Also 4, 6–9 vye, 7 vy. [f. prec. or ad. F. envier: see prec. Sp. and Pg. envidar (Sp. † embidar), It. invitare are used in sense 1.
For an isolated earlier instance of the form see the note to sense 7.]
† 1. intr. In card-playing: To make a ‘vie’; to hazard a certain sum on the strength of one’s hand.
The use of the word by Singer, Hist. Playing Cards (1816), 245, is merely an echo of invitasi in the Italian original (1526) of the passage.
1565. Jewel, Replie Hardings Answer, iv. 302. He commeth in onely with ioyly bragges, and great vauntes, as if he were plaieinge at poste, and shoulde winne al by vieinge.
1591. Greene, Conny Catch., Wks. (Grosart), X. 21. They vie and reuie till some ten shillings bee on the stake. Ibid., 95. The next game they vied, and laid some fiue pound by on the belt.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, viii. (1596), 112. To play well at Primero, and to face and vie,… and by coniectures to know his aduersaries game,… are all workes of the imagination.
a. 1618–40. [see REVIE v. 4].
† b. In fig. context. Obs.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. To Rdr. He hath made a second part out of my first; and I onely imitated his second. And shall doe the like in the third, if being elder hand, he shall vye vpon me.
1646. Quarles, Judgem. & Mercy, Wks. (Grosart), I. 83/1. As for thee, thy Cards are good, and having skill enough to play thy hopefull Game, vie boldly, conquer and triumph.
1654. [see REVIE v. 4].
† 2. trans. To hazard, stake or venture (a certain sum, etc.) on a hand of cards. Freq. in fig. context. Obs.
1577. Grange, Golden Aphrod., etc., P j. Then will they vaunt, and graunt, and for affinitie, At cardes they will vye and reuye, each their virginitie.
1591. Greene, Conny Catch., Wks. (Grosart), X. 28. At last the barnacle plies it so, that perhaps he vies more mony then the cony hath in his purse.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, I. xvi. 84. The worlds false-hood, that playeth with Scepters, and vieth Diademes, vsing men like Counters.
1640. Quarles, Enchirid., I. c. G iv. You,… Princes of this lower World, who … vye Kingdomes, and winne Crownes.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., II. xv. I find that you have a very hazardous game in hand, therfore give it up, and do not vie a farthing upon’t.
1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 35, note. The Commonwealth party and the Protector’s or Court party, began to vie stakes, and pecked at one another in their light skirmishes.
† b. To venture (money) in other ways. Obs.
1599. Hall Sat., IV. ii. 93. More than who vies his pence to view some tricke Of strange Moroccoes dumb arithmeticke.
† 3. To back (cards) for a certain sum; to declare oneself able to win (a game, etc.). Obs.
In first quot. in fig. context: for the use of pair cf. quot. a. 1618 in 3 b.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, E e iij. so that hee which hath my misaduentures, and is enthralled with thy presente state, maye vie the paire for sorrowe, whatsoeuer the stake be.
1591. Greene, Conny Catch. (1592), 7. Ile vie and reuie euerie card at my pleasure, til either yours or mine come out.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., IV. ii. Wel. S’light, here’s a trick vyed, and reuyed!
1655. J. Cotgrave, Wit’s Interpr. (1662), 366. The first, or eldest, ’tis possible, sayes, Ile vye the Ruff; the next says, Ile see it.
† b. In the phr. to vie it; also in fig. context.
1591. Florio, 2nd Fruites, 69. S. Let vs plaie at primero…. A. What shall we plaie for? S. One shilling stake, and three rest…. I vye it, will you hould it? A. Yea Sir, I hold it, and reuie it.
1608. Chapman, Byron’s Trag., Plays, 1873, II. 285. Qu. Passe. Byr. I vy ’t.
a. 1618. J. Davies (Heref.), Wittes Pilgr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 38/1. One, vies it, beeing but a Knaue, perchance, Against a King, or Queene, or Paires of both.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, IV. ix. 235. All this time the Knights play’d it at Dutch Gleek, and had so vied it, and revied it, that they were all Honours in their faces.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xvi. (Roxb.), 73/1. The eldest hand may pass and com in againe, if any of the gamsters vye it, else the dealer may play it out, or double it.
† c. In fig. use. Obs.
1604. Middleton, Father Hubburd’s T., in Bullen, O. Pl., VIII. 95. One … likened me to a sea-crab;… another fellow vied it, and said I looked like a rabbit.
1641. H. L’Estrange, God’s Sabbath, 31. As for the Protestant writers,… we dare vie it with the Anticiparians, and give them oddes, two for one at least.
1654. Gataker, Disc. Apol., 3. He makes grievous complaint elswhere of scurrilous Mercuries, that vie it with his scurrilous Merlins.
1673. [R. Leigh], Transp. Reh., 100. To vye him, and see him, and re-vye him in contradictions. This figure now is lost to any man that is not a gamester.
4. To display, advance, practise, etc., in competition or rivalry with another person or thing; to contend or strive with in respect of (something). Obs. or arch. (Very common in 17th c.)
c. 1570. Bugbears, IV. 39, in R. W. Bond, Early Plays from Italian (1911), 106. I will vye slepes with him that lookes oute of a hood.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, IV. vi. Out, thou Chameleon harlot; now, thine eyes Vie teares with the Hyæna.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. vi. 267. The Queen, vying gold and silver with the King of Spain, had money or credit, when the other had neither.
1660. Ingelo, Bentiv. & Ur., I. (1682), 102. One eye vied drops with the other.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, ccclxxx. (1694), 401. Nothing else will serve him … but to vye Exellencies with those that took him out of the Dirt.
1702. S. Parker, trans. Cicero’s De Finibus, II. 126. The Mortal might vie Pleasures and Summum Bonum with the Eternal Being.
1720. Mrs. Manley, Power of Love (1741), 11. So beautiful, that thou may’st vie Advantages with the East and West.
1822. Lamb, Elia, I. Some old Actors. I have seen some … very sensible actresses … who … have seemed to set their wits at the jester, and to vie conceits with him in downright emulation.
† b. Similarly without const. Obs.
1597. J. King, On Jonas (1618), 282. An auncient historie of vowes vied and reuied between the citizens of Croto.
1598. E. Guilpin, Skial. (1878), 60. By and by Thei’le be by the ears, vie stabs, exchange disgraces.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 40. They vyed cruelties, and strove who should overcome each other therein.
1650. Weldon, Crt. Jas. I., 7. Had you seen how the Lords did vye courtesies to this poor Gentleman,… you could not but have condemned them of much basenesse.
1694. Atterbury, Serm. (1723), I. 79. I think it by no means a fit and decent thing to vie Charities, and to erect the reputation of one upon the ruins of another.
† c. To rival (a thing). Obs. rare.
1607. Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr., I. ii. 72. He did it to vie that triple crowne which the Emperour had.
1691. J. Wilson, Belphegor, III. i. Bating that Palace, there’s not a House in Genoa better furnishd;—and for Picture—I dare almost vie Italy.
5. To match (one thing) with another by way of return, rivalry or comparison. Now arch.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, T iij b. Though I enuie thee now, thou shouldest not vye it with malice.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Sacrifice, xxii. The Jews … vying malice with my gentlenesse, Pick quarrels with their onely happinesse.
1664. J. Wilson, A. Commenius, II. ii. I’ll vie his Autumn, with the pride of springs.
1685. Lady R. Russell, Lett., I. xxvii. 73. I will take your advice, and vie my state with others.
1718. Entertainer, No. 19. 124. People would never be so vilely corrupted, as to vie Shade with Substance, and prefer Trash … to intrinsick Worth.
1877. Tennyson, Harold, V. i. 86–7. Leofwin. And someone saw thy willy-nilly nun Vying a tress against our golden fern. Harold. Vying a tear with our cold dews, a sigh With these low-moaning heavens.
† 6. To increase in number by addition or repetition. Obs.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 311. Shee hung about my necke, and kisse on kisse Shee vi’d so fast … That in a twinkle she won me to her loue.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. III. Furies, 664. Sorrow … Creeping in corners, where she sits and vies Sighs from her heart, tears from her blubbered eyes.
1630. Brathwait, Eng. Gentlem. (1641), 24. Lest shee be forced to vie sighes for their sinnes.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Easter, iii. Since all musick is but three parts vied And multiplied.
† b. To add on; to give or take by way of addition. Obs.
a. 1635. Randolph, Amyntas, II. iv. 161. Minds in love, Doe count their daies by minutes, measure howres,… And for each vie a teare.
1635. Quarles, Emblems, I. viii. Wks. (Grosart), III. 57/2. One dotes; the other loathes: One frisks and sings, and vies a flagon more To drench dry cares.
7. intr. To enter into, or carry on, rivalry; to be rivals or competitors; to contend or compete for superiority in some respect. Also const. for or in (the object or matter of rivalry).
In Chaucer’s Dethe of Blaunche, 173 the Tanner MS. (15th c.) has vie, and Thynne (1532) vye, for envye of the Fairfax MS., which is prob. the correct reading.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 146. Her teares by his finde their renew’d Supplies, Both vie as for a wager, which to winne, The more she wept, the more she forced him.
1648. Gage, West Ind., 209. In Rome Sir William Hamilton … vied much for the said Cardinals Cap.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 6 June 1687. The Commanders profusely vying in the expence and magnificence of tents.
1718. Prior, Protogenes & Apelles, 86. Howe’er Protogenes and I May in our Rival Talents vie.
1736. Thomson, Liberty, IV. 291. Not unworthy, she [sc. Genoa] Vy’d for the trident of the narrow seas.
1785. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Lyric Odes, To P. Pindar, i. They show’d their gold-lac’d clothes with pride, In harmless sallies frequent vied.
1806. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), I. xi. 54. They all vied in paying me every attention.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, I. v. As vainly had her maidens vied In skill to deck the princely bride.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea (Low), iii. § 168. The China seas and the North Pacific may vie in the fury of their gales.
b. Const. with; also † against, † on, † upon.
1602. [see REVIE v. 4 b].
1614. W. Browne, Sheph. Pipe, V. E 3. Who ’gainst the Sun (though weakned by the morne) Would vie with lookes, needeth an Eagles eye.
a. 1650. Montrose, in Watson, Sc. Poems (1711), III. 108. If … in the Empire of thy Heart, Where I should solely be, Another do pretend a Part, And dare to Vie with me.
1683. Kennett, trans. Erasm. on Folly (1709), 128. How the tawdry butterflies vie upon one another.
1692. Washington, trans. Milton’s Def. Pop., vii. Wks. 1851, VIII. 183. Many other things I omit, for … my design is not to vie with you in Impertinence.
1731–8. Swift, Polite Conv., Introd. 81. One Isaac Newton, might possibly pretend to vye with me for Fame in future times.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer., IV. (1778), I. 359. They vie with one another in refinements of torture.
1832. R. & J. Lander, Exped. Niger, I. i. 1. In fact they all vied with each other in making themselves agreeable.
1840. Macaulay, Ess., Clive (1897), 531. The wealth of Clive was such as enabled him to vie with the first grandees of England.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1875), III. xii. 79. Distant Kings would have vied with one another in offering their daughters to such a bridegroom.
c. transf. Of things.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 173. For know (though my ability be poore) My good-will vie’s with any Emperour.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 184. We beheld Lamps at Night striving to vie with the Stars for Number and Lustre.
1702. Pope, Dryope, 23. Fruits that vie In glowing colours with the Tyrian dye.
1747. Gray, Death Fav. Cat, 10. Her coat, that with the tortoise vies.
1773. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 25 Aug. A library that for luminousness and elegance may vie at least with the new edifice at Streatham.
1823. F. Clissold, Ascent Mt. Blanc, 23. The glassy pinnacles of the … Alps,… vying with the brightness of the western horizon.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., x. II. 617. The wealthiest merchant of London,… whose banquets vied with those of kings.
1872. Jenkinson, Guide Eng. Lakes (1879), 224. The view from the summit will vie with that from any one of the Lake mountains.
† 8. To contend in debate. Obs.
a. 1610–a. 1734. [see REVIE v. 4 c].
Hence † Vied ppl. a.; Vieing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Vyingly adv. rare
1605. Armin, Foole upon F. (1880), 5. Iack Oates … was dealing to himselfe at *vide-ruffe (for that was the game he ioyed in).
1607. Heywood, Wom. Killed w. Kindn., 128. Gentlemen, what shall our game be?… Faith, let it be vide-ruff, and let’s make honours.
1610. R. Cocks, Diary (1901), 114. Dec. 12. Loste at vyed ruffe ij s vj d.
1612. Bacon, Charge touching Duels, Wks. 1871, I. 681/1. For a difference to be made in case of killing and destroying man, upon a fore-thought purpose, between foul and fair, and as it were between single murder and vied murder, it is but a monstrous child of this latter age.
1620. Shelton, Quix. (1746), III. 245. My Sport shall be vy’d Trump at Christmas.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Embite, *vieng at any game, Iteratio.
1689. Tryal Bps., 6. The King’s Counsel have answered your Objections, and we must not permit Vying and Re-vying upon one another.
a. 1660. Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.), II. 43. Colonell Jones, governor of Dublin, the other *veyinge gamster, played his parte very well hitherto.
1832. Examiner, 691/1. People would have to be careful how they tumble about, or exaggerate their afflictions, as they are apt *vyingly with each other to do.
