For forms see the sb.
† 1. intr. To take a short gallop, to ‘pass a career’; to charge (at a tournament); to turn this way and that in running (said of a horse); also fig. Also trans. with cognate object. Obs.
1594. Willobie, Avisa, F ij. Shamelesse Callets … That … can carire the whores rebound, To straine at first, and after yeeld.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xv. 52. 632/1. His horse of a fierce courage carreird as he went.
1672. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal (1714), 87. How we Tilt and Career.
2. transf. and fig. To gallop, run or move at full speed. (Also to career it.)
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 87. If’s tongue doth not career’t above his wit.
1679. Sc. Pasquils (1868), 248. Episcopie must quit the cause, And let old Jack carrear boys.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, I. 368. When Desolation royally careers Over thy wretched country.
1823. Scott, Peveril, v. The little Julian was careering about the room for the amusement of his infant friend.
1851. Househ. Narrative, 13. Two heavy seas … careered towards one another.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, III. 331. Sap … Careering through a tree.
3. trans. To make (a horse) career.
1829. W. Irving, Conq. Granada, lxxxiii. (1856), 450. A Moor is born … to career the steed … and launch the javelin.
4. To move swiftly over. (Cf. ‘run the streets.’)
1830. W. Phillips, Mt. Sinai, I. 47. In living clouds careering the expanse, These fleck the firmament.
Hence Careerer, Careering vbl. sb. and ppl. a., Careeringly adv.
1844. Blackw. Mag., 691. Careerers of the skies!
1627. Bp. Hall, Heav. vpon Earth, vii. 80. All … fall to plunging and careering.
1817. Coleridge, Sibyl. Leaves (1862), 66. The mad careering of the storm.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 48. The careeringest billow.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 756. Careering Fires.
1838. De Quincey, Wks., XIV. 295. Huge careering leaps.
1832. J. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., 272. I came down waveringly, careeringly, flourishingly.
