Pa. t. and pple. wound. Forms: 1 windan, 3 winden, 3–7 winde, 4–7 wynde, 4–9 wynd, (4 vynd(e, 5 wy(y)ndyn, 6 Sc. veynd(e), 4– wind; 3rd sing. contr. 1–3 wint, (1 wient), 4 wynt. Pa. t. 1–5 wond, 1–6 (–9 dial.) wand, 4–6 wonde, wounde, (5 woonde, 7 woon’d), 6– wound; pl. 1 wundon, -an, 3 wunden; also wk. 6 Sc. vindit, 6–9 winded, 8 Sc. win’t. Pa. pple. 1–3 wunden, (3 Orm. wundenn), 4 wondin, -yn, -ene, (wnden), 4–5 wonden, woundyn, 4–6 wounden, (5 wonddyn, 6 windin); 4–6 wounde, 5–7 wonde, woond, (5 won, 7 wown), 6– wound; 2 iwunde(n, 4 ywonde(n, ywounde(n, iwounde; also wk. 5 Sc. woundit, 6 wynded, Sc. -it, 6–9 winded. [OE. windan str. vb. = OFris. winda, OS. windan, OHG. wintan, windan, (M)LG., (M)Du., (M)HG. winden, ON. vinda, (Sw. vinda, Da. vinde), Goth. *windan in biwindan, dugawindan, uswindan:—OTeut. *wendan, related to wand- in WANDER v., WEND v., WONDE v.
In many senses coupled with turn vb.
In ME. often graphically confused with WEND v., q.v. etym. γ-forms.]
I. † 1. intr. Used to express various kinds of rapid or forcible motion, as of water flowing, missiles flying through the air, sparks flying upwards, and the like; hence gen. to pass. Also with about, adown, away. Obs.
Beowulf, 212. Streamas wundon, sund wið sande. Ibid., 1119. Wand to wolcnum wælfyra mæst.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxi. 167. Sio æcs wient of ðæm hielfe.
993. Battle of Maldon, 322. Oft he gar forlet wælspere windan on þa wicingas.
a. 1000. Judith, 110. Sloh ða eornoste ides ellenrof oþre siðe þone hæðenan hund, þæt him þæt heafod wand forð on ða flore.
c. 1205. Lay., 27461. Stanes heo letten seoððen sturnliche winden. Ibid., 28049. [Ich] smæt of Modred is hafd þat hit wond a þene ueld.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 296. Þe sparke þet wint up ne bringeð nout anonriht þet hus al o fure, auh lið & keccheð more fur.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 3096. Boþe bifore & eke bihinde, Þe blod gan out fast winde.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 6320. Þe launce … ran þurch þe hors bihinde; King & hors adoun gan winde.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 530. & þus ȝirnez þe ȝere in ȝisterdayez mony, & wynter wyndez aȝayn, as þe worlde askez.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 8968 (Fairf.). Prophecy … ho talde … of domys-day How al þis werlde sal winde a-way.
† 2. Of living things: To go on one’s way, take oneself; to proceed, go. Also fig. Obs.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xxiv. 10. Meahtes ofer rodorum ʓereclice feðerum lacan, feor up ofer wolcnu windan.
c. 1205. Lay., 20818. Þat we mosten ouer sæ winden [later text wende] mid seile. Ibid., 25541. Ankeres heo up droȝen … Wunden into widen sæ.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 4136. His bodi was biried wið angeles hond, Ðer non man siðen it ne fond, In to lef reste his sowle wond.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 9152. Hors wel gode chepe þai founde & anon in þe sadel wounde.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3325 (Ashm. MS.). Vp to þe souerayne sege with Septour he wyndis.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 2056. For thee so sore I wole now bynde, That thou away ne shalt not wynde.
a. 1500. Coventry Corpus Chr. Pl., i. 168. Now to Bedlem must I wynde.
1519. Interl. Four Elem., B ij b. With huffa galand synge tyrll on the bery, And let the wyde worlde wynde.
1555. Bradford, in Foxe, A. & M. (1570), 1813/2. Such as walke in theyr wickednes and wind on with the world.
1579. E. Hake, Newes out of Powles (1872), A vij. And boughing Curs that barck and winde away.
1587. A. Day, Daphnis & Chloe (1890), 123. Phœbe being by this Time wounde into the highest Skies.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. i. 104. But winde away, bee gone I say.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 266. Least she [sc. the spider] should wind downe in vaine.
† b. refl. in same sense; also fig. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 15843. He … So queyntely aboute hym wond, Þe kynges court at ȝork he fond.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3645. Into the tent he him wond.
c. 1520. Skelton, Magnyf., 2340. Wynde you from Wanhope and aquaynte you with me.
c. 1580. Bugbears, IV. iv. in Archiv Stud. neu. Spr. (1897), XCIX. 39. Then best I stand not thus … and tel a tale to the wynd, but wynd me streight about it.
† c. intr. Of a way: To ‘go’ somewhere. Obs.
1555. Bradford, in Foxe, A. & M. (1570), 1816/2. The multitude goeth the wideway which windeth to woe.
3. trans. a. To wield (a weapon, an implement). Obs. or dial.
993. Battle of Maldon, 43. Byrhtnoð … bord hafenode, wand wacne æsc.
c. 1480. Henryson, Swall. & other Birds, xv. Sum the pleuch can wynd.
1607. J. Carpenter, Plaine Mans Plough, xx. 138. The Handle … on the which the Plough-man holding his hand by winding and wilding the same, turneth the Soole.
1627. W. Hawkins, Apollo Shroving, III. i. 38. How to winde it [sc. a rapier] about when I salute.
1632. G. Hughes, Saints Losse, 46. Thou canst not hand before the enemy, nor wind a weapon for thy defence.
1845. J. Keegan, Leg. & Poems (1907), 250. Raising aloft the heavy iron spade, I wound it with all my strength.
† b. To haul, hoist, lift. Obs.
c. 1400. Sege Jerus. (1891), 281. Fresch water & wyn wounden þu faste & stof of allo maner store.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socr. I. xvi. 241. By the deuine prouidence of God the pilloure is winded vp in the ayer, ouer the foundacion.
1633. C. Farewell, E.-India Colation, 45. [The Elephant] taking his meat with the end thereof, and winding it vp, (or vnder rather) to his mouth, so eates it.
1681. Grew, Musæum, Pref. The Proboscis of an Elephant, whereby he … winds the Grass in great quantities … into his Mouth.
4. intr. To turn this way and that; to writhe, wriggle. Obs. exc. dial.
In OE. app. only contextual use of 1.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 414. He wand þa swa swa wurm.
c. 1205. Lay., 5715. Doð [heom] up and [= on] waritreo, þer on heo scullen winden.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s T., 246. Thou art so loothly and so oold also … That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde.
1421. Hoccleve, Lerne to Dye, 509. In peynes sharpe y walwe & wynde.
1666. Bunyan, Grace Abound., § 165. Thus did I wind and twine and shrink under the burthen.
1887. Kentish Gloss., s.v., I had a terrible poor night surely, I did turn and wind so.
† 5. trans. To put into a curved or twisted form or state; to bend; to twist; to wring. Obs.
For earlier quots. see WOUNDEN ppl. a.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. xviii. (1495), d v b/1. A gristylbone set in ye eere [i.e., the cochlea],… wounde [orig. tortuosum] & wrapped as a wyspe. Ibid., V. xxv. (Bodl. MS.). Beestes þt foldeþ and windeþ ham silfe rounde as a ryng haue none necke distingued frame þe body.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., xxvii. 161. Whyle an hooke [= oak] is a yonge Spyre, hit may be wonde into a wyth.
1538. Elyot, Dict., s.v. Topiarium, Lyke trees or thornes that be flexible, or wyll be wounden.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 330. Growing vpon small stalkes that are winded or turned two or three tymes.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., III. (1586), 126. They would winde her neck behinde her, like a chicken [orig. le torcerebbono il collo].
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, VI. v. 269. An ancient ornament of the head, [called] a Torce…: Nempe quia torquetur, because it is wound [ed. 1632 woond] or twisted.
1624. Wotton, Archit., II. 111. The figure of a sturdie woman, washing and winding of linnen clothes.
b. intr. To take or have a bent form; now only dial. or techn. of a board, door, etc., to be twisted.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 257. The yerde is þet þat bowen wole and wynde Þan þat þat brest.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Vimen, roddes, which wyll wynde lyghtly, wherof baskettes are made.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 165. Winding, when the Plank or Timber’s Side or Edge is not upon a direct Plan, but seemingly twists.
1736. Pegge, Kenticisms (E.D.S.), s.v. Wind, A board shrunk or swell’d, so as to be uneven, is said to wind; and when it is brought straight again, it is said to be out of winding.
1875. Sir T. Seaton, Fret Cutting, 82. A board is said to wind or wynd, when the two opposite corners … are lower than the other two.
6. a. refl. = 7 a, b. arch.
a. 1300, etc. [see TURN v. 64 a].
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3631 (Ashm. MS.). Þai [sc. elephants] wend þai ware wees & wyndis þaim agayn.
1569. Blague, Sch. Conceytes, 26. When the Ele [= eel] had led the Dolphin into shallow places she wound hir selfe into the mudde.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXV. x. II. 541. A little infant winding it selfe and making prettie means to creepe unto the mothers pap.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 206. It posted away with such speed, and turn’d and winded it self so quick, that I should presently lose sight of it.
1690. C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 42. The serpent is a slippery creature, soon winding himself in and out.
1700. J. Brome, Trav., 104. Abington, to which the River Isis, after it hath winded it self a long way about in a crooked Channel, makes its near approaches.
1723. Waterland, 2nd Vind. Christ’s Div., Pref. 14. He endeavors to wind and turn Himself every way to evade its Force.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 110. Glad I wind me down the lane.
b. trans. To turn; to cause to move in a curve. Also absol. arch.
13[?]. Somer Soneday, v. in Rel. Ant., II. 8. With a wonderful whel that worthi wyth wond.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 529/1. Wyndyn’, or turayn’ a-bowte, giro, verto.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, a viij b. The tortuse [and] the crane … which … wynde their hede here and there as a vane.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. i. 109. As if an Angell dropt downe from the Clouds, To turne and winde a fierie Pegasus.
1614. D. Dyke, Myst. Self-Deceiv. (1630), 187. Let the Serpent but wind in his head.
1638. W. Lisle, Heliodorus, X. 177. As Camell … Doth eu’rie way his small head nimbly winde.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 199. Having so small … a body … upon such long leggs, it is quickly able so to wind, and turn it, as to see any thing distinct.
1757. Dyer, Fleece, II. 462. Or where the Lune or Coker wind their streams.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 92. The young nobles … turning and winding their fiery horses.
7. a. intr. To move in a curve; to turn, esp. in a specified direction. Obs. exc. as implied in b, c.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 813, Thisbe. Whan that this lyonesse hath dronke hire fille, A-boute the welle gan sche for to wynde.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. v. (1495), b iij b/1. As a whele wyndeth abowte [orig. in se volvitur et revolvitur] and mouyth alwaye abowte in compaas, Soo angels … moeue abowte ye thynge that longyth to god.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., IV. i. 32. It is a Creature that I teach to fight, To winde, to stop, to run directly on.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 174. To … gallop and amble, to run a race, to wind in compasse, and so foorth.
1654. Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Wars Flanders, 326. Winding about [orig. torcendo] on the left hand towards the gates Cantimper and Selle, he came before them.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 260. We went winding now from the south-east to the left, till our course looked east by north.
b. To move along in a sinuous course; to go or travel along, up, down, etc., a path or road that turns this way and that.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts, x. (1683), 165. How the Jordan passed or winded,… is a point too old for Geography to determine.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., VII. 15. Here wanton Mincius windes along the Meads, And shades his happy Banks with bending Reeds.
1715. Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 102. The External Air … will go winding thro’ the Cavities.
1750. Gray, Elegy, i. The lowing herd wind slowly o’er the lea.
1789. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 15 Sept. It made me … tired to wind up the flight of stairs.
1859. Green, Oxford Studies (O.H.S.), 24. Long processions of pilgrims wound past the Jewry to the shrine of Saint Frideswide.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, xxx. Making a sudden turn, [he] dived into a street, then into a passage, and so winded and doubled till he got to a small public-house.
1905. Sir F. Treves, Other Side of Lantern, II. ii. (1906), 36. A train of donkeys winding along among the hansoms.
c. transf. Of a line, road, or the like: To have a curved (esp. a sinuous) course; to lie or extend in a curve or succession of curves. † Formerly also of an object: To have a curved or sinuous form.
1555. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Mary (1914), 184. Garded with a gard of oken leaves gold and greene sylke wyndinge lyke a wrethe embrodred vpon redd silke.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 345/2. Lituus,… a writhen or crooked trumpet winding in and out.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, I. xi. (ed. 2), 58. The passage to mount vp was very wide and great, winding about on the outside.
1635. Jackson, Creed, VIII. xxviii. § 4. The crooked paths which winde to cursednesse and malediction.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 545. A Rock Of Alabaster, pil’d up to the Clouds,… winding with one ascent Accessible from Earth.
1748. Thomson, Cast. Indol., I. v. Where this valley winded out, below, The murmuring main was heard … to flow.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xxvi. Still onward winds the dreary way.
1896. Baring-Gould, Broom-Squire, xvii. The path winded in and out among the gravestones.
d. with advb. acc., or trans. with obj. (one’s or its) way, etc.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 563. He … windes his oblique way Amongst innumerable Starrs.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, i. A rivulet that … wound its silent way beneath the shades it reflected.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxii. The mole … winds not his dark subterraneous path beneath our feet the less certainly.
1857. Livingstone, Trav., v. 101. The slow pace at which we wound our way through the colony.
1887. L. Oliphant, Episodes, 281. A funeral procession, winding its solemn way to the cemetery.
1922. A. E. Housman, Last Poems, xli.
| Ours were idle pleasures, | |
| Yet oh, content we were, | |
| The young to wind the measures [= dances], | |
| The old to heed the air. |
e. trans. To traverse in a curved or sinuous course; also transf. of a path, as in c. arch.
1648. Gage, West Ind., 90. We had not winded the mountain upwards much above a mile.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, IX. 533. He winds the Wood.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, I. xxxiii. 22. Though fiercer she than waves that roar, Winding the rough Calabrian shore.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 202. Sweet it is to wind the rill, Sweet with thee to climb the hill.
1906. Daily Chron., 20 Aug., 4/4. Wherever a river winds a valley.
8. Naut. a. intr. Of a ship: To turn in some direction; e.g., to swing round when at anchor; to lie with her head towards a particular point of the compass (esp. in phr. How wind you? How does the ship wind?). b. trans. To turn (a vessel) about (ABOUT A. 6 b) or in some particular direction. See also 19 b (b), 22 g.
App. a substitution for WEND, q.v. (1 d, 6 c).
1613. J. Saris, Voy. Japan (Hakl. Soc.), 44. She came to an anckor so neare ahead of vs as we could scarse wynd cleare one of the other.
1623. (Sept. 10) Admiralty Crt. Exam., 44 (MS.). She was not quicke of steeridge nor easye to be turned or winded.
a. 1625. Manwayring, Sea-mans Dict. (1644), 115. When they are under saile, they use to aske, how winds the ship, that is, vpon what point of the Compasse doth she lie with her head.
1627. J. Smith, Sea Gram., vi. 27. Winde the Boat is to bring her head the other way.
a. 1668. Davenant, Song, Winter Storms, ii. Wks. (1673), 292. Alee, or we sink! Does no man know to wind her!
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 18. How Wind you? N.N.E. thus werr no more; no near, keep her full.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1776), French Sea-Terms, s.v. Cap, Où est le Cap? how is the head? how does the ship wind?
1798. P. Revere, in Collect. Massachusetts Hist. Soc. (1816), V. 107. It was then young flood, the ship was winding, and the moon was rising.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xxxi. One of the cutters has winded…; she’s stretching out for the shore. Ibid. (1836), Midsh. Easy., xiii. Mr. Sawbridge … winded the boats with their heads the same way.
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 607. We backed out, winded round head up.
9. trans. and intr. In the management of horses in the yoke: To turn to the left, or towards the driver: opp. to HAP v. 4, HUP v. Sc.
a. 1745, 1794. [see HAP v.4].
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxiii. A feckless loon … had catched twa dragoon naigs and he could neither gar them hup nor wind.
1851. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XII. I. 125. To plough three 12-yard ridges by winding, or turning to the left hand. Ibid. By laying two ridges (24 yards) together at each of these, marking and winding out the intermediate spaces, there will only be one open furrow every 60 yards.
† 10. To draw or pull out with a twisting movement. Also intr. Obs.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 1810. But euere the heed was left bihynde For ought I couthe pulle or wynde.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., ccix. (1542), 257. By cruell deathe, as windynge theyr guttes out of theyr bodyes.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XI. lxviii. He stroue in haste the weapon out to winde, And broke the reed, but left the head behinde.
11. In immaterial sense: To turn or deflect in a certain direction; esp. to turn or lead (a person) according to one’s will; also to turn and wind (see TURN v. 64 b). Now rare or Obs.
† To wind up and down; to revolve in the mind. † To wind off: to turn aside. To wind about: to use circumlocution with (cf. 12).
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 601. Criseyde … euery word gan vp and down to wynde That he hadde seyd as it come here to mynde. Ibid. (c. 1385), L. G. W., Prol. 85. She is the clerenesse and the verray lyght That in this derke worlde me wynt and ledyth.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, I. (1625), 136. That by your timely looking to those matters, you may winde him from that.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iii. § 7. To be speculatiue into another man, to the end to know how to worke him, or winde him, or gouerne him.
1606, 1673. [see turn and wind, TURN v. 64 b].
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, IV. 298. Socrates windes off his Audience from the curiose prying into the Nature.
1708. Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, II. i. These flattering fops imagine they can wind, Turn and decoy to love all woman-kind.
1713. Tickell, Prol. Univ. Oxford, 34. To wind the Passions, and command the Heart.
1753. Richardson, Grandison, I. xxxvi. 258. He winds one about, and about, yet seems not to have more curiosity than one would wish him to have.
1777. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 29 Sept. There was not time for many questions, and no opportunity of winding and winding them, as Mr. Richardson has it, so as to get truth without questions.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., vii. He can wind the proud Earl to his will.
1827. Carlyle, Germ. Rom., I. 235. Love, which had once for all taken root in her heart, now dexterously winded and turned the matter.
† b. To draw, bring or involve (a person) in, attract into, by alluring or enticing methods. Obs.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Addit., Lacio..., to brynge into a snare, or to wynde one in to deceyue him.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xxxvi. 4. Hee doth not simply fynd fault with the vngodly for winding in other folkes with their wyles and fetches.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 1847/1. A subtile practise (as was thought) intended to wynde him wythin daunger.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. xxvi. (1912), 504. Which winded her againe into the former maze of perplexitie.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 48. A certaine man…, being trecherously wound in and intrapped, by the craftie wilines of a certaine woman.
1635. Quarles, Embl., II. Epigr. iv. 79. If ev’r it winds thee Into a loosenesse once, take heed.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., I. iv. § 2. You will be wound into the most notorious absurdities.
1655. R. Younge, Agst. Drunkards, 7. It is admirable how they will winde men in, and draw men on by drinking first a health to such a man.
† c. To bring (a thing) in by insinuating methods. Obs.
1570. Drant, Serm., C vij. This is the fine force of Sanders most fine witte, in finding out fetches, and winding in stuffe to strengthen and fortifye Antichristianisme.
c. 1650. Bradford, Plymouth Plant. (1856), 301. He with his former dealings had wound in what money he had in ye partnership into his owne hands.
1674. Govt. Tongue, ix. 160. Tis pleasant to see what little Arts and dexterities they have to wind in such things into discourse.
† d. With out: To draw out, extricate, disentangle. Obs.
c. 1535. W. Roper, Life Sir T. More, vi. (1729), 40. To wynde suche quarrells out of the Cardinall’s head.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, 309. Iacob and Ioseph being wrapped in sundrie tribulations, were by their merciful God woond out and rid from all [orig. explicantur].
1577. St. Aug. Manual, T v b. Wynde me out [orig. evolve], & unloade me, that the pit shut not his mouth upon me.
1601. F. Godwin, Bps. of Eng., 121. By and by he ouertopped the Archbishop, and quickly wound him out of all authority.
1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., III. i. (1608), E 3. Weele haue some trick and wile, To winde our yonger brother out of prison.
† e. To circulate, put in circulation (money or merchandise): usually in phr. turn and wind. Obs.
1598, 1686. [see TURN v. 64 c].
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, IV. 157. Tobacco … passes there as current Siluer, and by the oft turning and winding it, some grow rich, but many poore.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. xli. There is no state that winds the penny more nimbly and makes quicker returns.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. II. 1450. Whence turning of Religion’s made The means to turn and wind a Trade.
12. intr. (also † refl., and with it.) To pursue a devious, circuitous or intricate course in argument, statement or conduct; († esp. with about adv. or prep.) to use circumlocution or subtle terms of argument (arch.).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 427. For in hise termes, so he wolde hym wynde And speke hise wordes in so sly a kynde. Whanne he commune shal with any wight, That he wol make hym doten anon right.
1528. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 173/1. Truly quod he ye wynde it well about.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 154. You know me well, and herein spend but time To winde about my loue with circumstance.
1607. Beaum. & Fl., Woman Hater, II. i. You must not talk to him as you doe to an ordinary man, honest plain sence, but you must wind about him.
1680. Aubrey, in Lett. Eminent Persons (1813), III. 612. He turned, and winded, and compounded in philosophy, politiques etc. as if he had been at mathematicall work.
1686. Jevon, Devil of a Wife, I. 14. He has a mind to wind about, but this shan’t serve his turn.
1753. Richardson, Grandison, I. xxxvi. 258. I have winded and winded about him, as he has done about me; but all to no purpose.
1800. Maria Edgeworth, The Will, ii. I winded and winded,… till, at the last, out comes the truth.
1838. Lytton, Leila, IV. v. Why dost thou wind and turn, good Ximen?… thou knowest well what my words drive at.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. vii. 93. He did not adroitly wind through the dangerous forms of evil.
1882. Jowett, Thucyd., I. Introd. p. xii. In winding through the long notes … we have sometimes a difficulty in separating his own view from that of others whom he is confuting.
† 13. intr. and refl. a. With out: To extricate or disentangle oneself from a state of confinement or embarrassment. Obs.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 2207. Love in his lawes often schulde erre, And wynden out of honestees cheyne.
a. 1569. Kingesmyll, Man’s Est., vi. (1580), 34. As the birde taken in the nette, we lie fast fettered, our owne eyes not servyng us to espie any waie to winde out.
1599. Hayward, 1st Pt. Hen. IV., 83. To wind out of these intricate troubles.
1608. P. Golding, Sleidane’s Epit. Frossard, 168. Not able … to winde out of the linnen which entangled him.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 659. Long strugling underneath, ere they could wind Out of such prison.
1530. Palsgr., 782/1. I am tangled in busynesse, and can nat tell howe I may wynde me out.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Addit., Euoluere se turba, to wynde hym selfe oute of trouble.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, Z ij b. He … struggled the more to winde himself out of their handes.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxviii. § 8. They make it … more easie for such kinde of persons to winde themselues out of the law.
1635. Jackson, Creed, VIII. vii. § 2. Hee could not wound himselfe out of those bonds of servitude wherein his lusts had insnared him.
1647. trans. Wishart’s Hist. Kings Affairs Scotl. under Montrose, iii. 25. Assoon as he had wound himself out of that present danger.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., I. i. heading, To wind themselves from under the Awe of Superstition.
[1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIX. ii. (1872), VIII. 121. Soltikof … winded himself out of Posen one day, veiled by Cossacks. [Cf. G. sich auswinden.)]
b. With in, into: To insinuate oneself.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John, i. 1. That being so knowen by the wonderfulnes of his moste fayre workemanship, he mighte wind himself into our inwarde mocions.
1607. Shaks., Cor., III. iii. 64. To winde Yourselfe into a power tyrannicall.
1640. Rutherford, Lett. to Lady Fingask, 27 March. If ye can wynd-in in his love … what a second heaven’s paradise … is it, to be … burned with fevers of love sickness for him.
1646. Saltmarshe, Some Drops, ii. 57. This is the old way to winde in under the wing of Authority.
1690. C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 15. The old serpent easily winded himself into his heart.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxix. Of your having basked at my brother’s fireside, like a serpent, and wound yourself, through me, almost into his confidence.
1886. C. Bigg, Chr. Platonists Alex., iv. 130. Origen does not wind himself into the heart. He has not the blithe geniality of Clement.
14. trans. To turn or pass (something) around something else so as to encircle or enclose it and be in contact with it; to twine, twist, fold or wrap (something) about, round or upon something else.
Also occas. to put around something so as to encircle it without contact.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8055. Aboute þe body a rope þey wonde.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 359. He, which hadde of nothing doute, Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 126. Hur lady, his modyr, wonde hyr kerchef about hym.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxi. 391. When it is well won knyt a knot fast.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., V. i. 54. This Hand, fast wound about thy coale-black hayre.
1618. Gainsford, Glory Eng., I. xvii. 151. They weare linnen rowles about their heads … in Vlster carelesly wonde about.
1655. trans. Sorel’s Com. Hist. Francion, V. 8. Instead of a Night Cap he had winded the Linings of his Breeches about his head.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 215. Whether to wind The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct The clasping Ivie where to climb.
1680. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., x. 189. Upon the thin end of the Pole is wound a considerable Bundle of String.
1819. Shelley, Faust, II. 320. When she winds them [sc. her locks] round a young man’s neck.
1842. Browning, Count Gismond, x. Wind the penance-sheet About her!
1866. Lytton, Lost Tales Miletus, Secret Way, 25. As hunters round the wild beasts in their lair Marked for the javelin, wind a belt of fire.
1870. Rock, Text. Fabr., Introd. i. p. xxii. [A] bandage to be winded and kept about the patient’s arm.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropsh. Lad, v. Suppose I wound my arm right round.
1916. J. J. Bell, Little Grey Ships, 18. The newcomer … began to wind about his neck a dark blue muffler, a fathom and a half in length.
b. fig.: esp. in phr. to wind (a person, etc.) round one’s little finger (cf. FINGER sb. 3, and sense 11 above).
1698. Collier, Immor. Stage, 279. To play People out of their Senses,… and wind their Passions about their Fingers as they list.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxi. I am told the mother can wind them both round her little finger.
1854. Milman, Lat. Christ., IV. viii. (1864), II. 396. Irene wound her toils with consummate skill around her ill fated victim.
1865. Swinburne, Chastelard, III. i. 96. My life being wound about you as it is.
15. To put (thread, tape, or the like) in coils or convolutions around something, as a reel, or upon itself (either by passing the thread, etc., round and round, or by turning the reel or other object round and round), so as to form it into a compact mass (hank, skein, ball, etc.). (Also in fig. phrases: cf. PIRN sb.2 1 b.) Also with from or off, to undo the coils of (thread, etc.) by rotating the object on which they are wound; to unwind. (See also wind up, 22 c.)
c. 1325. Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 157. E vostre filoe là wudez [gloss wynde thi yarn].
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 525. He bare a burdoun ybounde with a brode liste, In a withewyndes wise ywounden aboute.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 359. Þe iuge axkid ather of þaim whar-of þe bothom at þe clew was won on was.
1483. Cath. Angl., 419/1. To Wynde spules, deuoluere.
1530. Palsgr., 782/1. This yerne is so tangled that I can nat wynde it.
1577. Grange, Golden Aphrod., D iv b. If she wanted a bottome whereon to winde hyr silke.
1590. Barrough, Meth. Phisick, III. xviii. (1639), 131. It seemeth wounden together like a string.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. iii. 188. If it be so, you haue wound a goodly clewe.
1767. Bickerstaffe, Love in the City, I. i. stage-dir., One seated and holding a skain of silk, while the other winds it off on a ball.
1787. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, March. Miss Planta left the room while I was winding some silk.
1827. Carlyle, Germ. Rom., I. 21. The long threads which … she winded daily from her spindle.
1860. Slang Dict. (ed. 2), 247. I’ll wind your cotton, i. e. I will give you some trouble.
1889. F. C. Beach, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 292/2. To operate the instrument [a small camera] it is only necessary to snap the shutter and wind off the paper.
absol. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 555. I weue an I wynde and do what treuthe hoteth.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, VI. 119. Do passe the time to winde and reele, & with your maids to spinne.
1785. Burns, Halloween, xii. An’ aye she win’t, an’ ay she swat.
1818. Min. Evid. Committee Ribbon Weavers, 154. Just according to how many looms they wind for.
1870. Inquiry Yorksh. Deaf & Dumb, 13. She … winds for journeymen weavers.
† b. To roll or fold up. Obs.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 52. Let the wol be well folden or wounden with a woll-wynder.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Heb. i. 10–14. As a vesture shalt thou winde them aboute.
16. To encircle with or enclose in something passed round and in contact; † to wrap up; † to embrace, enfold in the arms; now, in ordinary prose use, only of binding a thing round with tape, wire, or the like.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 83. He wes iwunde mid wine and smirede mid oli. Ibid., 127. He wes imacad to monne ilicnesse and iwunden mid flesce al swa mon.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3320. & tær ȝho barr Allmahhtiȝ Godd … & wand himm sone i winndeclut.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2597. In an fetles,… Ðis child wunden ȝhe wulde don.
c. 1290. Mary Magdalene, 383, in S. Eng. Leg., 473. Huy nomen þe Quiene and hire child and wounden in a mantel.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1672. First bind it wele wit balk and band, And wind it siþen well wit wand.
c. 1300. Havelok, 546. Hwan grim him hauede faste bounden, And siþen in an eld cloth wnden.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 215. Þe stele of a stif staf … Þat was wounden wyth yrn.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1232. Gan eche of hem in armes oþer wynde.
1471. Paston Lett., Suppl. 140. Sche byd that yt schuld be woond in a canivasse for brochyng of the caryars.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 229 b/2. A yong child that lay wounden in smale clowtes in hys moders lappe.
c. 1500[?]. Clariodus, V. 1917. Glaider war never Sir Troylus…, When he had Cressed in his arms windin.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. xxviii. 20. The coueringe to small, that a man maye not wynde him self therin.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 8 b. Their scaberdes wounde about with satyne.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 197. This hielandman … tuik the samyn [crown] and wand it in his playd.
1593. Rites of Durham (Surtees, 1903), 51. And so to wynde hime in his cowle and habett.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 13. Sometime am I All wound with Adders, who with clouen tongues Doe hisse me into madnesse.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Maid’s Trag., II. Let me wind thee in these arms, Till I have banisht sickness.
1662. G. Atwell, Faithfull Serveyour, 106. If they … winde their hurdles on two sides with broome.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1757), 294. Drench the beast, and then wind him up warm in hay.
1851. Meredith, Love in Valley, xiv. Jasmine winds the porch with stars two and three.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xxi. Such is Judy. And her twin-brother couldn’t wind up a top for his life.
1859. Sala, Gaslight & D., xxi. There, are tops wound, and marbles gambled for.
1885. Tennyson, Ancient Sage, 97. And wind the front of youth with flowers.
1918. Blackw. Mag., April, 491/1. The corner-posts were padded and wound with many layers of red and blue bunting.
b. spec. To wrap (a corpse) in a shroud or winding-sheet; to shroud. Obs. exc. dial.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2448. First .ix. niȝt [men] ðe liches beðen, And smeren, and winden, and bi-queðen.
13[?]. Cursor M., 17288 + 118 (Cott.). Þe clothez þat iesus was wonden in.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxii. (Laurentius), 503. Ypolyt tuk þe cors away, & wand It in clathis fyne.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., V. xcv. 4003 (MS. W.). To se þe quyk þe dede dispulȝe Quhen he is woundit in his schete.
1526. Tindale, John xix. 39. Then toke they the body of Jesu and wonde it in lynnen clothes.
1605. London Prodigal, I. i. 170. Yes, truly, syr, your father is dead, these hands of mine holpe to winde him.
1660. Rutherford, Lett. to Mrs. Craig, 4 Aug. The mother … possibly, cannot get leave to wind the son, nor to weep over his grave.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, III. 335. Vowing he’ll not conform, before The Old-Wives wind their dead in Wollen.
1860. W. Collins, Wom. in White, II. Narr. i. II. 349. That she had winded a many of them in her time.
† (b) nonce-use. To carry out in a winding-sheet.
1604. Meeting of Gallants, B 1 b. Tenne wound out of one house, must for shame carry fiue payre of sheetes with them.
c. Chiefly in pa. pple. and fig.: To involve, entangle; † occas. to wrap up (in fair words).
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, I. 913. Ne wynd þou naut þy senne ine selke Ac telle out al þat rouȝe.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 2811. My warke, þat I am in wonden.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 703, in Macro Plays, 98. Worthy World, in welthys wonde.
c. 1485. Digby Myst., III. 23. I am wonddyn in welth from all woo.
1833. Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bound, Poet. Wks. (1904), 160/2. In the great net of Até, whence none cometh out, Ye are wound and undone!
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., i. 27. Then they wound him in their devil’s web.
1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, II. ii. 72. But, ere he reached, in death the babe was wound.
17. intr. To turn so as to encircle and lie in contact with something else; to twist or coil itself, or be or become twisted or coiled, about, around or upon something. So to wind off, to become uncoiled from something, to unwind.
1575. Gascoigne, Kenelworth, Wks. 1910, II. 126. What tree soever it [sc. ivy] ryse by, it never leaveth to wynde about it.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 38. It wyndeth about, and killes his neighbours as the Iuie dooth.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., ii. 35. If your spindle is to have three or four Worms winding about it.
1686. Jevon, Devil of a Wife, I. 2. Go home and Spin, or else my Strap will wind about thy Ribs.
1759. Phil. Trans., LI. 55. The single thread winded off the pod in the same manner as that of the common silk-worm.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 113. The leather shuttle winds upon it as it descends, or unwinds from it as it ascends.
† 18. trans. a. To form or construct by twining or plaiting; to plait, wreathe, weave. Obs.
971. Blickl. Hom., 23. Hie … wundan beaʓ of þornum & him setton on heafod for cynehelme.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1670. Quen þi timber es festend wele Þou wind þe sides ilk dele.
c. 1330. Assump. Virg. (B.M. MS.), 795. A seynt … Off silk and gold wounden in pal.
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XVII. clii. (W. de W.), T vj b/2. Wrethes wouen & wounden of thornes & roddes.
1526. Tindale, John xix. 2. The soudiers wonde a croune off thornes.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. xii. 82. That same net so cunningly was wound, That neither guile nor force might it distraine.
1601. Holland, Pliny, VI. xxii. I. 129. The boates … were made and wound of papyr reeds.
† (b) spec. To make or repair (a wall) with ‘windings’ (see WINDING vbl. sb.1 10). Obs.
c. 900. Ælfred, Solil., Pref. Þæt he … ʓefeðriʓe hys wænas mid feʓrum ʓerdum, þat he maʓe windan maniʓne smicerne wab.
1474–5. [see WINDING vbl. sb.1 10].
1550. Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 70. Paid for 3 burthen of roodes to wynde the wals of the store howse.
1574. Surrey & Kent Sewers Comm. (L.C.C., 1909), 194. To wind with roddes & to fill vp the walle against his Mille banck.
1618. Gainsford, Glory Eng., I. xvii. 147. Their houses wonde with rods, and couered with turffs.
1649. Order Bk. Hartlebury Gram. School (1904), 72. To a man to studd and winde walls.
† b. To twine or plait together, to intertwine; fig. to associate. Obs.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 345. Þey … wonede vnder bowes and twigges i-wounde to gidres.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 169. As wexe and weke if þei were wounde to-gederes.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 127. Wrappe and wynde theym together.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. lxxxvii. 440. Stringes, interlaced, woven, and winded one in another.
1618. Gainsford, Glory Eng., I. xvii. 144. And so intricately winde them, or lay them, that they shall be a strong barracado.
1646. A. Henderson, in Charles I.’s Wks. (1662), 172. I wind together Diotrephes and the Mystery of Iniquity.
19. To haul or hoist by turning a winch, windlass, or the like, around which a rope or chain is passed. a. gen.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 529/1. Wyndyn’ wythe a wyndlas.
1900. Law Rep., App. Cas., 407. The head-line of the net is then wound in by means of the windlass.
b. Naut. † (a) To hoist (sail); (b) to move or warp (the ship), by hauling, as on a capstan or windlass. Also absol. or intr. (Cf. 8.) See also 22 g.
Cf. ON. vinda segl to hoist sail.
c. 1205. [see 22 a].
1379. Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 100. In potu dato diversis auxiliantibus pro ii[s]dem exaltand. et wyndand. 3d.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 872. He … Bad wynd the saill in all the haist thai may.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B. (Percy Soc.), 12. Some wounde at ye capstayne.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 607. The Danis … Wand saill to top.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 40. The maister … bald the marynalis lay the cabil to the cabilstok, to veynde and veye. Than the marynalis began to veynd the cabil.
1570–1. (Feb. 17) Admiralty Crt. Exam., 18 (MS.). Layde an ancre right astern … to winde her out of the dock.
1598. Florio, Dict., To Rdr. I was but one to turne and winde the sailes, to vse the oare [etc.].
1600. Hakluyt, Voy., III. 490. We cut our cables, wound off our ships, and presently fought with them. Ibid. Cutting our cables in the halse, and winding off by our sternefast.
1633. (July 18) Admiralty Crt. Exam., 50 (MS.). The Delight was thwart the river and wynding down.
1729. Capt. W. Wriglesworth, MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell,’ 17 Oct. Unmoared the Ship, and got all things in a readiness for Winding her head down.
1853. Kane, Arctic Expl. (1856), I. vii. 71. We dropped our heaviest anchor with the desperate hope of winding the brig.
c. Mining. To hoist (coal, etc.) to the surface by means of a winding-engine.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, Wind.
1887. P. M’Neill, Blawearie, 186. To get their coals winded to the pithead.
20. trans. † a. To tighten the strings of a musical instrument by turning the pins or pegs around which they are passed. (With the pins or the strings as obj.) See also 22 e (b). Obs.
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Empire (Arb.), 298. In gouernement sometymes he vsed to wynd the pynnes to highe, and sometymes to let them downe to lowe.
a. 1700. Prior, To C’tess of Exeter, 31. Your Lute may wind it’s Strings but little higher, To tune their Notes to that immortal Quire.
b. To set (a watch, clock, or other mechanism) in order for going by turning an axis with a key or similar device so as to coil the spring tighter or draw up the weights.
Usually wind up (see 22 e); occas. wind down, to cause to stop.
1601, etc. [see 22 e].
a. 1648. Ess. on Death, in Bacon’s Remaines (1648), 10. Wooing the remorseless Sisters to wind down the watch of their life, and to break them off before the hour.
1760. Winthrop, in Phil. Trans., LII. 14. He was winding his watch at that time.
1880. Hardy, Trumpet-Major, iii. When he wound his clock on Sunday nights the whirr of that monitor reminded the widow to wind hers.
c. fig. To exalt or ‘screw up’ to a certain pitch. Now with up (see 22 f).
a. 1635. Sibbes, Confer. Christ & Mary (1656), 5. Like Jonah,… when he rejoyces, his joy is wound to the highest pitch.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., Introd. He at length wound himself to such a pitch of resolution, as to invite me to dine.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., Morning, xiii. We need not … strive to wind ourselves too high For sinful man beneath the sky.
II. In combination with advs. (See also prec. senses and the advs.)
21. Wind off. a. See simple senses and OFF. † b. intr. and trans. To close, conclude, terminate: = wind up, 22 d (b), (d). Obs. rare.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. i. 60. O that all differences between brethren might winde off, in so welcome a conclusion.
1675. Temple, Lett. (1701), III. 160. The Prince continues to say he talks to him no further than is necessary to wind off such Businesses as were left in his hands.
22. Wind up. a. trans. To draw up or hoist with a winch or the like: cf. 19.
c. 1205. Lay., 30607. Heo wunden up seiles to coppe.
13[?]. Coer de L., 3955. The Sarezynes … Her brygges wounden up in haste.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 14564. Crosses, belles, men haue founden, In welles, in watres, vp haue wounden.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, viii. (1906), 11. Folke come to feche and wynde up water at that well.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 67 b. He … went to the see and made to winde up the sayle.
1530. Palsgr., 782/2. Wynde up the crane faster.
1580. H. Smith, in Hakluyt’s Voy. (1589), 470. We brought a cable vnder her sterne, and with our capstaine did winde vp her sterne.
1612. Beaum. & Fl., Coxcomb, II. ii. Let me see thy hand, this was ne’er made to wash, or wind up water.
1793. [Earl Dundonald], Descr. Estate of Culross, 55. The adoption of … Steam Engines to wind up the Coals from the pits.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 124. A rope wrapped about it to wind up the sacks of corn.
absol. 1846. Bentley’s Misc., Dec., 555. Walk down stream with him and wind up as fast as you can. He’s a fine fish, and shows excellent sport.
b. † To bind or wrap up (obs.); see also 16 (quot. 1853).
c. 1532. Du Wes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 948. To wynde up, housser.
1609. Bible (Douay), Ezek. xxx. 21. Behold it is not wound up, that health might be restored to it.
1611. Bible, Acts v. 6. And the yong men arose, wound him vp, and caried him out, and buried him.
1616. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. iii. 67. The Sea-Nimphes … Learning of Fisher-men to knit a net, Wherein to wynde vp their disheuel’d hayres.
1627. J. Smith, Sea Gram., xiii. 61. Winde vp the slaine, with each a … bullet at their heads and feet to make them sinke.
1657. J. Watts, Dipper Sprinkled, 72. The spider doth winde up, and truss up the Fly, being come into its cobweb.
† (b) fig. To involve, implicate. Cf. 16 c. Obs.
In quot. 1651 app. = ‘to have included in one’s nature’; so in quot. 16742 intr. for pass. = ‘to be included.’
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. i. 296. Winding vp Dayes with toyle, and Nights with sleepe.
1651. Cleveland, Poems, Rupertismus, 73. Whatever man winds up, that Rupert hath.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 127. Well may one motion, of one sort, after sinking into its spring, or being wown up in it, be … brought on again to a kind of quickness. Ibid., 187. So little of boundedness to winde up in.
1784. New Spectator, No. 13. My happiness is wound up in thine.
1819. Keats, Otho, I. ii. I am wound up in deep astonishment!
1819. W. S. Rose, Lett. N. Italy, II. 96. [They] imagined that her life was wound up in his.
1841. Alison, Hist. Eur., lxix. IX. 138. His political existence was thenceforth wound up with the success of Russia in the German war.
c. † (a) To coil, roll or fold up; to furl: cf. 15 b. Obs. exc. as in (b).
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xi. 11. His huge long tayle wound vp in hundred foldes.
1595. Shaks., John, V. v. 7. After such bloody toile, we … woon’d our tott’ring colours clearly vp.
1659. Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1721), IV. III. 269. He … wound up his Hair with his Hands, and put on a White Cap.
1759. R. Brown, Compl. Farmer, 35. See that the wool be well wound up.
(b) To coil (thread, etc.) into a compact mass (cf. 15): chiefly in phr. † to wind up a bottom or one’s bottoms (BOTTOM sb. 15), usually fig. to sum up, conclude (cf. d).
1637. Anchoran, Comenius’ Gate Tongues, 99. Off a reele clewes or bottomes of threads are winded vp and web is made.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœm., 46. Wind up your bottome.
1652. Peyton, Catastr. Ho. Stuarts (1731), 64. I have ravelled out the Pieces to wind up this Bottom.
1749. Lavington, Enthus. Meth. & Papists, II. (1754), Pref. p. xxxii. But, to wind up my Bottoms [etc.].
a. 1766. Mrs. F. Sheridan, Sidney Bidulph, IV. 27. That would be tipping the spire and winding up her bottoms with a witness.
1770. Dibdin, Deserter, I. i. I’ll give you while I wind up this bottom and another, and you sha’n’t find it out.
d. fig. † (a) To gather up the points of (a discourse) in a compact statement by way of conclusion; to sum up. Obs.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, X iij b. To winde vp all in a short conclusion, [etc.].
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 137. To winde vp all in briefe.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. VI. iii. 186. Be pleas’d to dispense with the prolixity of this Discours, for I could not wind it up closer, nor on a lesser bottom.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, Pref. B 1 b. I shall now Wind up what I have to say.
1791. Burke, Th. French Affairs, Wks. 1842, I. 580. I wind up all in a full conviction within my own breast,… that [etc.].
(b) † To make up as the conclusion or final scene (obs.); to bring to a close or conclusion; to form the conclusion of, be the final event in.
1740. Richardson, Pamela, II. 17. I shall be better directed in what manner to wind up the Catastrophe of the pretty Novel.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. xii. To wind up the last scene of thy tragedy, Cruelty and Cowardice … shall strike together at all thy infirmities and mistakes.
1821. Scott, Dryden’s Wks., VIII. 454. The moral, by which the whole Masque is winded up, was sadly true.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. vii. Her ladyship was winding up the day with her accustomed bottle of soda-water.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xliv. Sobs and tears wound up the sentence in a storm.
1912. World, 7 May, 685/1. An evening party on Saturday wound up the season’s entertaining.
(c) To put in order and settle (an affair) with the view of bringing it to an end; to bring to a final settlement; spec. to arrange and adjust the affairs of (a company or business concern) on its dissolution; also absol.
1780. Mirror, No. 97, ¶ 7. Some company concerns to be wound up, or some bottomry-accompt to be adjusted.
1794. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 458. I have some affairs in London which I wish to wind up.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lviii. It was understood that the affairs of the House were to be wound up as they best could be.
1875. Economist, 30 Jan., 131/2. The Master of the Rolls has made an order to wind-up, and has appointed Mr. John Smith … official liquidator.
1893. Sarah O. Jewett, Deephaven, 213. He was trading up to Parsonsfield, and business run down, so he wound up there, and thought he ’d make a new start.
1924. Mackail, in Proc. Class. Assoc., 13 The Association was never formally wound up and still technically existed.
(d) absol. or intr. To bring the proceeding to a close; to come to a close; to conclude with something.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., x. III. 185. And a dish of maccaroni to wind up with.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Astley’s. One of the little boys wound up by expressing his opinion, that ‘George began to think himself quite a man now.’ Ibid. (1855), Lett. (1880), I. 396. I want to wind up with that popular farce.
1882. E. O’Donovan, Merv Oasis, I. 329. An extreme amount of fever, winding up with delirium on the fifth day.
e. In reference to a watch, etc.: see 20 b.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 66. I frowne the while, and perchance winde vp my watch.
1639. Crabtree Lect., 41. Gladly he would have interrupted her,… but the Jacke was woond up, and downe it must.
1648. Wilkins, Math. Magick, I. xix. (1707), 80. These Mathematical Engines cannot be so easily and speedily wound up, and so certainly levelled as the other may.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 125. A Watch or a Jack, by being only wown up [etc.].
1712. Budgell, Spect., No. 277, ¶ 17. Another Puppet, which by the Help of several little Springs to be wound up within it, could move all its Limbs.
1762. Churchill, Poems, Night, 83. Wound up at twelve at noon, his clock goes right, Mine better goes, wound up at twelve at night.
1883. Mrs. R. T. Ritchie, Bk. Sibyls, ii. 148. Climbing a ladder to wind up an old clock.
† (b) In reference to the strings of a musical instrument (see 20 a); fig. to put in tune.
1605. Shaks., Lear, IV. vii. 16. Th’ vntun’d and iarring senses, O winde vp, Of this childe-changed Father.
1645. Waller, Chloris & Hilas, i. Poems 157. Winde up the slack’ned strings of thy Lute.
f. fig. To set in readiness for action; to raise (feeling) to a high degree; now usually, to put into a state of tension or intensity of feeling, etc.; to excite; to brace up; in Racing slang, to put (a race-horse) into fit condition for running.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. iii. Straine all your wits, winde up invention Unto his highest bent.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. iii. 37. Peace, the Charme’s wound vp.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., V. i. His knights reformadoes are wound up as high and insolent as ever they were.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 269. Having wound him up with good chear.
1665. J. Spencer, Prodigies, ii. (ed. 2), 136. These blind … Powers must be … perpetually woond up by an Hand of Power and Counsel.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1768), VII. 20. My passions are so wound up, that I am obliged either to laugh or cry.
1759. Goldsm., Voltaire, Wks. (1889), 489/2. Voltaire seemed wound up to no other pursuit than that of poetry. Ibid., 500/1. Our poet was at last wound up to the height of expectation.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., II. vii. 176. He had wound himself up to the last pitch of expectation.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxiii. 294. Ladies of fashion use it constantly to wind themselves up, when reduced to a little below par.
1864. Newman, Apol., iv. (1904), 126/2. It is not at all easy (humanly speaking) to wind up an Englishman to a dogmatic level.
1871. ‘M. Legrand,’ Cambr. Freshm., 197. There’s one that’s what we call wound up: going to run next week in a big handicap.
1880. A. H. Huth, Buckle, II. 257. Mr. Buckle’s interjections come in very usefully to help Mr. Glennie along, and wind him up gain, as it were, when he has run down.
† g. Naut. intr. and trans. See quots., and cf. 8, 19 b (b). Obs.
a. 1625. Manwayring, Sea-mans Dict. (1644), 115. The ship winds-up, that is, when she comes to ride by her Anchor.
1633. T. James, Voy., 10. This Anker had neuer bin able to winde vp the Ship.
1639. [see WINDING vbl. sb.1 1 b].
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. lv. Ships … have Water enough to wind up with the Tide of flood.
1711. Milit. & Sea Dict. (ed. 4).
