Forms: 4 venov, venev, veneu, 5 venyw, 6–8 venew, 6–7 venewe; 6 venu, fenue, 6– venue. See also VENY2. [a. OF. venue coming, vbl. sb. from venir to come.]
I. † 1. A coming on, in order to strike; an assault or attack. Obs. rare.
a. 1330. Roland & V., 845. And at anoþer venov, Roland Smot vernagu, Þat he fel doun to grounde.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 811. Beues in þat ilche venev,… Wiþ is swerd out a slinte Twei toskes at þe ferste dent.
13[?]. Coer de L., 1074. The lyon made a gret venu, And wolde have him al to-rent.
† 2. A thrust or hit in fencing; a stroke or wound with a weapon. Obs. Cf. VENY2 1.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Treta, a fenue at defence, tactus.
1600. Holland, Livy, 513. Divers of the guard let flie at Indigemines, who by this time was readie to oppose himselfe, and to ward all venues.
c. 1605. Harington, in Month. Rev. (1770), 53. Like a perfect fencer that will tell aforehand in which button he will give the venew.
1652–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1682), 146. He valiantly charged upon the Rebel, and at the second venew slew him.
b. fig. and in fig. context.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 62. A sweet tutch, a quicke venewe of wit, snip, snap, quick & home.
1590. Nashe, Pasquil’s Apol., I. C ij. The second venue the Welch-man hath bestowed vpon vs, is a wipe ouer the shinnes of the Non Residents.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 195. Shee had no more any Nunnerie to shelter, but lay open to the venues of Fortune.
a. 1640. Massinger, etc., Old Law, III. ii. I’ve breath enough at all times, Lucifer’s musk-cod, To give your perfumed worship three venues.
† 3. A bout or turn of fencing. Also fig. Obs.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. v. Mat. But one venue, sir. Bob. Venue! Fie: Most grosse denomination, as euer I heard.
1615. Heywood, Foure Prentises, I. ii. Into the Fencing-schoole, To play a venew with some friend.
1640. Shirley, Love’s Cruelty, II. i. Faces about, good Master Fencer!… You and I will try a venue below.
1659. Fuller, App. Injured Innoc. (1840), 357. If the Animadvertor hath a mind to … have a venue with him to try whose skill is most and weapon best.
[1820. Scott, Monast., xxi. Let us pause for the space of one venue, until I give you my opinion on this dependence.]
II. † 4. The action of coming; arrival. Obs.–1
a. 1400[?]. Arthur, 307. Eche of þese vyve at her venyw Brouȝt zyx þousand at har retenyw.
† b. concr. That which has come; an importation of something. Obs.–1
a. 1483. Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 74. To kepe the first venues of wynes in vesselles or shippes … from any sale.
5. Law. The county, district or locality where an action is laid; the place where a jury is summoned to come for the trial of a case. Freq. in the phrase to lay (also fix or place) the venue.
1531. Star Chamb. Cases (Selden), II. 190. The venewe most nedes be of Stevenage aforsed. Ibid., 194. The layng of the venew or issue at Stevenege … to have an indefferent Jury.
1543–4. Act 35 Hen. VIII., c. 6 § 3. Within the saide hundred where the venewe lieth.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 260. Venew or Visne is a terme used … often in our bookes, and signifies a place next to that where any thing that comes to be tryed is supposed to bee done. And therefore … some of the Jury must be of the same hundred, or sometimes of the same parish in which the thing is supposed to be done.
1664–5. Act 16–17 Charles II., c. 8 § 1. The Plaintiffe might have demurred and shewen the same for Cause, nor for want of the Averment … or for that there is noe right Venue.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Thus we say, Twelve of the Assize ought to be of the same Venew where the Demand is made.
1796. J. Anstey, Pleader’s Guide, I. i. (1826), 5. For Bards and Lawyers, both, with ease, May place the Venue where they please.
1826. Syd. Smith, Lett. Electors Cath. Quest., Wks. 1859, II. 227/1. The venue of several crimes imputed to the prisoner is laid in countries to which the jurisdiction of this court does not extend.
1838. Meeson & Welsby, Reports, II. 23. The Attorney-General may lay the venue where he pleases.
1883. S. C. Hall, Retrospect, I. 350. The plaintiff laid the venue in Warwickshire.
b. In the phrases to change the venue or (a) change of venue.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 294. If the defendant will make affidavit, that the cause of action, if any, arose not in that but another county, the court will direct a change of the venue, or visne.
1796. J. Anstey, Pleader’s Guide, To Rdr. Partly owing to … the changing of the Venue in the Trial.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 984. Where the writing and publication are confined to the same county … the venue may be changed into such county.
1881. Macm. Mag., XLIV. 134. If we often change a venue because a fair jury cannot be had, why should we not go further to insure justice?
1893. Times, 3 June, 13/4. The dropping of such obvious and effective weapons as secret inquiry and change of venue.
c. The scene of a real or supposed action or event; also fig., a position taken up by a disputant.
a. 1843. Southey, Doctor, clxxxviii. (1848), 496. When I was young there was no tradition of any such thing in the town where the venue of the action is laid.
1845. Ford, Handbk. Spain, I. 46. Sterne would have done better to have laid the venue of his sentimentalities over a dead ass in Spain rather than in France.
1861. Sala, Dutch Pict., 269. A something far more … vexatious … changes the venue to a kingdom of realities.
1873. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., ii. 38. Here Mr. Froude changes the venue and joins issue on the old battle ground.
d. An appointed place of meeting, esp. for a match or competition.
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, iv. A steeple-chase in which both Universities were to take part…. The venue was fixed at B.
1884. Truth, 13 March, 369/2. It showed a great want of judgment … to select the former town as the venue for the semi-final tie.
1901. Scotsman, 12 March, 5/4. The question of the venue of the annual meeting: at present this was held on one of four greens.
