Business

Forms: 1 North. bisiʓnis, 3 bisenes, 3–4 bisines, 4 bisy-, bysi-, bissynes, bissinesse, 4–5 besines(se, besenes, bisy-, bysynesse, 4–6 besynes(se, bysy-, busynes, 4–7 busynesse, 5 besiness, bessynes, byse-, bisinesse, 6 besyness, busenes(s, buysines, 6–7 busines, -nesse, (7 buis’ness, busynese), 7– business. [OE. (North.) bisiʓnis, f. BUSY a., or stem of BUSY v.; see -NESS. Shortened to a dissyllable, since it ceased to be a noun of state. The plural businesses (formerly also business) is used only in a few senses, chiefly 14, 15.]

  I.  State or quality of being busy. (Cf. the adj.)

  (These senses are all obs., but some of them occur as nonce-words with special spelling BUSYNESS, and trisyllabic pronunciation.)

  † 1.  a. The state of being busily engaged in anything. b. Industry, diligence. Obs.

c. 1350.  Cursor M., 28748 (Cott. Galba MS.). Fasting and gude bisines Gers a man fle lustes of fless.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 60. Cristis bysynesse in prechynge.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 37. Bysynesse, assiduitas, diligencia.

1549.  Compl. Scot., 2. Distitute of … al verteus bysynes of body ande saul.

1611.  Bible, Rom. xii. 11. Not slouthfull in busines [1881 Rev. Vers. in diligence not slothful].

1696.  Stillingfl., 12 Serm., VIII. 349. Apprehensive … not so much from the business of our enemies.

a. 1713.  in Guardian, No. 35, ¶ 12. Behold the raptures which a writer knows … Behold his business while he works the mine.

  † 2.  Activity, briskness. Obs.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., clv. The lytill squerell, full of besynesse.

1616.  Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 681. The businesse of his [a dog’s] taile.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 11. The bulkiness of the world, the business of motion.

  † 3.  Mischievous or impertinent activity, officiousness. Obs.

1466.  Paston Lett., No. 543, II. 263. Al by her awne bessynes of her tunge.

1528.  More, Dial. Heresyes, III. Wks. 212/1. Faccious wayes full of busynes.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia, 315. O noble sisters … now you be gone what is left in that sex, but babling and businesse?

  † 4.  Eagerness, earnestness, importunity. Obs.

a. 1300[?].  Cato Major, II. xvii. Envye wiþ gret bisinesse Beoþenk þe forte fleo.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. Introd. Males secheþ females with besinesse.

c. 1400.  Lay-Folks Mass-Bk., App. iii. 122. Þorouȝ besynesse of preyers.

1543.  Prymer, ibid. 86. Make me accordyng to my busynes Partaker of thy … glory endles.

  † 5.  Anxiety, solicitude, care; distress, uneasiness. (The earliest cited sense.) Obs.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt., Table Contents xx. Ne bisiʓnisse mettes & woedes hæbende [Lat. nec solicitudinem escæ et vestis habendam].

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14105. ‘Martha, Martha’ … ‘In mikel bisenes ert þou.’

1382.  Wyclif, Ezek. xii. 19. Thei shulen eete her breed in bisynes [solicitudine].

1475.  Bk. Noblesse, 3. Put away thoughte and gret pensifnes … and besinesse.

1526.  Tindale, Gal. v. 17. From hence forth, let no man put me to busynes [so in Coverdale, Cranmer, Geneva].

1577.  St. Augustine’s Man. (ed. Longman), 90. Leave of thine own businesses … and withdrawe thy selfe from thy troublesome thoughtes.

  † 6.  Care, attention, observance. Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, Ecclus. xli. 15. Haue thou bisynesse [curam habe] of a good name.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxxvi. (1495), 148. The herte hyghte cor … of cura besynesse, for therin is all besynesse and cause of witte and of knowinge.

1503–4.  Act 19 Hen. VII., xxxii. § 5. Takyng uppon theym the charge and besynes for the assessyng of the seid somme.

1540.  Hyrde, Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), CC ij. All these busines, & keeping of the corce.

  † 7.  Trouble, difficulty; ado. Cf. BUSY a. 3. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 102. Ful mychell besynesse had he or þat he myght his lady wynne.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. III. 449. [He] aleyde þis sorwe unneþe wih grete besynesse.

1528.  Tindale, Obedience Chr. Man, Wks. I. 310. What business had he to pacify his children.

a. 1599.  R. Bodenham, in Arb., Garner, I. 34. I had no small business to cause my mariners to venture.

1693.  Locke, Educ., § 157. His learning to read should be made as little Trouble or Business to him as might be.

  † b.  Ado, disturbance, commotion. Obs.

1494.  Fabyan, VII. 684. For whose goodes was besynesse bytwen the Kynges amner and the sheryffe.

1514.  Ld. Mountjoy, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. I. 9. He feared that if they had not their pardons in likewise, they would either make business or they would avoid.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. xxvii. 24. When Pilate sawe … that moare busenes [1611 a tumult] was made.

1560.  Daus, Sleidane’s Comm., 343 a. One of the Sergeaunts … made a busines with him as though he would haue caried him to pryson.

1570–87.  Holinshed, Scot. Chron. (1806), 110. Argadus sent foorth … with a power to appease that businesse.

  † 8.  Diligent labor, exertion, pains. Phrases. To do (one’s) business, give business: to take pains, do one’s endeavor (L. dare operam).

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1068. Wald þai do half swilk bysines About goddes of heven.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 373. He wol þat þai ȝeue bissynes to þe londe.

c. 1400.  Maundev., xxiii. 251. Thei … alle weys don here besynes, to destroyen hire enemyes.

1422.  E. E. Wills (1882), 51. They will do her besynesse to fulfyll goddes will.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XIV. xiv. In vayne they spende their besynes.

  † II.  9. A company of flies, also of ferrets. Obs.

c. 1470.  Hors, Shepe, & G. (1822), 31. A besynes of flyes.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, f vi a. A Besynes of ferettis.

  III.  That about which one is busy.

  † 10.  The object of anxiety or serious effort; a serious purpose or aim. Obs.

c. 1392.  Chaucer, Compl. Venus, 20. Me to serue is al his besynesse.

1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, III. iii. (1483), 51. Alle youre study and besinesse hath ben to defame tho that were better than ye.

c. 1530[?].  Prov. Howsolde-kepyng, in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 29. Peyse wisely the besynes & the purpose of them wich ammynyster thy goodes.

  11.  A task appointed or undertaken; a person’s official duty, part or province; function, occupation.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1719. Bad hire seruauntis don hire besynesse.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lviii. 199. It behoueth vs shortely to determyne oure besynes … I shall shew you what is best for vs ii to do.

1611.  Bible, Gen. xxxix. 11. Ioseph went in to the house, to doe his busines.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., I. x. 25. Though going abroad sometimes about her businesse, She never makes it her businesse to go abroad.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 95. Love’s Business is to love, and to enjoy.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 18, ¶ 1. Because a Thing is every Body’s Business, it is no Body’s Business.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. T. (1816), I. xvii. 141. It is our business to keep the room aired and swept.

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 183. The great business of the sea is … eating away the margin of the coast.

  b.  That on which one is engaged, or with which one is concerned, at the time; often spec. the errand on which one comes.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 193. If you knew my businesse, You would intreat me rather goe then stay.

1684.  Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 72. What is your business here so late to Night?

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 644. What Buis’ness brought thee to my dark abode?

1740.  J. Clarke, Educ. Youth (ed. 3), 15. His Business will have no Difficulty in it.

Mod.  I asked him his business. What business brings you here?

  12.  A person’s official or professional duties as a whole; stated occupation, profession or trade.

1477.  Earl Rivers, Dictes (Caxton), 106. He that wele & dyligently vnderstondith to his bysenesse.

1549.  Latimer, Serm. on the Ploughers (Arb.), 29. Lette euerie man do his owne busines, and folow his callyng.

1694.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, ccclxv. (ed. 6), 385. They make Fooling their Business and their Livelihood.

1732.  Law, Serious C., ii. (ed. 2), 19. His every day business, will be a course of wise and reasonable actions.

1745.  Chesterf., Lett., I. c. 278. To apply yourself seriously to your business.

1882.  Beecher, in Homiletic Monthly (N.Y.), April, 381/1. We are large enough … to sustain not simply one whose business it is to preach, but three accessaries, who give themselves mainly to pastoral work.

  † b.  Official or public engagements generally, active life. Obs. See also Man of business: 22 a.

1750.  Chesterf., Lett., III. ccxxiv. 15. Your German … will be of great use to you when you come into business.

1779.  Johnson, Pope, Wks. IV. 6. Sir William Trumbal, who had been … secretary of state, when he retired from business, fixed his residence in the neighbourhood of Binfield.

  13.  In general sense: Action that occupies time, demands attention and labor; esp. serious occupation, work, as opposed to pleasure or recreation.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 3. Hatyng to be enpliȝed wiþ seculer bisines.

1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 826/1. Occupied in honorable businesse.

1600.  C. Percy, in Shaks. C. Praise, 38. Pestred with contrie businesse.

1653.  Walton, Angler, Ep. Ded. 3. To give rest to your mind, and devest your self of your more serious business.

1796.  Southey, Occas. Pieces, V. The business of the day is done.

1857.  Heavysege, Saul (1869), 141. Business still should alternate with pleasure.

  † b.  Work done by beasts. Obs. rare.

1737.  H. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), II. v. 104. A Horse which eats only a moderate Quantity of Food, will do as much Business … [as] one that eats continually.

  c.  Phrases. To mean business: to be in earnest (colloq.). On business: with an errand or purpose relating to business.

1841.  Morning Post, 4 Feb., 2/3. No one can read Lord Stanley’s speech, upon moving for leave to bring in his Bill, without perceiving at once the he means business.

1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, I. ix. I tells ’ee I means business, and you’d better keep on your own side.

Mod.  No admittance except on business.

  d.  A person’s business: work to be done or matters to be attended to in his service or on his behalf. To do (a person’s) business: to ‘do for,’ ruin, or kill him.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Macc. xv. 5. To perfourme the kynges busynesse.

1611.  Bible, Luke ii. 49. Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

1667.  Pepys, Diary, 16 Nov. Lord Vaughan, that is so great against the Chancellor … was heard to swear he would do my Lord Clarendon’s business.

1694.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 349. They would now doe the queens businesse, if she were not immortall.

  14.  (With plural.) A pursuit or occupation demanding time and attention; a serious employment as distinguished from a pastime.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 77. Now al most is no worldly bysines þat ministres of þe auter are not inplied in.

1458.  MS. of Christ’s Hosp. Abingdon, in Dom. Archit., III. 41. Another blissed besines is brigges to make.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Tim. ii. 4. No man that warreth tangleth him selfe with worldly busynesses.

1727.  De Foe, Eng. Tradesm., v. (1841), I. 33. Trade ought to be followed as one of the great businesses of life.

1853.  A. J. Morris, Relig. & Business, Title-page, Wherever religion is a business, there will business be a religion.

1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 54.

  b.  spec. A particular occupation; a trade or profession.

1827.  Carlyle, Transl. (1874), 217. I wished to be a fisherman, and tried that business for a time.

1852.  M’Culloch, Taxation, I. ii. (ed. 2), 74. Taxes on the profits of particular businesses.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. i. 51. Not allowing any man to work at a business for which he was unfit.

1878.  Jevons, Primer Pol. Econ., 58. A good butcher makes high wages, because his business is a greasy one, besides being thought to be cruel.

Mod.  Which of these businesses is to be preferred?

  15.  A particular matter demanding attention; a piece of work, a job. (The plur. is now unusual.)

1557.  North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr. (1582), 424 b. The continuall buysines they haue do vex them.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 395. We may effect this businesse, yet ere day. Ibid. (1595), John, IV. iii. 158. A thousand businesses are briefe in hand.

1611.  Bible, Pref., 11. In a businesse of moment a man feareth not the blame of conuenient slacknesse.

1647.  W. Browne, Polex., I. 66. During all these great businesse.

1718.  Pope, Iliad, XIX. 152. What I act, survey, And learn from thence the business of the day.

1851.  Carlyle, Sterling, II. vi. (1872), 139. On these businesses … he was often running up to London.

1881.  Daily Tel., 27 Dec. Attention was paid to the business of the evening.

  b.  Elliptically for: A difficult matter (colloq.).

1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., II. xii. (1872), 90. If he had known what a business it was to govern the Abbey.

  c.  To do one’s business: ‘to ease oneself.’

1645.  Sacred Decretal, 3. Have a … care … that … no birds build, chatter, or do their businesse, or sing there.

  16.  A matter that concerns or relates to a particular person or thing; const. of, or genitive case.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xxi. 43. It is longe now sith I made any mencion of the busynesses of farre countreis.

1526.  Tindale, Phil. 12, That my busynes [τὰ κατ’ ἐμὲ] is happened unto the gretter furtherynge off the gospell.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 32. Virtue is the business of the legislator.

  b.  Concern, the fact of being concerned with.

1759.  Johnson, Rasselas, xxix. (1787), 85. My business is with man.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev. (1871), II. I. i. 4. Madame, your business is with the children.

  c.  colloq. A matter with which one has the right to meddle. Also, Justifying motive or right of action or interference, ‘anything to do’ (with). Almost always with negative expressed or implied. Const. usually with, or infinitive.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, ccxx. (J.). What Bus’ness has a Tortoise among the Clouds?

1761.  Sheridan, Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph, II. 308. She has no business to go into her own lonely house again; it would be enough to kill her.

1849.  Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, iv. § 13. 105. Such kind of architecture has no business with rich ornament.

a. 1859.  Kingsley, Misc., II. 311. That is no business of ours.

1878.  H. Smart, Play or Pay, ix. (ed. 3), 177. A Captain of Dragoons has no business with a wife; but then we’re always doing what we’ve no business to do.

  d.  To mind one’s own business: to attend to one’s own affairs, to refrain from meddling with what does not concern one. Now colloq.

1625.  Bacon, Envy, Ess. (Arb.), 512. Neither can he, that mindeth but his own Businesse, finde much matter for Envy.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 16, ¶ 7. I … have nothing to do but to mind my own Business.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones (1836), I. I. ii. 27. I must desire all those critics to mind their own business.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, 40. ‘Mind your own business,’ growled his uncle.

  e.  To go about one’s business: to go and attend to one’s own affairs, to go away; in imperative used as a formula of impatient dismissal. So To send about one’s business: to dismiss unceremoniously, to ‘send packing.’

1687.  Magd. Coll. & Jas. II. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), 210. He was a pert … man … and … might go about his business.

1703.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3801/6. They advised him to go about his business.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, 70. Shall I leave all this matter to thy management … and go about my business?

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XVI. v. (1840), 236/2. Go about your business, I hate the sight of you.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. 423. The basha … sends them about their business.

1878.  Jevons, Prim. Pol. Econ., 62. He would … be told to go about his business.

  † 17.  A subject or topic of consideration or discussion; the subject of a book, etc. Obs. (common in 17th c.)

1622.  Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 128. This Sunday … the Epistle and Gospel treat about the same businesse, the birth of Christ.

1640–4.  in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 42. When a Business was begun and in debate.

1652.  Proc. Parliament, No. 133. 2073. Resolved … That … the House doe only take into consideration publique businesses, and no private businesses.

1660.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 379/1. The Pythagoreans … were studiously addicted to the business of Numbers.

1699.  Bentley, Phal., 480. The very Matter and Business of the Letters sufficiently discovers them to be an Imposture.

  18.  vaguely, An affair, concern, matter. (Now usually indicating some degree of contempt or impatience, esp. when preceded by a sb. in attrib. relation.) Frequent in colloquial phrases like ‘a bad business,’ ‘a queer business.’

1605.  Shaks., Macb., II. i. 24. We would spend [an houre] in some words vpon that Businesse.

1658–9.  Knightley, in Burton, Diary (1828), IV. 75. Their officer expostulated the business with me.

1675.  Traherne, Chr. Ethics, xxvii. 433. It is a poor business for a man to be secure that has nothing to lose.

1706.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4012/1. A Business has lately happened which may … engage us in new Disputes.

1805.  Med. Jrnl., XIV. 354. The vaccinator should … see his patient at least four times during the progress of the business.

1813.  Southey, Nelson, II. 177. This boat business … might be part of a great plan of invasion.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, I. iii. (1880), I. 40. When the towers fall, you know it is an ill business for the small nest-builders.

1868.  H. Kingsley, Silcote of S., III. v. 73. I am getting so sick of the whole business.

  † b.  Affectedly used for an ‘affair of honor,’ a duel. Obs.

a. 1637.  B. Jonson, Masque of Merc., Wks. V. 431 (N.). For that’s the word of tincture, the business. Let me alone with the business. I will carry the business. I do understand the business. I do find an affront in the business.

  c.  colloq. Used with intentional indefiniteness of material objects. (Cf. affair, concern.)

1654.  Evelyn, Diary (Chandos), 228. Sir Thos. Fowler’s aviarie … is a poor businesse.

1697.  trans. C’tess. D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 231. Some Pastry business, which burns the Mouth, it is so excessively peppered.

1847.  L. Hunt, Men, Wom. & Bks., I. I. 10. A business of screws and iron wheels.

  19.  Dealings, intercourse (with). arch.

1611.  Bible, Judges xviii. 7. They … had no businesse with any man.

1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., IV. vi. (1872), 245. What a shallow delusion is this … That any man … can keep himself apart from men, have ‘no business’ with them, except a cash-account ‘business.’

  † b.  Euphemism for ‘sexual intercourse.’ Obs.

1630.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., 109 (N.).

1654.  Recreation for Ingenious Head-peeces, Ep. 646 (N.).

  20.  Theat. Action as distinguished from dialogue. (Formerly used more widely.)

1671.  Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, III. ii. (Arb.), 83. ‘I see here is a great deal of Plot, Mr. Bayes.’ Bayes. ‘Yes, now it begins to break; but we shall have a world of more business anon.’

1779.  Sheridan, Critic, II. ii. The carpenters say, that unless there is some business put in here … they shan’t have time to clear away the fort.

1833.  Lamb, Elia (1860), 264. He carried the same rigid exclusiveness of attention to the stage business.

1860.  Cornh. Mag., II. 749. They give the literary composition the almost contemptuous title or ‘words,’ while they dignify the movements of the actors with the name of ‘business.’

  21.  spec. (from 13 and 19): Trade, commercial transactions or engagements.

1727.  De Foe, Eng. Tradesm., iv. (1841), I. 30. The merchants’ exchange, where they manage, negotiate, and frequently indeed beget business with one another. Ibid. If they do not get money, they gain knowledge in business.

1823.  Lamb, Elia (1860), 3. To open a book of business, or bill of lading.

1862.  Burton, Bk.-hunter, I. 84. [People] who wanted to do a stroke of business with some old volume.

1884.  Times (weekly ed.), 12 Sept., 7/3. They are evidently doing a very brisk business.

  fig.  1847.  De Quincey, Secret Soc., Wks. VI. 256. It has done business as a swindle through thirty generations. Ibid., 258. The goddess and her establishment of hoaxers at Eleusis did a vast ‘stroke of business’ for more than six centuries.

  b.  Place of business: usually in spec. sense, a shop, office, warehouse, commercial establishment; so also House of business. c. Hours of business, business hours: the hours in the day during which commercial or other business is transacted.

  22.  Man of business. † a. One engaged in public affairs (obs.). b. One engaged in mercantile transactions. c. A man of business-like habits, one skilled in business. d. The professional agent who transacts a person’s legal business, an attorney.

1670.  Burnet, Lett. to Brisbane. I am … resolved never to have anything to do more with men of business, particularly with any in opposition to the Court.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 466, ¶ 3. I am a Man of Business, and obliged to be much abroad.

1727.  De Foe, Eng. Tradesm., iv. (1841), I. 30. Men of business are companions for men of business.

1752.  Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 113, note. Pericles, a man of business, & a man of sense.

1787.  ‘G. Gambado’ (H. Bunbury), Acad. Horsem. (1809), 30. By a man of business is not meant a Lord of the Treasury, or a Commissioner of Accounts, but what is called on the road, a rider, a bag-man, or bagster.

1857.  Buckle, Civiliz., I. xi. 629. If we were all men of business our mental pleasures would be abridged.

1861.  Ramsay, Remin., vi. (ed. 18), 232. In Scotland it is usual to term the law-agent or man of business of any party his ‘doer.’

  23.  A commercial enterprise regarded as a ‘going concern’; a commercial establishment with all its ‘trade,’ liabilities, etc.

Mod. (Heading of Advt. column) Businesses, etc., to be disposed of.

  24.  attrib. and in Comb., as business habits, hours, house, letter, life, transaction, etc.; also, business-card, a card of a tradesman, manufacturer, commercial traveller, etc., with his address and various particulars as to the nature of his business, used for advertising purposes; business end (used humorously, see quot.); business-looking a., having an appearance suggestive of business; business man = man of business; see 22 b, c.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. 317 (Hoppe). Bland strangers with *business-cards meeting the servants in the streets.

1878.  Holbrook, Hyg. Brain, 56. The *business end of a carpet-tack.

1881.  Daily Tel., 31 Jan., 3/1. What are they to do after *business hours?

1839.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., ii. A business-looking table, and several *business-looking people.

1878.  N. Amer. Rev., CXXVII. 109. The mass of *business men.

1840.  Carlyle, Heroes, I. 36. Snorro … almost in a brief *business style, writes down, [etc.].

1871.  Markby, Elem. Law (1874), § 472. Nearly all *business transactions have reference … to the ownership of property.

1862.  Burton, Bk.-hunter, I. 38. Persons who might take a purely *business view of such transactions.

1850.  Clough, Dipsychus, II. i. 49. Men’s *business-wits the only sane things.