Book sb.

Forms: 1 bóc, booc, 2–4 boc, 3–5 bok, 4–6 boke, 4–7 booke, 4– book; (also 4–6 bock, 7 boock; north. 4 buk, 4–8 buke, Sc. 6–8 buick, 6– buik). Pl. books; in 1 bóec, béc. [A com. Teut. word, differing however in gender and other points in the various langs. With OE. bóc monosyllabic fem. (pl. béc) cf. OFris. and OS. bôk (pl. bôk) fem. and neut. (MDu. boek neut. and often masc., Du. boek masc.), OHG. buoh (pl. buoh) neut., also masc. and fem. (MHG. buoch, mod.G. buch neut.), ON. bók (pl. bœkr) fem. (Sw. bok, Da. bog), all in sense of ‘written document, book.’ These forms indicate an OTeut. *bôk-s str. fem., the plural of which was in OHG. and elsewhere sometimes made neuter (after the analogy of neuter monosyllabic plurals), and this gender extended to the sing. The original meaning was evidently ‘writing-tablet, leal, or sheet’: cf. Venantius Fortunatus Carm. vii. 18, 19 ‘barbara fraxineis pingatur runa tabellis,’ also OS. thia bôk the writing-tablet, ‘pugillaris’ Luke i. 63 (in Heliand 232, 235), OE. bóc charter: in pl. tablets, written sheets, hence ‘book,’ a sense subseq. extended to the singular. Gothic does not show *bôks, but an apparently derivative form bôka str. fem., in sense of ‘letter’ of the alphabet, pl. bôkôs litteræ, γράμματα, writing, document, book.

  Generally thought to be etymologically connected with the name of the beech-tree, OE. bóc, béce, ON. bók:—(see BEECH), the suggestion being that inscriptions were first made on beechen tablets, or cut in the bark of beech-trees; but there are great difficulties in reconciling the early forms of the two words, seeing that bôk-s ‘writing-tablet’ is the most primitive of all.]

  I.  † 1. A writing; a written document; esp. a charter or deed by which land (hence called bócland) was conveyed. Obs.

872–915.  in Thorpe, Diplomat., 168 (Bosw.). Ic him sealde ðæt lond on ece erfe and ða bec. Ibid. (886–99), 137. Heo cyðaþ on ðisse bec. Ibid. (938), 187. Ðis is beo boc ðe Æðelstan cing ʓebocode.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. v. 31. Swa hwylc swa his wif forlæt, he sylle hyre hyra hiwʓedales boc [Rushw. beec].

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. l. 1. What is this boc of forsaking of ȝoure moder.

1417.  E. E. Wills (1882), 27. Excepte ham þat I haue ynemned in þis bok to-for.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 36. A Boke, carta, cartula, codex, codicillus, liber, libellus, [etc.].

1553.  Edw. VI., Will, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. II. xxii. 431. All such as have paid their monies upon any bargain for lands, to have their books and bargains performed.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 224. By that time will our Booke, I thinke, be drawne.

1611.  Bible, Jer. xxxii. 12. The witnesses, that subscribed the booke [1885 R. V. deed] of the purchase.

[1818.  Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), II. 294. Might be conveyed by boc or written grant.

1876.  Digby, Real Prop., i. 12. The grants were effected by the king … by means usually of a ‘book’ or charter.]

  † 2.  A (written) narrative or account, record, list, register. Obs. (In the Bible only a following of Greek and Latin precedents, in their rendering by βίβλος, liber, the Heb. sēpher, k’thāb ‘writing, written account.’)

a. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. v. 1. Ðis is seo boc Adames mæʓrace.

1535.  Coverdale, Matt. i. 1. The boke of the generacion of Jesus Christ.

1582–8.  Hist. James VI. (1804), 123. The clerks and writters to the Lords of Sessioun compellit to rander the buicks of parliament unto thame.

1611.  Bible, Gen. v. 1. This is the booke of the generations of Adam.

1681.  Burnet, Hist. Ref., II. 14. He intended to create some new peers; and ordered him to write a book of such as he thought meetest.

  3.  gen. A written or printed treatise or series of treatises, occupying several sheets of paper or other substance fastened together so as to compose a material whole.

  In this wide sense, referring to all ages and countries, a book comprehends a treatise written on any material (skin, parchment, papyrus, paper, cotton, silk, palm leaves, bark, tablets of wood, ivory, slate, metal, etc.), put together in any portable form, e.g., that of a long roll, or of separate leaves, hinged, strung, stitched, or pasted together.

  a.  spec. (In reference to modern things.) Such a treatise occupying numerous sheets or leaves fastened together at one edge called the back, so as to be opened at any particular place, the whole being protected by binding or covers of some kind. But, since either the form of the book or its subject may be mainly or exclusively the object of attention, this passes on either side into

  b.  The material article so made up, without regard to the nature of its contents, even though its pages are occupied otherwise than with writing or printing, or are entirely blank (cf. 9): e.g., ‘a handsome book,’ i.e., a trophy of the binder’s art, ‘a tiny book,’ one that may be put in the waistcoat pocket.

  c.  A literary composition such as would occupy one or more volumes, without regard to the material form or forms in which it actually exists; ‘an intellectual composition, in prose or verse, at least of sufficient extent to make one volume (Littré s.v. livre). In this sense Carlyle described himself as ‘a writer of books.’

  It is not now usual to call a (modern) literary composition in manuscript a ‘book,’ unless we think of its printing as a thing to follow in due course. In sense b every volume is a ‘book’; whilst in sense c one ‘book’ may occupy several volumes; and on the other hand one large volume may contain several ‘books,’ i.e., literary works originally published as distinct books. No absolute definition of a ‘book’ in this sense can be given: in general, a short literary composition (especially if ephemeral in character, and therefore also in form) receives some other name, as tract, pamphlet, sketch, essay, etc.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., inscr. on Hatton MS. Ðeos boc sceal to Wioʓora ceastre. Ibid. (Sweet), 8. Ond ic bibiode … þæt nan mon ðone æstel from þære bec ne doe, ne þa boc from þæm mynstre.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xxi. 25. Ealle þa bec.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 101. Swa swa us seggeð bec.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7263. For mine bæc [c. 1275 bokes] hit me suggeð.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1470. Enoch … was þe first þat letters fand And wrot sum bokes wit his hand.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 348. Þis buk … I seuen partis divised es.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 135. Baw for bokes!

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., V. xii. 278. Sum man may fall þis Buk to rede.

1513.  More, Edw. V. (1641), Ded. There comming … into my hand a booke long since printed.

1519.  Horman, Vulg., 84. A volume is lesse than a boke, and a boke lesse than a coucher [L. codice].

1534.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), B iv b. I wyll intitle this boke the Golden boke.

1558.  Act 1 Eliz., ii. Set forth in one book entituled, The Booke of Common-prayer.

1600.  Register Stationers’ Co., 4 Aug. As you Like yt, a booke.

1611.  Bible, Jer. xxxvi. 2. Take thee a roule of a booke, and write therein.

1637.  Decree Star Chamb., in Milton’s Areop. (Arb.), 9. Seditious, scismaticall, or offensive Bookes or Pamphlets.

a. 1649.  Drumm. of Hawth., Biblioth. Edinb. Lect., Wks. (1711), 222. Books have that strange quality, that, being of the frailest and tenderest matter, they out-last brass, iron, and marble.

1710.  Act 8 Anne, in Lond. Gaz., No. 4686/3. Nine Copies of each Book … that from … the 10th of April, 1710, shall be printed … or re-printed with Additions, shall by the Printers thereof be delivered to the Warehouse-keeper of the … Company of Stationers.

1743.  Tindal, trans. Rapin’s Hist. Eng., II. XVII. 118. Books, as well printed as in Manuscript.

1865.  Ruskin, Sesame, 19. A book is essentially not a talked thing, but a written thing; and written, not with the view of mere communication, but of permanence.

1876.  Green, Short Hist., viii. § 1 (1882), 447. England became the people of a book, and that book was the Bible.

1884.  J. A. H. Murray, in 13th. Addr. Philol. Soc., 22. I do not know what a book is…. Was Shakspere the author of one book or of forty-four books?

1886.  Boston Literary World, 1 May, 150/1. The first matter was to settle the seemingly easy but really difficult question, What is a book? This they solved by defining it as ‘a literary work substantial in amount and homogeneous in character.’

  fig.  1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. iii. 87. This precious Booke of Loue, this vnbound Louer. Ibid. (1595), John, II. 485. This booke of beautie.

1847.  Tennyson, Princess, V. 136. Not ever would she love; but brooding turn The book of scorn.

  4.  fig. a. That in which we may read, and find instruction or lessons.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. v. 25. The book of mannis soule.

1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 408/2. To call the ymages of holye sayntes … and the figure of Chrystes crosse, the boke of his bitter passion.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 16. And this our life … Findes tongues in trees, bookes in the running brookes, Sermons in stones.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vi. 16. Laying before us two Books or Volumes to study if we will be secured from error; first the scriptures, revealing the will of God, and then the creatures expressing his power.

1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 47. For the Book of knowledg fair Presented with a Universal blanc.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., I. xix. 301. He had read in the book of heaven a fortune strangely accomplished in the person of the infant heir of that family.

1830.  J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 2. That great poet to whom the book of Nature and of the human heart seemed alike laid open.

1876.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, X. 371. The infinite book of the world, and life.

  b.  An example taken as = book of precepts.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 61. Þe lif of prelatis is bok & ensaumple of sugetis. Ibid., 92. Þei techen to þe comunes bi here owen wickid lif þat is a bok to here sugetis.

  c.  (with allusive reference to various real or reputed books, records, etc., and in uses suggested by these.)

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., IV. i. 236. Mark’d with a Blot, damn’d in the Booke of Heauen. Ibid., 2 Hen. VI., I. i. 100. Blotting your names from Bookes of Memory. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., III. i. 45. Oh Heauen, that one might read the Book of Fate. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T. IV. iii. 131. My name put in the booke of Vertue.

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, I. 77. Heav’n from all creatures hides the book of fate.

  4.  Elliptically or contextually:

  a.  The Bible, sometimes as the ‘divine book’ or ‘book of books’; frequently with reference to its use in the administration of oaths.

[c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 11. We radeð on boc þet elch man haueð to fere on engel of heuene.

c. 1250.  Passion Our Lord, 131, in O. E. Misc., 41. Hit is write in þe bok.]

1297.  R. Glouc., 472. Suerie vpe the bok.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2042. A mantil … he toke, And ȝede bacward, als sais þe bock.

1389.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 3. Eche of hem had sworen on þe bok to perfourme þe pointz.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Bochas, II. vii. (1554), 49 a. A sonne he had … Called Abia, the boke doth specifie.

c. 1450.  Why I can’t be nun, 20, in E. E. P. (1862), 138. On a boke I dare well swere In gode feythe and on womanhode.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., I. iv. 156. Ile be sworne on a booke shee loues you.

1678.  Trials of Ireland, &c. 3. Clerk of Crown … ‘Sir Philip Matthews to the Book.’

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 175. As the day closes on its peace and rest, The godly man sits down and takes ‘the book.’

1859.  W. M. Thomson (title), The Land and the Book.

1864.  Tennyson, En. Ard., 843. ‘Swear,’ added Enoch sternly, ‘on the book,’ And on the book, half-frighted, Miriam swore.

  † b.  The Book of Common Prayer; also the Mass-book, in the phrase by bell, book and candle; see BELL sb.¹ 8. Obs.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 25038 (Fairf.). Pilate … be-takenis feinde of helle, cursed he is wiþ boke and belle.

1556.  Chron. Gr. Friars (1852), 27. Sir Edmonde de la Poole was pronuncyd acursed opynly wyth boke, belle, and candell, at Powlles crose at the sermonde before none [1502].

1588.  Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 4. Whosoeuer will or haue subscribed vnto the booke and Articles.

  c.  Law. pl. The Year Books; any books reputed of authority in the law of England.

1628.  Coke, On Litt., 1 b. So we commonly say it is holden in our bookes.

1826.  Kent, Comm., I. 476. It will be a bad example to the barristers and students at law, and they will not give any credit to the books or have any faith in them.

1886.  Sir N. Lindley, Law Rep. 32 Chanc. Div., 29. There are other cases in the books illustrating the same principle.

  † 5.  ‘Benefit of clergy’: from the fact that a person claiming this had to read from a book handed to him, to show his scholarship. Obs.

1601.  Yarington, Two Lament. Traj., IV. ix. in Bullen, O. Pl., IV. Williams and Rachell likewise are convict For their concealment; Williams craves his booke And so receives a brond of infamie.

a. 1626.  Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law (1635), 17. Some prisoners have their bookes, and be burned in the hand and so delivered…. This having their bookes is called their clergy.

1643.  Herle, Answ. Ferne, 5. Flat blasphemy without booke.

1710.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4739/1. An Act for taking away the Benefit of Clergy in certain Cases, and for taking away the Book in all Cases.

  † 6.  Book-learning, scholarship, study, lessons, reading. In later use only pl. and passing into 3 c.

1297.  R. Glouc., 420. Vor þat he ȝongost was, to boc hys fader hym drou, Þat he was … god clerc ynou.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 187. Wel may þe barne blisse þat hym to boke sette.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., IV. i. 15. My sonne profits nothing in the world at his Booke.

1680.  P. Henry, Diaries & Lett. (1882), 282. Children at Book again, under Mr. Sam. Lewis.

1767.  Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Wom., II. viii. 7. An early love of books prevented this languor.

1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 460. His rushings to and fro, After his books, to flush his blood with air.

  7.  A main subdivision of a large treatise; being such as either (a) originally constituted a complete treatise of itself, or (b) occupied a separate roll or volume, when the whole treatise was for convenience written on several.

  a.  Each of the separate documents collected in the Sacred Scriptures, as the Book of Genesis, Book of Psalms.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 5810. Þatt writenn … Goddspell o fowwre bokess.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2522. Ðe boc ðe is hoten genesis.

1533.  Frith, Answ. More (1829), 156. Let it [the Church] read these two books … (Sapience & Ecclesiasticus) unto the edifying of the people.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., I. ii. 98. In the Booke of Numbers is it writ.

1782.  Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. Pref. 23. I have almost always quoted the Book, & Chapter.

1863.  Stanley, Jew. Ch., Introd. 33. The Books of Moses, Joshua, and Samuel.

  b.  A main division of the subject matter of a prose treatise, or of a poem; now usually in prose only when further subdivided into chapters, or portions otherwise distinguished; but formerly used freely, where chapter would now be used. So Gr. βιβλίον little book, L. liber; as in the nine books of Herodotus, the twelve books of Vergil’s Æneid.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., Pref. 23. This an Boc is todealet in eahte lesse Boke.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1. This treatyse … is distincte and diuyded in to thre bokes, in the honour of the Trinite.

1555.  Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 278. To wryte particularly … of these regions it wolde requyre rather a hole volume then a book.

1593.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., Pref. viii. § 2. The last book of this treatise.

1635.  J. Babington, Geometry, 36. By the thirteenth of the sixth booke of Euclide.

1713.  Steele, Englishm., No. 29. 186. The Poem consists of Three Books.

1818.  Byron, Juan, I. cc. My poem … is meant to be Divided in twelve books.

1866.  Reader, 2 June, 545. We find the twenty books (or chapters as we should now call them) relate to the following subjects.

  8.  The copy of words to which music is set; the libretto of an opera, oratorio, etc.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ., I. 180. A small pamphlet, it might be the book of the opera.

1882.  Daily News, 18 July, 2/2. Tuneful gems of a work which deserved a stronger book.

  9.  A number of sheets of blank writing-paper bound together to form a volume in which to keep records of commercial transactions, minutes of meetings, etc. Also a volume containing such records. A merchant’s books: his account-books. Hence with numerous qualifications: as bill-, cash-, day-, exercise-, minute-, note-book, etc.; see BILL, CASH, DAY, etc.

1498–9.  Old City Acc. Bk. (Archæol. Jrnl. XLIII.). Itm p^d to Ric Magson for entryng of the Juells and goods belongyng to the Crafte into this Boke viijd.

1557.  Order of Hospitalls, F iv b. You shall kepe … the Booke of Children, Which booke shall contayne th’ admission of any childe into this Howse.

1580.  Baret, Alv., B 923. A reckening booke, codex accepti & expensi.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 101. Keepe … thy pen from Lenders Bookes.

a. 1612.  Sir T. Bodley in D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1866), 254. Let all these riches be treasured up … in good writings and books of account.

1639.  Cade, Serm. for these Times, 60. He keeps his books evenest … that every night books all his receits and expenses.

1690.  W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 65. He was hughly in your books.

1753.  Scots Mag., April, 165/1. To cause their books to be balanced.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xix. 154. If you received the note from us, it must be entered in our books.

1881.  Morley, Cobden, I. 117. The books show that the nett profits of the firm had exceeded £23,000 for the year.

  b.  fig. (= note-book.)

1382.  Wyclif, Ps. cxxxviii [ix]. 16. In thi boc alle shul be writen.

1611.  Bible, ibid. In thy booke all my members were written … when as yet there was none of them.

1786.  Burns, Invent., 71. Sae dinna put me in your buke.

  10.  Betting. A betting-book; a record of a number of bets made with different people, generally kept in a memorandum book.

1856.  Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., 490. You haven’t skill enough to make what is called a ‘good book,’ and you’ll always be a sufferer. Ibid. (1843), J. Hinton, xviii. 125. I have gone on adding wager to wager, until at last I find myself with a book of some eight hundred pounds.

  11.  Whist. The first six tricks taken by either party.

  12.  A packet of gold-leaf, containing 25 leaves, which are put up between leaves of soft paper.

  II.  Phrases.

  13.  Book of God: God’s book, the Bible. Book of lading (see quot.). Book of life († livers, the living): in biblical language the record of the names of those who shall inherit eternal life (cf. Phil. iv. 3; Rev. xx. 12). Book of rates (see quot.). Book of reference: a book referred to for information, rather than read continuously.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 21. Hwæt awriten is on Godes bocum.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter lxviii[ix]. 28. Of boke of livand be þai done awai.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, cxlvi. 4. All þaire namys ere writen in þe boke of life.

1382.  Wyclif, Ps. lxviii[ix]. 28. Fro the boc of lyueres.

1548.  Latimer, Ploughers (1868), 17. All thinges that are written in Goddes boke.

1611.  Bible, Rev. iii. 5. I will not blot out his name out of the booke of life.

1651.  Proc. Parliament, No. 119. 1850. According to the price of corn, and Book of Rates.

1809.  R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 130. Book of lading, book kept by the master of a vessel, containing particulars of the cargo. Ibid., Book of rates, books specifying the customary duties on all goods payable at the Custom-House.

1837.  Lockhart, Scott (1839), VII. 407. Shelves filled with books of reference.

  14.  By (the) book: formally, in set phrase. In a person’s (good) books: in favor with him, in his good opinion. In a person’s bad books, out of a person’s books: in disfavor with him (see also BLACK BOOK 4 b). † Out of one’s book: out of one’s reckoning, mistaken. Without († one’s) book: without authority; also lit. without the aid of a book, from memory, by rote.

1509.  Parl. Deuylles, xlvii. He is out of our bokes, and we out of his.

1549.  Latimer, Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 68. If you folowe theym, you are oute of youre boke.

a. 1569.  Kingesmyll, Man’s Est., xii. (1580), 88. Sainct Paule … speaketh not without booke, but of experience.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. v. 112. You kisse by th’ booke. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., I. iii. 28. He … speaks three or four languages word for word without booke.

1615.  W. Hull, Mirr. Maiestie, 24. But, in so saying, he spake without his booke.

a. 1624.  Bp. M. Smyth, Serm. (1632), 4. Why he should be so odious to him, and so farre out of his bookes.

a. 1659.  Cleveland, Vit. Uxoris, xii.

1692.  Locke, Toleration, ii. Wks. 1727, II. 272. To shew you that I do not speak wholly without Book.

a. 1707.  Bp. Patrick, Autobiogr. (1839), 87. The very prayers of the Liturgy, which I said without book.

1861.  G. G. Perry, Hist. Ch. Eng., I. xii. 403. The Arminians, who at that time were in his bad books.

1870.  Lowell, Study Wind., 257. To speak loosely and without book.

  15.  To be upon the books (of an institution, etc.): to have one’s name entered in the official list of members, patients, etc.; hence to take one’s name off the books. † To drive to book: to cause (a person) to give evidence on oath. To bring to book: to bring to account, cause to show authority (for statements, etc.); to examine the evidence for (a statement, etc.), investigate. To close the books (of a business concern): to make no further entries (for a time). To shut the books: to suspend business operations. To speak like a book: i.e., accurately, with full or precise information. To take a leaf out of (a person’s) book: to take pattern from him, follow his example.

c. 1460.  Launfal, 788. To say the soth, wythout les, Twelve knyghtes wer dryve to boke.

1788.  H. Watson, in Med. Commun. (1790), II. 258. At length the wound being nearly healed, she was discharged the house, but continued on the books as an out-patient.

1858.  Times, in Merc. Mar. Mag., V. 46. The oldest merchants are ‘shutting their books,’ as they express it.

1861.  Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., I. ii. 32. It is a great pity that some of our instructors in more important matters than sculling will not take a leaf out of the same book.

1868.  ‘Holme Lee,’ B. Godfrey, xxxiv. 118. The young scapegrace took his name off the college books.

1870.  Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, II. v. 104. We’ll bring Sherborne to book.

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 215/1. By means of these figures we bring the matter, as it were, to book, and eliminate tangible results.

  III.  Attrib. and Comb.

  16.  simple attrib. Of or pertaining to books; entered in books; according to books; bookish. (Often written with hyphen as in 17, 18, but properly all cases where there are two distinct accents belong here.)

1865.  Boston (U.S.) Commonw., 11 March. These lectures will be published in book form.

  17.  General combinations: a. attributive, as book-astronomer, -auction, -auctioneer, -birth, -cover, -desk, -education, -fair, -knowledge. -label, -language, -mania, -market, -package, -prayer, -prop, -prophecy, -quarrel, -rack, -rest, -room, -sale, -shelf, -shop, -show, -speech, -stall, -store, -teaching, -title, -trade, -war, -word, etc.

1837.  Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 115. Euclid was merely a *book-astronomer, who had never observed the heavens.

1809.  Knox & Jebb, Corr., I. 532. I was at a *book auction of a deceased priest.

1880.  J. L. Warren, Book-plates, Pref. 3. The large *book-auctioneers.

1597.  Gerard’s Herbal, To Rdr. This *bookebirth thus brought foorth by Gerard.

1864.  Mrs. Jameson, etc. Hist. Our Lord, &c. I. 22. The sculptured tablets applied as *book-covers to the Sacred Volumes.

1679.  Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 383. The most difficult piece of wood work … was a *Book-desk.

1883.  W. Blaikie, in Harper’s Mag., Nov., 903/2. All the *book-education they [Lincoln, Garfield, etc.] had while boys would not make one-third part of what is imposed on the school-boy of to-day.

1863.  W. Waterston, Cycl. Commerce, s.v. Book, Two great *book-fairs … held annually at Easter and Michaelmas.

1844.  Sir F. Palgrave, Truths & Fictions Mid. Ages (ed. 2), 118. An ounce of mother wit, improved by observation, is worth a stone of *book-knowledge.

1880.  J. L. Warren, Book-plates, i. 8. Another view of a *book-label may now be taken … a precaution against … loss or theft.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 394. The same fortune that the Greek and Latine tongues had,… to become only School & *book-languages.

1824.  Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 39. The turnings and windings of the *Book-mania.

1862.  Burton, Bk.-hunter, I. 55. Auctioneers were surprised at the gradual change coming over the *book-market.

1647.  Saltmarsh, Sparkl. Glory (1847), 66. Those forms, as of Common-Prayer, *Book-prayers, outward rules of worship.

1862.  Lytton, Str. Story, I. 214. The sofa … with *book-prop and candlestick screwed to its back.

a. 1679.  T. Goodwin, Wks. (1861), III. 213. The *book-prophesy … hath this prologue or preface unto it.

1620.  Sanderson, Serm. (1681), I. 44. Multiplying unnecessary *book-quarrels.

1885.  C. C. Harrison, in Harper’s Mag., March, 543/1. I had made up my mind to nothing but a *book-rack, or a paltry little toilet set.

1866.  Direct. Angl. (ed. 3), 3. The Service Book placed on the *bookrest.

1788.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), IV. 439. I appointed a Committee for … superintending the business of the *Book-room.

1871.  M. Collins, Mrq. & Merch., III. viii. 212. Away from his own beloved bookroom and laboratory.

1818.  Byron, To Mr. Murray. Along thy sprucest *bookshelves shine The works thou deemest most divine.

1840.  Carlyle, Heroes, vi. 312. We will leave the Polemic stuff of a dead century to lie quiet on its bookshelves.

1862.  Burton, Bk.-hunter, I. 54. Works of ordinary literature to be found in every *book-shop.

1911.  Sacramento Bee, 9 March, 10/5. One of the finest volumes exhibited by the State Library during its series of book-shows is a copy of the Prayer Book of King Edward VII.

a. 1652.  J. Smith, Sel. Disc., viii. 378. Some who may arrive at that *book-skill and learning in divine mysteries.

1871.  Earle, Philol. Eng. Tong., § 23. The Angles first produced a cultivated *book-speech.

1800.  Ann. Reg., 319/2. I one day happened at a *book-stall to see a small dictionary.

1810.  Edin. Rev., XVII. 121. Booksellers’ shops passing under the name of *‘Book Stores.’

1884.  T. W. Higginson, in Harper’s Mag., Feb., 420/2. His [Henry Knox’s] bookstore in Boston has been, it is recorded, ‘a great resort for the British officers and Tory ladies who were the ton at that period.’

1874.  J. D. Heath, Croquet-Player, 11. *Book-teaching … cannot equal in efficiency practical lessons given by a good player on the lawn itself.

1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., I. iv. 230. Accurate transcripts of *book-titles.

1863.  W. Waterston, Cycl. Commerce, s.v. Book, The modern *book-trade dates from the discovery of the art of printing.

1670.  Walton, Life Hooker, 33. Mr. Hooker became at last, but most unwillingly, to be engaged in a *book-war.

1851.  Kingsley, Yeast, xi. 198. Those fine *book-words and long sentences.

  b.  objective or obj. genitive, as book-borrower, -breeder, -buyer, -collecting, -collector, -cutter, -dealer, -devouring, -fancier, -fancying, -folding, -hawker, -hawking, -hunter, -hunting, -lover, -manufacture, -merchant, -monger, -ownership, -preservation, -printer, -printing, -protecting, -purger (= expurgator), -vender, -worship, -writer, writing, etc.

1880.  J. L. Warren, Book-plates, ix. 96. In the case of the *book-borrowers there is no such Nemesis.

1605.  Camden, Rem. (1637), 288. Sir Thomas Moore … and other *Book-breeders.

1862.  Burton, Bk.-hunter, I. 47. *Book-buyers among whom his great critical works are forgotten. Ibid., I. 59. The freaks of *book-collecting.

1791–1824.  D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1839), III. 342. The most magnificent of *book-collectors, the Duke de la Vallière.

1863.  ‘Holme Lee,’ A. Warleigh, II. 311. Alice paused with a slender pearl *book-cutter in her hand.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. lviii. 172. The *book-devouring Isabel.

1862.  Burton, Bk.-hunter, I. 69. The curious blunder which made one of them worth the notice of the *book-fanciers.

1870.  Emerson, Soc. & Solit., viii. 168. The annals of bibliography afford many examples of the delirious extent to which *book-fancying can go.

1791–1824.  D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1839), III. 342. To what hard hunting these *book-hunters voluntarily doom themselves.

1862.  Burton (title), The Book-hunter.

1863.  Grosart, Small Sins, 78. A book-worm—the pest of *book-lovers—has pierced and tunnelled right through and through it.

1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 15. *Book-merchants … undoubtedly receive no small advantage from a right improvement of a learned scuffle.

1662.  Fuller, Worthies, III. 168. He was a great *Book-monger.

c. 1500.  Cocke Lorelles B. (1843), 9. *Boke prynters, peynters, bowers.

1863.  J. G. Nichols, Herald & Geneal., II. 158. Our historical *book-printing societies.

1606.  W. Crashaw, Rom. Forg., I. 147. Instructions, giuen by the Pope … to all *Booke-purgers.

1701.  H. Wanley, in Phil. Trans., XXV. 1998. The Librarii or *Book-writers were … a particular company of men, and their Business a Trade. Ibid. *Book-writing was their profession.

1820.  Scott, Monast., Introd. 32. The irritabile genus comprehends the bookselling as well as the book-writing species.

  c.  instrumental, as book-formed, -lined, -sworn, -taught, etc., adjs.

1798.  Joanna Baillie, De Monfort, I. i. Plays 1821, I. 313 (Ogilvie). Every table-wit, and book-form’d sage.

1558.  Inv. A. Nycholson, Kendal (Somerset Ho.). Bodely *Buke sworne.

1642.  Cudworth, Serm. 1 John ii. 3 (1676), 40. Not he that is only *book-taught but he that is God-taught.

1760.  Goldsm., Cit. W., II. lxvii. Our *book-taught philosopher.

  18.  Special comb.: † book-answerer, a critic; book-bearer, one who carries a book, also a prompter (obs.), = book-holder; book-board, a bookshelf in a pew, pulpit, etc.; book-bosomed a., (used by Scott for) having a book in the bosom; book-bound a., set round with books; book-club, a subscription library (obs.), also a club in which the subscriptions are expended in the purchase or borrowing of books for the common use of the members; book-crab = book-scorpion; book-credit, an amount credited to a person’s account in a ledger; book-debt, an amount debited to a person’s account in a ledger, a debt owing to a tradesman as recorded in his account-books; book-ghoul (see quot.); book-holder, one who or that which holds a book, † spec. a theatrical prompter, = book-bearer; † book-house, a library; book-law, written law; † book-leiger, one who confines his study to book-learning (cf. LEIGER); book-louse, a minute neuropterous insect (Psocus pulsatorius) destructive to books; book-mark, a mark or label placed in or upon a book to indicate ownership; also a piece of ribbon, paper, etc., inserted between the leaves of a book to mark a place; in this sense often called a book-marker; book-mate, school-fellow, fellow-student; † book-matter, a matter the adequate treatment of which would fill a book; † book-money, surplice-fees; book-muslin, a fine kind of muslin owing its name to the book-like manner in which it is folded when sold in the piece, also ellipt. a dress made of such muslin; book-oath, an oath sworn on the ‘book’; book-packet, a packet that may be sent through the book-post; book-post, the system and regulations under which books and printed matter may be sent through the post-office; book-postage, the price charged for carriage by book-post; = book-rate; book-press, a bookcase; book-scorpion, an arachnid insect (Chelifer cancroides) resembling a scorpion, often found in old books; book-slide, an expanding holder or stand for books; book society = book-club; book-stand, a stand or case for books; book-work, work at books, study of text-books; book-wright, a maker or author of books. Also BOOK-BINDER, -CASE, -CRAFT, -FELL, -KEEPER, etc.

1760.  Goldsm., Cit. W., xiii. (1837), 48. If he has much money, he may buy reputation from your *book-answerers.

1530.  Palsgr., 199/2. *Boke bearer in a ploye, prothocolle.

1636.  Prynne, Unbish. Tim. (1661), 7. Timothy … being so much at Pauls beck, as to be … his Cloack-carrier, and Book-bearer.

1861.  Ramsay, Remin., ii. (ed. 18), 42. A nail on the seat or *book-board.

1805.  Scott, Last Minstrel, III. viii. A *book-bosom’d priest.

1863.  J. C. Jeaffreson, Sir Everard’s Dau., xiii. 224. His little *book-bound parlour.

1792.  A. Young, Trav. France, 90. A chamber de lecture, or what we should call a *book-club, that does not divide its books, but forms a library.

1804.  W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem., I. 485. People … wait till it comes to the library or the book-club.

1835.  Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., II. xvi. 90. In the scorpion and the *book-crab … the mandibles … have a moveable joint.

1863.  Fawcett, Pol. Econ., II. x. (1876), 261. Tradesmen fail in business, in consequence of their money becoming locked up in *book-credits.

1689.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2480/4. The Creditors … are desired to bring in an Account of their several Debts, whether on Judgements, Bond, or *Book-Debts.

1809.  R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 12. Book Debts, if not legally demanded within the space of six years, cannot be recovered by law.

1881.  A. Lang, Library, 56. The *Book-Ghoul is he who combines the larceny of the biblioklept with the abominable wickedness of breaking up and mutilating the volumes from which he steals.

1585.  Higins, Junius’ Nomenclator, 501 (Halliw.). He that telleth the players their part when they are out, and haue forgotten: the prompter, or *booke holder.

a. 1000.  Ælfric, Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 185. Librarium, *bochus.

1340.  Ayenb., This boc is dan Michelis of Northgate, ywrite in … the bochouse of Saynt Austines of Canterbury.

1675.  Marvell, Corr., ccxlix. Wks. 1872–5, II. 466. A new Popish test for Book-Houses.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. VI. vi. 357. A court of Law, not *Book-Law but primeval Club-Law.

1672.  T. Venn, Mil. & Marit. Discip., xxii. 169. What can such who are mere *Book-leidgers do?

1880.  J. L. Warren, Book-plates, ii. 14. Insigne librorum … means simply the *book-mark.

1883.  Harper’s Mag., Oct., 806/1. He would … insert a book-mark at the page he had last finished.

1858.  Brit. Postal Guide, 39. Together with *Bookmarkers … or other articles usually appertaining to any such Book.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., IV. i. 102. The Prince and his *Booke-mates.

1548.  Hooper, Ten Commandm., iv. There be many other causes … it were a *book-matter to rehearse them.

1692.  Sprat, Relat. Young’s Contriv., in Harl. Misc., VI. 219 (D.). He had all the *book-money, that is, the fees for marriages, burials, and christenings.

1836.  Scenes Commerce by Land & S., 214. *Book muslin … is the clearest and finest of all the muslins.

1839.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., xiv. A low book-muslin dress and short kid gloves.

1884.  A. Jessopp, in 19th Cent., March, 406. Think of a widow insisting on being provided with a book muslin!

1530.  Palsgr., 199/2. *Boke othe, jvrement de droict.

1575.  J. Still, Gamm. Gurton, IV. ii. Else ich durst take a book-oath … My gammer had been slain.

a. 1613.  Overbury, A Wife, &c. (1638), 174. Should he be brought upon his Book-oath.

1886.  Post Office Guide, 3. A *book-packet may contain any number of separate books.

1870.  Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, II. x. 208. The … fool … sent … a bundle of tracts by the *book-post.

1858.  Brit. Postal Guide, 9. A packet … is forwarded, charged with the deficient *book-postage.

1611.  Cotgr., Armoire … cupboord; box; little *booke-presse.

1812.  Southey, Ess. (1832), I. 150. Not subjects to be sent into circulating libraries and *book-societies.

1848.  Clough, Bothie, VIII. 72. He’ll think me … Neither better nor worse for my gentlemanship and *bookwork.

1881.  J. G. Fitch, Lect. Teaching, 150. Book-work for lessons has obvious advantages.

1841.  D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 88. An unskilful compilation … made by … a noted *book-wright in the reign of Elizabeth.

  19.  Combinations of the type common-place-book, Domesday Book, pass-book, pocket-book, statute-book will be found under their first element.