke, And as he stoop'd againe to take it vp [etc.] .

1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. viii. 294 He only took him up by the wastband of his breeches, and hung him upon one of the hooks in the shambles.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 94 Ten Men with Poles took up one of the Canoes, and made nothing to carry it.

1794 R. Fitzpatrick Occas. Prol. 4 Here the Iron Curtain is taken up, and discovers the Statue of Shakspeare.

1844 Hood's Mag. May 414 Take her up tenderly, Lift her with care.

1871 Tichborne Romance (ed. 2) 373 When she took up her veil, did you then say, ‘It is my aunt Nangle’?

1890 Universal Rev. Feb. 232 Martin..had taken up a stone to throw at him.

1915 W. Cather Song of Lark ii. iv. 192 He..took up the nut-crackers and a Brazil nut.

1958 P. G. Wodehouse Cocktail Time xxi. 174 He took up the receiver... ‘I hear you've been trying to get me. What's your trouble?’

2010 E. George This Body of Death xvii. 349 The book he picked up and opened. A card fell out and he bent to take it up from the floor.

c. To raise or lift (a part of one's body). Now rare (in later use frequently of a horse or other animal).

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [verb (transitive)] > lift up (feet)

to take up1740

throw1827

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 15227 Vp he toke his holy hond: & ȝaf þe benesoun.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 249 Rycharde that lay a grounde thus wounded..toke up his hede, and sayd [etc.].

?1530 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry (rev. ed.) f. vi^v Whan thou takest vp thy ryght fote than cast thy pees fro the all abrode.

1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. ix. f.24^v The poore man..ranne to a Riuer called Cyrus, & taking vp bothe his handes full of water, spake to the kyng in this wise [etc.]

1616 G. Markham Cheape & Good Husbandry (rev. ed.) i. ii. 30 Taking vp his fore-legs from the ground both together, and bringing his hinder feete into their place.

1688 London Gaz. No. 2353/4 He takes up his Legs behind when he walks, as if he had the String-halt.

1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. ii. 73 He steps boldly, and takes up his Fore-Feet pretty high.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. ix. ii. 297 He therefore took up his Legs, which were at Liberty, and walked off thro' the Wood.

1829 A. Jamieson Dict. Mech. Sci. (new ed.) I. 160/2 When he gallops, he takes up his feet one by one, and sets them down one by one.

1850 S. T. Rand Short Statem. Facts Micmac Tribe of Indians i. 16 A woman must never step across them. ‘Take up your feet,’ she will say to him when she wishes to pass.

1980 Res. Afr. Lit. 11 177 The deer was full of ticks, and a tick bit him. He stopped, took up his hind leg, and scratched his head.

d. In extended use with reference to the function of the object taken up: to begin to make use of, to employ. to take up one's pen: to begin or proceed to write. to take up a book: to begin or proceed to read.See also to take (up) arms at arms n. Phrases 1b, to take up the cudgels at cudgel n. 2, to take up the hatchet at hatchet n. Phrases 2b.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > [verb (intransitive)] > begin writing

to put (also set) pen to paper1532

to take up one's pen1621

c1450 (c1425) Brut (Cambr. Kk.1.12) 355 Þay waged batayle & cast doun her gloues; & þanne þey were take vp and seled.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccci. 445 Caste downe your gage in that quarell, and ye shall fynde him that shall take it vp.

1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) Librum aut aliud aliquid colligere, to take vp a booke.

1621 T. W. in tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard sig. Aij^v I tooke up my Pen againe, and at starts and tymes finished it.

a1632 T. Taylor God's Judgem. (1642) i. i. vii. 15 So..foolish hardy as to take up armour.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 514. ⁋1 Not finding my self inclined to sleep, I took up Virgil to divert me.

1745 E. Haywood Female Spectator IV. xxiv. 383 They will needs have us take up the Pen again, and promise to furnish us with a Variety of Topics yet untouched upon.

1824 R. Southey Life (1850) v. 177 Taking up a book for five or ten minutes.

1867 ‘G. Greenwood’ Stories of Many Lands 182 I lived in ease and plenty, never taking up a spade but for devarsion.

1882 J. Stirling tr. E. Zola Mad Love ix. 141 She..was so tired at night that she had not the courage to take up a needle.

1965 Newsweek 4 Oct. 80/1 It has all been enough to drive the homeowner to take up the paintbrush and the plunger himself.

1976 Early Music 4 382 Those chemists, doctors, and income tax inspectors who at leisure took up their lutes, viols, recorders and crumhorns to participate in consort music.

2007 J. D. Houston Bird of Another Heaven (2008) 289 When at last she took up her pen again, her writing had begun to change.

†e. To abandon (a siege) by withdrawing the besieging forces; = raise v.¹ 29a. Obsolete. rare.

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society > armed hostility > attack > action or state of siege or blockade > besiege or blockade [verb (transitive)] > abandon (siege) > raise (siege)

removea1387

remue?a1400

raise1490

to take up1490

araisea1500

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxiii. 493 Charlemagne..receyved theim honourably, and toke vp his siege, and went agen to parys.

†f. to take up the table: to remove the board forming the top of a table (see table n. 6c); (hence) to clear the table after a meal. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > serving food > removal of dishes > [verb (intransitive)] > clear table

to draw the boardc1330

to draw the clothc1330

to draw the tablec1330

to take awaya1475

to take up the tablea1513

to take off1599

to clear away1711

clear1914

a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvi. sig. f.i^v The mynysters were redy, theyr offyce to fulfyll To take vp the tables, at theyr lordes wyll.

c1565 Adambel Clym of Cloughe & Wyllyam of Cloudesle (Copland) sig. C.ii^v Take vp the table anone he bad For I may eate no more.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xxi. f. 27 The table being taken vp, the Ambassador..entred into the pauilion.

1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don-Quixote: Pt. 1 i. iv. vi. 358 Dinner being ended, and the table taken vp.

2. transitive.

a. In Christian contexts: to cause to ascend into heaven; to convey to heaven. Cf. assume v. 1b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > heaven > [verb (transitive)] > convey to or place in

ravishc1330

to take upc1384

reavea1400

rap1599

ensphere1615

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Mark xvi. 19 Lord Jhesu..is takun vp in to heuene.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17547 Þat helias, in ald dais, Was taken up als vnto heuen.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts i. 9 Whyll they behelde he was taken vp, and a cloude receaued hym vp out of their sight.

1572 J. Bridges tr. R. Gwalther Hundred, Threescore & Fiftene Homelyes vppon Actes Apostles vi. 46 Eusebius in his Chronicles sayth, she was assumpted or taken vp into heauen.

1601 S. I. Certaine Godlie & Learned Serm. f. 128^v Hee whom no man regarded in his life, the Angels tooke him vppe after death.

1656 R. Baxter Reformed Pastor 21 To take us up into heaven,..while we think of no such matter, but are routing in the earth.

1742 J. Wesley & C. Wesley Hymns & Sacred Poems ii. 158 He removes the Flaming Sword, Calls us back, from Eden driven, To His Image here restor'd, Soon He takes us up to Heaven.

1856 Catholic Layman 18 Jan. 2/2 Elijah.., whom God took up into heaven in a chariot of fire.

1879 M. E. Braddon Vixen II. xii. 220 He has been with you an age. Mortals who are taken up to Paradise seldom stay so long.

1957 Novum Testamentum 2 21 For this he was taken up to eternal glory by extraordinary means.

2003 W. Berg & M. Harris Polarity Magic xiii. 341 Galahad,..whose useless piety soon had him quit the quagmire of earth to be taken up by God to the marbled halls of heaven.

b. To bring (a horse or other animal) from pasture into a stable or stall, esp. for the winter. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > herding, pasturing, or confining > [verb (transitive)] > place in house, stall, etc.

stall1390

to take up1482

to put up1607

cote1630

shed1850

lair1890

1482 R. Cely Let. 26 Sept. in Cely Lett. (1975) 177 Lette hym [sc. a horse] ron in a parke tyll Hallontyd, and then take hym wpe and ser hym, and lette hym stand in the dede of whyntter.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 128 Choose you a fayre day for the purpose, and taking them [sc. steers] vp, bring them into the stable.

1583 T. Stocker tr. Tragicall Hist. Ciuile Warres Lowe Countries f. 118^v They were commaunded to take vp all their horses out of the medowes, and stable them in the Towne.

1674 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester xxxvi. 195 As soon as he is taken up, let him..stand all that night in some convenient dry place to empty his body.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xix. 184/2 Take vp your horse, is to take him from grasse to be kept in the stable.

1758 T. Hale et al. Compl. Body Husbandry (ed. 2) II. v. 21 At the approach of winter it is the custom to take up the horses, because the grass becomes short, and the season cold.

1844 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 5 75 Calves..are taken up at night about the latter end of October.

1846 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 7 394 Sixteen polled beasts..were taken up.

1904 Atlantic Reporter 56 315/2 A black stripe had been painted over the yellow stripe after the snow came and the sheep were taken up for the winter.

c. To lead, conduct, or carry to a higher place or position; spec. to take upstairs.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > [verb (transitive)] > to a higher place

sty1511

to take up1576

society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance by carrying > transport or convey by carrying [verb (transitive)] > convey by carrying (of person)

carryc1400

to take up1576

tote1677

porter1791

1576 H. Gilbert Disc. Discov. New Passage Cataia To Rdr. sig. ¶¶ij He curteously tooke me vp into his Studie, and there shewed me sundrie profitable and verie commendable exercises.

1644 R. Vaughan Psalter of David cxxx. 353 Let the height of thy mercy take us up from the deep abysse of sin and misery.

1668 J. Jackson Index Biblicus Tobit sig. C/2 I start up, and took him up into a room, until the going down of the sun.

1730 Compl. Coll. State-trials (ed. 2) IV. 715/2 He took me up into his Chamber, and told me he believed they should ride out in some little Time.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. viii. 219 The taking up oysters from great depths..by Negro slaves.

1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece II. xiii. 165 When the victim was to be offered to the supreme God, it was taken up to the top of the highest hill.

1878 F. H. Hart Sazerac Lying Club 77 We took the fruit up to my cabin, and the boys got around and we divided them squar and even.

1915 H. L. Wilson Ruggles of Red Gap (1917) xvi. 282 I had the chink take him up about a gallon of strong tea.

1919 H. L. Wilson Ma Pettengill ii. 46 She took me up to her little bedroom to lay my things off and then down to the parlour.

1985 G. Barker Prehistoric Farming in Europe v. 114 The pigs remained here, whilst the rest of the stock were taken up to the alp for the summer.

1991 P. Grescoe Flesh Wound (1993) xvi. 157 Mr. O'Malley wanted to have some flowers to brighten up the room... Will you make sure a bellman takes them up immediately?

d. Of a pilot: to cause (an aeroplane) to become airborne; to fly (an aircraft).

ΚΠ

1910 N.Y. Times 16 Aug. 4/2 He hopes to take an aeroplane up before the end of the week.

1946 Flight & Aircraft Engineer 3 Oct. 354/1 The general public..are apt to think of him [sc. the test pilot]..as a dare-devil young man who takes his life in his hands every time he takes an aircraft up.

1989 A. Dillard Writing Life vii. 94 Each pilot took up his or her plane and performed a batch of tricks.

2010 D. Hollis Knifemaking with Bob Loveless 10/1 He wasn't about to let a fourteen-year-old kid take a plane up on his own.

3. transitive. To take (a person) into one's protection, patronage, or company; to adopt as a protégé.

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the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > patronage > act as patron to [verb (transitive)]

to take upc1384

patronage1587

patronize1593

empatron1609

patron?1624

to take in tow1790

Maecenas1837

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > accept (a person) as a friend > receive or admit (someone) to society or friendship

underfo924

underfonga1175

to take upc1384

adopt1757

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke i. 54 He [MS And], hauynge mynde of his mercy, took vp Israel, his child.

1483 tr. Adam of Eynsham Reuelation xiv That worshipfull olde fader the whiche..had take me vp to be a felow with him of his wey.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 751/2 I take up, as a man taketh up his frende that maketh hym curtesye.

1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. B4 The blow falling on Edward the late Earle of Hartford, who to his costs tooke up the divorced Lady, of whom the Lord Beauchampe was borne.

1703 D. Defoe True-born Englishman (new ed.) ii, in True Coll. Writings 36 B—well..First took me up, and furnish'd me with Bread.

1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair li. 451 When the Countess of Fitz-Willis..takes up a person, he or she is safe.

1892 Black & White 10 Dec. 679/1 A great art patron took him up and he became ‘the fashion’.

1924 Sunday at Home Feb. 258/1 I am going to take you up and save you from frumpiness and spinsterhood.

1985 S. Hastings Nancy Mitford viii. 180 Nancy was mesmerised by Diana, who now took her up and into her innermost circle.

2001 Times 24 Nov. (Play section) 25/2 Anna has been taken up by a rich man and Claire has fallen for a younger woman.

a. transitive. To begin to sing (a song, esp. a psalm or hymn); spec. (Scottish) to lead the singing of (a psalm) in church.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)] > begin to sing

to take upc1390

raise1595

mount1601

rear1785

society > faith > worship > church music > [verb (transitive)] > sing or chant > lead singing

set?c1450

to take up1577

line1853

hist1857

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)] > precent

set?c1450

to take up1577

precent1639

tune1667

line1853

hist1857

c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 97 (MED) We han taken vp þe song Of Iubilacion.

c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lxiv (MED) The birdis everichone Tuke vp an othir sang full loud and clere.

1531 G. Joye tr. Prophete Isaye xiv. sig. D.vii^v Thou shalte take vp this lamentable songe agenste y^e kinge of Babylon.

1577 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1882) IV. 60 The oulklie pentioun of ten schillingis appoynttit to Edwerd..Hendersoun, for all the dayis of his lyfe for taikin vp of the spalmes.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ezek. xxvi. 32 They shal take vp a mournful song vpon thee, and shal lament thee.

1637 in W. Cramond Ann. Cullen (1888) 39 To read in the kirk and take up the psalm every Sabbath.

1742 P. Delany Hist. Acct. Life & Reign David II. x. 128 Take up the song, and sing the same words, in a more tuneful and elaborate harmony.

1755 Scots Mag. July 359/2 Two or three shrill-voiced boys..had the boldness..to take up..a different tune from what they knew the precentor and the rest of the congregation were to sing.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Tak up ‘He tuke up the psalm in the kirk’, he acted as precentor.

1857 Evangelical Christendom 1 Oct. 361/1 The enemies of the Church..were preparing themselves to take up a song of triumph over its grave.

1909 W. V. Moody Faith Healer ii. 62 The shrill soprano of a negro woman is faintly heard, taking up a hymn.

1922 J. P. Peters Psalms as Liturgies i. 79 Then a precentor, inviting the people with a hallelu-yah, took up Psalms 135 and 136.

2009 J. E. Woods tr. I. Schulze New Lives 464 The throng had now taken up a hymn and formed a procession, with the reliquary carried solemnly before it.

b. transitive. To begin or commence (an action); esp. to begin to utter or express (laughter, lamentation, etc.). Now rare.In quot. 1689 with infinitive as object.See also to take up (one's) parable at parable n. Phrases.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)]

beginc1000

take?a1160

comsea1225

gina1325

commencec1330

tamec1386

to take upa1400

enterc1510

to stand to1567

incept1569

start1570

to set into ——1591

initiate1604

imprime1637

to get to ——1655

flesh1695

to start on ——1885

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > begin an action or fall to doing something

fangc888

goOE

fallc1175

to fall upon ——a1398

to take upa1400

fall?c1450

to fall out ina1555

get1751

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 15990 (MED) Þe cok toke vp his fliȝt.

c1400 Brut (Rawl. B. 171) 131 (MED) The Kyng his hondes lifte vp an hye and a grete laughter toke op.

a1500 Merchant & Son l. 103 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 139 The goste toke up a gresely grone, with fendys awey he glode.

1580 H. Gifford Posie of Gilloflowers sig. H The Gentlemen and other that were by, for the rarenes of the sight, tooke vp a great laughter.

a1610 J. Healey tr. Theophrastus Characters (1636) 70 Then hee would take up a great laughter, as if some prodigy or ominous thing had happened.

1689 J. Aubrey Brief Lives (1898) I. 150 [2nd Ld. Falkland] 'Twas not long before he tooke-up to be serious.

1869 E. Taylor Braemar Highlands ii. 18 ‘Shall I rejoice?’ he inquires, ‘or take up a lament?’

2000 B. Bell Stacking in Rivertown iv. 58 When I was little, sometimes I'd scare myself listening like that and take up crying.

c. transitive. Originally Scottish (now chiefly U.S. regional). To begin teaching (a class or school); to establish or reopen (a school). Now frequently in passive.

ΚΠ

a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 50 Mr. Piter Blackburn..tuk upe the first clas.

1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. viii. 489 He heard Theophrastus who had taken up the School of Aristotle.

1700 in H. Paton Penninghame Parish Rec. (1933) I. 50 The school is to be taken up the next week.

1834 Fraser's Mag. Aug. 158/1 She consulted Mrs. Psalmody, the minister's wife, about taking up a school to earn her crumb.

1925 Carroll (Iowa) Times 17 Dec. iii. 1/5 Following the Christmas vacation, school will be taken up on January 4.

1955 Daily Facts-Rev. (Freeport, Texas) 19 Dec. 3/3 The bell had donged... School had been taken up for 15 minutes.

1988 S. E. Houston & A. Prentice Schooling & Scholars in 19th-cent. Ontario ii. 92 Tidey reluctantly decided to leave home temporarily that winter and take up a school.

d. intransitive. Chiefly U.S. regional. Esp. of a school: to open, begin, start; = to take in 13 at Phrasal verbs 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > begin [verb (intransitive)]

beginc1000

comsea1225

gin?c1225

becomsea1375

commencec1380

to take beginninga1400

enterc1425

to start up1568

initiatea1618

inchoate1654

dawn1716

to take in1845

to take up1846

to set in1848

society > education > educational administration > [verb (intransitive)] > have a term > begin (of term)

to take up1846

1846 N. Butler Introd. Lessons. Eng. Gram. (rev. ed.) 67 ‘School takes up at nine o'clock’ Correction: ‘School begins at nine o'clock.’

1865 St Andrews Gaz. 7 Jan. On Wednesday our schools took up.

1871 E. Eggleston Hoosier School-master xii. 104 Meetin's took up.

1878 Scribner's Monthly 15 653/1 Meanwhile the ‘animal show’ at the appointed time ‘took up’, as the country people expressed it.

1885 Wanganui (N.Z.) Herald 31 Jan. School takes up at 9 o'clock on Monday.

1949 ‘J. Nelson’ Backwoods Teacher 51 Four other children..trooped in, having belatedly heard that school was taking up today.

1961 M. Beadle These Ruins are Inhabited (1963) iii. 46 Red's school took up in two days.

2000 M. Arnold Year Full Moons xx. 350 It was about half an hour before school took up, dim but not dark.

a. transitive. To hire or secure (lodgings); = sense 42b. Now rare.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 5b.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > buying > hiring or renting > hire [verb (transitive)] > rent

to take upc1400

mail1425

farm1435

rent1530

rental1640

c1400 Bk. Vices & Virtues (Simeon) f. 111/1 Whon ariche mon schal come in to a toun, or a cite, he seendeþ bifore his messagers to take vp a good herborwe for him, and elles he miȝte ofte fayle of a good herborwe.

1454 in Paston Lett. (1904) II. 297 The Duke of Somersetes herbergeour hath taken up all the loggyng that may be goten nere the Toure.

1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge i. ii. sig. B^v Twere best you tooke some lodging vp, And lay in priuate till the soile of griefe Were cleard your cheeke.

1636 D. Featley Clavis Mystica iii. 31 They..send their Harbingers before to take up lodgings, and Martials to make way.

1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xv. 188 The Bp. of London's palace, and the Dean of Paul's house,..were taken up for the French ambassadors.

1921 W. Boecher v. Southern Boulevard Railroad Company (Supreme Court N.Y.: Appellate Div.: 1st Dept.) 25 And you agreed to take up an apartment and live together?

b. transitive. To proceed to occupy (a place or position); to station or place oneself in; = sense 64a.Frequently in established phrases as, to take up one's inn, to take up one's lodging, to take up one's quarters, to take up (one's) residence, to take up one's station, etc.: see the final element.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > [verb (transitive)] > establish (residence)

planteOE

to take up1523

settle1562

enter1603

fix1638

the world > space > place > position or situation > [verb (transitive)] > take up (a position)

takec1275

to take up1523

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxxiii. f. ccc There entred [into a town] the frenche men and bretons, and euery man toke vp their lodgynge as they came.

1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. iii. x. f. 86 Taking vpp his inne, and finding the neighbours of the parish at feast with the oste.

1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 17 He passed directly from the Stage by the Orchestra, to take up his place among the Knights.

a1672 A. Wood Life (1891) I. 109 When they were going to their..beds, two or 3 houres after he had taken up his rest.

1736 J. Wesley Jrnl. 24 Feb. in Extract Jrnl. (1740) 12 Mr. Delamotte and I took up our Lodging with the Germans.

1841 London Standard Jrnl. 25 Sept. 149/2 Hatherton sought his way back to Aberdeen, where he took up a house in a respectable quarter of the town.

1893 H. D. Traill Social Eng. Introd. 15 We may take up a position from which we can survey the entire array.

1908 W. M. Beauchamp Past & Present Syracuse & Ondonga County lxi. 533 Upon the opening of the new Court House in 1907, the Board of Education took up rooms in that building.

1983 R. Sutcliff Bonnie Dundee (1985) xxiii. 173 The minister in his black gown with an open book in his hands took up his place.

2010 S. Junger War ii. v. 141 Four of these trucks had taken up positions to support a foot patrol.

c. transitive. Originally and chiefly Scottish. to take up house: †to take or rent a house (obsolete); to set up house; to become a householder.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting a type of place > inhabit type of place [verb (intransitive)] > inhabit house

to hold or keep householdc1425

housec1440

to keep house1523

to take up housec1600

c1600 D. Moysie Mem. Affairs Scotl. (1830) 79 Quwhairvpon the Kingis Majestie..immediatlie tuik vp house in Leithe.

1606 Haddington Burgh Rec. 3 Jan. in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Plant The multitude of beggars..dois..incress..be incoming of pure folkis..& takin up hows & planting thame selfis as inhabitants of the toun.

1612 Shetland Act in Scotsman 29 Jan. (1886) 7/2 It sall not be lesum for servile persones not worth..72 punds Scottis to tak up houssis.

1761 tr. Frederician Code I. i. iii. iv. 239 When children, happening to marry, or take up house, shall separate themselves from their father with his consent, he shall deliver to them their fortune.

1850 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 13/1 He was unwilling to incur the expense of taking up house.

1876 S. Smiles Life Sc. Naturalist i. 2 John Edward and his wife ‘took up house’ in the Green, one of the oldest quarters of the city.

1923 Times 5 Mar. 15/3 She returned to the Highlands when a comparatively old woman, and took up house in Tomonie, five miles from Fortwilliam.

1978 A. Fenton Northern Isles xx. 160 There was a shortage of servants at this period, partly caused by their getting married and taking up house with nothing to live on.

2010 Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) 16 Apr. 10 Birds and other small animals often take up house in chimneys, and this may go unnoticed by the human residents.

†d. intransitive. To stop or stay somewhere temporarily; to lodge; = to put up 1d(b) at put v. Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting temporarily > [verb (intransitive)] > at the house of another, an inn, etc.

gesten?c1225

innc1390

host?c1450

bait1477

to be (or lie) at hosta1500

hostela1500

sojourn1573

to take up1607

guest?1615

to set upa1689

to keep up1704

to put up1706

lodge1749

room1809

hotel1889

dig1914

motel1961

1607 J. Marston What you Will i. sig. B2^v My Riotous sir..abandons home, and spends and spends Till stock be melted, then sir takes vp heere Takes vp there, till no where ought is left.

1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes iv. ii. 160 in Wks. II How much 'twere better, that my Ladies Grace, Would here take vp Sir, and keepe house with you.

1662 S. Pepys Diary 14 Oct. (1970) III. 223 To Cambrige..whither we came at about 9 a-clock and took up at the ‘Beare’.

1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 15 I was..forced to take up at a little Village.

1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop xvi. 179 If you're wanting a place to stop at.., I should advise you to take up at the same house with us.

6. transitive.

a. To take into one's possession, to acquire; spec. (a) to purchase wholesale, to buy up; (b) to borrow (money) at interest.See also to take up a commodity at commodity n. 6a(a), to take up savings at saving n. 3d.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)]

wieldeOE

haveeOE

ofgoOE

oweOE

addlec1175

winc1175

avela1200

to come by ——a1225

covera1250

oughtc1275

reachc1275

hentc1300

purchasec1300

to come to ——c1330

getc1330

pickc1330

chevise1340

fang1340

umbracec1350

chacche1362

perceivea1382

accroacha1393

achievea1393

to come at ——a1393

areach1393

recovera1398

encroach?a1400

chevec1400

enquilec1400

obtainc1422

recurec1425

to take upc1425

acquirea1450

encheve1470

sortise1474

conques?a1500

tain1501

report1508

conquest1513

possess1526

compare1532

cough1550

coff1559

fall1568

reap1581

acquist1592

accrue1594

appurchasec1600

recoil1632

to get at ——1666

to come into ——1672

rise1754

net1765

to fall in for1788

to scare up1846

access1953

the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)]

take?a1160

seizec1290

raima1325

to take in possessiona1325

to hent in (also upon) handa1350

occupya1382

to take possession?a1425

to take upc1425

uptakec1425

to take in1523

possess1526

master1826

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 1192 Thelephus..commaundinge..His puruyours..to cerchyn euery coste To take up vitaille for þe Grekis host.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 40 (MED) And þou apeyryst & lessyst þat tythe in takyng vp þi cost, here þou makyst þe cherche thrall.

a1525 (?1421) Coventry Leet Bk. (1907) I. 29 Þat no maner of fresche fysher by, ne take up, no maner of fresche fysche of men of the contrey by way of regratry.

1528 Bill in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pleas Court Admiralty (1894) I. 41 I Thomas Thorne..have taken up by exchange of Thomas Fuller merchaunt..the sum of lx^li sterling.

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xii. 141 He that standes in the market way, and takes all vp before it come to the market in grosse and sells it by retaile.

a1640 P. Massinger City-Madam (1658) i. iii. 27 Built with other mens moneys Took up at Interest.

1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion iv. 23 I must buy me a Cloak lined with plush, or take one up at the Brokers.

1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 259 He took up all the money he could, at any interest.

1791 W. Lempriere Tour from Gibraltar ix. 216 Sidi Mahomet became himself a merchant, took up goods from Europeans, and obliged the Jews to pay him five times their value for them.

1838 T. Mitchell in Aristophanes Clouds 6 Strepsiades had for the purchase taken up money with two usurers, Pasias and Amynias.

1889 Academy 14 Dec. 386/1 The whole edition..was taken up by the booksellers on the day of publication.

1920 Rubber Age 25 Dec. 237/1 The great surpluses built up during the early days of the present business depression are being rapidly taken up by retailers and automobile owners.

2013 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) (Nexis) 16 Jan. 26 The shortfall [in oil reserves] will be met by taking up supplies from world markets.

b. To take possession of (land) for occupation; to claim (unoccupied land).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)] > take (land) into occupation

occupya1382

to take up1478

to file upon1871

1478 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 6/1 He occupijt [&] tuke vp sa mekle of þe said landis of þe ȝeris forsaide.

1530 Bible (Tyndale) Gen. xli. f. lx^v Let Pharao make officers ouer the lande, and take vp the fyfte parte of the land of Egipte in the vij. plenteous yeres.

1682 S. Wilson Acct. Province Carolina 16 Rent to commence in two years after their taking up their Land.

1746 T. Salmon Mod. Hist. (new ed.) III. ix. 465/1 Each servant has then also a right to take up fifty acres of land where he can find any unpatented.

1860 S. Butler First Year Canterbury Settl. (1863) v. 66 My companion and myself have found a small piece of country, which we have just taken up.

1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 76 Persons..could ‘take up’, that is merely mark out and occupy, as much land as they pleased.

1920 Atlantic Monthly Jan. 126/1 In Kentucky he took up two counties which are now known to be underlain with the Elkhorn seam of coal.

1946 J. G. Eastwood More about Cairns 39 The land that I took up was 160 acres bordering on Janetta Creek, selected before survey.

2013 Countryman (W. Austral.) (Nexis) 25 Apr. 16 Narembeen, where his brother Clarence and then youngest brother James took up land.

c. To accept or pay (a bill of exchange); to advance money on (a mortgage or other loan); to pay off.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations

subscribe1618

to take up1655

to sell out1721

to take in1721

to take up1740

pool?1780

capitalize1797

put1814

feed1818

to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819

corner1836

to sell short1852

promote1853

recapitalize1856

refund1857

float1865

water1865

margin1870

unload1870

acquire1877

maintain1881

syndicate1882

scalp1886

pyramid1888

underwrite1889

oversubscribe1891

joint-stock1894

wash1895

write1908

mark1911

split1927

marry1931

stag1935

unwind1958

short1959

preplace1966

unitize1970

bed and breakfast1974

index-link1974

warehouse1977

daisy-chain1979

strip1981

greenmail1984

pull1986

society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (transitive)] > use bills of exchange

protest1479

retire1610

imprest1617

to take up1655

honour1664

discount1671

indulge1766

dishonour1811

cover1866

sight1866

protect1884

society > trade and finance > financial dealings > moneylending > lend (money) [verb (transitive)] > lend on security

to lend on mortgagea1393

advance1529

to take up1888

1655 F. Osborne Advice to Son iii. xxiv. 79 The Bils you have taken up may perhaps be discharged as to the Merchant.

1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 300 He intended to take up the Mortgage of his Estate, the Time being almost expir'd.

1785 European Mag. Dec. 430/1 Mrs. Macleod punctually paid him the sum borrowed and took up the bill.

1832 Examiner 283/1 It was not convenient for her husband to take up the bill.

1888 H. R. Haggard Col. Quaritch xi. 84 I am disposed to try and find the money to take up these mortgages.

1916 Proc. National Conf. Charities & Correction 431 We took up his loan and he is paying $9 a month to the Credit Union, and in a year will have canceled his debt.

1998 H. H. Hickam Rocket Boys xxi. 277 Reverend Lanier..lost his job when the Methodists took up the mortgage on his church.

d. To subscribe for (stocks, shares, or a loan) at the original issue.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations

subscribe1618

to take up1655

to sell out1721

to take in1721

to take up1740

pool?1780

capitalize1797

put1814

feed1818

to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819

corner1836

to sell short1852

promote1853

recapitalize1856

refund1857

float1865

water1865

margin1870

unload1870

acquire1877

maintain1881

syndicate1882

scalp1886

pyramid1888

underwrite1889

oversubscribe1891

joint-stock1894

wash1895

write1908

mark1911

split1927

marry1931

stag1935

unwind1958

short1959

preplace1966

unitize1970

bed and breakfast1974

index-link1974

warehouse1977

daisy-chain1979

strip1981

greenmail1984

pull1986

1740 W. Douglass Disc. Currencies Brit. Plantations in Amer. 12 They who take up this Loan Money are called Sharers.

1869 Bradshaw's Railway Man. 21 402 Of 100,000 new 10l. shares..84,837 have been taken up.

1891 Harper's Mag. Nov. 946/2 He persuaded the citizens to take up the Queen's loans themselves.

1952 T. Armstrong Adam Brunskill ix. 295 Yes, no harm in putting out a feeler. Though why ever I were such a dafthead as to take up fifty shares.

1995 R. Mangal Introd. Company Law in Commonw. Caribbean ix. 82 A public company can only offer its shares to the public subject to certain provisions designed for the protection of those taking up shares.

e. Originally Scottish and U.S. To solicit money for (a collection). Also in figurative contexts.

ΚΠ

1813 Churchman's Mag. Sept. 378 After Sermon, a collection was taken up for the purpose of purchasing Bibles for the use of the poor.

1849 E. Davies Amer. Scenes 42 While they were singing Brother such-a-one would ‘take up the collection’.

1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad ix. 88 She became a sort of contribution box. This dear young thing in the theatre had been sitting there unconsciously taking up a collection [of fleas].

1908 Daily Chron. 21 Dec. 4/7 The tambourine..still serves its notable purpose for ‘taking up’, as the Scotch say, a collection.

1976 R. Condon Whisper of Axe i. xxii. 144 A collection was taken up to present him with a quartz clock.

1996 F. McCourt Angela's Ashes (1997) ii. 54 The guards in the barracks have taken up a collection to pay our train fares to Limerick.

†7.

a. transitive. To raise (troops); to recruit (a person) to a military force. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist (soldiers) [verb (transitive)]

wagec1330

musterc1425

to take upc1425

prest1481

to call up1523

conscribe1548

enrol1576

matriculate1577

press1600

in list1604

list1643

recruita1661

enlist1699

crimp1789

to muster into service1834

book1843

induct1934

to read in1938

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. l. 1591 (MED) With gret stuf þus he gan to ride, Takyng vp men fro euery cost, Til he hym made a ful myȝti host.

1545 Ld. Russell Let. 10 July in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. ii. 792 Master Hugh Stuycklye..hathe..laid owt certen summes of monye for the conduyt and prest monye of such maryners as he towke up to go to Portesmouthe.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccxix^v He toke vp all that were able to weare armure.

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 188 You are to take souldiers vp In Counties as you go.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iii. 91 He was taken vp as a souldier.

1671 H. Herbert Narr. in Camden Misc. (1990) XXX. 296 He raised 500 men, in his choise..taking up plow men, Newgatemen, and day labourers.

b. intransitive. To enter into military service; to enlist. Cf. to take on 10a at Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist [verb (reflexive)]

enrol1576

list1643

to take up1689

enlist1750

1689 T. Shadwell Bury-Fair i. ii. 8 The top of their Fortune is to take up in some Troop.

8. transitive.

a. To assume (a particular attitude or appearance); to become interested or engaged in (a study, profession, or pastime); to adopt (a practice, notion, purpose, etc.) (without the idea of its having been taken directly from another).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > follow (a course of behaviour) [verb (transitive)] > assume (behaviour or a part)

ontakec1300

playa1425

to take up?c1425

make1559

sustain1560

support1693

the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)] > adopt as one's own

to take toa1382

to take up?c1425

adoptate1560

adopt1586

the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)]

underfoc893

fandOE

onfangOE

undernimc1000

takec1175

to take tillc1175

to take toa1250

underfongc1330

undertakea1340

to take in (also on) handa1350

undertakec1385

attamec1386

to take in (also on) handc1390

embrace1393

emprisec1410

to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410

to go upon ——c1450

enterprise?1473

to set (one's) hand to1477

go?a1500

accept1524

assume1530

to hent in (also upon) handc1540

to swallow up1544

to take to task1546

to go into ——?1548

to set in hand1548

to fare about1563

entertain1569

undergo1606

to set about ——1611

to take up1660

to come at ——1901

?c1425 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Royal 17 D.vi) (1860) 19 There may no lord take up a newe gise, But that a knave shalle the same up take.

?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 64 She wolde not take hede to abyde unto her neygheboures..haue taken up the guyse or array that she wold haue.

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. xi. sig. lv They of late yeares haue taken this pastime vp among them.

1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. to Rdr. sig. A5^v To haue the Scriptures in the mother-tongue is not a quaint conceit lately taken vp.

1660 tr. M. Amyraut Treat. conc. Relig. ii. ii. 163 He seem'd to have took up a resolution of trampling upon those superstitions.

1712 J. Arbuthnot Law is Bottomless-pit iv. 9 Lewis Baboon had taken up the Trade of Clothier.

1776 G. Colman Spleen ii. 26 These are all new fancies, taken up in the evening of your life; the twilight of the understanding.

1821 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 25 289 Whatever part indeed Cromwell took up would be well maintained.

1890 Sat. Rev. 20 Sept. 355/1 Those parts of the Ethics which they are obliged to take up for ‘Greats’.

1905 F. Hume Secret Passage iv. 46 Jennings is a gentleman... But he ran through his money and took up the detective business.

1998 Independent 10 July i. 16/6 An effort to dissuade young people from taking up smoking.

2008 R. Bellamy Citizenship iii. 53 The decision to take up golf is a matter of choice, and even dedicated golfers can probably manage to play regularly without belonging to a club.

(a) To proceed to deal with (a matter or question); to espouse, embrace (a cause, course of action, etc.); to adopt (a practice, idea, etc.) from someone else.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > a cause, principle, etc. > give support to a cause or principle

beclipc1380

to take up1502

to stick to ——?1531

espouse1595

spouse1603

wed1626

1502 Star Chamber Proc. in Home Counties Mag. (1906) 8 264 The said late Shireffes..caused two of her frendes to take up this haynouse matier betuix theym as arbitrours.

1543 Chron. J. Hardyng f. xviii Richard duke of Gloucestre as one that should take vp this matter, firste spake with the duke priuely in his eare.

1604 S. Hieron Preachers Plea 250 Paul tooke vp the question among the Galathians, touching the vse of Christian libertie.

1690 R. Ottee Christ set Forth 155 He who is higher than the Heavens, should condescend so low, as to take up the cause of poor sinners.

1726 E. Thomas Poems Several Occasions 209 Some mercenary Quill, Discov'ring equal Want of Love, and Skill, Takes up th' afflicted Cause, with vain Pretence.

1771 Mrs. Harris Let. 19 Mar. in 1st Earl of Malmesbury Lett. (1870) I. 221 This [sc. conflict with the City] was taken up yesterday in the House; the Speaker gave a detail of the fact.

1879 Buffalo 16 Jan. 3/3 The great scheme of a technical university now being taken up by the City companies, was first started by Buffs.

1892 Law Times 93 459/2 Mr. Bros..suggested that the Public Prosecutor should take the matter up.

1938 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 248/2 ‘Shocking Pink’, introduced by Schiaparelli in Feb. 1937, then taken up by other designers.

1972 Jrnl. Mod. Lit. 2 459 I would like to take up the vexed question of the notes to the poem and Eliot's use of ‘sources’.

1999 S. Broughton et al. World Music: Rough Guide I. i. 219/2 It [sc. the polonaise] was taken up by the aristocracy from a slow walking dance.

2011 M. Irvine Nucl. Power ii. 29 Many took up the cause of nuclear disarmament.

(b) To pursue (a matter, question, case, etc.) with a person or organization. Now frequently with it as object.

ΚΠ

1821 Ld. Byron Let. 27 Sept. (1978) VIII. 225 I sent..a longish poem upon the Irishism of your countrymen in their reception of * * * [the King]... As you could not well take up the matter with Paddy (being of the same nest), I have.

1838 G. P. R. James Life & Times Louis XIV I. iv. 249 The Duke..was speedily stimulated..to take up the question with De Retz in a very high tone.

1895 Railway Engineer Apr. 100/1 If this had occurred in any other country in South America, the British Minister would have taken up the case with the government.

1923 Manch. Guardian 27 Mar. 9/6 The Ulster Unionist members of the Imperial Parliament are taking the matter up with the Government with a view to having the decision altered.

1988 N.Y. Times 7 Jan. a24/1 If my wife thinks I've been lying to her she can take it up with me.

2005 J. van de Ruit Spud 198 I told him that, in total, our dormitory had lost over twenty-four pairs of underpants... My prefect studied me once more and said ‘I'll take it up with the relevant authorities.’

c. To undertake (a task); to begin to hold or fulfil (a specific post, role, or position of employment).

ΚΠ

1606 L. Bryskett Disc. Ciuill Life 278 I will not say [I was]..betrayed by M. Spencer, but surely cunningly thrust in, to take vp this taske, whereby he might shift himselfe from that trouble.

1659 R. Baxter Five Disputations of Church-government iii. iv. 315 Let them not be Lay Elders: but authorized to all Pastoral administrations..; and not comming in without Ordination, nor yet taking up the Office only pro tempore.

1688 J. Dryden tr. D. Bouhours Life St. Francis Xavier i. 24 Xavier.., having again taken up his Post in the Hospital of the Incurable.., resum'd his Offices of Charity.

1825 W. Scott in Edinb. Ann. Reg. 1824 17 ii. 266 You're..a mob—And..I, as the Sheriff, must take up the job; and..read you the Riot Act, and bid you disperse!

1843 E. Thornton Hist. Brit. Empire in India IV. xxiv. 315 Lieutenant Ross..had taken up a post with special reference to this [sc. diplomatic intrigue] amongst other objects.

1917 Overland Monthly June 517 It is fitting that I contribute this article about her.., but I take the task up with misgivings.

1920 Norwalk (Ohio) Reflector-Herald 22 Jan. 8/3 John W. McEnroe has..taken up a position with the Monroeville Piano Co.

2003 G. S. Eckersley Teen Angel i. 25 Sarah..was just about to take up a job a long way from the family home.

9. transitive.

a. To seize by legal authority; to arrest, apprehend.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > arrest > [verb (transitive)]

at-holda1230

attacha1325

resta1325

takec1330

arrest1393

restay?a1400

tachec1400

seisinc1425

to take upa1438

stowc1450

seize1471

to lay (also set, clap, etc.) (a person) by the heels?1515

deprehend1532

apprehend1548

nipa1566

upsnatcha1566

finger1572

to make stay of1572

embarge1585

cap1590

reprehend1598

prehenda1605

embar1647

nap1665

nab1686

bone1699

roast1699

do1784

touch1785

pinch1789

to pull up1799

grab1800

nick1806

pull1811

hobble1819

nail1823

nipper1823

bag1824

lag1847

tap1859

snaffle1860

to put the collar on1865

copper1872

to take in1878

lumber1882

to pick up1887

to pull in1893

lift1923

drag1924

to knock off1926

to put the sleeve on1930

bust1940

pop1960

vamp1970

a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 107 (MED) Þer wer non Englisch schepys þat myth seylen þedyr, for þei wer arestyd & takyn up for þe kyng.

?1457 J. Hardyng Chron. (Lansd.) in E. P. Hammond Eng. Verse between Chaucer & Surrey (1927) 234 The kynge than..toke thaym vp by gode inspeccioun That friste bygan that insurreccioun.

a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 112 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) Though the Sheriffe have this authority..to take up all such stragglers, and imprison them.

1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia ii. xxiv. 251 To presse, and take up any the Boats, or Vessels, that are or shall bee within the compasse of your command.

1682 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 31 Duke of York hath brought an action against one Arrowsmith..upon the statute of Scandalum magnatum, who is taken up for it.

1714 in Acts Gen. Assembly Province of New-Jersey (1776) xl. 21 An Act for regulating of white Servants, and taking up Soldiers and Seamen deserting Her Majesty's Service.

1797 R. Southey Lett. from Spain xxiv. 392 The Alcayde took up all the inhabitants of the village where it happened.

1853 Bentley's Misc. 34 143 Proctors were always taking me up on suspicion, and discharging me with apologies.

1861 Temple Bar June 358 [He] was taken up for sacrilege, and brought before a magistrate.

1903 Proc. Old Bailey 16 Nov. 72 After he was taken up on Tuesday or Wednesday..his sister promised that if I would not give evidence.., the money would be forthcoming.

1943 ‘H. Green’ Caught 75 When the rich get taken up they bring the doctor to say they're sick.

2004 J. Vance Lurulu i. 20 What if you are taken up by the police and dragged off to jail?

†b. To summon as a witness. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > call to witness

to take witness of1390

vouchc1412

record1590

attest1609

to swear downa1616

appeal1645

to take up1821

invoke1851

1821 J. Galt Ann. Parish xii. 117 It was thought she would have been taken up as an evidence in the Douglas cause.

10. transitive.

†a. Chiefly in passive.

(a) to take up for hawks: (apparently) to seize and slaughter (an old or useless horse) as meat for hawks; (hence) to ruin, destroy (a person). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > animal food > [verb (transitive)] > slaughter (old or useless horse) as meat for hawks

to take up for hawks1471

1471 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 565 I beseche yow, and my horse..be not takyn vp for the Kyngys hawkys, that he may be had hom and kept in your plase.

a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iii. iii. sig. E.ij Ye were take vp for haukes, ye were gone, ye were gone.

(b) to take up for hawks' meat: to ruin, destroy (a person). Hence in similar phrases. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [adjective] > destroyed

forwroughta1325

lorna1400

destroyedc1440

perishedc1440

shentc1440

defeatc1540

spiltc1540

dissolved?1541

interempt1561

baned1568

mischievedc1570

defeated1578

ruined1585

downcast1592

gone1598

collapsed1610

to take up for hawks' meat1612

naughta1616

blasted1747

wreckeda1821

butchered1839

fucked-up1863

kaput1895

piled-up1906

shambled1940

1612 T. Dekker O per se O sig. O Seruing-men..who like Free-booters are so hungry of flesh, that a Doxie (if shee haue a smug face) cannot peepe out, but shee is taken vp for Hawkes-meate.

1615 E. Hoby Curry-combe i. 67 Were old Bishop Longland his Confessor now aliue, he would take vp Iabal for Hawks-meate.

1632 R. Brome Northern Lasse i. iv. sig. A4 Slid Ile marry out o' the way; tis time I thinke: I shall bee tane vp for whores meat else.

?c1640 W. Rowley et al. Witch of Edmonton (1658) iii. 37 There's my Rival taken up for Hang-man's meat.

1697 T. Oates Εἰκων Βασιλικη IV. 188 They have applied to wrong Persons, and made use of wrong Methods; by which means they are taken up for Hawks meat, and are hanged.

†b. Chess and Backgammon. To capture (a piece); = sense 1f. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [verb (transitive)] > tactics

to shut up1474

to take upc1475

neck1597

catch1674

to discover check1688

attack1735

retreat1744

fork1745

pin1745

retake1750

guard1761

interpose1761

castle1764

retract1777

to take (a pawn) en passant1818

capture1820

decline1847

cook1851

undouble1868

unpin1878

counter1890

fidate1910

sacrifice1915

fianchetto1927

c1475 Treat. Chess (Ashm. 344) lf. 5 Then he takith hym vpp with his knight.

a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 71 (MED) Þe rook..holdith length & brede, and takith vp what so is in his way.

1644 D. Featley Sacra Nemesis xiii. 69 Is it not better playing a game at tables on the christian sabbath, wherin a wooden man is taken up without any losse or hurt?

c. Falconry. To restrain (a young hawk) in order to begin training. Now rare.Hawks are typically taken up when they have begun to hunt their own prey in preference to using the hack (hack n.³).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > [verb (transitive)] > bring under restraint

to take up1826

1826 J. S. Sebright Observ. Hawking 8 When..[Hawks] have omitted to come for their food at the accustomed hour, for two or three successive days,..it will be necessary to take them up, or they would in a short time go away altogether.

1881 E. B. Michell in Macmillan's Mag. Nov. 40 An experienced falconer will ‘take up’ a young merlin from hack and have him trained in three or four days.

1901 Country Life Illustr. 25 May 652/1 Young falcons just taken up from hack have had no necessity for acquiring..the peculiar and well known ‘stoop’.

1936 G. Blaine Falconry iv. 53 Tiercels..are generally more precocious and have often to be taken up from hack before the falcons.

11.

a. transitive. To check (a person) in speaking; to interrupt sharply, esp. with an expression of dissent or disapproval; to rebuke, reprove, or reprimand. Also: to check (a person) in any course of action. Frequently in to take up short (see short adv. 5b(b)). Cf. Phrases 1j(a).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > cause to cease or put a stop to > suddenly or abruptly (an action or person)

break1330

to break offc1340

to take up1530

to cut off1576

stunt1603

to cut up short1607

to cut short1611

pawl1797

to sew up1837

to stop short1837

burst1842

to pull up1861

the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] > check (in) a course of action

stanchc1315

arrestc1374

checka1400

stem?c1450

stay1525

to take up1530

rebate1532

suspend1565

nip1575

countercheck1590

to nip in the bud1590

to clip the wings ofa1593

to nip in (also by, on) the head (also neck, pate)1594

trasha1616

to scotch the wheels of1648

spike1687

spoke1854

to pull up1861

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)] > severely

dressc1405

wipe1523

to take up1530

whip1530

to shake upa1556

trounce1607

castigatea1616

lasha1616

objurgate1616

thunderstrike1638

snub1672

drape1683

cut1737

rowa1798

score1812

to dress down1823

to pitch into ——1823

wig1829

to row (a person) up1838

to catch or get Jesse1839

slate1840

drop1853

to drop (down) to or on (to)1859

to give (a person) rats1862

to jump upon1868

to give (a person) fits1871

to give it to someone (pretty) stiff1880

lambaste1886

ruck1899

bollock1901

bawl1903

scrub1911

burn1914

to hang, draw, and quarter1930

to tear a strip off1940

to tear (someone) off a strip1940

brass1943

rocket1948

bitch1952

tee1955

fan-

the mind > language > speech > interruption > interrupt (speech) [verb (transitive)] > interrupt (a person)

to fang upa1400

interrupt1413

interpel1541

catch1670

to take up1885

to draw up1905

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 750/1 It pityed my herte to here howe he toke hym up.

?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes f. 158 His wife Xantippe beganne to take her housbande vp, with tauntyng and opprobrious wordes.

a1625 J. Fletcher Chances iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Bbb^v/2 Thou tookst me up at every word I spoke, As I had been a Mawkin, a flurt Gillian.

1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments To Rdr. 7 I haue beene taken vp in diuers Churches by the Churchwardens..and not suffered to write the Epitaphs.

1645 T. Coleman Hopes Deferred 2 [He] rebukes him sharply, takes him up roundly.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 34. ¶3 Sir Andrew Freeport took him up short.

1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. i. 199 Those who would find fault with us for attributing colour heat and cold to inanimate bodies take us up before we were down.

a1885 ‘H. Conway’ Living or Dead (1886) III. iii. 68 She wondered why the master took her up so short when she had mentioned his name.

1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus i. 14 ‘You do take one up so,’ he complained! ‘I never intended nothing of the sort.’

1915 F. Harris Contemp. Portr. i. 12 ‘Perhaps you didn't know Darwin?’ ‘Indeed, and I knew him well,’ he replied, taking me up shortly.

1963 J. B. Hilton Mr. Fred iii. 23 I remember Lilian taking her to task for that apostrophe. My mother rounded on her. It was not for a child to take up an elder.

1993 F. Collymore There's always Angels 69 He took me up rather sharply. ‘That depends, my dear fellow, that depends.’

2007 J. Rose Blackest Bird (2008) 323 The scene he encountered in the sitting room took Old Hays up short.

†b. intransitive. To check or restrain oneself; to mend one's ways; to reform. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > reform [verb (intransitive)]

risec1175

amenda1275

menda1400

reform1582

reclaim1625

to turn down a leaf1633

to take up1661

repair1748

mend1782

to go straight1888

to straighten up1891

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue vii. sig. K^v Euery good thyng, Thou lettest euen slyp, like a wag halter slypstryng. But take vp in tyme, or els I protest, All be not abedde, that shall haue yll rest.

a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Captaine iv. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Hh4^v/1 Take up quickly; Thy witt will founder of all foure else wench, If thou hold'st this pace; take up when I bid thee.

1661 S. Pepys Diary 13 Nov. (1970) II. 213 My expenseful life..will undo me I fear..if I do not take up.

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew at Oats One that has sown his wild Oats,..begins to take up and be more Staied.

1713 in Poems & Transl. (1714) 18 Here the Poet chides himself for his Fool-hardy Undertaking in the first Part; and begins to take up.

1832 Examiner 611/1 She longs to make her fortune by her trade, that she may ‘take up and live godly’.

1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. Tak' up,..to reform one's ways.

c. intransitive. Of weather: to improve, to pick up, to become clement.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (intransitive)] > improve

to take up1600

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xl. 1080 The Celtiberians..having passed over the rivers (when the raine gave over and the weather tooke up) came to Contrebia.

1634 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World (new ed.) II. xviiii. xxxv. 613 If you perceiue those tops of mountaines cleare without moist or cloud, the weather will soone take vp and turne to be faire.

1749 T. Short Gen. Chronol. Hist. Air I. 151 In the End of Harvest, the Weather took up, and so much of this rotten Crop was got very late, as did much Good.

1787 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Norfolk I. 338 The weather took up; and the last ten days or a fortnight have been extremely fine and summer-like.

1845 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 6 570 The weather took up immediately afterwards.

1889 J. A. Froude Two Chiefs Dunboy xiv. 210 On the second evening the weather began to take up.

1908 Financial Times 4 Mar. 6/4 During the last week the weather has taken up.

2007 Irish Times (Nexis) 13 July 2 He asked farmers to work as safely as possible when the weather took up.

d. Mechanics and Nautical.

(a) intransitive. Of a leak of water, steam, etc.: to stop, esp. spontaneously. Cf. sense 20c. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1835 J. Braithwaite Suppl. Capt. Sir J. Ross's Narr. 15 Every high-pressure boiler leaks more or less until worked for some time, when the leaks (to use a technical expression) ‘take up’.

1901 L. Becke By Rock & Pool on Austral Shore 199 The leak has taken up, and you can go on deck and see your husband working at the pumps.

1902 Trans. Manch. Assoc. Engin. (1903) 192 Whenever the furnace door was open and an east wind happened to be blowing, all the tubes in the tube-plate to the furnace started leaking; which leaks took up again immediately the cold air was excluded.

(b) transitive. To stop or staunch (a leak). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > fact of being still or not flowing > cause to be or become still or without flow [verb (transitive)] > staunch

stint1398

constrainc1400

stanch1481

constaunch1485

stem1488

to take up1889

1889 Sydney Mail 13 July 84/3 Caulking was again tried, and this took up the leak a little, enabling the ship to be kept on her course.

1922 Plumbers’ Trade Jrnl. 73 247/3 (advt.) Whiz Boiler Stop Leak takes up small leaks in the joints when the plant goes into operation, saving time, bother and costs of disconnecting and repairing.

1938 US Patent 2,126,726 1/2 [The springs] will yieldingly hold the material to any uneven surface or floor, thus taking up any leaks under the door when the device is closed.

e. intransitive. U.S. Of a horse: to slacken its pace; to stop short, to pull up. Also of a rider: to rein in one's horse.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > rein in

reina1525

to draw rein1725

to take up1912

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > actions of rider

rope1874

to take up1912

scrub1958

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > actions of horse

to carry weight1734

to get up1840

screw1840

to come again1841

to set to1856

to wait off1856

romp1869

to answer the question1875

compound1876

to gallop to a standstill1892

nick1898

to take up1912

rate1920

1912 Salt Lake Tribune 28 July 2/1 No Quarter had bad racing luck, was forced to take up sharply when Lady Stalwart began to stop so suddenly in front of him.

1942 Sun (Baltimore) 20 Oct. 15/1 Fogoso..cut sharply in front of Sunset Boy, causing Jimmy Berger to take up.

1946 Sun (Baltimore) 2 Oct. 15/2 Red Tag ran into tight corners at the head of the stretch and was forced to take up.

2001 N.Y. Post (Nexis) 25 Feb. 71 Boodles..was rallying up rail in deep stretch when he suddenly took up sharply.

12. transitive.

a. To occupy fully or exclusively (space or time); to fill, use up. Cf. sense 67.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > presence > fact of taking up space > take up (space or a place) [verb (transitive)] > completely

fillc1000

containc1374

replenish?a1425

comprise1489

to take up1538

pack1567

1538 tr. Erasmus Prepar. to Deathe sig. Bvi^v Infancy is not felt, chyldhod slyppeth away er we be ware, youth is taken vp with sondry cares, age crepeth vpon vs er we perceyue it.

1591 W. Garrard & R. Hitchcock Arte of Warre ii. 108 So shall you occupie more hands then the quadrant battaile doth, taking vp lesse ground in marching, then the other battaile.

1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke Annot. sig. *^v If the lesse mood were likewise perfect, then did euery one of those long restes take vp three spaces.

1601 W. Cornwallis Ess. II. xlvi. sig. li4 They [sc. satirists] chide vice, &..take vp more time, then knowne, they are worth.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 633 It tooke up in compasse aboue a mile.

1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 69 The men take them [sc. the public baths] up in the morning, and in the afternoone the women.

1640 S. D'Ewes Let. 14 Dec. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 167 Some petitions..tooke upp our time a great parte of the morning.

1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xxii. 490 The Sixteen Red Cliffs, which take up in all about three Miles in length.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 84 The 7th..I took wholly up to make me a Chair.

1825 New Monthly Mag. 14 392 The first quatrain..is taken up with a list of rivers.

1885 E. Lynn Linton Autobiogr. Christopher Kirkland II. ix. 274 It took up his time and bored him.

1937 Amer. Home Apr. 168/3 These shelves add charm, take up no space, and are most usable.

1958 E. T. Gilliard Living Birds of World 224/1 The Bee hummingbird..seems smaller [than a bee] because the bill and tail take up more than half of its total length.

2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black ix. 290 Anyway, Al, I won't take up your morning, let's cut to the chase.

b. To occupy (a road, way, or other space) so as to cause an inconvenience or obstruction; to obstruct, block.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > presence > fact of taking up space > take up (space or a place) [verb (transitive)] > fill > to obstruction

cumberc1394

encumberc1400

cloy1548

pester1548

accumberc1571

clog1586

to take up1587

lumber1642

over-clog1660

crowd1741

jama1865

1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1576/2 An huge trunke of a tree..was cumbersome by taking vp their accustomed passage.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. ii. 116 My throat of Warre be turn'd..into a Pipe.., and Schoole-boyes Teares take vp The Glasses of my sight.

1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 11 Tombes are made so huge great, that they take vp the Church, and hinder the people from diuine Seruice.

a1717 W. Diaper tr. Oppian Halieuticks (1722) ii. 69 Born on the struggling Floods that broad-back'd Ray Unwieldy lolls, and takes up all the Way.

1792 Lord Mayor's Day 27 Then Grocers carr'ages took up the way, A tedious string, and hir'd for all the day.

1866 H. L. Hammond in Househ. Reading (1867) 151 Some of the negro-haters told her to go away, for she was obstructing the sidewalk. ‘I don't take up much room. It's the people that take up the sidewalk. Make them go away.’

1895 Outing Aug. 374/2 At the end of a long curve..we saw ahead in the dim light two four-horse mountain wagons passing each other and taking up the entire road.

1937 J. T. Farrell Fellow Countrymen 180 A man in a hurry bumped into him, and hastening on, snottily suggested that he quit taking up the whole sidewalk.

2012 M. Magnuson Bike Tribes 170 Hey, assholes! Quit taking up the road. Use the goddam bike lane!

(a) To keep busy, engage, occupy (a person, the mind, attention, etc.). Chiefly in passive with with or (occasionally) in.

ΘΚΠ

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

swallowc1330

deepc1380

dare1547

suspend1561

preoccupy1567

devour1568

to swallow up1581

enwrap1589

invest1601

steep1603

to take up1603

spell1646

possess1653

enchain1658

engross1661

absorb1749

fix1752

rivet1762

fascinate1782

spell-bind1808

arrest1814

mesmerize1862

to turn on1903

get1913

consume1999

1603 R. Rogers Seuen Treat. i. iv. 30 [They] regard not when God speaketh vnto them out of his word, their minds being taken vp about other matters.

a1617 P. Baynes Lectures 201 in Comm. First & Second Chapters Colossians (1634) To take our selves up with some behoofefull duty.

1630 P. Massinger Renegado iv. i. sig. H4 I am so wholy taken vp with sorrow.

1712 E. Budgell Spectator No. 301. ⁋8 I was wholly taken up in these Reflections.

1786 T. Twining Let. 10 July in F. Burney Court Jrnls. & Lett. (2011) I. App. 325 I fear you will be so taken up with your courtly attendance, that you will have no leisure.

1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley v. 76 She is taken up with making her husband comfortable.

1892 Mrs. H. Ward David Grieve II. 32 I think he feels he must make his way first. His business takes him up altogether.

1900 S. J. Weyman Story Francis Cludde (new ed.) xvi. 180 Master Lindstrom also felt troubled..at seeing me taken up with a trifle at such a time.

1963 London Mag. Dec. 21 She had so many things to take up her attention.., that she found it harder and harder to correspond with him.

2001 H. Holt Delay of Execution (2002) viii. 79 Their thoughts were largely taken up with last-minute revision and exams.

(b) Chiefly Scottish and English regional (northern). to be taken up with: to have an engrossing interest in; to be charmed or attracted by; to be taken with.

ΘΚΠ

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

to take up in1665

enter1694

to take up1751

to turn on1954

1751 Universal Mag. Nov. 232/2 Entirely taken up with her darling Innocence, she flies towards her, and would willingly have thrown herself into her arms.

1824 W. Carr Horæ Momenta Cravenæ 19 Thouz seea bobberous an keckahoop wi' thy twelve groats, and seea ta'en up wi' thy quality, at thouz quite an clear forgotten t'lile whipper snapper window-peeper.

1827 London Lit. Gaz. 24 Nov. 755/1 Wha are yon twa bonnie young folk that seem sae taen up wi ane anither.

1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. vi. 174 I was extremely taken up with the soft red cushions of the armchairs.

1911 J. Bone Edinb. Revisited iv. 152 She said they were ‘a' very ta'en up wi' the picture’. He (her husband) liked to look at it, and she had moved his bed that he could see it.

1992 C. M. Fraser Stranger on Rhanna i. ii. 23 Once, when Auld Biddy had to give him an enema, he was that taken up wi' all the wee tubes it was all she could do to make him leave them alone so that should do what had to be done wi' them.

1999 in Sc. National Dict. New Suppl. (Electronic text) (at cited word) Fair taen up wi the new bairn.

d. To use up (esp. a commodity or resource); to consume.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > using up, expending, or consuming > use up, expend, or consume [verb (transitive)] > cause or involve expenditure or consumption

take1556

to take upa1616

spend1616

a1616 J. Smith Poore Penitent 96 in Essex Dove (1629) Because that Faith and Repentance bee the maine pillars in building the spiritual house of God in our consciences, it is no maruell if they take vp more labour and time then all the rest.

1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. viii. 142 The Framing work will take up more labour.

1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 121 You may fill up the Holes to the Level of the Ground.., to take up the Earth that may possibly remain to be disposed of.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 79 The prodigious deal of Time and Labour which it took me up to make a Plank or Board.

1863 Fraser's Mag. Sept. 400/2 When..poems were written by hand..they would take up very much labour.

1940 Portsmouth (New Hampsh.) Herald 12 Apr. 4/2 I buy a nice farm in Stratham and it takes up my money.

1969 N.Y. Times 1 Dec. 58 I know I must be [big] because my dresses take up a lot of fabric.

2012 Bristol Post (Nexis) 5 Nov. 10 Bats..are warm blooded mammals and they need to eat lots to keep warm and besides, flying takes up lots of energy!

†13. transitive. To impel or urge on (a horse) to greater speed. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > impel or drive animates

sendc950

driveOE

chacche138.

chasec1400

teisec1400

to take up1542

gar1587

urge1594

herd1883

shoo1903

1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca Equus citatus, a horse taken vp.

1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. v. vi. f. 158 But when I sawe them take their horses vppe with the spurres [L. concitatis..equis].

14.

a. transitive. To take (a person) into a boat, car, or other mode of transport; to pick up (a passenger).

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > order Proboscidea (elephants) > [verb (transitive)] > take person from ground onto back

to take up1553

society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport or convey in a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > pick up

to take up1689

to pick up1839

uplift1961

1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. iv. f. 38^v The Tirians..did so beate them on the handes, as they were swymming, that for werenes they were glad to be taken vp into their boates.

1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas sig. H3 They..sent two of their fellowes in the long boat to fetch mee, who rowing to mee, tooke mee vp..& carried mee aboord with them.

1609 B. Rich Roome for Gentleman f. 5 Those women, that a man would thinke they were made all of vertue..they will notwithstanding hold them company, take them vp into their Coaches.

1689 London Gaz. No. 2511/4 A Hackney-Coachman took up 3 Persons at Mark-Lane-end.

1710 London Gaz. No. 4735/4 A Hackney Coach..that took up his Fair in Southwark.

1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. x. 341 The postillions stopped at the convent..to take up Blanche.

1831 W. Scott Count Robert ii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. II. 20 We should not criticise the animal [sc. an elephant] which kneels to take us up.

1890 G. Meredith Let. 14 Apr. (1970) II. 997 I am promised a steam-yacht to take me up at Oban.

1893 Eng. Illustr. Mag. 10 257/2 Our coach..duly took us up, and set us down.

1909 Bradshaw's Railway Guide Aug. 21 Stops to take up 1st class Passengers for London.

1928 R. A. Knox Footsteps at Lock x. 100 Leyland..found the taxi driver who took up a fare close to Carfax and put him down at the Gudgeon.

2009 Maribyrnong (Melbourne) Leader (Nexis) 5 May 11 If drivers..stop to let down or take up passengers or goods they will be issued with an infringement notice.

b. intransitive. Of a coach, train, or other vehicle: to pick up passengers. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1793 H. R. Morres Let. 29 Oct. in Crisis (1794) xl. 219 If coachmen were obliged to take up and set down universally, at public places, with the door of the house on the whip hand, many of the embarrassments at our theatres, &c. would be avoided.

1857 A. Trollope Barchester Towers I. x. 146 Carriages..were desired to take up at a quarter before one.

1898 Westm. Gaz. 27 June 10/1 All carriages will take up on the Embankment and Savoy-hill.

1909 Bradshaw's Railway Guide Aug. 21 Stops to take up for Reading or beyond.

†15. transitive.

a. To settle, arrange amicably (a dispute, quarrel, etc.). Obsolete.In quot. 1666: to settle temporarily, to patch up.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > absence of dissension or peace > bringing about concord or peace > bring to peace (strife or discord) [verb (transitive)] > settle (a dispute)

peasec1330

reconcilea1393

compone1523

compromit1537

compound1546

atone1555

to take up1560

compose1570

gree1570

accommodate1609

concoct1620

even1620

sopite1628

to make up1699

liquidate1765

resolve1875

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxj^v He had done as much as lay in him that the matter might be taken vp.

1605 London Prodigall sig. D If you come to take vp the matter betweene my maister and the Deuen-shyre man.

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 96 I knew when seuen Iustices could not take vp a Quarrell.

1666 S. Pepys Diary 24 Oct. (1972) VII. 340 The thing is not accommodated, but only taken up.

b. To make good (something lost or wanting). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > compensate or make up for

restorea1325

to make good1389

boot1393

rewarda1398

supplya1398

to make up1472

upset1513

to fetch again1535

redeem1590

balance1594

pay1596

unpay1600

to make out1610

requitea1613

to pay home1625

encourage1628

compensate1646

compensate1656

reprise1662

to take up1662

to fetch up1665

to pay off1717

indemnify1750

to bring up arrears1788

equalize1866

reparate1956

1662 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 3rd Pt. 302 If you be hindred of your rest one Night by business, you will take it up the next.

16.

a. transitive. To lift up (a vein or other blood vessel) by passing a ligature, needle, or other instrument under it, esp. as an initial step in performing phlebotomy or ligation; (also) to ligate or otherwise obliterate (a blood vessel). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > surgery > stopping haemorrhage > stop haemorrhage [verb (transitive)] > close vein or artery > by ligature

to take up1566

religate1598

ligate1599

ligature1716

to tie off1903

1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. clxxx. f. 116 (heading) , in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe The order of taking vp vaynes, and wherefore it is good.

1639 T. de Gray Compl. Horseman ii. xx. 347 Take up the Shackle-veynes.

1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. i. 41 The Absurdity of taking up the Veins for the Cure of Spavins.

1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 375 I bled one, and tried to take up the vein with a thorn in lieu of a pin; but it broke in the night, the vein burst open again, and the ox bled to death.

1903 F. Treves Man. Operative Surg. (new ed.) II. xiii. i. 683 He passes the needle through the mucous membrane in such a way as to take up the vessel in question.

1928 S. Vestal Old Santa Fe Trail ii. 21 The whetted knife quickly opened the arm to the bone;..the white-hot bolt seared the raw stump, taking up the arteries more swiftly than ligatures could have done.

b. transitive. To make fast or reincorporate (a dropped stitch). Also in figurative contexts. Now rare.See also to take up a stitch at stitch n.¹ 7.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > sew or ornament textile fabric [verb (transitive)] > sew > other

to take up1620

fell1758

cross-stitch1794

strand1894

prick-stitch1895

stab-stitch1917

lockstitch1919

1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote ii. 14 The Knights say, they would not have your poore Squires bee ranked with them, that clout their owne shooes, and take vp a stitch in their owne blacke stockings with greene silke.

a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Spanish Gipsie (1653) ii. sig. C4 A stich in a mans stocken not taken up in time ravells out all the rest.

a1639 J. Stoughton XI. Choice Serm. (1640) 60 Other Criticks pride themselves in restoring some obliturated monuments, stopping some gaps in old Manuscripts, taking up some stitches let fal in a Poet [etc.].

1775 Hist. Old Fring'd Petticoat 12 If ye take up one stitch the old d—l will set you about more of her work, and make us her drudges.

1804 M. Edgeworth To-morrow v, in Pop. Tales III. 341 This operation of taking up a stitch..is one of the slowest.

1881 Times 16 July 11/2 The Committee..will be enabled to take up the stitches dropped in the process [of examining the bill].

1904 Iowa City Daily Press 9 May A busy woman..at a moment's notice is ready to take up a dropped stitch in her young son's mittens.

c. transitive. To pull (a belt, strap, etc.) up or in, so as to tighten or shorten.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > shortness > make short(er) [verb (transitive)]

short1398

shorten1530

stump1596

snub1615

to take up1624

1624 W. Browne His Fiftie Yeares Pract. i. 5 Take a good stirrop Leather, and make it full of holes, to take vp and let out at your pleasure.

1677 J. Phillips tr. J.-B. Tavernier Persian Trav. iii. xiii. 132 in tr. J.-B. Tavernier Six Voy. (1678) They abate him of his Meat and Drink as in the first eight days, and every day take up the Girt a hole shorter.

a1713 T. Ellwood Hist. Life (1714) 102 Though she was very tall, yet the Ways being very foul, I found it needful, as soon as I was out of Town, to alight, and take up the Stirrups.

1780 J. Hope Thoughts 69 When you follow the Hounds, I would advise you to take up your Stirrups a few Holes.

1891 M. M. Dowie Girl in Karpathians iii. 33 Each girth was altered to its last hole, the stirrup-leather taken up half a yard, but nowhere could it grip the little beast.

1892 Field 8 Oct. 545/3 The direction to the groom would be ‘take up’ (or ‘let down’, as the case may be) the near-side horse's coupling rein.

1921 Med. Pickwick Jan. 19/2 He sees Doc strip down to the undershirt and trousers, take up his belt a few notches and start to wash up.

1990 ‘M. Twelveponies’ Starting Colt viii. 43 In saddling the colt, initially take the back cinch up slightly loose and tug on it several times the same as you do on the front cinch.

d. transitive. To make (a further hole) in order to shorten a strap; to tighten a belt or strap by (a hole or notch).

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > shortness > make short(er) [verb (transitive)] > in working length

shorten1597

to take up1818

1818 C. Brown Let. 7 Aug. in J. Keats Lett. (1958) I. 361 I must have another hole taken up in the strap of my Knapsack.

1898 Outing Feb. 485/2 A hole taken up in a belt may serve for a meal during summer.

1929 Boys' Life Feb. 17/1 I've got to take up a hole on this strap.

1973 New Scientist 22 Feb. 438/1 Any trouble a female footballer met from ‘unhealthy agitation’ could simply be cured by taking up another notch in her bra-strap.

2000 Racing Post (Nexis) 7 Jan. His [sc. a horse's] views on life include objections to having his girths tightened in the stable. ‘We have get on him with them loose and slowly take up a hole at a time,’ says Mrs Bailey.

†e. intransitive. Nautical. Of a rope: to shrink through immersion in water. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > become reduced in size or extent [verb (intransitive)] > contract or shrink

shrimc1000

shrinkc1275

to draw togethera1398

gather1577

coact1578

to fall together1583

draw1615

contract1648

to run up1838

to take up1860

1860 A. H. Alston Seamanship §385 Log lines should be wetted before marking..to allow them to take up, as they are always wet when in use.

1868 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 4) 197 The longer the rope the more it takes up.

f. transitive. To shorten or tighten a garment by hemming or tucking (the fabric); to alter (a garment) in this way.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > tailor or make clothes [verb (transitive)] > alter

to turn upa1586

tuck1626

to let out1791

fashionize1824

to piece down1863

to make down1877

to let down1890

to take up1902

1902 Anaconda (Montana) Standard 26 Jan. 35/2 It [sc. a skirt]..may have the fullness at the back taken up in an inverted box-plait or gathers.

1914 Farm, Stock & Home 15 Apr. 339/2 If loose at this part take up the front and back, an equal portion, unless the fullness seems to be only on the front, in which case take up all that is necessary, only on the front, at the underarm seam.

1937 P. H. Richards Dress Creation xiii. 113 The quantity taken up in the tucks should amount in all to the distance between A and C.

1972 A. Ross London Assignment 28 The trousers were a fraction long, and would need to be taken up.

2003 C. Black What's it all About? (2004) xv. 172 It was a ruby-red, high-waisted velvet dress, and to make it look more fashionable, I took up the hem.

17. transitive.

(a) To accept (a bet or challenge); to accept the bet or challenge of (a person). Cf. sense 30 and Phrases 1j(b).See also to take up the gauntlet at gauntlet n.¹ 1c, to take up the glove at glove n. 1d.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > accept

onfangeOE

fangOE

to take with ——lOE

takec1175

understandc1200

afangc1275

receivec1330

accepta1382

'lowa1382

except1393

to take up1570

to take a person up on (something)1807

to take up1810

1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 418/2 He chalenged Henry..at the barriers, to be tryed at Northampton. But that chalenge was taken vp, least some farther inconuenience might haue risen therof.

1661 G. Wharton Select & Choice Poems 74 Pluto takes up the wager, and makes shew Of paints and varnishes both old and new.

1662 F. Kirkman Wits 68 Smirk thou shalt take him up, I'le wager on thy side.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 126. ¶9 Notwithstanding he was a very fair Bettor, no Body would take him up.

1764 F. C. Sheridan Dupe v. vi. 68 Take up his bett, Friendly, and I'll go your halves.

1880 G. Meredith Tragic Comedians II. x. 159 Marko..had taken up Alvan's challenge.

1893 Temple Bar Jan. 21 It don't concern you who takes up the bets.

1910 ‘R. Dehan’ One Braver Thing xxix. 226 Nobody took up the bet, fortunately for the sportsman.

1986 R. Sproat Stunning the Punters 82 Only four of us took him up, me included. Bare-knuckle fighting, not Queensberry rules, but fair enough fights.

2006 Independent 15 Apr. 39/1 A growing army of wordsmiths is taking up a challenge to craft six-line verses that obey the disciplines of the so-called Fibonacci sequence.

(b) To accept (an offer, invitation, etc.); (also) to accept the offer or invitation of (a person).

ΚΠ

1679 J. Davies tr. Appian Hist. i. vii. 197 Scipio..said that..if any one of riper Years, would accept the command, he was ready to yield it to him. But none taking up the offer, he went with greater admiration and applause to this War.

a1766 J. Ronald Reality & Efficacy Work Spirit of God (1767) 70 Did you take up the offer of Christ, and salvation through him, as made particularly to yourself?

1860 J. H. Williams Let. 11 Mar. in J. K. Folmar This State of Wonders (1986) ii. 71 Brown may continue his offer as I did not take him up at once.

1893 N.Y. Times 4 May 8 The New-York and New-Jersey Telephone Company offered to take its men back at the old wages..but nobody took the offer up.

1943 D. J. Manners Under Running Laughter 209 I guess you'll be wantin' to take up their invite to go to stay at the lake pretty soon.

1989 P. Dally Elizabeth Barrett Browning iv. 33 Elizabeth did not take up his reiterated invitation to visit him.

2002 Sun 16 July 26/2 (advt.) Take up this offer and you can choose a second free gift.

†b. To accept (a statement, idea, etc.) on trust; to believe without proof. Chiefly with upon credit, upon trust. Cf. sense 6a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)] > be convinced, swallow

feela1200

to take on trust1590

swallow1594

to take up1617

to take upon content1646

to take in1823

1617 C. A. Monsig^r. Fate Voi 4 To take vp in great, all that he saith, vpon the courtesy of his Readers credit.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §34 It is strange how the ancients took up experiments upon credit, and yet did build great matters upon them.

1653 J. Howell German Diet sig. C2^v Caesar..never entred into the bowells of the Land, and what he delivers he took up in trust by confused rumors.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. iv. §8 Greek writers..took up things upon trust as much as any people in the world did.

1703 N. Battely Somner's Antiq. Canterbury (rev. ed.) i. 44 Thus others have told them, and they think they may take it up upon trust, and say as much after them.

1854 A. Gilchrist Life William Etty I. 347 Loose old-fashioned notions, taken up on trust.

c. To take notice of and repeat (a story, rumour, etc.).

ΚΠ

1773 F. Grose Antiq. Eng. & Wales III. Alnwick Castle Pl. ii The very words of the deed of infeoffment..confute a report too hastily taken up by some historians.

1856 C. R. Kennedy in tr. Demosthenes Orations App. v. 264 The story was taken up by the poets, and is embodied in the famous..drinking song of Callistratus, written about a century after the event.

1888 Scotsman 5 Mar. 6/4 Mrs Gordon Baillie is the heroine of the hour. Her wonderful adventurous story has been taken up by some of the London Newspapers.

1920 S. W. Bassett Taming of Zenas Henry xiii. 242 Promptly the town took up the gossip. ‘The Brewsters are all goin' to pieces!’ they whispered among themselves.

2012 C. Fitzgerald Namesake (2013) xxxiv. 207 The national newspapers took up the story, and reporters swarmed the streets.

d. To accept or receive (something offered); to claim (a benefit, grant, etc.). Cf. take-up n. 5b.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > dueness or propriety > [verb (transitive)] > claim

challengea1240

claimc1320

pretend?a1425

vouch1488

to lay claim to1584

assert1649

vindicate1680

to take up1810

the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > accept

onfangeOE

fangOE

to take with ——lOE

takec1175

understandc1200

afangc1275

receivec1330

accepta1382

'lowa1382

except1393

to take up1570

to take a person up on (something)1807

to take up1810

1810 W. P. Taunton Rep. Court Common Pleas 1 165 The Defendant having no claim against the Plaintiff, had no interest in taking up the award.

1892 Sat. Rev. 8 Oct. 403/2 Mr. Stanley (on taking up the freedom of Swansea) spoke very vigorously on the subject of Uganda.

1927 Times 24 Feb. 20/2 Adequate provision has been made for those who, leaving our service, automatically take up State benefits and make State contributions.

1971 Guardian 15 Apr. 1/1 A major campaign to persuade people to take up their welfare and social security benefits has been launched by the Government.

1977 Skateboard Special Sept. 2/1 If you want to take up our super Swap-Shop offer now's your chance.

1999 What Investm. Mar. 124/2 If you have not taken up this year's PEP allowances you could ‘bed-and-PEP’.

18. intransitive. to take up with.

a. To begin to associate or keep company with, esp. with a view to a romantic or sexual relationship; to become friendly with; to form a relationship with. Cf. to take with —— 2 at Phrasal verbs 2.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)]

workOE

friend1483

to make friends (with, of, to)1561

to take up with1570

to pal up (also around, out, etc.)1889

to get next to1896

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

seeOE

to bear (a person) company (also fellowship, etc.)c1225

mella1300

fellowshipa1382

companya1400

accompany1461

to keep company (with)1502

encompanya1513

to keep (a person) company1517

to take repast1517

assist1553

to take up with1570

rempare1581

to go along with1588

amate1590

bear1590

to fall in1593

consort1598

second1600

to walk (also travel) in the way with1611

comitate1632

associate1644

enhaunt1658

join1713

assort1823

sit1828

companionize1870

to take tea with1888

to knock about with1915

tote1977

fere-

1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1392/2 The Maior aunswered, what come ye to me? You are taken vp with the kynges counsaile.

1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. B4^v Are you therefore my superiour because you are taken vp with Gentlemen, and I with the yeomanrie?

a1625 J. Fletcher Wit without Money (1639) i. sig. B1 He's taken up with those that wooe the Widdow.

1690 T. Brown Reasons Mr. J. Hains Conversion 25 Having got drunk, I took up with a common Wench in the streets, and have met with a Clap.

1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 28 The man of Mode takes up with a damn'd Jilt.

1709 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 12 Nov. (1965) I. 19 These wars make men so violent scarce, that these good ladies take up with the shadows of them.

a1777 S. Foote Maid of Bath (1778) 55 A garson of your antient famille to take up with a pauvre petite bourgoise?

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. xi. 173 To see his daughter taking up with their son.

1887 E. E. Money Little Dutch Maiden (1888) 329 If you cannot marry her, you won't care to take up with another.

a1914 H. Miles Brief Sketch of Life (1924) 58 He has taken up with that lot, and been to their chapel, and become a Methodist, and joined that narrow-minded people.

1957 R. Hoggart Uses of Literacy iii. 76 The woman he ‘took up with’ was likely enough to be married herself and of roughly the same age as his own wife.

1963 Australasian Post (Melbourne) 14 Mar. 44/1 Miss Dolly has ‘taken up’ with a poor but respectable cabinet-maker and his wife... She sells her stolen nag to help them out.

2000 M. Barrowcliffe Girlfriend 44 xvii. 437 I wondered how desperate she was that she had taken up with this bloke.

†b. To be satisfied with; to content oneself with; to put up with, tolerate. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > be content or satisfied with [verb (transitive)]

restc1300

to take in (good) wortha1382

sufficec1390

to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in wortha1456

stay1549

to take up with1609

to settle for1959

the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > endure patiently [verb (transitive)] > bear with or tolerate

forbearc897

tholec950

bearOE

abidec1300

bidea1325

takec1330

suffer1340

wielda1375

to have patience with (also in, toward)c1384

supportc1384

to sit with ——c1400

sustainc1400

thulgec1400

acceptc1405

to away with1528

brook1530

well away1533

to bear with —1538

digest1553

to comport with1565

stand1567

purse?1571

to put up1573

well away1579

comport1588

fadge1592

abrook1594

to come away1594

to take up with1609

swallow1611

embracea1616

to pack up1624

concocta1627

to set down bya1630

to take with ——1632

tolerate1646

brook1658

stomach1677

pouch1819

the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > accept without resistance [verb (transitive)] > put up with or become reconciled to

bear1540

reconcile1543

to take up with1609

to come to terms1860

to live with ——1937

1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 394 Never doe wee find that he tooke up with any mild correction and punishment.

1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 395 I will not take up with the old and meane buildings of my Ancestors.

1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. xiv. 276 Nature teaches and inclines us to take up with our Lot.

1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. viii. 282 The unsatisfactory Nature of the Evidence, with which we are obliged to take up.

1825 New Monthly Mag. 13 588 The book-sellers..buy all the good books, and the joint stock company must take up with the refuse of the market.

1839 London & Paris Observer 24 Mar. 185/3 Our jeweller persisted..in affirming his first valuation; and I rather think Sir Thomas was obliged, after all, to take up with his lot.

1875 J. G. Holland Sevenoaks iv. 43 ‘If you can take up with what we've got,’ said Mrs. Buffum suggestively. ‘In course,’ responded Jim, ‘an' I can take up with what ye haven't got.’

c. To adopt, espouse, agree with (an idea, belief, etc.); to become interested or engaged in (a profession or pastime). Cf. sense 8a.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > statement > assent > [verb (transitive)]

cordc1380

to give handsa1425

to fall to ——a1450

agree1472

to go into ——1540

astipulate1548

subscribe1560

seal1579

suffragate1606

give1621

assent1637

homologate1644

to take up with1673

affirmative1775

chorus1836

yea-say1887

yes1915

1673 W. Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-master v. i. 94 You must have your great, gilt, fine, painted Coaches, I'm sure they are grown so common already amongst you, that Ladies of Quality begin to take up with Hackneys agen.

1692 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. ii. 27 I could as easily take up with that senseless assertion of the Stoics.

1724 A. Collins Disc. Grounds Christian Relig. 275 Taking up with all manner of false proofs in behalf of Christianity.

1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. xvi. 76 As he could not have the honour of it, in the literal sense of the doctrine—he took up with the allegory of it.

1825 R. H. Froude in Remains (1838) I. 178 My lately having taken up with reading sermons.

1885 J. Martineau Types Ethical Theory I. 127 We take up at once with the belief that the space around us is empty.

1905 Secret Service 19 May 18/1 He felt that he had made as bad a break as ever before since he took up with the detective business.

a1941 V. Woolf Haunted House (1967) 79 A readiness to take up with something new—whatever it may be that comes next to hand.

1998 J. Skinner in Bk. of Margery Kempe 5 It is easy to imagine that once Margery took up with the idea of becoming a pilgrim, her lifestyle changed into a continual traipse from one holy site to the next.

†d. To repair or retire to (a bed, couch, etc.); = to take to —— 1b at Phrasal verbs 2. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come into [verb (transitive)] > esp. a place of refuge or safety

to take to ——c1300

take?a1400

to take up with1748

oasis1814

1748 L. Pilkington Mem. II. 128 As I could not take up with her Bed, I was obliged to sit up all Night.

1760 S. Fielding Ophelia I. iv. 24 At night he again took up with his Couch.

19. transitive. To begin afresh (something left off, or begun by another); to resume, recommence. Also intransitive. Cf. to take up the threads at thread n. 8.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > again

renovela1325

renewa1387

resumec1400

renove?c1425

anewc1440

reassume1472

to take again1474

take1477

reprise1481

recommencea1513

renovate1535

to take up1587

rebegin1598

reopen1756

1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 158 Good Eccho shew me thy good will, is no man here but thou and I: Take vp my tale as I lament.

1656 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa V. iii. iv. 250 With Atafernes I joyfully took up our way to the Camp.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 465. ¶5 Soon as the Evening Shades prevail, The Moon takes up the wondrous Tale.

1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 33 I will write my Time away, and take up my Story where I left off, on Sunday Afternoon.

1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) i. 5 When at last she lost her voice..he took up the word.

1850 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 482/2 Mr. Ward's diary takes up the history..just where Lord Malmesbury's memoirs leave it.

1902 O. Wister Virginian xxxii. 421 We took up our journey, and by the end of the forenoon we had gone some distance.

1961 C. Beaton Diary in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xxiii. 340 We immediately took up where we had left off.

2003 Guardian 23 Apr. (Society section) 2 ‘They said there was nothing they could do for him,’ says his mother, taking up the story after her son has left the room.

20.

a. transitive. Of a substance or body: to absorb (a fluid, moisture, etc.); to interact with and retain (a gas or other substance); to dissolve (a solid).

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > action or process of absorbing > absorb [verb (transitive)]

to suck up1530

haust1542

soakc1555

to take up1597

absorb1604

imbibe1651

inhale1836

sop1888

1597 J. Gerard Herball iii. cxxxii. 1327 A liquor, which being taken vp with a spunge, or a little wooll, is dried.

1656 tr. Marnettè Perfect Eng. Cooke 3 in Perfect Cook Roul your eggs, meat and herbs till your meat hath taken it up; then take sweet butter and fry your meat in.

1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. v. 105 Nutritive Juices, taken up by the absorbent Vessels.

1758 A. Reid tr. P. J. Macquer Elements Theory & Pract. Chym. I. 47 An acid cannot take up above such a certain proportion thereof as is sufficient to saturate it.

1805 W. Saunders Treat. Mineral Waters (ed. 2) 29 Water, at a moderate temperature, will readily take up its own bulk of carbonic acid gas.

1840 P. H. Gosse Canad. Naturalist xvi. 251 This mass of tubes is elastic, and capable of taking up and holding a large quantity of water, like a sponge.

1877 Scribner's Monthly 15 141/2 The elastic roller thus takes up the color from the pores of the wood.

1892 Cornhill Mag. Sept. 257 Water will take up 2 lb. 10 oz. of salt to the gallon.

1910 Pop. Mech. Mar. 322/2 The alkali takes up the carbonic acid gas of the respired breath and forms an alkaline carbonate.

1978 B. S. Beckett Illustr. Biol. xxxi. 62/1 As root hairs take up water their cell sap is diluted.

2011 I. Fraser & P. Marsack Bush Capital Year 133 The fungus too takes up food via its network of mycelial threads.

b. transitive. Engineering. To accept, absorb, or assimilate (power, motion, etc.), esp. by gearing.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > furnish with wheel(s) [verb (transitive)] > assimilate power by changing gear

to take up1847

1847 Railway Reg. 5 203 The amount of surface of float to take up the power of the engine, with the particular build and speed of the vessel.

1871 Ann. Rep. Amer. Inst. N.Y. 1870–1 981 in Docs. Assembly State N.Y. (94th Session, Doc. No. 111) IX Sufficient to take up the power of the steam at the beginning of the stroke and give it off at the close.

1921 Conquest Oct. 510/2 It appears to have solved the problem generally of how gradually and smoothly to take up and transmit the power of a prime mover or motor.

1966 Listener 24 Nov. 773/1 These slight irregularities help the colours to engage with each other,..rather as the slightly abrasive surface of a clutch-plate takes up the transmission.

2007 J. Zurschmeide High-performance Subaru Builder’s Guide vi. 67/3 (caption) These bevel gears can freely rotate around each other to take up the motion when your tires rotate at different speeds.

c. intransitive. Of a boat, its timbers, or its seams: to expand (and hence become watertight) through immersion in water. Cf. sense 11d.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > action or process of absorbing > absorb [verb (intransitive)]

to take up1902

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [verb (intransitive)] > of timber: expand by absorbing water

to take up1902

1902 Macmillan's Mag. Apr. 407/1 The carpenter's patches had leaked badly; and..the boat was towing astern to allow the new seams to ‘take up’.

1951 Motor Boating May 36/2 Daylight could be seen through her seams.., and..she made a little water when launched so we left her afloat for a few days to take up.

1960 E. L. Delmar-Morgan Cruising Yacht Equipm. & Navigation vii. 86 The planks and timbers will dry out... When they are once again waterborne they will leak until the wood ‘takes up’.

2012 Boat Repair Bible 274 Another simple solution is to relaunch the boat and allow the wooden planks to take up (swell).

†21. transitive. To engage (a person) in a fight or battle; to take on. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight with [verb (transitive)]

fightOE

strugglec1386

wrestle1398

cope witha1467

undertake1470

to set one's foot by1536

skirmc1540

make1542

to break blows, words with1589

combata1592

to take up1600

warsle1606

stoush1924

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. iii. 73 His diuisions..And in three heads, one power against the French, And one against Glendower perforce a third Must take vp vs.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 243 Corio. On faire ground, I could beat fortie of them. Mene. I could my selfe take vp a Brace o'th' best of them.

1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. iii. 5 King Henry..in June kept a solemne Just at Greenwich, where he and Sir Charles Brandon took up all cummers.

1739 J. Kelly Peruvian Tales III. lxvi. 66 Malacou, rising up, entreated the King to suffer him to take up the Challenger.

22. transitive.

a. To apprehend with the senses, to perceive. Frequently in to take up the scent at scent n. Phrases 1.Sometimes with admixture of sense 19.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [verb (transitive)]

fredec888

haveeOE

yfeeleOE

feelc1175

perceivec1330

comprehendc1374

find?a1425

perceiver1495

to take up1607

sensatea1652

percept1652

to suck ina1661

sense1661

appreciate1787

absorb1840

sensize1861

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 585 Presently the wilde beastes take it [sc. the scent] vp, and follow it withall speede they can.

a1675 J. Lightfoot Wks. (1684) II. 509 He rather presented an object of his own framing, than the eyes of Christ took up the sight of these Kingdoms as they really were.

1686 R. Blome Gentlemans Recreation ii. 71 Others there are that can't keep the Scent, but wander up and down and hunt Counter, taking up any false Scent.

1770 Oxf. Mag. Feb. 80 He [sc. a fox] leap'd down a lime kiln, and crept out at the eye, where the dogs took up the scent again.

1837 ‘N. Polson’ Subaltern's Sick Leave 136 He became aware of a lion following his spoor, that is taking up his trail of footsteps, a common habit of the lion when hungry.

1888 Times 16 Oct. 10/5 The hound..took up the stale trail..without a fault.

1901 Badminton Mag. Feb. 123 The pack come up and take up the scent with a good cry.

1937 C. Birkby Zulu Journey 251 The people of the place must take up the trail and either trace the missing beast or compensate the owner.

2009 Times (Nexis) 3 Jan. 16 The police take up the scent and their hunt..leads them to Ethan's gallery.

†b. To obtain (ideas, conclusions, etc.) from a source; to adopt, borrow; to deduce, infer. Also intransitive. Cf. sense 17b. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain from a source or derive

takec1175

drawa1300

to take out of ——1483

suck1535

to suck out1546

derive1561

extract1596

to take up1610

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > process of inferring, inference > infer, conclude [verb (transitive)]

concludec1374

takec1400

to drive outc1443

drive1447

derive1509

reasona1527

deduce1529

include1529

infer1529

gather1535

deduct?1551

induce1563

pick1565

fetch1567

collect1581

decide1584

bring1605

to take up1662

1610 D. Price Def. of Truth i. viii. 207 You read Coccius & Bellarmine, beleeved them, and preached them, and tooke vp from them, vpon trust, but not vpon truth.

1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. ii. sig. B3 Notes of Sermons, which taken vp at St. Maries, hee vtters in the Country.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. ii. §5 That the general conclusions of reason..were taken up from the observation of things as they are at present in the world.

1700 J. Dryden Fables Pref. sig. *B^v I find I have anticipated already, and taken up from Boccace before I come to him.

c. To comprehend, understand, grasp (a person's words, meaning, etc.). Also with the person as object. Frequently Scottish in later use.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [verb (transitive)]

yknoweOE

acknowOE

anyeteOE

latchc1000

undernimc1000

understandc1000

underyetec1000

afindOE

knowOE

seeOE

onfangc1175

takec1175

underfindc1200

underfonga1300

undertakea1300

kenc1330

gripea1340

comprehend1340

comprendc1374

espyc1374

perceivea1387

to take for ——?1387

catcha1398

conceivea1398

intenda1400

overtakea1400

tenda1400

havec1405

henta1450

comprise1477

skilla1500

brook1548

apprend1567

compass1576

perstanda1577

endue1590

sound1592

engrasp1593

in1603

fathom1611

resent1614

receivea1616

to take up1617

apprehend1631

to take in1646

grasp1680

understumblec1681

forstand1682

savvy1686

overstand1699

uptake1726

nouse1779

twig1815

undercumstand1824

absorb1840

sense1844

undercumstumble1854

seize1855

intelligize1865

dig1935

1617 Bruce's Way to True Peace & Rest xvi. 364 He must take heede to the meaning of the Author, that he take vp his true meaning so neare as he can.

1667 Guthrie's Christian's Great Interest (ed. 4) 58 A man may take up his gracious state by his faith, and the acting thereof on Christ.

1701 tr. A. Dacier Wks. Plato Abridg'd I. 158 Do you not understand me, do you take me up, and do you agree with what I say?

1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. vi. 101 A Student should never satisfy himself with bare Attendance on the Lectures of his Tutor, unless he clearly takes up his Sense and Meaning.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Tak up He taks up a thing before ye have half said it.

1867 N. Macleod Starling I. v. 55 ‘I do not take you up, sir,’ replied the Sergeant.

1913 A. M. Chisholm Desert Conquest vii. 98 He took up her meaning with extraordinary quickness.

1939 New Statesman & Nation 1 July 13/1 I was astonished to notice how quickly jokes were taken up by the gallery. I do not intend this as any reflection on the gallery—my surprise, I mean—for it is often the most intelligent part of theatre.

1972 in Sc. National Dict. (1974) IX. 199/3 [Aberdeen and Perth] Na, na, ye've teen me up wrang.

2009 B. Dare in S. Davidson & S. Carber Taking PYP Forward vi. 78 An ideal starting point for ESL students is to provide contexts where they can take up the meaning of the words and wordings you use because they are context embedded.

†d. To contract (a disease). Cf. sense 33b. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > cause to be ill [verb (transitive)] > catch illness

catcha1393

enticec1400

engender1525

get1527

to take up1629

to come down1837

to pick up1889

start1891

to go down1895

1629 R. M. Micrologia sig. B4 Hee [sc. a Player] is one seldome takes care for old Age; because ill Diet and Disorder, together with a Consumption or some worse disease, taken vp in his full Careere; haue onely chalked out his Catastrophe but to a Colon.

a1657 R. Loveday Lett. Domest. & Forrein (1659) 269 As if we had left London on purpose to come and take up diseases in the Countrey.

1848 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 9 ii. 360 We can conceive that an animal..should take up the disease, and afterwards communicate it to others.

†e. To be accorded (honour, trust, esteem, etc.). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > be given

underfoc888

afangOE

underfongc1175

getc1300

latchc1300

undertake1393

receivea1400

to take up1639

to come into ——1672

to fall in for1788

1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre v. xxvi. 274 A Chronologer of such credit, that he may take up more belief on his bare word then some other on their bond.

1718 R. Blackmore Coll. Poems Var. Subj. 215 They take up Honour on their Father's Grant, While Merit, not their own, th' Usurpers vaunt.

†23. intransitive. to take up in: to concern oneself with, to have reference to. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

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

to take up in1665

enter1694

to take up1751

to turn on1954

1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 120 Hath not the World out-grown the follies of Auguries..and took up in the resolves of Reason, as the best Oracle to consult in a civil business?

1679 R. South Serm. Several Occasions 262 The former Articles, that took up Chiefly in Speculation and Belief.

24. transitive. Bee-keeping. To remove the honey from (a hive), esp. by killing the bees with sulphur fumes; to kill (bees) in this way. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1790 S. Deane New-Eng. Farmer 26/1 When a hive is taken up, there is no need of murdering the poor insects with fire and brimstone, as has been the usual practice.

1885 C. A. Stephens Adventures of Six Young Men 101 There were numerous bumble-bees' nests in the grass and about the old stumps. We ‘took up’ not less than ten that forenoon.

1907 Brit. Bee Jrnl. 19 Sept. 377/2 In this district, at least, the skeppists are sufficiently educated to ‘take up’ the swarms with their new combs and their old queens.

1922 Amer. Bee Jrnl. Mar. 92/1 The rural skeppist ‘takes up’ his surplus stocks... Knowing no better way or quicker way of honey taking than by killing the bees, he places the heaviest hives at dusk over a pit of lighted sulphur.

25. intransitive. U.S. to take up for: to stand up for; to support, side with. Cf. to take for —— 2 at Phrasal verbs 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > take someone's side or side with

favoura1375

to stand with ——1384

takec1400

to take (a) part witha1470

to hold sides1490

to take the part ofc1500

to stick with ——1523

partake1546

follow1548

to join issue1551

to make with ——1559

favourize1585

side1585

party1587

to take in1597

part1669

to fall in1709

to take for ——1770

to take up for1824

range1874

1824 C. M. Sedgwick Redwood II. xvi. 220 It is not needful the brethren should know that I take up for you.

1878 Scribner's Monthly 15 769/2 To Amanda's surprise her father took up for Mark.

1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind xii. 234 I knew you were doing it just to take up for me.

1977 New Yorker 6 June 85/1 ‘Wouldn't it embarrass you, hearing that your daddy spent a night in jail?’ And Henry said no, it wouldn't—not if he knew his daddy had been taking up for someone.

2006 L. Howard Drop Dead Gorgeous iv. 48 ‘If she says it was a Buick, it's a Buick,’ said Dad, taking up for me, and Wyatt nodded.

单词	to take up
释义	> as lemmas to take up to take up 1. transitive. a. To take (something) out of the ground or from a settled position in order to remove it; to pull or tear up.In quot. 1633 used intransitively in the progressive with passive meaning: (of a meal) to be cleared away. ΚΠ c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) l. 235 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 8 Huy [sc. þreo smale ȝerdene] stoden longue þare, and euere-more grene..; he tok hem op with gret honour and in faire cloþe heom wond. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xvi With his rake and his sickle taketh vp the barley or otes and layeth them vpon the bande. 1543 More's Hist. Richard III in Chron. J. Hardyng f. lxxxi^v Some saie that kyng Rychard caused y^e preest to take theim vp & close..theim in a coffine. 1566 in Trans. Leics. Archit. & Archaeol. Soc. (1874) 3 232 Certaine grave stonnes which wee were faine to take up of our church flower, and when the alters were taken downe we paved theim againe. 1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts i. ii. sig. B4^v 'Tis not twelue a clocke yet, Nor dinner taking vp. 1636 E. Pagitt Christianographie (ed. 2) iii. 93 To take up the body of Edith..and to shrine it. 1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 98 Rogues have taken up the causey or pavement before a doore. 1712 J. Henley tr. F. Vacca in tr. B. de Montfaucon Trav. Italy xiii. 203 Workmen..took up a Marble Table Stone, which stuck to the Wall in the nature of casing. 1797 Communications to Board of Agric. I. iii. xv. 189 The greatest part of the turnpike road, two and a half miles in length, has been taken up, new modelled, and repaved. 1808 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Devon i. 58 A slate formerly taken up at East Alwington, and exported under the name of Holland blues. 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 328 The carpet was taken up. 1841 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 2 ii. 229 The turnips were taken up and carted. 1912 D. Knoop Princ. & Methods Munic. Trading ii. 44 The laying down of wires, where the underground system was adopted, necessitated taking up the streets. 1937 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1935–7 C. 43 88 The body..was taken up and reburied in this chamber. 2000 J. Barnes Love, Etc. (2002) xvii. 187 Nothing they like better than breaking down your front door at five in the morning and taking up the floorboards. b. To lift or raise from the ground or any low position; to pick up. Also: to lift or raise (something hanging down). Now somewhat archaic. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > make to go up or cause to rise [verb (transitive)] > lift or take up aheaveeOE to reach upOE to draw upOE bearc1225 upnimc1290 to take upc1330 upholda1400 lutchc1400 hovec1480 upweigha1593 lift1596 poise1689 to up with1825 c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 550 (MED) Adoun he fel aswon to grounde; His barouns him tok vp in þat stounde. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John v. 9 The man is maad hool, and took vp his bed, and wandride. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3064 (MED) Drightin has herd þi barn cri, Rise and tak it up for-þi. c1425 (c1400) Prymer (Cambr.) (1895) 9 Þi riȝthond took me vp. 1526 W. Bonde Rosary sig. Ciii The chyldren..take vp stones and clay, and dyd throwe them. ?1537 T. Elyot Castell of Helthe ii. xxxiii. f. 50 Stoupynge and rysynge often tyme, or lyftynge great weightes, takynge up plummettes or other lyke..these do exercyse the backe and loines. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 278[287] The Garter..which fell from her as shee daunced, and the King tooke up from the floore. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. iii. 35 The Priest let fall the booke, And as he stoop'd againe to take it vp [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. viii. 294 He only took him up by the wastband of his breeches, and hung him upon one of the hooks in the shambles. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 94 Ten Men with Poles took up one of the Canoes, and made nothing to carry it. 1794 R. Fitzpatrick Occas. Prol. 4 Here the Iron Curtain is taken up, and discovers the Statue of Shakspeare. 1844 Hood's Mag. May 414 Take her up tenderly, Lift her with care. 1871 Tichborne Romance (ed. 2) 373 When she took up her veil, did you then say, ‘It is my aunt Nangle’? 1890 Universal Rev. Feb. 232 Martin..had taken up a stone to throw at him. 1915 W. Cather Song of Lark ii. iv. 192 He..took up the nut-crackers and a Brazil nut. 1958 P. G. Wodehouse Cocktail Time xxi. 174 He took up the receiver... ‘I hear you've been trying to get me. What's your trouble?’ 2010 E. George This Body of Death xvii. 349 The book he picked up and opened. A card fell out and he bent to take it up from the floor. c. To raise or lift (a part of one's body). Now rare (in later use frequently of a horse or other animal). ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [verb (transitive)] > lift up (feet) to take up1740 throw1827 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 15227 Vp he toke his holy hond: & ȝaf þe benesoun. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 249 Rycharde that lay a grounde thus wounded..toke up his hede, and sayd [etc.]. ?1530 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry (rev. ed.) f. vi^v Whan thou takest vp thy ryght fote than cast thy pees fro the all abrode. 1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. ix. f.24^v The poore man..ranne to a Riuer called Cyrus, & taking vp bothe his handes full of water, spake to the kyng in this wise [etc.] 1616 G. Markham Cheape & Good Husbandry (rev. ed.) i. ii. 30 Taking vp his fore-legs from the ground both together, and bringing his hinder feete into their place. 1688 London Gaz. No. 2353/4 He takes up his Legs behind when he walks, as if he had the String-halt. 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. ii. 73 He steps boldly, and takes up his Fore-Feet pretty high. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. ix. ii. 297 He therefore took up his Legs, which were at Liberty, and walked off thro' the Wood. View more context for this quotation 1829 A. Jamieson Dict. Mech. Sci. (new ed.) I. 160/2 When he gallops, he takes up his feet one by one, and sets them down one by one. 1850 S. T. Rand Short Statem. Facts Micmac Tribe of Indians i. 16 A woman must never step across them. ‘Take up your feet,’ she will say to him when she wishes to pass. 1980 Res. Afr. Lit. 11 177 The deer was full of ticks, and a tick bit him. He stopped, took up his hind leg, and scratched his head. d. In extended use with reference to the function of the object taken up: to begin to make use of, to employ. to take up one's pen: to begin or proceed to write. to take up a book: to begin or proceed to read.See also to take (up) arms at arms n. Phrases 1b, to take up the cudgels at cudgel n. 2, to take up the hatchet at hatchet n. Phrases 2b. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > [verb (intransitive)] > begin writing to put (also set) pen to paper1532 to take up one's pen1621 c1450 (c1425) Brut (Cambr. Kk.1.12) 355 Þay waged batayle & cast doun her gloues; & þanne þey were take vp and seled. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccci. 445 Caste downe your gage in that quarell, and ye shall fynde him that shall take it vp. 1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) Librum aut aliud aliquid colligere, to take vp a booke. 1621 T. W. in tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard sig. Aij^v I tooke up my Pen againe, and at starts and tymes finished it. a1632 T. Taylor God's Judgem. (1642) i. i. vii. 15 So..foolish hardy as to take up armour. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 514. ⁋1 Not finding my self inclined to sleep, I took up Virgil to divert me. 1745 E. Haywood Female Spectator IV. xxiv. 383 They will needs have us take up the Pen again, and promise to furnish us with a Variety of Topics yet untouched upon. 1824 R. Southey Life (1850) v. 177 Taking up a book for five or ten minutes. 1867 ‘G. Greenwood’ Stories of Many Lands 182 I lived in ease and plenty, never taking up a spade but for devarsion. 1882 J. Stirling tr. E. Zola Mad Love ix. 141 She..was so tired at night that she had not the courage to take up a needle. 1965 Newsweek 4 Oct. 80/1 It has all been enough to drive the homeowner to take up the paintbrush and the plunger himself. 1976 Early Music 4 382 Those chemists, doctors, and income tax inspectors who at leisure took up their lutes, viols, recorders and crumhorns to participate in consort music. 2007 J. D. Houston Bird of Another Heaven (2008) 289 When at last she took up her pen again, her writing had begun to change. †e. To abandon (a siege) by withdrawing the besieging forces; = raise v.¹ 29a. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > attack > action or state of siege or blockade > besiege or blockade [verb (transitive)] > abandon (siege) > raise (siege) removea1387 remue?a1400 raise1490 to take up1490 araisea1500 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxiii. 493 Charlemagne..receyved theim honourably, and toke vp his siege, and went agen to parys. †f. to take up the table: to remove the board forming the top of a table (see table n. 6c); (hence) to clear the table after a meal. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > serving food > removal of dishes > [verb (intransitive)] > clear table to draw the boardc1330 to draw the clothc1330 to draw the tablec1330 to take awaya1475 to take up the tablea1513 to take off1599 to clear away1711 clear1914 a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvi. sig. f.i^v The mynysters were redy, theyr offyce to fulfyll To take vp the tables, at theyr lordes wyll. c1565 Adambel Clym of Cloughe & Wyllyam of Cloudesle (Copland) sig. C.ii^v Take vp the table anone he bad For I may eate no more. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xxi. f. 27 The table being taken vp, the Ambassador..entred into the pauilion. 1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don-Quixote: Pt. 1 i. iv. vi. 358 Dinner being ended, and the table taken vp. 2. transitive. a. In Christian contexts: to cause to ascend into heaven; to convey to heaven. Cf. assume v. 1b. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > heaven > [verb (transitive)] > convey to or place in ravishc1330 to take upc1384 reavea1400 rap1599 ensphere1615 c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Mark xvi. 19 Lord Jhesu..is takun vp in to heuene. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17547 Þat helias, in ald dais, Was taken up als vnto heuen. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts i. 9 Whyll they behelde he was taken vp, and a cloude receaued hym vp out of their sight. 1572 J. Bridges tr. R. Gwalther Hundred, Threescore & Fiftene Homelyes vppon Actes Apostles vi. 46 Eusebius in his Chronicles sayth, she was assumpted or taken vp into heauen. 1601 S. I. Certaine Godlie & Learned Serm. f. 128^v Hee whom no man regarded in his life, the Angels tooke him vppe after death. 1656 R. Baxter Reformed Pastor 21 To take us up into heaven,..while we think of no such matter, but are routing in the earth. 1742 J. Wesley & C. Wesley Hymns & Sacred Poems ii. 158 He removes the Flaming Sword, Calls us back, from Eden driven, To His Image here restor'd, Soon He takes us up to Heaven. 1856 Catholic Layman 18 Jan. 2/2 Elijah.., whom God took up into heaven in a chariot of fire. 1879 M. E. Braddon Vixen II. xii. 220 He has been with you an age. Mortals who are taken up to Paradise seldom stay so long. 1957 Novum Testamentum 2 21 For this he was taken up to eternal glory by extraordinary means. 2003 W. Berg & M. Harris Polarity Magic xiii. 341 Galahad,..whose useless piety soon had him quit the quagmire of earth to be taken up by God to the marbled halls of heaven. b. To bring (a horse or other animal) from pasture into a stable or stall, esp. for the winter. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > herding, pasturing, or confining > [verb (transitive)] > place in house, stall, etc. stall1390 to take up1482 to put up1607 cote1630 shed1850 lair1890 1482 R. Cely Let. 26 Sept. in Cely Lett. (1975) 177 Lette hym [sc. a horse] ron in a parke tyll Hallontyd, and then take hym wpe and ser hym, and lette hym stand in the dede of whyntter. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 128 Choose you a fayre day for the purpose, and taking them [sc. steers] vp, bring them into the stable. 1583 T. Stocker tr. Tragicall Hist. Ciuile Warres Lowe Countries f. 118^v They were commaunded to take vp all their horses out of the medowes, and stable them in the Towne. 1674 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester xxxvi. 195 As soon as he is taken up, let him..stand all that night in some convenient dry place to empty his body. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xix. 184/2 Take vp your horse, is to take him from grasse to be kept in the stable. 1758 T. Hale et al. Compl. Body Husbandry (ed. 2) II. v. 21 At the approach of winter it is the custom to take up the horses, because the grass becomes short, and the season cold. 1844 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 5 75 Calves..are taken up at night about the latter end of October. 1846 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 7 394 Sixteen polled beasts..were taken up. 1904 Atlantic Reporter 56 315/2 A black stripe had been painted over the yellow stripe after the snow came and the sheep were taken up for the winter. c. To lead, conduct, or carry to a higher place or position; spec. to take upstairs. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > [verb (transitive)] > to a higher place sty1511 to take up1576 society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance by carrying > transport or convey by carrying [verb (transitive)] > convey by carrying (of person) carryc1400 to take up1576 tote1677 porter1791 1576 H. Gilbert Disc. Discov. New Passage Cataia To Rdr. sig. ¶¶ij He curteously tooke me vp into his Studie, and there shewed me sundrie profitable and verie commendable exercises. 1644 R. Vaughan Psalter of David cxxx. 353 Let the height of thy mercy take us up from the deep abysse of sin and misery. 1668 J. Jackson Index Biblicus Tobit sig. C/2 I start up, and took him up into a room, until the going down of the sun. 1730 Compl. Coll. State-trials (ed. 2) IV. 715/2 He took me up into his Chamber, and told me he believed they should ride out in some little Time. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. viii. 219 The taking up oysters from great depths..by Negro slaves. 1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece II. xiii. 165 When the victim was to be offered to the supreme God, it was taken up to the top of the highest hill. 1878 F. H. Hart Sazerac Lying Club 77 We took the fruit up to my cabin, and the boys got around and we divided them squar and even. 1915 H. L. Wilson Ruggles of Red Gap (1917) xvi. 282 I had the chink take him up about a gallon of strong tea. 1919 H. L. Wilson Ma Pettengill ii. 46 She took me up to her little bedroom to lay my things off and then down to the parlour. 1985 G. Barker Prehistoric Farming in Europe v. 114 The pigs remained here, whilst the rest of the stock were taken up to the alp for the summer. 1991 P. Grescoe Flesh Wound (1993) xvi. 157 Mr. O'Malley wanted to have some flowers to brighten up the room... Will you make sure a bellman takes them up immediately? d. Of a pilot: to cause (an aeroplane) to become airborne; to fly (an aircraft). ΚΠ 1910 N.Y. Times 16 Aug. 4/2 He hopes to take an aeroplane up before the end of the week. 1946 Flight & Aircraft Engineer 3 Oct. 354/1 The general public..are apt to think of him [sc. the test pilot]..as a dare-devil young man who takes his life in his hands every time he takes an aircraft up. 1989 A. Dillard Writing Life vii. 94 Each pilot took up his or her plane and performed a batch of tricks. 2010 D. Hollis Knifemaking with Bob Loveless 10/1 He wasn't about to let a fourteen-year-old kid take a plane up on his own. 3. transitive. To take (a person) into one's protection, patronage, or company; to adopt as a protégé. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > patronage > act as patron to [verb (transitive)] to take upc1384 patronage1587 patronize1593 empatron1609 patron?1624 to take in tow1790 Maecenas1837 the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > accept (a person) as a friend > receive or admit (someone) to society or friendship underfo924 underfonga1175 to take upc1384 adopt1757 c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke i. 54 He [MS And], hauynge mynde of his mercy, took vp Israel, his child. 1483 tr. Adam of Eynsham Reuelation xiv That worshipfull olde fader the whiche..had take me vp to be a felow with him of his wey. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 751/2 I take up, as a man taketh up his frende that maketh hym curtesye. 1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. B4 The blow falling on Edward the late Earle of Hartford, who to his costs tooke up the divorced Lady, of whom the Lord Beauchampe was borne. 1703 D. Defoe True-born Englishman (new ed.) ii, in True Coll. Writings 36 B—well..First took me up, and furnish'd me with Bread. 1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair li. 451 When the Countess of Fitz-Willis..takes up a person, he or she is safe. 1892 Black & White 10 Dec. 679/1 A great art patron took him up and he became ‘the fashion’. 1924 Sunday at Home Feb. 258/1 I am going to take you up and save you from frumpiness and spinsterhood. 1985 S. Hastings Nancy Mitford viii. 180 Nancy was mesmerised by Diana, who now took her up and into her innermost circle. 2001 Times 24 Nov. (Play section) 25/2 Anna has been taken up by a rich man and Claire has fallen for a younger woman. 4. a. transitive. To begin to sing (a song, esp. a psalm or hymn); spec. (Scottish) to lead the singing of (a psalm) in church. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)] > begin to sing to take upc1390 raise1595 mount1601 rear1785 society > faith > worship > church music > [verb (transitive)] > sing or chant > lead singing set?c1450 to take up1577 line1853 hist1857 society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)] > precent set?c1450 to take up1577 precent1639 tune1667 line1853 hist1857 c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 97 (MED) We han taken vp þe song Of Iubilacion. c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lxiv (MED) The birdis everichone Tuke vp an othir sang full loud and clere. 1531 G. Joye tr. Prophete Isaye xiv. sig. D.vii^v Thou shalte take vp this lamentable songe agenste y^e kinge of Babylon. 1577 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1882) IV. 60 The oulklie pentioun of ten schillingis appoynttit to Edwerd..Hendersoun, for all the dayis of his lyfe for taikin vp of the spalmes. 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ezek. xxvi. 32 They shal take vp a mournful song vpon thee, and shal lament thee. 1637 in W. Cramond Ann. Cullen (1888) 39 To read in the kirk and take up the psalm every Sabbath. 1742 P. Delany Hist. Acct. Life & Reign David II. x. 128 Take up the song, and sing the same words, in a more tuneful and elaborate harmony. 1755 Scots Mag. July 359/2 Two or three shrill-voiced boys..had the boldness..to take up..a different tune from what they knew the precentor and the rest of the congregation were to sing. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Tak up ‘He tuke up the psalm in the kirk’, he acted as precentor. 1857 Evangelical Christendom 1 Oct. 361/1 The enemies of the Church..were preparing themselves to take up a song of triumph over its grave. 1909 W. V. Moody Faith Healer ii. 62 The shrill soprano of a negro woman is faintly heard, taking up a hymn. 1922 J. P. Peters Psalms as Liturgies i. 79 Then a precentor, inviting the people with a hallelu-yah, took up Psalms 135 and 136. 2009 J. E. Woods tr. I. Schulze New Lives 464 The throng had now taken up a hymn and formed a procession, with the reliquary carried solemnly before it. b. transitive. To begin or commence (an action); esp. to begin to utter or express (laughter, lamentation, etc.). Now rare.In quot. 1689 with infinitive as object.See also to take up (one's) parable at parable n. Phrases. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] beginc1000 take?a1160 comsea1225 gina1325 commencec1330 tamec1386 to take upa1400 enterc1510 to stand to1567 incept1569 start1570 to set into ——1591 initiate1604 imprime1637 to get to ——1655 flesh1695 to start on ——1885 the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > begin an action or fall to doing something fangc888 goOE fallc1175 to fall upon ——a1398 to take upa1400 fall?c1450 to fall out ina1555 get1751 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 15990 (MED) Þe cok toke vp his fliȝt. c1400 Brut (Rawl. B. 171) 131 (MED) The Kyng his hondes lifte vp an hye and a grete laughter toke op. a1500 Merchant & Son l. 103 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 139 The goste toke up a gresely grone, with fendys awey he glode. 1580 H. Gifford Posie of Gilloflowers sig. H The Gentlemen and other that were by, for the rarenes of the sight, tooke vp a great laughter. a1610 J. Healey tr. Theophrastus Characters (1636) 70 Then hee would take up a great laughter, as if some prodigy or ominous thing had happened. 1689 J. Aubrey Brief Lives (1898) I. 150 [2nd Ld. Falkland] 'Twas not long before he tooke-up to be serious. 1869 E. Taylor Braemar Highlands ii. 18 ‘Shall I rejoice?’ he inquires, ‘or take up a lament?’ 2000 B. Bell Stacking in Rivertown iv. 58 When I was little, sometimes I'd scare myself listening like that and take up crying. c. transitive. Originally Scottish (now chiefly U.S. regional). To begin teaching (a class or school); to establish or reopen (a school). Now frequently in passive. ΚΠ a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 50 Mr. Piter Blackburn..tuk upe the first clas. 1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. viii. 489 He heard Theophrastus who had taken up the School of Aristotle. 1700 in H. Paton Penninghame Parish Rec. (1933) I. 50 The school is to be taken up the next week. 1834 Fraser's Mag. Aug. 158/1 She consulted Mrs. Psalmody, the minister's wife, about taking up a school to earn her crumb. 1925 Carroll (Iowa) Times 17 Dec. iii. 1/5 Following the Christmas vacation, school will be taken up on January 4. 1955 Daily Facts-Rev. (Freeport, Texas) 19 Dec. 3/3 The bell had donged... School had been taken up for 15 minutes. 1988 S. E. Houston & A. Prentice Schooling & Scholars in 19th-cent. Ontario ii. 92 Tidey reluctantly decided to leave home temporarily that winter and take up a school. d. intransitive. Chiefly U.S. regional. Esp. of a school: to open, begin, start; = to take in 13 at Phrasal verbs 1. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > begin [verb (intransitive)] beginc1000 comsea1225 gin?c1225 becomsea1375 commencec1380 to take beginninga1400 enterc1425 to start up1568 initiatea1618 inchoate1654 dawn1716 to take in1845 to take up1846 to set in1848 society > education > educational administration > [verb (intransitive)] > have a term > begin (of term) to take up1846 1846 N. Butler Introd. Lessons. Eng. Gram. (rev. ed.) 67 ‘School takes up at nine o'clock’ Correction: ‘School begins at nine o'clock.’ 1865 St Andrews Gaz. 7 Jan. On Wednesday our schools took up. 1871 E. Eggleston Hoosier School-master xii. 104 Meetin's took up. 1878 Scribner's Monthly 15 653/1 Meanwhile the ‘animal show’ at the appointed time ‘took up’, as the country people expressed it. 1885 Wanganui (N.Z.) Herald 31 Jan. School takes up at 9 o'clock on Monday. 1949 ‘J. Nelson’ Backwoods Teacher 51 Four other children..trooped in, having belatedly heard that school was taking up today. 1961 M. Beadle These Ruins are Inhabited (1963) iii. 46 Red's school took up in two days. 2000 M. Arnold Year Full Moons xx. 350 It was about half an hour before school took up, dim but not dark. 5. a. transitive. To hire or secure (lodgings); = sense 42b. Now rare.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 5b. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > buying > hiring or renting > hire [verb (transitive)] > rent to take upc1400 mail1425 farm1435 rent1530 rental1640 c1400 Bk. Vices & Virtues (Simeon) f. 111/1 Whon ariche mon schal come in to a toun, or a cite, he seendeþ bifore his messagers to take vp a good herborwe for him, and elles he miȝte ofte fayle of a good herborwe. 1454 in Paston Lett. (1904) II. 297 The Duke of Somersetes herbergeour hath taken up all the loggyng that may be goten nere the Toure. 1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge i. ii. sig. B^v Twere best you tooke some lodging vp, And lay in priuate till the soile of griefe Were cleard your cheeke. 1636 D. Featley Clavis Mystica iii. 31 They..send their Harbingers before to take up lodgings, and Martials to make way. 1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xv. 188 The Bp. of London's palace, and the Dean of Paul's house,..were taken up for the French ambassadors. 1921 W. Boecher v. Southern Boulevard Railroad Company (Supreme Court N.Y.: Appellate Div.: 1st Dept.) 25 And you agreed to take up an apartment and live together? b. transitive. To proceed to occupy (a place or position); to station or place oneself in; = sense 64a.Frequently in established phrases as, to take up one's inn, to take up one's lodging, to take up one's quarters, to take up (one's) residence, to take up one's station, etc.: see the final element. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > [verb (transitive)] > establish (residence) planteOE to take up1523 settle1562 enter1603 fix1638 the world > space > place > position or situation > [verb (transitive)] > take up (a position) takec1275 to take up1523 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxxiii. f. ccc There entred [into a town] the frenche men and bretons, and euery man toke vp their lodgynge as they came. 1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. iii. x. f. 86 Taking vpp his inne, and finding the neighbours of the parish at feast with the oste. 1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 17 He passed directly from the Stage by the Orchestra, to take up his place among the Knights. a1672 A. Wood Life (1891) I. 109 When they were going to their..beds, two or 3 houres after he had taken up his rest. 1736 J. Wesley Jrnl. 24 Feb. in Extract Jrnl. (1740) 12 Mr. Delamotte and I took up our Lodging with the Germans. 1841 London Standard Jrnl. 25 Sept. 149/2 Hatherton sought his way back to Aberdeen, where he took up a house in a respectable quarter of the town. 1893 H. D. Traill Social Eng. Introd. 15 We may take up a position from which we can survey the entire array. 1908 W. M. Beauchamp Past & Present Syracuse & Ondonga County lxi. 533 Upon the opening of the new Court House in 1907, the Board of Education took up rooms in that building. 1983 R. Sutcliff Bonnie Dundee (1985) xxiii. 173 The minister in his black gown with an open book in his hands took up his place. 2010 S. Junger War ii. v. 141 Four of these trucks had taken up positions to support a foot patrol. c. transitive. Originally and chiefly Scottish. to take up house: †to take or rent a house (obsolete); to set up house; to become a householder. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting a type of place > inhabit type of place [verb (intransitive)] > inhabit house to hold or keep householdc1425 housec1440 to keep house1523 to take up housec1600 c1600 D. Moysie Mem. Affairs Scotl. (1830) 79 Quwhairvpon the Kingis Majestie..immediatlie tuik vp house in Leithe. 1606 Haddington Burgh Rec. 3 Jan. in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Plant The multitude of beggars..dois..incress..be incoming of pure folkis..& takin up hows & planting thame selfis as inhabitants of the toun. 1612 Shetland Act in Scotsman 29 Jan. (1886) 7/2 It sall not be lesum for servile persones not worth..72 punds Scottis to tak up houssis. 1761 tr. Frederician Code I. i. iii. iv. 239 When children, happening to marry, or take up house, shall separate themselves from their father with his consent, he shall deliver to them their fortune. 1850 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 13/1 He was unwilling to incur the expense of taking up house. 1876 S. Smiles Life Sc. Naturalist i. 2 John Edward and his wife ‘took up house’ in the Green, one of the oldest quarters of the city. 1923 Times 5 Mar. 15/3 She returned to the Highlands when a comparatively old woman, and took up house in Tomonie, five miles from Fortwilliam. 1978 A. Fenton Northern Isles xx. 160 There was a shortage of servants at this period, partly caused by their getting married and taking up house with nothing to live on. 2010 Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) 16 Apr. 10 Birds and other small animals often take up house in chimneys, and this may go unnoticed by the human residents. †d. intransitive. To stop or stay somewhere temporarily; to lodge; = to put up 1d(b) at put v. Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting temporarily > [verb (intransitive)] > at the house of another, an inn, etc. gesten?c1225 innc1390 host?c1450 bait1477 to be (or lie) at hosta1500 hostela1500 sojourn1573 to take up1607 guest?1615 to set upa1689 to keep up1704 to put up1706 lodge1749 room1809 hotel1889 dig1914 motel1961 1607 J. Marston What you Will i. sig. B2^v My Riotous sir..abandons home, and spends and spends Till stock be melted, then sir takes vp heere Takes vp there, till no where ought is left. 1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes iv. ii. 160 in Wks. II How much 'twere better, that my Ladies Grace, Would here take vp Sir, and keepe house with you. 1662 S. Pepys Diary 14 Oct. (1970) III. 223 To Cambrige..whither we came at about 9 a-clock and took up at the ‘Beare’. 1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 15 I was..forced to take up at a little Village. 1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop xvi. 179 If you're wanting a place to stop at.., I should advise you to take up at the same house with us. 6. transitive. a. To take into one's possession, to acquire; spec. (a) to purchase wholesale, to buy up; (b) to borrow (money) at interest.See also to take up a commodity at commodity n. 6a(a), to take up savings at saving n. 3d. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] wieldeOE haveeOE ofgoOE oweOE addlec1175 winc1175 avela1200 to come by ——a1225 covera1250 oughtc1275 reachc1275 hentc1300 purchasec1300 to come to ——c1330 getc1330 pickc1330 chevise1340 fang1340 umbracec1350 chacche1362 perceivea1382 accroacha1393 achievea1393 to come at ——a1393 areach1393 recovera1398 encroach?a1400 chevec1400 enquilec1400 obtainc1422 recurec1425 to take upc1425 acquirea1450 encheve1470 sortise1474 conques?a1500 tain1501 report1508 conquest1513 possess1526 compare1532 cough1550 coff1559 fall1568 reap1581 acquist1592 accrue1594 appurchasec1600 recoil1632 to get at ——1666 to come into ——1672 rise1754 net1765 to fall in for1788 to scare up1846 access1953 the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)] take?a1160 seizec1290 raima1325 to take in possessiona1325 to hent in (also upon) handa1350 occupya1382 to take possession?a1425 to take upc1425 uptakec1425 to take in1523 possess1526 master1826 c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 1192 Thelephus..commaundinge..His puruyours..to cerchyn euery coste To take up vitaille for þe Grekis host. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 40 (MED) And þou apeyryst & lessyst þat tythe in takyng vp þi cost, here þou makyst þe cherche thrall. a1525 (?1421) Coventry Leet Bk. (1907) I. 29 Þat no maner of fresche fysher by, ne take up, no maner of fresche fysche of men of the contrey by way of regratry. 1528 Bill in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pleas Court Admiralty (1894) I. 41 I Thomas Thorne..have taken up by exchange of Thomas Fuller merchaunt..the sum of lx^li sterling. 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xii. 141 He that standes in the market way, and takes all vp before it come to the market in grosse and sells it by retaile. a1640 P. Massinger City-Madam (1658) i. iii. 27 Built with other mens moneys Took up at Interest. 1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion iv. 23 I must buy me a Cloak lined with plush, or take one up at the Brokers. 1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 259 He took up all the money he could, at any interest. 1791 W. Lempriere Tour from Gibraltar ix. 216 Sidi Mahomet became himself a merchant, took up goods from Europeans, and obliged the Jews to pay him five times their value for them. 1838 T. Mitchell in Aristophanes Clouds 6 Strepsiades had for the purchase taken up money with two usurers, Pasias and Amynias. 1889 Academy 14 Dec. 386/1 The whole edition..was taken up by the booksellers on the day of publication. 1920 Rubber Age 25 Dec. 237/1 The great surpluses built up during the early days of the present business depression are being rapidly taken up by retailers and automobile owners. 2013 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) (Nexis) 16 Jan. 26 The shortfall [in oil reserves] will be met by taking up supplies from world markets. b. To take possession of (land) for occupation; to claim (unoccupied land). ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)] > take (land) into occupation occupya1382 to take up1478 to file upon1871 1478 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 6/1 He occupijt [&] tuke vp sa mekle of þe said landis of þe ȝeris forsaide. 1530 Bible (Tyndale) Gen. xli. f. lx^v Let Pharao make officers ouer the lande, and take vp the fyfte parte of the land of Egipte in the vij. plenteous yeres. 1682 S. Wilson Acct. Province Carolina 16 Rent to commence in two years after their taking up their Land. 1746 T. Salmon Mod. Hist. (new ed.) III. ix. 465/1 Each servant has then also a right to take up fifty acres of land where he can find any unpatented. 1860 S. Butler First Year Canterbury Settl. (1863) v. 66 My companion and myself have found a small piece of country, which we have just taken up. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 76 Persons..could ‘take up’, that is merely mark out and occupy, as much land as they pleased. 1920 Atlantic Monthly Jan. 126/1 In Kentucky he took up two counties which are now known to be underlain with the Elkhorn seam of coal. 1946 J. G. Eastwood More about Cairns 39 The land that I took up was 160 acres bordering on Janetta Creek, selected before survey. 2013 Countryman (W. Austral.) (Nexis) 25 Apr. 16 Narembeen, where his brother Clarence and then youngest brother James took up land. c. To accept or pay (a bill of exchange); to advance money on (a mortgage or other loan); to pay off. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations subscribe1618 to take up1655 to sell out1721 to take in1721 to take up1740 pool?1780 capitalize1797 put1814 feed1818 to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819 corner1836 to sell short1852 promote1853 recapitalize1856 refund1857 float1865 water1865 margin1870 unload1870 acquire1877 maintain1881 syndicate1882 scalp1886 pyramid1888 underwrite1889 oversubscribe1891 joint-stock1894 wash1895 write1908 mark1911 split1927 marry1931 stag1935 unwind1958 short1959 preplace1966 unitize1970 bed and breakfast1974 index-link1974 warehouse1977 daisy-chain1979 strip1981 greenmail1984 pull1986 society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (transitive)] > use bills of exchange protest1479 retire1610 imprest1617 to take up1655 honour1664 discount1671 indulge1766 dishonour1811 cover1866 sight1866 protect1884 society > trade and finance > financial dealings > moneylending > lend (money) [verb (transitive)] > lend on security to lend on mortgagea1393 advance1529 to take up1888 1655 F. Osborne Advice to Son iii. xxiv. 79 The Bils you have taken up may perhaps be discharged as to the Merchant. 1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 300 He intended to take up the Mortgage of his Estate, the Time being almost expir'd. 1785 European Mag. Dec. 430/1 Mrs. Macleod punctually paid him the sum borrowed and took up the bill. 1832 Examiner 283/1 It was not convenient for her husband to take up the bill. 1888 H. R. Haggard Col. Quaritch xi. 84 I am disposed to try and find the money to take up these mortgages. 1916 Proc. National Conf. Charities & Correction 431 We took up his loan and he is paying $9 a month to the Credit Union, and in a year will have canceled his debt. 1998 H. H. Hickam Rocket Boys xxi. 277 Reverend Lanier..lost his job when the Methodists took up the mortgage on his church. d. To subscribe for (stocks, shares, or a loan) at the original issue. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations subscribe1618 to take up1655 to sell out1721 to take in1721 to take up1740 pool?1780 capitalize1797 put1814 feed1818 to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819 corner1836 to sell short1852 promote1853 recapitalize1856 refund1857 float1865 water1865 margin1870 unload1870 acquire1877 maintain1881 syndicate1882 scalp1886 pyramid1888 underwrite1889 oversubscribe1891 joint-stock1894 wash1895 write1908 mark1911 split1927 marry1931 stag1935 unwind1958 short1959 preplace1966 unitize1970 bed and breakfast1974 index-link1974 warehouse1977 daisy-chain1979 strip1981 greenmail1984 pull1986 1740 W. Douglass Disc. Currencies Brit. Plantations in Amer. 12 They who take up this Loan Money are called Sharers. 1869 Bradshaw's Railway Man. 21 402 Of 100,000 new 10l. shares..84,837 have been taken up. 1891 Harper's Mag. Nov. 946/2 He persuaded the citizens to take up the Queen's loans themselves. 1952 T. Armstrong Adam Brunskill ix. 295 Yes, no harm in putting out a feeler. Though why ever I were such a dafthead as to take up fifty shares. 1995 R. Mangal Introd. Company Law in Commonw. Caribbean ix. 82 A public company can only offer its shares to the public subject to certain provisions designed for the protection of those taking up shares. e. Originally Scottish and U.S. To solicit money for (a collection). Also in figurative contexts. ΚΠ 1813 Churchman's Mag. Sept. 378 After Sermon, a collection was taken up for the purpose of purchasing Bibles for the use of the poor. 1849 E. Davies Amer. Scenes 42 While they were singing Brother such-a-one would ‘take up the collection’. 1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad ix. 88 She became a sort of contribution box. This dear young thing in the theatre had been sitting there unconsciously taking up a collection [of fleas]. 1908 Daily Chron. 21 Dec. 4/7 The tambourine..still serves its notable purpose for ‘taking up’, as the Scotch say, a collection. 1976 R. Condon Whisper of Axe i. xxii. 144 A collection was taken up to present him with a quartz clock. 1996 F. McCourt Angela's Ashes (1997) ii. 54 The guards in the barracks have taken up a collection to pay our train fares to Limerick. †7. a. transitive. To raise (troops); to recruit (a person) to a military force. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist (soldiers) [verb (transitive)] wagec1330 musterc1425 to take upc1425 prest1481 to call up1523 conscribe1548 enrol1576 matriculate1577 press1600 in list1604 list1643 recruita1661 enlist1699 crimp1789 to muster into service1834 book1843 induct1934 to read in1938 c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. l. 1591 (MED) With gret stuf þus he gan to ride, Takyng vp men fro euery cost, Til he hym made a ful myȝti host. 1545 Ld. Russell Let. 10 July in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. ii. 792 Master Hugh Stuycklye..hathe..laid owt certen summes of monye for the conduyt and prest monye of such maryners as he towke up to go to Portesmouthe. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccxix^v He toke vp all that were able to weare armure. 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 188 You are to take souldiers vp In Counties as you go. View more context for this quotation 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iii. 91 He was taken vp as a souldier. 1671 H. Herbert Narr. in Camden Misc. (1990) XXX. 296 He raised 500 men, in his choise..taking up plow men, Newgatemen, and day labourers. b. intransitive. To enter into military service; to enlist. Cf. to take on 10a at Phrasal verbs 1. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist [verb (reflexive)] enrol1576 list1643 to take up1689 enlist1750 1689 T. Shadwell Bury-Fair i. ii. 8 The top of their Fortune is to take up in some Troop. 8. transitive. a. To assume (a particular attitude or appearance); to become interested or engaged in (a study, profession, or pastime); to adopt (a practice, notion, purpose, etc.) (without the idea of its having been taken directly from another). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > follow (a course of behaviour) [verb (transitive)] > assume (behaviour or a part) ontakec1300 playa1425 to take up?c1425 make1559 sustain1560 support1693 the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)] > adopt as one's own to take toa1382 to take up?c1425 adoptate1560 adopt1586 the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] underfoc893 fandOE onfangOE undernimc1000 takec1175 to take tillc1175 to take toa1250 underfongc1330 undertakea1340 to take in (also on) handa1350 undertakec1385 attamec1386 to take in (also on) handc1390 embrace1393 emprisec1410 to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410 to go upon ——c1450 enterprise?1473 to set (one's) hand to1477 go?a1500 accept1524 assume1530 to hent in (also upon) handc1540 to swallow up1544 to take to task1546 to go into ——?1548 to set in hand1548 to fare about1563 entertain1569 undergo1606 to set about ——1611 to take up1660 to come at ——1901 ?c1425 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Royal 17 D.vi) (1860) 19 There may no lord take up a newe gise, But that a knave shalle the same up take. ?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 64 She wolde not take hede to abyde unto her neygheboures..haue taken up the guyse or array that she wold haue. 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. xi. sig. lv They of late yeares haue taken this pastime vp among them. 1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. to Rdr. sig. A5^v To haue the Scriptures in the mother-tongue is not a quaint conceit lately taken vp. 1660 tr. M. Amyraut Treat. conc. Relig. ii. ii. 163 He seem'd to have took up a resolution of trampling upon those superstitions. 1712 J. Arbuthnot Law is Bottomless-pit iv. 9 Lewis Baboon had taken up the Trade of Clothier. 1776 G. Colman Spleen ii. 26 These are all new fancies, taken up in the evening of your life; the twilight of the understanding. 1821 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 25 289 Whatever part indeed Cromwell took up would be well maintained. 1890 Sat. Rev. 20 Sept. 355/1 Those parts of the Ethics which they are obliged to take up for ‘Greats’. 1905 F. Hume Secret Passage iv. 46 Jennings is a gentleman... But he ran through his money and took up the detective business. 1998 Independent 10 July i. 16/6 An effort to dissuade young people from taking up smoking. 2008 R. Bellamy Citizenship iii. 53 The decision to take up golf is a matter of choice, and even dedicated golfers can probably manage to play regularly without belonging to a club. b. (a) To proceed to deal with (a matter or question); to espouse, embrace (a cause, course of action, etc.); to adopt (a practice, idea, etc.) from someone else. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > a cause, principle, etc. > give support to a cause or principle beclipc1380 to take up1502 to stick to ——?1531 espouse1595 spouse1603 wed1626 1502 Star Chamber Proc. in Home Counties Mag. (1906) 8 264 The said late Shireffes..caused two of her frendes to take up this haynouse matier betuix theym as arbitrours. 1543 Chron. J. Hardyng f. xviii Richard duke of Gloucestre as one that should take vp this matter, firste spake with the duke priuely in his eare. 1604 S. Hieron Preachers Plea 250 Paul tooke vp the question among the Galathians, touching the vse of Christian libertie. 1690 R. Ottee Christ set Forth 155 He who is higher than the Heavens, should condescend so low, as to take up the cause of poor sinners. 1726 E. Thomas Poems Several Occasions 209 Some mercenary Quill, Discov'ring equal Want of Love, and Skill, Takes up th' afflicted Cause, with vain Pretence. 1771 Mrs. Harris Let. 19 Mar. in 1st Earl of Malmesbury Lett. (1870) I. 221 This [sc. conflict with the City] was taken up yesterday in the House; the Speaker gave a detail of the fact. 1879 Buffalo 16 Jan. 3/3 The great scheme of a technical university now being taken up by the City companies, was first started by Buffs. 1892 Law Times 93 459/2 Mr. Bros..suggested that the Public Prosecutor should take the matter up. 1938 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 248/2 ‘Shocking Pink’, introduced by Schiaparelli in Feb. 1937, then taken up by other designers. 1972 Jrnl. Mod. Lit. 2 459 I would like to take up the vexed question of the notes to the poem and Eliot's use of ‘sources’. 1999 S. Broughton et al. World Music: Rough Guide I. i. 219/2 It [sc. the polonaise] was taken up by the aristocracy from a slow walking dance. 2011 M. Irvine Nucl. Power ii. 29 Many took up the cause of nuclear disarmament. (b) To pursue (a matter, question, case, etc.) with a person or organization. Now frequently with it as object. ΚΠ 1821 Ld. Byron Let. 27 Sept. (1978) VIII. 225 I sent..a longish poem upon the Irishism of your countrymen in their reception of * * * [the King]... As you could not well take up the matter with Paddy (being of the same nest), I have. 1838 G. P. R. James Life & Times Louis XIV I. iv. 249 The Duke..was speedily stimulated..to take up the question with De Retz in a very high tone. 1895 Railway Engineer Apr. 100/1 If this had occurred in any other country in South America, the British Minister would have taken up the case with the government. 1923 Manch. Guardian 27 Mar. 9/6 The Ulster Unionist members of the Imperial Parliament are taking the matter up with the Government with a view to having the decision altered. 1988 N.Y. Times 7 Jan. a24/1 If my wife thinks I've been lying to her she can take it up with me. 2005 J. van de Ruit Spud 198 I told him that, in total, our dormitory had lost over twenty-four pairs of underpants... My prefect studied me once more and said ‘I'll take it up with the relevant authorities.’ c. To undertake (a task); to begin to hold or fulfil (a specific post, role, or position of employment). ΚΠ 1606 L. Bryskett Disc. Ciuill Life 278 I will not say [I was]..betrayed by M. Spencer, but surely cunningly thrust in, to take vp this taske, whereby he might shift himselfe from that trouble. 1659 R. Baxter Five Disputations of Church-government iii. iv. 315 Let them not be Lay Elders: but authorized to all Pastoral administrations..; and not comming in without Ordination, nor yet taking up the Office only pro tempore. 1688 J. Dryden tr. D. Bouhours Life St. Francis Xavier i. 24 Xavier.., having again taken up his Post in the Hospital of the Incurable.., resum'd his Offices of Charity. 1825 W. Scott in Edinb. Ann. Reg. 1824 17 ii. 266 You're..a mob—And..I, as the Sheriff, must take up the job; and..read you the Riot Act, and bid you disperse! 1843 E. Thornton Hist. Brit. Empire in India IV. xxiv. 315 Lieutenant Ross..had taken up a post with special reference to this [sc. diplomatic intrigue] amongst other objects. 1917 Overland Monthly June 517 It is fitting that I contribute this article about her.., but I take the task up with misgivings. 1920 Norwalk (Ohio) Reflector-Herald 22 Jan. 8/3 John W. McEnroe has..taken up a position with the Monroeville Piano Co. 2003 G. S. Eckersley Teen Angel i. 25 Sarah..was just about to take up a job a long way from the family home. 9. transitive. a. To seize by legal authority; to arrest, apprehend. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > arrest > [verb (transitive)] at-holda1230 attacha1325 resta1325 takec1330 arrest1393 restay?a1400 tachec1400 seisinc1425 to take upa1438 stowc1450 seize1471 to lay (also set, clap, etc.) (a person) by the heels?1515 deprehend1532 apprehend1548 nipa1566 upsnatcha1566 finger1572 to make stay of1572 embarge1585 cap1590 reprehend1598 prehenda1605 embar1647 nap1665 nab1686 bone1699 roast1699 do1784 touch1785 pinch1789 to pull up1799 grab1800 nick1806 pull1811 hobble1819 nail1823 nipper1823 bag1824 lag1847 tap1859 snaffle1860 to put the collar on1865 copper1872 to take in1878 lumber1882 to pick up1887 to pull in1893 lift1923 drag1924 to knock off1926 to put the sleeve on1930 bust1940 pop1960 vamp1970 a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 107 (MED) Þer wer non Englisch schepys þat myth seylen þedyr, for þei wer arestyd & takyn up for þe kyng. ?1457 J. Hardyng Chron. (Lansd.) in E. P. Hammond Eng. Verse between Chaucer & Surrey (1927) 234 The kynge than..toke thaym vp by gode inspeccioun That friste bygan that insurreccioun. a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 112 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) Though the Sheriffe have this authority..to take up all such stragglers, and imprison them. 1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia ii. xxiv. 251 To presse, and take up any the Boats, or Vessels, that are or shall bee within the compasse of your command. 1682 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 31 Duke of York hath brought an action against one Arrowsmith..upon the statute of Scandalum magnatum, who is taken up for it. 1714 in Acts Gen. Assembly Province of New-Jersey (1776) xl. 21 An Act for regulating of white Servants, and taking up Soldiers and Seamen deserting Her Majesty's Service. 1797 R. Southey Lett. from Spain xxiv. 392 The Alcayde took up all the inhabitants of the village where it happened. 1853 Bentley's Misc. 34 143 Proctors were always taking me up on suspicion, and discharging me with apologies. 1861 Temple Bar June 358 [He] was taken up for sacrilege, and brought before a magistrate. 1903 Proc. Old Bailey 16 Nov. 72 After he was taken up on Tuesday or Wednesday..his sister promised that if I would not give evidence.., the money would be forthcoming. 1943 ‘H. Green’ Caught 75 When the rich get taken up they bring the doctor to say they're sick. 2004 J. Vance Lurulu i. 20 What if you are taken up by the police and dragged off to jail? †b. To summon as a witness. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > call to witness to take witness of1390 vouchc1412 record1590 attest1609 to swear downa1616 appeal1645 to take up1821 invoke1851 1821 J. Galt Ann. Parish xii. 117 It was thought she would have been taken up as an evidence in the Douglas cause. 10. transitive. †a. Chiefly in passive. (a) to take up for hawks: (apparently) to seize and slaughter (an old or useless horse) as meat for hawks; (hence) to ruin, destroy (a person). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > animal food > [verb (transitive)] > slaughter (old or useless horse) as meat for hawks to take up for hawks1471 1471 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 565 I beseche yow, and my horse..be not takyn vp for the Kyngys hawkys, that he may be had hom and kept in your plase. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iii. iii. sig. E.ij Ye were take vp for haukes, ye were gone, ye were gone. (b) to take up for hawks' meat: to ruin, destroy (a person). Hence in similar phrases. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [adjective] > destroyed forwroughta1325 lorna1400 destroyedc1440 perishedc1440 shentc1440 defeatc1540 spiltc1540 dissolved?1541 interempt1561 baned1568 mischievedc1570 defeated1578 ruined1585 downcast1592 gone1598 collapsed1610 to take up for hawks' meat1612 naughta1616 blasted1747 wreckeda1821 butchered1839 fucked-up1863 kaput1895 piled-up1906 shambled1940 1612 T. Dekker O per se O sig. O Seruing-men..who like Free-booters are so hungry of flesh, that a Doxie (if shee haue a smug face) cannot peepe out, but shee is taken vp for Hawkes-meate. 1615 E. Hoby Curry-combe i. 67 Were old Bishop Longland his Confessor now aliue, he would take vp Iabal for Hawks-meate. 1632 R. Brome Northern Lasse i. iv. sig. A4 Slid Ile marry out o' the way; tis time I thinke: I shall bee tane vp for whores meat else. ?c1640 W. Rowley et al. Witch of Edmonton (1658) iii. 37 There's my Rival taken up for Hang-man's meat. 1697 T. Oates Εἰκων Βασιλικη IV. 188 They have applied to wrong Persons, and made use of wrong Methods; by which means they are taken up for Hawks meat, and are hanged. †b. Chess and Backgammon. To capture (a piece); = sense 1f. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [verb (transitive)] > tactics to shut up1474 to take upc1475 neck1597 catch1674 to discover check1688 attack1735 retreat1744 fork1745 pin1745 retake1750 guard1761 interpose1761 castle1764 retract1777 to take (a pawn) en passant1818 capture1820 decline1847 cook1851 undouble1868 unpin1878 counter1890 fidate1910 sacrifice1915 fianchetto1927 c1475 Treat. Chess (Ashm. 344) lf. 5 Then he takith hym vpp with his knight. a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 71 (MED) Þe rook..holdith length & brede, and takith vp what so is in his way. 1644 D. Featley Sacra Nemesis xiii. 69 Is it not better playing a game at tables on the christian sabbath, wherin a wooden man is taken up without any losse or hurt? c. Falconry. To restrain (a young hawk) in order to begin training. Now rare.Hawks are typically taken up when they have begun to hunt their own prey in preference to using the hack (hack n.³). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > [verb (transitive)] > bring under restraint to take up1826 1826 J. S. Sebright Observ. Hawking 8 When..[Hawks] have omitted to come for their food at the accustomed hour, for two or three successive days,..it will be necessary to take them up, or they would in a short time go away altogether. 1881 E. B. Michell in Macmillan's Mag. Nov. 40 An experienced falconer will ‘take up’ a young merlin from hack and have him trained in three or four days. 1901 Country Life Illustr. 25 May 652/1 Young falcons just taken up from hack have had no necessity for acquiring..the peculiar and well known ‘stoop’. 1936 G. Blaine Falconry iv. 53 Tiercels..are generally more precocious and have often to be taken up from hack before the falcons. 11. a. transitive. To check (a person) in speaking; to interrupt sharply, esp. with an expression of dissent or disapproval; to rebuke, reprove, or reprimand. Also: to check (a person) in any course of action. Frequently in to take up short (see short adv. 5b(b)). Cf. Phrases 1j(a). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > cause to cease or put a stop to > suddenly or abruptly (an action or person) break1330 to break offc1340 to take up1530 to cut off1576 stunt1603 to cut up short1607 to cut short1611 pawl1797 to sew up1837 to stop short1837 burst1842 to pull up1861 the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] > check (in) a course of action stanchc1315 arrestc1374 checka1400 stem?c1450 stay1525 to take up1530 rebate1532 suspend1565 nip1575 countercheck1590 to nip in the bud1590 to clip the wings ofa1593 to nip in (also by, on) the head (also neck, pate)1594 trasha1616 to scotch the wheels of1648 spike1687 spoke1854 to pull up1861 the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)] > severely dressc1405 wipe1523 to take up1530 whip1530 to shake upa1556 trounce1607 castigatea1616 lasha1616 objurgate1616 thunderstrike1638 snub1672 drape1683 cut1737 rowa1798 score1812 to dress down1823 to pitch into ——1823 wig1829 to row (a person) up1838 to catch or get Jesse1839 slate1840 drop1853 to drop (down) to or on (to)1859 to give (a person) rats1862 to jump upon1868 to give (a person) fits1871 to give it to someone (pretty) stiff1880 lambaste1886 ruck1899 bollock1901 bawl1903 scrub1911 burn1914 to hang, draw, and quarter1930 to tear a strip off1940 to tear (someone) off a strip1940 brass1943 rocket1948 bitch1952 tee1955 fan- the mind > language > speech > interruption > interrupt (speech) [verb (transitive)] > interrupt (a person) to fang upa1400 interrupt1413 interpel1541 catch1670 to take up1885 to draw up1905 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 750/1 It pityed my herte to here howe he toke hym up. ?1573 L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes f. 158 His wife Xantippe beganne to take her housbande vp, with tauntyng and opprobrious wordes. a1625 J. Fletcher Chances iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Bbb^v/2 Thou tookst me up at every word I spoke, As I had been a Mawkin, a flurt Gillian. 1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments To Rdr. 7 I haue beene taken vp in diuers Churches by the Churchwardens..and not suffered to write the Epitaphs. 1645 T. Coleman Hopes Deferred 2 [He] rebukes him sharply, takes him up roundly. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 34. ¶3 Sir Andrew Freeport took him up short. 1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. i. 199 Those who would find fault with us for attributing colour heat and cold to inanimate bodies take us up before we were down. a1885 ‘H. Conway’ Living or Dead (1886) III. iii. 68 She wondered why the master took her up so short when she had mentioned his name. 1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus i. 14 ‘You do take one up so,’ he complained! ‘I never intended nothing of the sort.’ 1915 F. Harris Contemp. Portr. i. 12 ‘Perhaps you didn't know Darwin?’ ‘Indeed, and I knew him well,’ he replied, taking me up shortly. 1963 J. B. Hilton Mr. Fred iii. 23 I remember Lilian taking her to task for that apostrophe. My mother rounded on her. It was not for a child to take up an elder. 1993 F. Collymore There's always Angels 69 He took me up rather sharply. ‘That depends, my dear fellow, that depends.’ 2007 J. Rose Blackest Bird (2008) 323 The scene he encountered in the sitting room took Old Hays up short. †b. intransitive. To check or restrain oneself; to mend one's ways; to reform. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > reform [verb (intransitive)] risec1175 amenda1275 menda1400 reform1582 reclaim1625 to turn down a leaf1633 to take up1661 repair1748 mend1782 to go straight1888 to straighten up1891 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue vii. sig. K^v Euery good thyng, Thou lettest euen slyp, like a wag halter slypstryng. But take vp in tyme, or els I protest, All be not abedde, that shall haue yll rest. a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Captaine iv. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Hh4^v/1 Take up quickly; Thy witt will founder of all foure else wench, If thou hold'st this pace; take up when I bid thee. 1661 S. Pepys Diary 13 Nov. (1970) II. 213 My expenseful life..will undo me I fear..if I do not take up. 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew at Oats One that has sown his wild Oats,..begins to take up and be more Staied. 1713 in Poems & Transl. (1714) 18 Here the Poet chides himself for his Fool-hardy Undertaking in the first Part; and begins to take up. 1832 Examiner 611/1 She longs to make her fortune by her trade, that she may ‘take up and live godly’. 1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. Tak' up,..to reform one's ways. c. intransitive. Of weather: to improve, to pick up, to become clement. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (intransitive)] > improve to take up1600 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xl. 1080 The Celtiberians..having passed over the rivers (when the raine gave over and the weather tooke up) came to Contrebia. 1634 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World (new ed.) II. xviiii. xxxv. 613 If you perceiue those tops of mountaines cleare without moist or cloud, the weather will soone take vp and turne to be faire. 1749 T. Short Gen. Chronol. Hist. Air I. 151 In the End of Harvest, the Weather took up, and so much of this rotten Crop was got very late, as did much Good. 1787 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Norfolk I. 338 The weather took up; and the last ten days or a fortnight have been extremely fine and summer-like. 1845 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 6 570 The weather took up immediately afterwards. 1889 J. A. Froude Two Chiefs Dunboy xiv. 210 On the second evening the weather began to take up. 1908 Financial Times 4 Mar. 6/4 During the last week the weather has taken up. 2007 Irish Times (Nexis) 13 July 2 He asked farmers to work as safely as possible when the weather took up. d. Mechanics and Nautical. (a) intransitive. Of a leak of water, steam, etc.: to stop, esp. spontaneously. Cf. sense 20c. Now rare. ΚΠ 1835 J. Braithwaite Suppl. Capt. Sir J. Ross's Narr. 15 Every high-pressure boiler leaks more or less until worked for some time, when the leaks (to use a technical expression) ‘take up’. 1901 L. Becke By Rock & Pool on Austral Shore 199 The leak has taken up, and you can go on deck and see your husband working at the pumps. 1902 Trans. Manch. Assoc. Engin. (1903) 192 Whenever the furnace door was open and an east wind happened to be blowing, all the tubes in the tube-plate to the furnace started leaking; which leaks took up again immediately the cold air was excluded. (b) transitive. To stop or staunch (a leak). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > fact of being still or not flowing > cause to be or become still or without flow [verb (transitive)] > staunch stint1398 constrainc1400 stanch1481 constaunch1485 stem1488 to take up1889 1889 Sydney Mail 13 July 84/3 Caulking was again tried, and this took up the leak a little, enabling the ship to be kept on her course. 1922 Plumbers’ Trade Jrnl. 73 247/3 (advt.) Whiz Boiler Stop Leak takes up small leaks in the joints when the plant goes into operation, saving time, bother and costs of disconnecting and repairing. 1938 US Patent 2,126,726 1/2 [The springs] will yieldingly hold the material to any uneven surface or floor, thus taking up any leaks under the door when the device is closed. e. intransitive. U.S. Of a horse: to slacken its pace; to stop short, to pull up. Also of a rider: to rein in one's horse. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > rein in reina1525 to draw rein1725 to take up1912 society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > actions of rider rope1874 to take up1912 scrub1958 society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > actions of horse to carry weight1734 to get up1840 screw1840 to come again1841 to set to1856 to wait off1856 romp1869 to answer the question1875 compound1876 to gallop to a standstill1892 nick1898 to take up1912 rate1920 1912 Salt Lake Tribune 28 July 2/1 No Quarter had bad racing luck, was forced to take up sharply when Lady Stalwart began to stop so suddenly in front of him. 1942 Sun (Baltimore) 20 Oct. 15/1 Fogoso..cut sharply in front of Sunset Boy, causing Jimmy Berger to take up. 1946 Sun (Baltimore) 2 Oct. 15/2 Red Tag ran into tight corners at the head of the stretch and was forced to take up. 2001 N.Y. Post (Nexis) 25 Feb. 71 Boodles..was rallying up rail in deep stretch when he suddenly took up sharply. 12. transitive. a. To occupy fully or exclusively (space or time); to fill, use up. Cf. sense 67. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > presence > fact of taking up space > take up (space or a place) [verb (transitive)] > completely fillc1000 containc1374 replenish?a1425 comprise1489 to take up1538 pack1567 1538 tr. Erasmus Prepar. to Deathe sig. Bvi^v Infancy is not felt, chyldhod slyppeth away er we be ware, youth is taken vp with sondry cares, age crepeth vpon vs er we perceyue it. 1591 W. Garrard & R. Hitchcock Arte of Warre ii. 108 So shall you occupie more hands then the quadrant battaile doth, taking vp lesse ground in marching, then the other battaile. 1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke Annot. sig. ^v If the lesse mood were likewise perfect, then did euery one of those long restes take vp three spaces. 1601 W. Cornwallis Ess.* II. xlvi. sig. li4 They [sc. satirists] chide vice, &..take vp more time, then knowne, they are worth. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 633 It tooke up in compasse aboue a mile. 1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 69 The men take them [sc. the public baths] up in the morning, and in the afternoone the women. 1640 S. D'Ewes Let. 14 Dec. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 167 Some petitions..tooke upp our time a great parte of the morning. 1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xxii. 490 The Sixteen Red Cliffs, which take up in all about three Miles in length. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 84 The 7th..I took wholly up to make me a Chair. 1825 New Monthly Mag. 14 392 The first quatrain..is taken up with a list of rivers. 1885 E. Lynn Linton Autobiogr. Christopher Kirkland II. ix. 274 It took up his time and bored him. 1937 Amer. Home Apr. 168/3 These shelves add charm, take up no space, and are most usable. 1958 E. T. Gilliard Living Birds of World 224/1 The Bee hummingbird..seems smaller [than a bee] because the bill and tail take up more than half of its total length. 2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black ix. 290 Anyway, Al, I won't take up your morning, let's cut to the chase. b. To occupy (a road, way, or other space) so as to cause an inconvenience or obstruction; to obstruct, block. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > presence > fact of taking up space > take up (space or a place) [verb (transitive)] > fill > to obstruction cumberc1394 encumberc1400 cloy1548 pester1548 accumberc1571 clog1586 to take up1587 lumber1642 over-clog1660 crowd1741 jama1865 1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1576/2 An huge trunke of a tree..was cumbersome by taking vp their accustomed passage. a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. ii. 116 My throat of Warre be turn'd..into a Pipe.., and Schoole-boyes Teares take vp The Glasses of my sight. View more context for this quotation 1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 11 Tombes are made so huge great, that they take vp the Church, and hinder the people from diuine Seruice. a1717 W. Diaper tr. Oppian Halieuticks (1722) ii. 69 Born on the struggling Floods that broad-back'd Ray Unwieldy lolls, and takes up all the Way. 1792 Lord Mayor's Day 27 Then Grocers carr'ages took up the way, A tedious string, and hir'd for all the day. 1866 H. L. Hammond in Househ. Reading (1867) 151 Some of the negro-haters told her to go away, for she was obstructing the sidewalk. ‘I don't take up much room. It's the people that take up the sidewalk. Make them go away.’ 1895 Outing Aug. 374/2 At the end of a long curve..we saw ahead in the dim light two four-horse mountain wagons passing each other and taking up the entire road. 1937 J. T. Farrell Fellow Countrymen 180 A man in a hurry bumped into him, and hastening on, snottily suggested that he quit taking up the whole sidewalk. 2012 M. Magnuson Bike Tribes 170 Hey, assholes! Quit taking up the road. Use the goddam bike lane! c. (a) To keep busy, engage, occupy (a person, the mind, attention, etc.). Chiefly in passive with with or (occasionally) in. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)] > hold attention, absorb swallowc1330 deepc1380 dare1547 suspend1561 preoccupy1567 devour1568 to swallow up1581 enwrap1589 invest1601 steep1603 to take up1603 spell1646 possess1653 enchain1658 engross1661 absorb1749 fix1752 rivet1762 fascinate1782 spell-bind1808 arrest1814 mesmerize1862 to turn on1903 get1913 consume1999 1603 R. Rogers Seuen Treat. i. iv. 30 [They] regard not when God speaketh vnto them out of his word, their minds being taken vp about other matters. a1617 P. Baynes Lectures 201 in Comm. First & Second Chapters Colossians (1634) To take our selves up with some behoofefull duty. 1630 P. Massinger Renegado iv. i. sig. H4 I am so wholy taken vp with sorrow. 1712 E. Budgell Spectator No. 301. ⁋8 I was wholly taken up in these Reflections. 1786 T. Twining Let. 10 July in F. Burney Court Jrnls. & Lett. (2011) I. App. 325 I fear you will be so taken up with your courtly attendance, that you will have no leisure. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley v. 76 She is taken up with making her husband comfortable. 1892 Mrs. H. Ward David Grieve II. 32 I think he feels he must make his way first. His business takes him up altogether. 1900 S. J. Weyman Story Francis Cludde (new ed.) xvi. 180 Master Lindstrom also felt troubled..at seeing me taken up with a trifle at such a time. 1963 London Mag. Dec. 21 She had so many things to take up her attention.., that she found it harder and harder to correspond with him. 2001 H. Holt Delay of Execution (2002) viii. 79 Their thoughts were largely taken up with last-minute revision and exams. (b) Chiefly Scottish and English regional (northern). to be taken up with: to have an engrossing interest in; to be charmed or attracted by; to be taken with. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)] > become interested in to take up in1665 enter1694 to take up1751 to turn on1954 1751 Universal Mag. Nov. 232/2 Entirely taken up with her darling Innocence, she flies towards her, and would willingly have thrown herself into her arms. 1824 W. Carr Horæ Momenta Cravenæ 19 Thouz seea bobberous an keckahoop wi' thy twelve groats, and seea ta'en up wi' thy quality, at thouz quite an clear forgotten t'lile whipper snapper window-peeper. 1827 London Lit. Gaz. 24 Nov. 755/1 Wha are yon twa bonnie young folk that seem sae taen up wi ane anither. 1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. vi. 174 I was extremely taken up with the soft red cushions of the armchairs. 1911 J. Bone Edinb. Revisited iv. 152 She said they were ‘a' very ta'en up wi' the picture’. He (her husband) liked to look at it, and she had moved his bed that he could see it. 1992 C. M. Fraser Stranger on Rhanna i. ii. 23 Once, when Auld Biddy had to give him an enema, he was that taken up wi' all the wee tubes it was all she could do to make him leave them alone so that should do what had to be done wi' them. 1999 in Sc. National Dict. New Suppl. (Electronic text) (at cited word) Fair taen up wi the new bairn. d. To use up (esp. a commodity or resource); to consume. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > using up, expending, or consuming > use up, expend, or consume [verb (transitive)] > cause or involve expenditure or consumption take1556 to take upa1616 spend1616 a1616 J. Smith Poore Penitent 96 in Essex Dove (1629) Because that Faith and Repentance bee the maine pillars in building the spiritual house of God in our consciences, it is no maruell if they take vp more labour and time then all the rest. 1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. viii. 142 The Framing work will take up more labour. 1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 121 You may fill up the Holes to the Level of the Ground.., to take up the Earth that may possibly remain to be disposed of. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 79 The prodigious deal of Time and Labour which it took me up to make a Plank or Board. 1863 Fraser's Mag. Sept. 400/2 When..poems were written by hand..they would take up very much labour. 1940 Portsmouth (New Hampsh.) Herald 12 Apr. 4/2 I buy a nice farm in Stratham and it takes up my money. 1969 N.Y. Times 1 Dec. 58 I know I must be [big] because my dresses take up a lot of fabric. 2012 Bristol Post (Nexis) 5 Nov. 10 Bats..are warm blooded mammals and they need to eat lots to keep warm and besides, flying takes up lots of energy! †13. transitive. To impel or urge on (a horse) to greater speed. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > impel or drive animates sendc950 driveOE chacche138. chasec1400 teisec1400 to take up1542 gar1587 urge1594 herd1883 shoo1903 1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca Equus citatus, a horse taken vp. 1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. v. vi. f. 158 But when I sawe them take their horses vppe with the spurres [L. concitatis..equis]. 14. a. transitive. To take (a person) into a boat, car, or other mode of transport; to pick up (a passenger). ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > order Proboscidea (elephants) > [verb (transitive)] > take person from ground onto back to take up1553 society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport or convey in a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > pick up to take up1689 to pick up1839 uplift1961 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. iv. f. 38^v The Tirians..did so beate them on the handes, as they were swymming, that for werenes they were glad to be taken vp into their boates. 1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas sig. H3 They..sent two of their fellowes in the long boat to fetch mee, who rowing to mee, tooke mee vp..& carried mee aboord with them. 1609 B. Rich Roome for Gentleman f. 5 Those women, that a man would thinke they were made all of vertue..they will notwithstanding hold them company, take them vp into their Coaches. 1689 London Gaz. No. 2511/4 A Hackney-Coachman took up 3 Persons at Mark-Lane-end. 1710 London Gaz. No. 4735/4 A Hackney Coach..that took up his Fair in Southwark. 1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. x. 341 The postillions stopped at the convent..to take up Blanche. 1831 W. Scott Count Robert ii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. II. 20 We should not criticise the animal [sc. an elephant] which kneels to take us up. 1890 G. Meredith Let. 14 Apr. (1970) II. 997 I am promised a steam-yacht to take me up at Oban. 1893 Eng. Illustr. Mag. 10 257/2 Our coach..duly took us up, and set us down. 1909 Bradshaw's Railway Guide Aug. 21 Stops to take up 1st class Passengers for London. 1928 R. A. Knox Footsteps at Lock x. 100 Leyland..found the taxi driver who took up a fare close to Carfax and put him down at the Gudgeon. 2009 Maribyrnong (Melbourne) Leader (Nexis) 5 May 11 If drivers..stop to let down or take up passengers or goods they will be issued with an infringement notice. b. intransitive. Of a coach, train, or other vehicle: to pick up passengers. Now rare. ΚΠ 1793 H. R. Morres Let. 29 Oct. in Crisis (1794) xl. 219 If coachmen were obliged to take up and set down universally, at public places, with the door of the house on the whip hand, many of the embarrassments at our theatres, &c. would be avoided. 1857 A. Trollope Barchester Towers I. x. 146 Carriages..were desired to take up at a quarter before one. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 27 June 10/1 All carriages will take up on the Embankment and Savoy-hill. 1909 Bradshaw's Railway Guide Aug. 21 Stops to take up for Reading or beyond. †15. transitive. a. To settle, arrange amicably (a dispute, quarrel, etc.). Obsolete.In quot. 1666: to settle temporarily, to patch up. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > absence of dissension or peace > bringing about concord or peace > bring to peace (strife or discord) [verb (transitive)] > settle (a dispute) peasec1330 reconcilea1393 compone1523 compromit1537 compound1546 atone1555 to take up1560 compose1570 gree1570 accommodate1609 concoct1620 even1620 sopite1628 to make up1699 liquidate1765 resolve1875 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxj^v He had done as much as lay in him that the matter might be taken vp. 1605 London Prodigall sig. D If you come to take vp the matter betweene my maister and the Deuen-shyre man. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 96 I knew when seuen Iustices could not take vp a Quarrell. View more context for this quotation 1666 S. Pepys Diary 24 Oct. (1972) VII. 340 The thing is not accommodated, but only taken up. b. To make good (something lost or wanting). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > compensate or make up for restorea1325 to make good1389 boot1393 rewarda1398 supplya1398 to make up1472 upset1513 to fetch again1535 redeem1590 balance1594 pay1596 unpay1600 to make out1610 requitea1613 to pay home1625 encourage1628 compensate1646 compensate1656 reprise1662 to take up1662 to fetch up1665 to pay off1717 indemnify1750 to bring up arrears1788 equalize1866 reparate1956 1662 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 3rd Pt. 302 If you be hindred of your rest one Night by business, you will take it up the next. 16. a. transitive. To lift up (a vein or other blood vessel) by passing a ligature, needle, or other instrument under it, esp. as an initial step in performing phlebotomy or ligation; (also) to ligate or otherwise obliterate (a blood vessel). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > surgery > stopping haemorrhage > stop haemorrhage [verb (transitive)] > close vein or artery > by ligature to take up1566 religate1598 ligate1599 ligature1716 to tie off1903 1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. clxxx. f. 116 (heading) , in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe The order of taking vp vaynes, and wherefore it is good. 1639 T. de Gray Compl. Horseman ii. xx. 347 Take up the Shackle-veynes. 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. i. 41 The Absurdity of taking up the Veins for the Cure of Spavins. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 375 I bled one, and tried to take up the vein with a thorn in lieu of a pin; but it broke in the night, the vein burst open again, and the ox bled to death. 1903 F. Treves Man. Operative Surg. (new ed.) II. xiii. i. 683 He passes the needle through the mucous membrane in such a way as to take up the vessel in question. 1928 S. Vestal Old Santa Fe Trail ii. 21 The whetted knife quickly opened the arm to the bone;..the white-hot bolt seared the raw stump, taking up the arteries more swiftly than ligatures could have done. b. transitive. To make fast or reincorporate (a dropped stitch). Also in figurative contexts. Now rare.See also to take up a stitch at stitch n.¹ 7. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > sew or ornament textile fabric [verb (transitive)] > sew > other to take up1620 fell1758 cross-stitch1794 strand1894 prick-stitch1895 stab-stitch1917 lockstitch1919 1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote ii. 14 The Knights say, they would not have your poore Squires bee ranked with them, that clout their owne shooes, and take vp a stitch in their owne blacke stockings with greene silke. a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Spanish Gipsie (1653) ii. sig. C4 A stich in a mans stocken not taken up in time ravells out all the rest. a1639 J. Stoughton XI. Choice Serm. (1640) 60 Other Criticks pride themselves in restoring some obliturated monuments, stopping some gaps in old Manuscripts, taking up some stitches let fal in a Poet [etc.]. 1775 Hist. Old Fring'd Petticoat 12 If ye take up one stitch the old d—l will set you about more of her work, and make us her drudges. 1804 M. Edgeworth To-morrow v, in Pop. Tales III. 341 This operation of taking up a stitch..is one of the slowest. 1881 Times 16 July 11/2 The Committee..will be enabled to take up the stitches dropped in the process [of examining the bill]. 1904 Iowa City Daily Press 9 May A busy woman..at a moment's notice is ready to take up a dropped stitch in her young son's mittens. c. transitive. To pull (a belt, strap, etc.) up or in, so as to tighten or shorten. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > shortness > make short(er) [verb (transitive)] short1398 shorten1530 stump1596 snub1615 to take up1624 1624 W. Browne His Fiftie Yeares Pract. i. 5 Take a good stirrop Leather, and make it full of holes, to take vp and let out at your pleasure. 1677 J. Phillips tr. J.-B. Tavernier Persian Trav. iii. xiii. 132 in tr. J.-B. Tavernier Six Voy. (1678) They abate him of his Meat and Drink as in the first eight days, and every day take up the Girt a hole shorter. a1713 T. Ellwood Hist. Life (1714) 102 Though she was very tall, yet the Ways being very foul, I found it needful, as soon as I was out of Town, to alight, and take up the Stirrups. 1780 J. Hope Thoughts 69 When you follow the Hounds, I would advise you to take up your Stirrups a few Holes. 1891 M. M. Dowie Girl in Karpathians iii. 33 Each girth was altered to its last hole, the stirrup-leather taken up half a yard, but nowhere could it grip the little beast. 1892 Field 8 Oct. 545/3 The direction to the groom would be ‘take up’ (or ‘let down’, as the case may be) the near-side horse's coupling rein. 1921 Med. Pickwick Jan. 19/2 He sees Doc strip down to the undershirt and trousers, take up his belt a few notches and start to wash up. 1990 ‘M. Twelveponies’ Starting Colt viii. 43 In saddling the colt, initially take the back cinch up slightly loose and tug on it several times the same as you do on the front cinch. d. transitive. To make (a further hole) in order to shorten a strap; to tighten a belt or strap by (a hole or notch). ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > shortness > make short(er) [verb (transitive)] > in working length shorten1597 to take up1818 1818 C. Brown Let. 7 Aug. in J. Keats Lett. (1958) I. 361 I must have another hole taken up in the strap of my Knapsack. 1898 Outing Feb. 485/2 A hole taken up in a belt may serve for a meal during summer. 1929 Boys' Life Feb. 17/1 I've got to take up a hole on this strap. 1973 New Scientist 22 Feb. 438/1 Any trouble a female footballer met from ‘unhealthy agitation’ could simply be cured by taking up another notch in her bra-strap. 2000 Racing Post (Nexis) 7 Jan. His [sc. a horse's] views on life include objections to having his girths tightened in the stable. ‘We have get on him with them loose and slowly take up a hole at a time,’ says Mrs Bailey. †e. intransitive. Nautical. Of a rope: to shrink through immersion in water. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > become reduced in size or extent [verb (intransitive)] > contract or shrink shrimc1000 shrinkc1275 to draw togethera1398 gather1577 coact1578 to fall together1583 draw1615 contract1648 to run up1838 to take up1860 1860 A. H. Alston Seamanship §385 Log lines should be wetted before marking..to allow them to take up, as they are always wet when in use. 1868 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 4) 197 The longer the rope the more it takes up. f. transitive. To shorten or tighten a garment by hemming or tucking (the fabric); to alter (a garment) in this way. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > tailor or make clothes [verb (transitive)] > alter to turn upa1586 tuck1626 to let out1791 fashionize1824 to piece down1863 to make down1877 to let down1890 to take up1902 1902 Anaconda (Montana) Standard 26 Jan. 35/2 It [sc. a skirt]..may have the fullness at the back taken up in an inverted box-plait or gathers. 1914 Farm, Stock & Home 15 Apr. 339/2 If loose at this part take up the front and back, an equal portion, unless the fullness seems to be only on the front, in which case take up all that is necessary, only on the front, at the underarm seam. 1937 P. H. Richards Dress Creation xiii. 113 The quantity taken up in the tucks should amount in all to the distance between A and C. 1972 A. Ross London Assignment 28 The trousers were a fraction long, and would need to be taken up. 2003 C. Black What's it all About? (2004) xv. 172 It was a ruby-red, high-waisted velvet dress, and to make it look more fashionable, I took up the hem. 17. transitive. a. (a) To accept (a bet or challenge); to accept the bet or challenge of (a person). Cf. sense 30 and Phrases 1j(b).See also to take up the gauntlet at gauntlet n.¹ 1c, to take up the glove at glove n. 1d. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > accept onfangeOE fangOE to take with ——lOE takec1175 understandc1200 afangc1275 receivec1330 accepta1382 'lowa1382 except1393 to take up1570 to take a person up on (something)1807 to take up1810 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 418/2 He chalenged Henry..at the barriers, to be tryed at Northampton. But that chalenge was taken vp, least some farther inconuenience might haue risen therof. 1661 G. Wharton Select & Choice Poems 74 Pluto takes up the wager, and makes shew Of paints and varnishes both old and new. 1662 F. Kirkman Wits 68 Smirk thou shalt take him up, I'le wager on thy side. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 126. ¶9 Notwithstanding he was a very fair Bettor, no Body would take him up. 1764 F. C. Sheridan Dupe v. vi. 68 Take up his bett, Friendly, and I'll go your halves. 1880 G. Meredith Tragic Comedians II. x. 159 Marko..had taken up Alvan's challenge. 1893 Temple Bar Jan. 21 It don't concern you who takes up the bets. 1910 ‘R. Dehan’ One Braver Thing xxix. 226 Nobody took up the bet, fortunately for the sportsman. 1986 R. Sproat Stunning the Punters 82 Only four of us took him up, me included. Bare-knuckle fighting, not Queensberry rules, but fair enough fights. 2006 Independent 15 Apr. 39/1 A growing army of wordsmiths is taking up a challenge to craft six-line verses that obey the disciplines of the so-called Fibonacci sequence. (b) To accept (an offer, invitation, etc.); (also) to accept the offer or invitation of (a person). ΚΠ 1679 J. Davies tr. Appian Hist. i. vii. 197 Scipio..said that..if any one of riper Years, would accept the command, he was ready to yield it to him. But none taking up the offer, he went with greater admiration and applause to this War. a1766 J. Ronald Reality & Efficacy Work Spirit of God (1767) 70 Did you take up the offer of Christ, and salvation through him, as made particularly to yourself? 1860 J. H. Williams Let. 11 Mar. in J. K. Folmar This State of Wonders (1986) ii. 71 Brown may continue his offer as I did not take him up at once. 1893 N.Y. Times 4 May 8 The New-York and New-Jersey Telephone Company offered to take its men back at the old wages..but nobody took the offer up. 1943 D. J. Manners Under Running Laughter 209 I guess you'll be wantin' to take up their invite to go to stay at the lake pretty soon. 1989 P. Dally Elizabeth Barrett Browning iv. 33 Elizabeth did not take up his reiterated invitation to visit him. 2002 Sun 16 July 26/2 (advt.) Take up this offer and you can choose a second free gift. †b. To accept (a statement, idea, etc.) on trust; to believe without proof. Chiefly with upon credit, upon trust. Cf. sense 6a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > bring to belief, convince [verb (transitive)] > be convinced, swallow feela1200 to take on trust1590 swallow1594 to take up1617 to take upon content1646 to take in1823 1617 C. A. Monsig^r. Fate Voi 4 To take vp in great, all that he saith, vpon the courtesy of his Readers credit. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §34 It is strange how the ancients took up experiments upon credit, and yet did build great matters upon them. 1653 J. Howell German Diet sig. C2^v Caesar..never entred into the bowells of the Land, and what he delivers he took up in trust by confused rumors. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. iv. §8 Greek writers..took up things upon trust as much as any people in the world did. 1703 N. Battely Somner's Antiq. Canterbury (rev. ed.) i. 44 Thus others have told them, and they think they may take it up upon trust, and say as much after them. 1854 A. Gilchrist Life William Etty I. 347 Loose old-fashioned notions, taken up on trust. c. To take notice of and repeat (a story, rumour, etc.). ΚΠ 1773 F. Grose Antiq. Eng. & Wales III. Alnwick Castle Pl. ii The very words of the deed of infeoffment..confute a report too hastily taken up by some historians. 1856 C. R. Kennedy in tr. Demosthenes Orations App. v. 264 The story was taken up by the poets, and is embodied in the famous..drinking song of Callistratus, written about a century after the event. 1888 Scotsman 5 Mar. 6/4 Mrs Gordon Baillie is the heroine of the hour. Her wonderful adventurous story has been taken up by some of the London Newspapers. 1920 S. W. Bassett Taming of Zenas Henry xiii. 242 Promptly the town took up the gossip. ‘The Brewsters are all goin' to pieces!’ they whispered among themselves. 2012 C. Fitzgerald Namesake (2013) xxxiv. 207 The national newspapers took up the story, and reporters swarmed the streets. d. To accept or receive (something offered); to claim (a benefit, grant, etc.). Cf. take-up n. 5b. ΘΚΠ society > morality > dueness or propriety > [verb (transitive)] > claim challengea1240 claimc1320 pretend?a1425 vouch1488 to lay claim to1584 assert1649 vindicate1680 to take up1810 the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > accept onfangeOE fangOE to take with ——lOE takec1175 understandc1200 afangc1275 receivec1330 accepta1382 'lowa1382 except1393 to take up1570 to take a person up on (something)1807 to take up1810 1810 W. P. Taunton Rep. Court Common Pleas 1 165 The Defendant having no claim against the Plaintiff, had no interest in taking up the award. 1892 Sat. Rev. 8 Oct. 403/2 Mr. Stanley (on taking up the freedom of Swansea) spoke very vigorously on the subject of Uganda. 1927 Times 24 Feb. 20/2 Adequate provision has been made for those who, leaving our service, automatically take up State benefits and make State contributions. 1971 Guardian 15 Apr. 1/1 A major campaign to persuade people to take up their welfare and social security benefits has been launched by the Government. 1977 Skateboard Special Sept. 2/1 If you want to take up our super Swap-Shop offer now's your chance. 1999 What Investm. Mar. 124/2 If you have not taken up this year's PEP allowances you could ‘bed-and-PEP’. 18. intransitive. to take up with. a. To begin to associate or keep company with, esp. with a view to a romantic or sexual relationship; to become friendly with; to form a relationship with. Cf. to take with —— 2 at Phrasal verbs 2. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] workOE friend1483 to make friends (with, of, to)1561 to take up with1570 to pal up (also around, out, etc.)1889 to get next to1896 society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a companion or associate > accompany or associate with [verb (transitive)] seeOE to bear (a person) company (also fellowship, etc.)c1225 mella1300 fellowshipa1382 companya1400 accompany1461 to keep company (with)1502 encompanya1513 to keep (a person) company1517 to take repast1517 assist1553 to take up with1570 rempare1581 to go along with1588 amate1590 bear1590 to fall in1593 consort1598 second1600 to walk (also travel) in the way with1611 comitate1632 associate1644 enhaunt1658 join1713 assort1823 sit1828 companionize1870 to take tea with1888 to knock about with1915 tote1977 fere- 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1392/2 The Maior aunswered, what come ye to me? You are taken vp with the kynges counsaile. 1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. B4^v Are you therefore my superiour because you are taken vp with Gentlemen, and I with the yeomanrie? a1625 J. Fletcher Wit without Money (1639) i. sig. B1 He's taken up with those that wooe the Widdow. 1690 T. Brown Reasons Mr. J. Hains Conversion 25 Having got drunk, I took up with a common Wench in the streets, and have met with a Clap. 1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 28 The man of Mode takes up with a damn'd Jilt. 1709 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 12 Nov. (1965) I. 19 These wars make men so violent scarce, that these good ladies take up with the shadows of them. a1777 S. Foote Maid of Bath (1778) 55 A garson of your antient famille to take up with a pauvre petite bourgoise? 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. xi. 173 To see his daughter taking up with their son. 1887 E. E. Money Little Dutch Maiden (1888) 329 If you cannot marry her, you won't care to take up with another. a1914 H. Miles Brief Sketch of Life (1924) 58 He has taken up with that lot, and been to their chapel, and become a Methodist, and joined that narrow-minded people. 1957 R. Hoggart Uses of Literacy iii. 76 The woman he ‘took up with’ was likely enough to be married herself and of roughly the same age as his own wife. 1963 Australasian Post (Melbourne) 14 Mar. 44/1 Miss Dolly has ‘taken up’ with a poor but respectable cabinet-maker and his wife... She sells her stolen nag to help them out. 2000 M. Barrowcliffe Girlfriend 44 xvii. 437 I wondered how desperate she was that she had taken up with this bloke. †b. To be satisfied with; to content oneself with; to put up with, tolerate. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > be content or satisfied with [verb (transitive)] restc1300 to take in (good) wortha1382 sufficec1390 to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in wortha1456 stay1549 to take up with1609 to settle for1959 the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > endure patiently [verb (transitive)] > bear with or tolerate forbearc897 tholec950 bearOE abidec1300 bidea1325 takec1330 suffer1340 wielda1375 to have patience with (also in, toward)c1384 supportc1384 to sit with ——c1400 sustainc1400 thulgec1400 acceptc1405 to away with1528 brook1530 well away1533 to bear with —1538 digest1553 to comport with1565 stand1567 purse?1571 to put up1573 well away1579 comport1588 fadge1592 abrook1594 to come away1594 to take up with1609 swallow1611 embracea1616 to pack up1624 concocta1627 to set down bya1630 to take with ——1632 tolerate1646 brook1658 stomach1677 pouch1819 the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > accept without resistance [verb (transitive)] > put up with or become reconciled to bear1540 reconcile1543 to take up with1609 to come to terms1860 to live with ——1937 1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 394 Never doe wee find that he tooke up with any mild correction and punishment. 1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 395 I will not take up with the old and meane buildings of my Ancestors. 1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. xiv. 276 Nature teaches and inclines us to take up with our Lot. 1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. viii. 282 The unsatisfactory Nature of the Evidence, with which we are obliged to take up. 1825 New Monthly Mag. 13 588 The book-sellers..buy all the good books, and the joint stock company must take up with the refuse of the market. 1839 London & Paris Observer 24 Mar. 185/3 Our jeweller persisted..in affirming his first valuation; and I rather think Sir Thomas was obliged, after all, to take up with his lot. 1875 J. G. Holland Sevenoaks iv. 43 ‘If you can take up with what we've got,’ said Mrs. Buffum suggestively. ‘In course,’ responded Jim, ‘an' I can take up with what ye haven't got.’ c. To adopt, espouse, agree with (an idea, belief, etc.); to become interested or engaged in (a profession or pastime). Cf. sense 8a. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > assent > [verb (transitive)] cordc1380 to give handsa1425 to fall to ——a1450 agree1472 to go into ——1540 astipulate1548 subscribe1560 seal1579 suffragate1606 give1621 assent1637 homologate1644 to take up with1673 affirmative1775 chorus1836 yea-say1887 yes1915 1673 W. Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-master v. i. 94 You must have your great, gilt, fine, painted Coaches, I'm sure they are grown so common already amongst you, that Ladies of Quality begin to take up with Hackneys agen. 1692 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. ii. 27 I could as easily take up with that senseless assertion of the Stoics. 1724 A. Collins Disc. Grounds Christian Relig. 275 Taking up with all manner of false proofs in behalf of Christianity. 1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. xvi. 76 As he could not have the honour of it, in the literal sense of the doctrine—he took up with the allegory of it. 1825 R. H. Froude in Remains (1838) I. 178 My lately having taken up with reading sermons. 1885 J. Martineau Types Ethical Theory I. 127 We take up at once with the belief that the space around us is empty. 1905 Secret Service 19 May 18/1 He felt that he had made as bad a break as ever before since he took up with the detective business. a1941 V. Woolf Haunted House (1967) 79 A readiness to take up with something new—whatever it may be that comes next to hand. 1998 J. Skinner in Bk. of Margery Kempe 5 It is easy to imagine that once Margery took up with the idea of becoming a pilgrim, her lifestyle changed into a continual traipse from one holy site to the next. †d. To repair or retire to (a bed, couch, etc.); = to take to —— 1b at Phrasal verbs 2. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come into [verb (transitive)] > esp. a place of refuge or safety to take to ——c1300 take?a1400 to take up with1748 oasis1814 1748 L. Pilkington Mem. II. 128 As I could not take up with her Bed, I was obliged to sit up all Night. 1760 S. Fielding Ophelia I. iv. 24 At night he again took up with his Couch. 19. transitive. To begin afresh (something left off, or begun by another); to resume, recommence. Also intransitive. Cf. to take up the threads at thread n. 8. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > again renovela1325 renewa1387 resumec1400 renove?c1425 anewc1440 reassume1472 to take again1474 take1477 reprise1481 recommencea1513 renovate1535 to take up1587 rebegin1598 reopen1756 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 158 Good Eccho shew me thy good will, is no man here but thou and I: Take vp my tale as I lament. 1656 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa V. iii. iv. 250 With Atafernes I joyfully took up our way to the Camp. 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 465. ¶5 Soon as the Evening Shades prevail, The Moon takes up the wondrous Tale. 1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 33 I will write my Time away, and take up my Story where I left off, on Sunday Afternoon. 1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) i. 5 When at last she lost her voice..he took up the word. 1850 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 482/2 Mr. Ward's diary takes up the history..just where Lord Malmesbury's memoirs leave it. 1902 O. Wister Virginian xxxii. 421 We took up our journey, and by the end of the forenoon we had gone some distance. 1961 C. Beaton Diary in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xxiii. 340 We immediately took up where we had left off. 2003 Guardian 23 Apr. (Society section) 2 ‘They said there was nothing they could do for him,’ says his mother, taking up the story after her son has left the room. 20. a. transitive. Of a substance or body: to absorb (a fluid, moisture, etc.); to interact with and retain (a gas or other substance); to dissolve (a solid). ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > action or process of absorbing > absorb [verb (transitive)] to suck up1530 haust1542 soakc1555 to take up1597 absorb1604 imbibe1651 inhale1836 sop1888 1597 J. Gerard Herball iii. cxxxii. 1327 A liquor, which being taken vp with a spunge, or a little wooll, is dried. 1656 tr. Marnettè Perfect Eng. Cooke 3 in Perfect Cook Roul your eggs, meat and herbs till your meat hath taken it up; then take sweet butter and fry your meat in. 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. v. 105 Nutritive Juices, taken up by the absorbent Vessels. 1758 A. Reid tr. P. J. Macquer Elements Theory & Pract. Chym. I. 47 An acid cannot take up above such a certain proportion thereof as is sufficient to saturate it. 1805 W. Saunders Treat. Mineral Waters (ed. 2) 29 Water, at a moderate temperature, will readily take up its own bulk of carbonic acid gas. 1840 P. H. Gosse Canad. Naturalist xvi. 251 This mass of tubes is elastic, and capable of taking up and holding a large quantity of water, like a sponge. 1877 Scribner's Monthly 15 141/2 The elastic roller thus takes up the color from the pores of the wood. 1892 Cornhill Mag. Sept. 257 Water will take up 2 lb. 10 oz. of salt to the gallon. 1910 Pop. Mech. Mar. 322/2 The alkali takes up the carbonic acid gas of the respired breath and forms an alkaline carbonate. 1978 B. S. Beckett Illustr. Biol. xxxi. 62/1 As root hairs take up water their cell sap is diluted. 2011 I. Fraser & P. Marsack Bush Capital Year 133 The fungus too takes up food via its network of mycelial threads. b. transitive. Engineering. To accept, absorb, or assimilate (power, motion, etc.), esp. by gearing. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > furnish with wheel(s) [verb (transitive)] > assimilate power by changing gear to take up1847 1847 Railway Reg. 5 203 The amount of surface of float to take up the power of the engine, with the particular build and speed of the vessel. 1871 Ann. Rep. Amer. Inst. N.Y. 1870–1 981 in Docs. Assembly State N.Y. (94th Session, Doc. No. 111) IX Sufficient to take up the power of the steam at the beginning of the stroke and give it off at the close. 1921 Conquest Oct. 510/2 It appears to have solved the problem generally of how gradually and smoothly to take up and transmit the power of a prime mover or motor. 1966 Listener 24 Nov. 773/1 These slight irregularities help the colours to engage with each other,..rather as the slightly abrasive surface of a clutch-plate takes up the transmission. 2007 J. Zurschmeide High-performance Subaru Builder’s Guide vi. 67/3 (caption) These bevel gears can freely rotate around each other to take up the motion when your tires rotate at different speeds. c. intransitive. Of a boat, its timbers, or its seams: to expand (and hence become watertight) through immersion in water. Cf. sense 11d. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > action or process of absorbing > absorb [verb (intransitive)] to take up1902 society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [verb (intransitive)] > of timber: expand by absorbing water to take up1902 1902 Macmillan's Mag. Apr. 407/1 The carpenter's patches had leaked badly; and..the boat was towing astern to allow the new seams to ‘take up’. 1951 Motor Boating May 36/2 Daylight could be seen through her seams.., and..she made a little water when launched so we left her afloat for a few days to take up. 1960 E. L. Delmar-Morgan Cruising Yacht Equipm. & Navigation vii. 86 The planks and timbers will dry out... When they are once again waterborne they will leak until the wood ‘takes up’. 2012 Boat Repair Bible 274 Another simple solution is to relaunch the boat and allow the wooden planks to take up (swell). †21. transitive. To engage (a person) in a fight or battle; to take on. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight with [verb (transitive)] fightOE strugglec1386 wrestle1398 cope witha1467 undertake1470 to set one's foot by1536 skirmc1540 make1542 to break blows, words with1589 combata1592 to take up1600 warsle1606 stoush1924 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. iii. 73 His diuisions..And in three heads, one power against the French, And one against Glendower perforce a third Must take vp vs. a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 243 Corio. On faire ground, I could beat fortie of them. Mene. I could my selfe take vp a Brace o'th' best of them. View more context for this quotation 1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. iii. 5 King Henry..in June kept a solemne Just at Greenwich, where he and Sir Charles Brandon took up all cummers. 1739 J. Kelly Peruvian Tales III. lxvi. 66 Malacou, rising up, entreated the King to suffer him to take up the Challenger. 22. transitive. a. To apprehend with the senses, to perceive. Frequently in to take up the scent at scent n. Phrases 1.Sometimes with admixture of sense 19. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [verb (transitive)] fredec888 haveeOE yfeeleOE feelc1175 perceivec1330 comprehendc1374 find?a1425 perceiver1495 to take up1607 sensatea1652 percept1652 to suck ina1661 sense1661 appreciate1787 absorb1840 sensize1861 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 585 Presently the wilde beastes take it [sc. the scent] vp, and follow it withall speede they can. a1675 J. Lightfoot Wks. (1684) II. 509 He rather presented an object of his own framing, than the eyes of Christ took up the sight of these Kingdoms as they really were. 1686 R. Blome Gentlemans Recreation ii. 71 Others there are that can't keep the Scent, but wander up and down and hunt Counter, taking up any false Scent. 1770 Oxf. Mag. Feb. 80 He [sc. a fox] leap'd down a lime kiln, and crept out at the eye, where the dogs took up the scent again. 1837 ‘N. Polson’ Subaltern's Sick Leave 136 He became aware of a lion following his spoor, that is taking up his trail of footsteps, a common habit of the lion when hungry. 1888 Times 16 Oct. 10/5 The hound..took up the stale trail..without a fault. 1901 Badminton Mag. Feb. 123 The pack come up and take up the scent with a good cry. 1937 C. Birkby Zulu Journey 251 The people of the place must take up the trail and either trace the missing beast or compensate the owner. 2009 Times (Nexis) 3 Jan. 16 The police take up the scent and their hunt..leads them to Ethan's gallery. †b. To obtain (ideas, conclusions, etc.) from a source; to adopt, borrow; to deduce, infer. Also intransitive. Cf. sense 17b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain from a source or derive takec1175 drawa1300 to take out of ——1483 suck1535 to suck out1546 derive1561 extract1596 to take up1610 the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > process of inferring, inference > infer, conclude [verb (transitive)] concludec1374 takec1400 to drive outc1443 drive1447 derive1509 reasona1527 deduce1529 include1529 infer1529 gather1535 deduct?1551 induce1563 pick1565 fetch1567 collect1581 decide1584 bring1605 to take up1662 1610 D. Price Def. of Truth i. viii. 207 You read Coccius & Bellarmine, beleeved them, and preached them, and tooke vp from them, vpon trust, but not vpon truth. 1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. ii. sig. B3 Notes of Sermons, which taken vp at St. Maries, hee vtters in the Country. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. ii. §5 That the general conclusions of reason..were taken up from the observation of things as they are at present in the world. 1700 J. Dryden Fables Pref. sig. B^v I find I have anticipated already, and taken up from Boccace before I come to him. c. To comprehend, understand, grasp (a person's words, meaning, etc.). Also with the person as object. Frequently Scottish* in later use. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [verb (transitive)] yknoweOE acknowOE anyeteOE latchc1000 undernimc1000 understandc1000 underyetec1000 afindOE knowOE seeOE onfangc1175 takec1175 underfindc1200 underfonga1300 undertakea1300 kenc1330 gripea1340 comprehend1340 comprendc1374 espyc1374 perceivea1387 to take for ——?1387 catcha1398 conceivea1398 intenda1400 overtakea1400 tenda1400 havec1405 henta1450 comprise1477 skilla1500 brook1548 apprend1567 compass1576 perstanda1577 endue1590 sound1592 engrasp1593 in1603 fathom1611 resent1614 receivea1616 to take up1617 apprehend1631 to take in1646 grasp1680 understumblec1681 forstand1682 savvy1686 overstand1699 uptake1726 nouse1779 twig1815 undercumstand1824 absorb1840 sense1844 undercumstumble1854 seize1855 intelligize1865 dig1935 read1956 1617 Bruce's Way to True Peace & Rest xvi. 364 He must take heede to the meaning of the Author, that he take vp his true meaning so neare as he can. 1667 Guthrie's Christian's Great Interest (ed. 4) 58 A man may take up his gracious state by his faith, and the acting thereof on Christ. 1701 tr. A. Dacier Wks. Plato Abridg'd I. 158 Do you not understand me, do you take me up, and do you agree with what I say? 1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. vi. 101 A Student should never satisfy himself with bare Attendance on the Lectures of his Tutor, unless he clearly takes up his Sense and Meaning. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Tak up He taks up a thing before ye have half said it. 1867 N. Macleod Starling I. v. 55 ‘I do not take you up, sir,’ replied the Sergeant. 1913 A. M. Chisholm Desert Conquest vii. 98 He took up her meaning with extraordinary quickness. 1939 New Statesman & Nation 1 July 13/1 I was astonished to notice how quickly jokes were taken up by the gallery. I do not intend this as any reflection on the gallery—my surprise, I mean—for it is often the most intelligent part of theatre. 1972 in Sc. National Dict. (1974) IX. 199/3 [Aberdeen and Perth] Na, na, ye've teen me up wrang. 2009 B. Dare in S. Davidson & S. Carber Taking PYP Forward vi. 78 An ideal starting point for ESL students is to provide contexts where they can take up the meaning of the words and wordings you use because they are context embedded. †d. To contract (a disease). Cf. sense 33b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > cause to be ill [verb (transitive)] > catch illness catcha1393 enticec1400 engender1525 get1527 to take up1629 to come down1837 to pick up1889 start1891 to go down1895 1629 R. M. Micrologia sig. B4 Hee [sc. a Player] is one seldome takes care for old Age; because ill Diet and Disorder, together with a Consumption or some worse disease, taken vp in his full Careere; haue onely chalked out his Catastrophe but to a Colon. a1657 R. Loveday Lett. Domest. & Forrein (1659) 269 As if we had left London on purpose to come and take up diseases in the Countrey. 1848 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 9 ii. 360 We can conceive that an animal..should take up the disease, and afterwards communicate it to others. †e. To be accorded (honour, trust, esteem, etc.). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > be given underfoc888 afangOE underfongc1175 getc1300 latchc1300 undertake1393 receivea1400 to take up1639 to come into ——1672 to fall in for1788 1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre v. xxvi. 274 A Chronologer of such credit, that he may take up more belief on his bare word then some other on their bond. 1718 R. Blackmore Coll. Poems Var. Subj. 215 They take up Honour on their Father's Grant, While Merit, not their own, th' Usurpers vaunt. †23. intransitive. to take up in: to concern oneself with, to have reference to. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)] > become interested in to take up in1665 enter1694 to take up1751 to turn on1954 1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 120 Hath not the World out-grown the follies of Auguries..and took up in the resolves of Reason, as the best Oracle to consult in a civil business? 1679 R. South Serm. Several Occasions 262 The former Articles, that took up Chiefly in Speculation and Belief. 24. transitive. Bee-keeping. To remove the honey from (a hive), esp. by killing the bees with sulphur fumes; to kill (bees) in this way. Now rare. ΚΠ 1790 S. Deane New-Eng. Farmer 26/1 When a hive is taken up, there is no need of murdering the poor insects with fire and brimstone, as has been the usual practice. 1885 C. A. Stephens Adventures of Six Young Men 101 There were numerous bumble-bees' nests in the grass and about the old stumps. We ‘took up’ not less than ten that forenoon. 1907 Brit. Bee Jrnl. 19 Sept. 377/2 In this district, at least, the skeppists are sufficiently educated to ‘take up’ the swarms with their new combs and their old queens. 1922 Amer. Bee Jrnl. Mar. 92/1 The rural skeppist ‘takes up’ his surplus stocks... Knowing no better way or quicker way of honey taking than by killing the bees, he places the heaviest hives at dusk over a pit of lighted sulphur. 25. intransitive. U.S. to take up for: to stand up for; to support, side with. Cf. to take for —— 2 at Phrasal verbs 2. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > take someone's side or side with favoura1375 to stand with ——1384 takec1400 to take (a) part witha1470 to hold sides1490 to take the part ofc1500 to stick with ——1523 partake1546 follow1548 to join issue1551 to make with ——1559 favourize1585 side1585 party1587 to take in1597 part1669 to fall in1709 to take for ——1770 to take up for1824 range1874 1824 C. M. Sedgwick Redwood II. xvi. 220 It is not needful the brethren should know that I take up for you. 1878 Scribner's Monthly 15 769/2 To Amanda's surprise her father took up for Mark. 1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind xii. 234 I knew you were doing it just to take up for me. 1977 New Yorker 6 June 85/1 ‘Wouldn't it embarrass you, hearing that your daddy spent a night in jail?’ And Henry said no, it wouldn't—not if he knew his daddy had been taking up for someone. 2006 L. Howard Drop Dead Gorgeous iv. 48 ‘If she says it was a Buick, it's a Buick,’ said Dad, taking up for me, and Wyatt nodded. extracted from takev. < as lemmas
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