Cast v.

Pa. t. and pa. pple. cast.

  Forms: Infinitive 3–5 casten, (5 castin, -yn), kaste(n, keste(n, 6 caste, 3– cast. Pa. t. 3–5 caste, kast(e, 3–7 kest(e, (5, 6 cest, kiste, keist, kyste), 7 Sc. cuist, 8 Sc. coost, 3– cast; also 4–7 casted, 4–5 -id(e. Pa. pple. 3–8 north. casten, -in, -yn, 4–6 caste, kast(e, kest(e, (4 icast), 6 Sc. cassin, -yn, caissen, 4– cast; also 4–6 castid. [ME. cast-en, a. ON. kasta wk. vb. to cast, throw (Icel. and Sw. kasta, Da. kaste, North Fris. kastin): cf. kös (kasu), köstr (:—kastuz), pile, heap thrown up, which has been compared with L. gerĕre (ges-) gestus. It took in ME. the place of OE. weorpan (see WARP), and has now in turn been largely superseded in ordinary language and in the simple literal sense by THROW, q.v. ‘Cast it into the pond’ has an archaic effect in comparison with ‘throw it into the pond.’ But it is in ordinary use in various figurative and specific senses, and in many adverbial combinations, as cast about.]

  General arrangement: I. To throw. II. To throw down, overthrow, defeat, convict, condemn. III. To throw off so as to get quit of, to shed, vomit, discard. IV. To throw up (earth) with a spade, dig (peats, a ditch, etc.). V. To put or place with haste or force, throw into prison, into a state of rage, sleep, etc. VI. To reckon, calculate, forecast. VII. To revolve in the mind, devise, contrive, purpose. VIII. To dispose, arrange, allot the parts in a play. IX. To cast metal, etc. X. To turn, twist, warp, veer, incline. XI. To plaster, daub. XII. Hunting and Hawking senses, those of doubtful position, and phrases. XIII. Adverbial combinations.

  I.  The simple action: To throw.

  1.  trans. To project (anything) with a force of the nature of a jerk, from the hand, the arms, a vessel, or the like; to THROW (which is now the ordinary equivalent); to fling, hurl, pitch, toss.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 41. Ha [pride] cast hire fader sone se ha iboren wes fram þe hehste heuene in to helle grunde.

c. 1275.  Lay., 1919. Corineus … caste hine adun mid þe cleue.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20962. His hand … he schok and in þe fir hir [þe neder] kest. Ibid. (c. 1340), 19461 (Fairf.). Þe witnes sulde be-gyn þe first stane for to caste.

c. 1450.  Merlin, iii. 42. Pendragon caste in fier, and brente vp Vortiger.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 101. Certayn men beyng at a wyndow keste water vpon him.

1595.  Shaks., John, V. i. 39. They found him dead, and cast into the streets.

1611.  Bible, John viii. 7. Hee that is without sinne among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 195. Never cast Water on things newly planted.

1678.  N. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. ii. § 86. 473/1. He would cast a Horse-man’s Mace … farther than any other of his Court.

1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., s.v. Baile, Casting the water by hand out of a Boat.

1829.  Hood, Eug. Aram, xxi. I took the dreary body up And cast it in a stream.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., I. I. 300. Men fell to play at casting of the stone; And strong men cast it mighty of their hands.

1887.  Baring-Gould, Gaverocks, i. in Cornh. Mag., Jan., 7. ‘Take my rein’ said the girl … casting the reins towards him.

  † b.  absol. Also, To aim, deliver a blow. Obs. or arch.

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1901. Þe wyȝe … braydez out þe bryȝt bronde, & at þe best castez.

  c.  fig.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter 498. Þan kest behynd þi bake all my synnys.

a. 1541.  Wyatt, Poet. Wks. (1861), 83. From my heart I cest That, I had first determin’d for the best.

1642.  T. Taylor, God’s Judgem., I. I. xv. 49. Hee … doth … cast behind his backe the grace of God’s spirit.

1704.  Pope, Windsor For., 173. Lodona’s fate, in long oblivion cast.

  d.  † To cast seed. Now chiefly fig.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 24 b. Neither can it be certaynely appoynted, howe muche seede is generally to be cast uppon an acre.

1611.  Bible, Eccles. xi. 1. Cast thy bread vpon the waters.

1861.  T. A. Trollope, La Beata, II. xiii. 73 (Hoppe). The judicious hints … had not been cast on barren ground.

1864.  Tennyson, Flower. Once in a golden hour I cast to earth a seed.

  e.  To throw (dice) from the box. Also absol. Hence † To cast a chance (obs.).

1458.  MS. Christ’s Hosp. Abingd., in Dom. Archit., III. 42. They cockid for cartes, & cast for her chisyng.

1565–78.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Fritillus, a little boxe to cast dice on the table.

1595.  Southwell, Tri. Death, 22. God casteth the dice, and giueth vs our chaunce.

a. 1628.  F. Greville, Sidney (1652), 58. He might … cast a chance for all our goodes, lives, and liberties.

1820.  Hoyle’s Games Impr., 362. It is optional in the person who bets with the thrower, to bar any throw which the caster may be going to cast, provided neither of the dice are seen.

  f.  To deposit (a voting paper or ticket); to give (a vote).

1871.  Smiles, Charac., x. (1876), 273. The immense majority of votes would be cast in favour of Plutarch.

1885.  Contemp. Rev., June, 886. Inability … to read the ballot they are expected to cast.

  † g.  To cast cross and pile: to toss up a coin as a way of casting lots. Obs.

1637.  T. Brian, Pisse-proph. (1679), 164. He should notwithstanding cast cross and pile which of these [remedies] he should appoint.

c. 1645.  Vox Turturis, 23. They had a Custome, when buyer and seller could not agree, to draw Cutts (as we do) or cast crosse and pile.

  h.  To cast lots: see LOT.

  i.  fig. To cause to fall or happen.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 46. Pray ye that this flight of yours … be not cast upon such a time.

  † 2.  Formerly said also of military engines, bows, and the like, which throw or shoot projectiles; often absol. (like to shoot). Also of the general or soldiers. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9890. Þis castel … it es hei sett a-pon þe crag … þan na maner engine o were Mai cast þar-til it for to dere.

c. 1325.  Coer de L., 4116. The engyne was bente … A gret ston into the toun was keste.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 165. Bothe day & nyght unto þe toure he kast.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Kings xiii. 17. Helise seyde, kast an arowe; and he kest.

1544.  Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 117. So that he be … spedye ynough for far casting.

1599.  Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 41. The trepeget must nedes also be one instrumente to cast stones.

1609.  Bible (Douay), 1 Macc. vi. 51. Arbalists and engins, and instruments to cast fyre.

  3.  Said of the sea, waves, wind, or the like: esp. in cast ashore Cf. cast away, 72 e.

1611.  Bible, Acts xxvii. 26. Howbeit we must be cast vpon a certaine Iland.

1618.  M. Baret, Horsemanship, I. 4. Aristippus trauailing to Rhodes by Sea, was cast a-land by shipwracke.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 21. The wind blowing strongly, we were cast vpon the shoales or flats of Mozambique.

  4.  Said of any similar motion however produced. arch. (In quot. used absol.)

1340.  Ayenb., 66. Ase þe wyȝte þet ualþ ine hot weter þet kest hyer and þer, and scoldeþ alle þo þet byeþ þer aboute.

  5.  refl. To throw oneself. (not colloq.)

c. 1330.  R. Brunne (1810), 274. Þam to kest smertly to þe assaute.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 203/2. Not shewing them selues too muche, nor casting themselues at randome.

1611.  Bible, Pref., 2. He casteth himselfe headlong vpon pikes, to be gored by euery sharpe tongue.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., viii. § 2. 23. I cast my self at the feet of the Elephant whereupon the King rode.

1693.  Mem. Ct. Teckely, II. 121. To cast themselves on any other side upon the Emperor’s Lands.

1714.  Ellwood, Autobiog., 24. I sought, and at length found Means to cast myself into the Company of the Daughter.

1783.  Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), IV. s.v. Alcyone, Alcyone … hearing of her husband’s death, cast herself into the sea.

1832.  Tennyson, Mariana in S., 27. Low on her knees herself she cast.

  † b.  intr. (for refl.) Obs.

c. 1300.  St. Brandan, 517. Ther-over [A … rock] the see caste i-lome.

  6.  To throw forth (a net, fishing line, hook, or the like, also the sounding lead, an anchor).

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 1014. Hi strike seil, And ankere gunne caste.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 133 b. He casteth his nettes in vayne before them y^t be as byrdes full flygge.

1535.  Coverdale, Acts xxvii. 28. They cast out the leade & founde it twentye feddoms.

1610.  B. Jonson, Alch., II. i. The Temple Church, there I have cast my angle.

1651–7.  T. Barker, Art of Angling (1826), 4. You can cast your flye…. Be sure you be casting alwayes down the stream.

1674.  Evelyn, Navig. & Comm., § 54. 101. Those of Flanders, who never presum’d to cast a Net without Permission.

1798.  Capt. Berry, in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1845), III. 51. Hauling the braces, &c., preparatory to our casting anchor.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 353. Some angler casting his fly on the foam of the river.

1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 413. Shall he … cast his emptied net, unceasingly.

  b.  Hawking. To cast a lure.

1682.  Dryden, Epilogue King & Queen (Globe), 457. Methinks some vizard mask I see Cast out her lure from the mid gallery.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Faulcon, Cast the Lure so near her, that she may catch it within the length of her lease.

  c.  intr. (for refl.) of an anchor.

1646.  H. Lawrence, Comm. Angels, 171. Our anchor casts deepe in heaven, where there is good earthing.

  7.  To cast an eye, glance, look, etc. Still in common use.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 56. To kesten kang eien upon ȝunge wummen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 15952. [Jesus] þan turnd him a-bute on petre his hei he kest.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1852. As she felle adoun she kaste hir loke.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, 57. For a leude loke that he kiste on Barsaba.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 124. Horses … if they cast their looke upon their belly.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 13. How fearefull And dizie ’tis to cast ones eyes so low.

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., Ded. 2. Cast your eye on the matter contained in it.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 708. Th’ unwary Lover cast his Eyes behind.

1732.  Lediard, Sethos, II. IX. 302. My family have cast their eyes on an excellent person.

1812.  J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, III. 866. They cast their eyes around the isle.

1816.  Scott, Antiq., xliv. I have sometimes thought that you have cast your eyes upon Miss Wardour.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, I. vi. (1880), I. 97. He cast a keen glance of surprise at the group before him.

  † b.  Formerly, also, To cast a thought, a reflection upon; to cast one’s heart, affections, etc. (now, to set); also, to cast love, favo(u)r, a fancy unto. Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1810), 151. Þe kyng in lys syde ys herte al up hym caste.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1878. Ther as they kaste hir hert, there it dwelleth.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur (1816), I. 36. The king cast great love unto her.

1510.  Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), M iv. Men never cast any favor to a woman but for some good profite.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 64. An harlot that Anniball cast a fancie vnto.

c. 1665.  Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson, 9. A rich widow … cast her affections on him.

1736.  Butler, Anal., I. iii. 46. Not to every careless Person who casts a transient Reflection upon the Subject.

  † 8.  To emit, give out, send forth (light, darkness, fire, heat, cold, an odor). Obs. (exc. as in 9).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23218. Euer it brennes dai and night, bot neuermare it castes light.

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2001. Clowdes kesten kenly þe colde to þe erthe.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XIII. Prol. 68. Hornyt Lucyne castand bot dym lycht.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., clxxxi. (1862), I. 436. How soon can he with his flint cast fire.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 183. Voyd of light Save what the glimmering of these livid flames Casts pale and dreadful.

1695.  Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth (1723), I. 20 (J.). This … casts a sulphureous Smell.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. England, Coal … casts a greater heat, and is more lasting.

1742.  Pope, Dunc., IV. 539. Turned to the sun, she casts a thousand dyes.

  9.  To throw or cause to fall (light, etc.) on or over any object, or in some particular direction. Now chiefly in cast a shadow (on).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9925. It castes lem ouer al sa bright, þat reches to þe dunjon light. Ibid., 10060. Þe grace þat of hir brestis Ouer all þis world þat grace it kestis.

1535.  Coverdale, Judith ix. 8. Castinge a thick darcknes before them.

1634.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., Wks. (1808), 109. The sun darkens the full moon, in casting the shadow of the earth upon her opposed face. Ibid., xxxii. 134. On the sight of a dark lantern … he can discern another man, by that light, which is cast before him.

1738.  Pope, Epil. Sat., II. 97. Or round a quaker’s beaver cast a glory.

1752.  J. Gill, Trinity, iii. 72. Though they do not prove the doctrine of the Trinity, yet they cast some light upon it.

1801.  Campbell, Lochiel’s Warning, 56. Coming events cast their shadows before.

1830.  Tennyson, Poems, 79. There is no bright form Doth not cast a shade.

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. VI. iv. 33. Every shadow which one casts on the next.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. § 16. 106. A pine-fire was soon blazing briskly, and casting its red light upon the surrounding objects.

  † b.  intr. (for refl.) Obs.

1692.  in Capt. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., II. 154. I … find … the Shadow of the top of the Tower to cast at D.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Low Bell, The light will cast a great distance before you very broad.

  c.  To cast (a thing) into the shade: usually fig.

1884.  Manch. Exam., 2 May, 4/7. Internal taxation … is so excessive … as to cast even an illiberal tariff into the shade.

  † 10.  To toss (the head), to shrug (the shoulders).

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1351. Þe keiser kaste his heaued, as wod mon, of wreððe.

c. 1430.  How Gd. Wijf, 61, in Babees Bk. (1869), 39. Braundische not with þin heed, þi schuldris þou ne caste.

c. 1500.  Cocke Lorell’s B. (1843), 8. Than Cocke cast a syde his hede.

1792.  Burns, Duncan Gray. Maggie coost her heed fu’ heigh.

  II.  To throw down, overthrow, defeat.

  11.  To throw down, throw on the ground.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), Table 3. How the wulf caste his gloue to fight with the foxe.

1755.  Johnson, Dict., s.v., The king was cast from his throne.

1860.  Thackeray, Four Georges, iii. (1861), 162. Low he lies … who was cast lower than the poorest.

  12.  To throw (a beast) on its back or side. The pa. pple. is used of a sheep or other beast that has got upon its back, and is unable to rise.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 133. For kibed heeles, take and cast him, and binde his legges fast together.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 313. Cast the Horse … and with that Oyl rub the Splent.

1810.  Treat. Choice, Buying, &c., Live Stock, 63. The animal is first cast, or thrown, and his legs bound.

1882.  Romanes, Anim. Intell., 448. A collie which … would run off to seek any sheep that might be cast, and … assist it to rise.

1886.  Sat. Rev., 6 March, Horse-idiocy, 327/2. Granted … that it is a triumph of ingenuity [for a horse] to get cast in a loose box half as big as a barn.

  13.  To throw to the ground, esp. in wrestling; fig. to overthrow (an antagonist). arch. or dial.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 25671. Þe feindes fraistes me ful fast, wele i hope i sal þaim cast.

c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 245. And kaste him on the lefte syde that thre ribbes tobrak.

c. 1489.  Caxton, S. Aymon, i. 55. Guenes … casted hym ded to the erth.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 158. Either she should sit fast, or else I should cast her.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., II. iii. 46. Though he tooke vp my Legges sometime, yet I made a shift to cast him.

a. 1615.  Brieue Cron. Erlis of Ross (1850), 1. He had sic craft in wrasling, that he cuist all men that assilȝeit him.

1887.  Baring-Gould, Gaverocks, i. in Cornh. Mag., Jan., 6. His father went to him, tripped up his heels, and cast him sprawling on his back.

  14.  To defeat in an action at law.

1542.  Brinklow, Compl., viii. (1874), 22. The promoter payth no charges though he be cast.

1655.  Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. 20. Their cause thereby was cast by their own confession.

1659.  Hammond, On Ps. li. 4. What ever suite thou wagest against me, thou art sure to cast me.

1730.  Fielding, Temple Beau, Wks. 1755, I. 119. I have resolved never to go to law with a beggar or a lord: the one will never be cast, and the other you will get nothing by casting.

1818.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, I. II. iv. 144. A punishment seems to be inflicted on the defendant in all actions for debt wherein he is cast.

1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., xxii. (1857), 495. The magistrates were cast in damages.

  † 15.  To defeat in competition. Chiefly in passive. Obs. or dial.

1610.  Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 6. Shee [i.e., Iuno] was cast, in the contention of beauty, by the iudgement of Paris, Priams sonne.

1628.  Feltham, Resolves, I. lxxii. Wks. (1677), 111–2. Surely Juno was content with her beauty, till the Trojan Youth cast her, by advancing Venus.

1686.  Burnet, Trav., i. (1750), 56. A Man may have more than two thirds sure, and yet be cast in a Competition.

  † 16.  To find or declare guilty; to convict. Obs.

1536.  Sir J. Russell, Lett., 12 May, in Lisle Papers, VII. 35. This day, Mr. Norris and such other as you know are cast; and the Queen shall go to her judgment on Monday next.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., 15. The Commons by farr the greater number cast him: the Lords agreed to the Sentence.

1660.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 90/2. Socrates was cast by 281 voices.

a. 1714.  Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 33. When it went to the vote seven acquitted but eight cast him.

1849.  Grote, Greece, II. lxvii. VIII. 463. There was no man … who might not be cast or condemned, or fail in his own suit, even with right on his side.

  † 17.  To condemn. Const. for (the penalty).

1567.  Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 107. Thinke you, he would determine matters, before he knew them: So might he cast Christ, and quit Barabbas.

1649.  Lovelace, Poems (1659), 155. As a prisoner new cast Who sleeps in chaines that night his last.

1709.  Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xv. 192. Strangways and his crew … were … all cast to suffer death.

a. 1714.  Burnet, Own Time (1766), II. 49. He was cast: And he prepared himself very seriously for death.

1772.  Mackenzie, Man World, II. xxii. (1823), 495. I was tried for the crime, & was cast for transportation.

1816.  J. H. Vaux, in Knapp & Baldw., Newgate Cal., Cast for death for privately stealing.

  b.  fig. and transf. To condemn.

a. 1375.  Joseph Arim., 117. ‘What, mon?’ quaþ þe kyng ‘þou castest þiseluen.’

1567.  Harman, Caveat, 88. The learned lawes do quite or do cast, Such suttile searchers.

1606.  Dekker, Sev. Sins, I. (Arb.), 15. Thy last will, at the last day, will be an Inditement to cast thee.

1669.  Penn, No Cross, i. § 10 (1682), 17. That … thy unsutable and un-Christ-like life may not cast thee at that Great Assize of the World.

  III.  To throw off, out, away: with stress on the notion of getting quit of or losing.

  18.  To throw off. Of a horse: To cast his rider (arch. or dial.), to cast a shoe (the ordinary phrase).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 27067. Quen man has casten his birthing o sin þat on him forwit lai.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 64. Like the hors that castethe his maistre.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. iv. 30. To stumble, that his rider nigh he cast.

1649.  Selden, Laws Eng., II. xxiii. (1739), 108. Having once won the Saddle, he is loth to be cast.

a. 1700.  Trooper’s Proph., in Sc. Pasquils (1868), 271. Sir Presbyter, ye spur Your speavie mear too fast … Your covenant she’ll cast.

1816.  Scott, Antiq., i. One of the horses had cast a fore-foot shoe.

1822.  Bewick, Mem., 24. He only remarked that ‘one may soon get what one’ll never cast.’

1840.  Thackeray, Catherine, vii. The horse had cast a shoe.

  † b.  Of a pen, etc.: To shed (ink, color).

1639.  Fuller, Holy War, II. xxvi. (1647), 76. His penne will seldom cast ink when he meeteth with the corruption of the Romish court.

1716.  Horneck, Crucif. Jesus, 597. If the Pencil in his Hand should … cast no Colour.

  19.  To throw off (clothes). Now chiefly dial. (esp. Sc.), except where it has the sense of ‘discard,’ = throw off for good or for the season, cease to wear. Cf. cast off (79 b).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 21527. Of he kest al to his serk.

1700.  Dryden, Wife of Bath’s T., 456, in Fables, 495 (J.).

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 98, ¶ 1. They have cast their Head-dresses in order to surprise us.

1787.  Burns, Amer. War. Till Suthrons raise, an’ coost their claise Behind him in a raw, man.

1845.  Hood, Mermaid of Marg., i. The widow comes … to cast her weeds.

Old maxim.  Case not a clout till May be out.

  20.  To throw off in process of growth (esp. the skin, as reptiles, caterpillars); also (somewhat arch. or dial.) to shed (hair, horns, teeth, leaves).

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, E iv b. At saynt andrew day his hornys he will cast.

1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron. Irel. (1808), VI. 331. As the woolfe which often casteth his haires but neuer changeth his conditions.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 732. The Creatures, that cast their Skin, are; The Snake, the Viper, the Grashopper, the Lizard, the Silke worme, &c.

1649.  Selden, Laws Eng., I. xlvii. (1739), 77. The Eagle had cast its Feathers, and could towre no more.

1676.  Walton’s Angler, iv. (1864), 62. Some hollies or oaks are longer before they cast their leaves.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. II. 649.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Oxen, He will cast his two foremost Teeth in ten Months of his first Year.

1789.  White, Selborne, II. xlvi. A skin or coat, which must be cast before the insect can arrive at its perfect state.

1801.  Strutt, Sports & Past., I. ii. 28, note. At the moulting time, when they cast their feathers.

  † b.  To give birth to, bear (young); to lay (eggs), deposit (spawn). Obs. or dial.

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 161. Shee was the fairest hewde … that ever kinde Had cast.

1653.  Walton, Angler, i. 26. There be divers fishes that cast their spawne on flags and stones.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 120, ¶ 5. Some Creatures cast their Eggs as Chance directs them.

1769.  Herd, Coll. Sc. Songs, II. 7. Four-and-twenty gude milk kye … a’ cast in ae year.

1774.  Goldsm., Anim. Nat. (1776), IV. 174. They make a second departure in March to cast their young.

  † c.  To void (excrements). Obs.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Badger, One [sort] casteth his Fiants long like a Fox. Ibid., s.v. Wolf-Hunting, The Bitch casteth her Fiaunts commonly in the midst of the High-way.

  d.  To ‘yield’ (as corn). dial.

1879.  Miss Jackson, Shropshire Word-bk., ’Ow did that w’eät cast as yo’ wun thrashin’? Middlin’ like … it dunna cast like it did last ’ear.

  21.  esp. To throw off, or shed, or drop, out of due season; to give birth to or bear prematurely, (In common use of animals, fruit-trees.)

1477.  Norton, Ord. Alch., v. in Ashm., Theat. Chem. (1652), 71. A Mare woll cast her Foale.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 69. Lesse hurte … to haue his cowe caste her calfe, thanne an ewe to caste her lambe.

1549.  Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. xv. 8. An vnseasonable borne apostle … lyke an vnperfite chyld, rather caste, than wel borne.

1587.  Harrison, England, II. xxi. The spring maketh him that drinketh it to cast all his teeth.

1602.  Return fr. Parnass., III. v. (Arb.), 46. It was a terrible feare that made vs cast our haire.

1611.  Bible, Rev. vi. 13. And the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth, euen as a figge tree casteth her vntimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty winde.

1617.  J. Moore, Mappe Mans Mort., III. iii. 199. The Elephant (being coursed) casteth her precious tooth and so escapeth; so must we forsake the flesh [etc.].

1658.  Ussher, Ann., VI. 220. Darius his wife … cast the child of which she went, and died.

1882.  Garden, 168/3. Nature may … relieve herself by casting the whole of the crop.

  22.  Of bees: To throw off (a swarm); generally absol. to swarm. (The ordinary term in Sc.)

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 122. At the tyme that they shall cast the swarme. Ibid. In June and July they do moost comynly cast.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 188 b. From the fifth Ides of May, till the tenth, or the twelfth of June, they use to cast theyr swarmes.

1609.  C. Butler, Fem. Mon., V. (1623), I iv. A good stocke doth … vsually cast twise, a prime swarme, and an after swarme.

1747.  Maxwell, Bee Master, 34 (Jam.). A hive, which to appearance was ready to cast.

  † 23.  Of plants: To throw out (branches or shoots). Obs.

1340.  Ayenb., 31. Þis zenne his a to kuead rote þet kest uele kueade boȝes.

1631.  Markham, Weald of Kent, II. i. (1668), 11. The former Marle … is but a dead Clod … nor casteth any profitable grass at all.

  24.  To cast colo(u)r: to lose color, become pale, fade, esp. by the action of light. Also absol. in mod. dial. use.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 881. He cast al his colour and bicom pale.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 118. The kynge keste colours … with crouelle lates.

Mod. Sc.  A very good colour, if it do not cast.

  25.  To throw up from within; to vomit. To cast the gorge: to vomit violently, or make violent attempts to vomit. Now, only of hawks or other birds (exc. dial.).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 26783. Þai þaim to þair filthes fest als hund to þat he forwit kest.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xciii. (1495), 661. The sede of clete helpith theym whyche castyth blood.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, C vij. Ye se yowre hawke nesyng and Castyng wat thorogh her Nostrellis.

1535.  Lyndesay, Satyre, 4355. Till scho had castin ane cuppill of quarts.

1607.  Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 40. Shee, whom the Spittle-house, and vlcerous sores, Would cast the gorge at.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, II. V. iii. § 18. 483. Somewhat that shall make him cast his gorge.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 56 (Jam.). Gut and ga’ she keest wi’ braking strange.

1835–6.  Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 324/2. The undigestible parts of the prey of the Owl … are regularly cast or regurgitated from the stomach.

  b.  absol. Also fig.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 63. Castyn or brakyn [K. as man owt the stomack].

1493.  Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 52. He might not receyue y^e sacrament for castynge.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 278. These feathers will make him to cast immediately at the nose.

1623.  Hart, Arraignm. Ur., V. 110.

1735.  Pope, Donne’s Sat., iv. 157. Like a big wife, at sight of loathsome meat Ready to cast.

1850.  Fraser’s Mag., 557. The swallow casts after the fashion of a hawk or owl.

  fig.  1632.  Rutherford, Lett., xxiii. (1862), I. 91. Let your soul … cast at all things and disdain them, except one only.

a. 1665.  W. Guthrie, Serm. Mark viii. (1709), 25 (Jam.). They have broken the covenant, casten at his ordinances.

  c.  Said also of the sea, a volcano, etc.

1592.  No-body & Some-b. (1878), 296. All the chimneyes shall cast smoake at once.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 106. The hill Chimæra, which casteth flames of fire euery night.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. i. 251. We all were sea-swallow’d, though some cast againe.

  † 26.  To ejaculate, utter (words), heave (a sigh).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10464. Wit the bolnning of hir hert, Sco kest sum wordes son ouerthuert.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 295. Þe kest all suilk a crie, þat men mot here a myle.

c. 1450.  Sir Beues (MS. M.), 2740. The dragon had of ham a smell And he keste vp a gret yell.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon (1885), 485. Whan the byshop turpyn sawe this, he casted a grete sighe.

1712–4.  Pope, Rape Lock, III. 157. Not louder shouts to pitying Heay’n are cast.

  27.  To throw or set aside, reject, discard; esp. to set aside as disqualified; to reject (horses) as unfit; to dismiss (soldiers, etc.).

  [In this sense the pa. pple. ran together with that of CASS v. (sense 2), so that about 1600 cast may be either.]

a. 1375.  Joseph Arim., 703. Forte cristene þe folk, and casten þe false.

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 52. No more must all Cupidos knyghtes be cast because of some.

[1604.  E. Grimston, Siege of Ostend, 80. He hath cast and dismist so many olde experimented Captaines.]

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. i. 150. The State … Cannot with safetie cast him.

[1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, II. V. iv. § 5. 523. Many Companies … of forrein Auxiliaries are presently cast.]

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., III. vi. § 26. This Child … was … near being excluded … and ’tis certain a Figure a little more oddly turn’d had cast him.

1715.  in Wodrow Corr. (1843), II. 78. If that [Revelation] be once casten, we shall fall upon no other.

1817.  Keatinge, Trav., II. 103. The number of horses cast from the cavalry.

1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., vi. (1857), 114. He determined that Cousin George should be cast in the examination.

1872.  G. A. Lawrence, Anteros, ii. 9. No more thought of rejecting him as a suitor, than a trainer would of casting a coli for showing temper.

  ¶ Improperly for CASS, to make void.

1717.  Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 331. It is nothing … less … than a total casting and making void the patrons’ power in all time coming.

  IV.  To throw up with a spade or shovel.

  28.  To throw up (earth, etc.) whence the current northern use in to cast sods, turf, peal: to dig them up. Also in plowing.

1497.  in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl., I. 364. To the monk that castis the gardin.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 13. Let him caste his barley-erthe, and shortly after rygge it agayne.

1616.  Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 307. It being vsed to be cast and tilled with thicker raisings of the earth.

1663.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1792), I. 166 (Jam.). Peats and fire was very scarce through want of servants to cast and win them. Ibid., 216. The servants who should have casten the peats.

1799.  J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 131. To be preserved always in the same form, by casting, that is, by ploughing two ridges together, beginning at the furrow that separates them, and ploughing round and round, till the two ridges be finished.

1860.  J. F. Campbell, Tales W. Highl., II. 36. The Laird was getting his peats cast.

Mod. Sc.  Casting divots on the edge of the common.

  b.  To shovel coal from the keels into the collier (vessels); see CASTER 2 b.

1882.  J. Green, Tales & Ballads Wearside (1885), 223. He had commenced to cast at two o’clock in the morning.

  † 29.  To dig or clear out (a ditch or the like), throwing the soil up on the edges. Obs.

1481–90.  Howard Househ. Bks. (1841), 21. For casting the poondes at Wysnowe vj.s. viij.d.

1522.  MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp., Canterb., Paied for castyng of xxj roddis of dykyng.

1576.  Act 18 Eliz., x. § 7. No Person … shall cast or scour any Ditch and throw or lay the Soil thereof into the Highway.

1579.  Twyne, Phisicke agst. Fort., I. xc. 111 b. Thou hast planted trees, thou hast cast ryuers, thou hast plashed hedges.

1617.  Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, To Rdr. A iij a. I will not draine the fenne, or stand casting the ponde.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, V. vi. § 7. A newe ditch lately cast by Perseus.

  † 30.  To form by throwing up, to raise (a mound, bank, earthwork, or the like). Obs. See Cast up (83 e).

1593.  Althorp MS., in Simpkinson, Washingtons, Introd. 36. Payde for casting the causey iijs. jd.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 526. He commaunded … the broken passages to be cast euen.

1608.  Shaks., Per., I. i. 100. The blind Mole cast Copt hills toward heauen.

1611.  Bible, 2 Kings xix. 32. The king of Assyria, he shall not come into this city … nor cast [Coverdale dygge] a banke against it.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 675. Pioneers … to trench a field Or cast a rampart.

  V.  To put, or place, with haste, violence, force or power, so that the effect resembles throwing.

  31.  To lay, place, put, with an action of force, decisiveness or haste. (Now usually throw.)

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3152. Þe child he kest a-pon an ass. Ibid., 5441. He kest a-boute þam aiþer arm.

a. 1300.  Havelok, 2448. [They] keste him on a scabbed mere.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. xxvi. 12. She casted this oyntment on my body.

1535.  Coverdale, Acts xii. 8. Cast thy mantle aboute the, and folowe me.

1652.  Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 87. Against that man who hath cast a Dam or Pile into the Sea, an Interdict is allowed him who perhaps may be endamaged thereby.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 286. His ponderous shield behind him cast.

1837.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., III. v. 117. To be cast on the world, and to see life … is a variety.

1859.  Tennyson, Enid, 1609. She cast her Arms about him.

1861.  S. Wilberforce, Agathos, Tent in Pl. (1865), 151. My guide cast on my shoulders a beautiful mantle.

  b.  fig. Of care, blame, or the like.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 82. Who … þat in þe last our of his deþ kastiþ not al his bisines & his affeccoun in to God.

1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, F vij. Sentence of dethe was cast on her.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 7 b. Businesse … which they would be lothe to beare themselves, they cast all uppon his backe.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 253. Casting ungratefully on Moses all their misadventures.

1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), II. ii. 34. Let us cast our cares upon him.

1842.  Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, III. ix. 137. Do not fancy … that I cast the slightest blame on my … father.

1883.  Law Rep., 11 Queen’s B. 593. The imputation cast upon Mr. M. was altogether unfounded.

  32.  To throw or put into prison.

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 4. Ant het hire casten into cwarterne.

a. 1300.  Havelok, 1784. Þe oþre shal ich kesten In feteres.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13072. In prisoun heroude dud him cast.

1566.  Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 383. The ane was escaipit, and the uthir in vyle preassoun cassin.

1608.  Golding, Epit. Frossard’s Chron. I. 34. The Pope because he foretolde matters that displeased him, cast this fryer in prison.

1611.  Bible, John iii. 24. John was not yet cast into prison.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 513. They were being taken away to be cast into hell.

  † 33.  To put, or cause to fall, into (a state or condition, e.g., sleep, rage). Obs. or arch.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10100. Þis caitif casten in care. Ibid., 12941. In glotoni he wend him cast.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11311. The kyng at his karping cast was in ire.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xvi. 36. Be they kyngis or knyghtis, in care ȝe þaim cast.

c. 1555.  Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 289. Being cast in love with a wanton maid.

1611.  Bible, Ps. lxxvi. 6. At thy rebuke, O God of Iacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleepe.

1650.  T. Vaughan, Anthrop. Theom., 37. His Fall in the eating of the forbidden fruit which did cast asleep his Intellectuall Faculties.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. xix. 500. Our continuing wet for the last two days, cast us all into Fevers.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 79, ¶ 1. This cast him into such a rage, that he threw down the table.

  † b.  To deliver, set free, bring out of (a state).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5289. He has me cast of al mi care. Ibid., 25705. Has kyd þi merci mare To man-kind for to cast o care.

  † 34.  To set (a person) to (upon) some action. Also refl. To set oneself with resolution. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melibeus, ¶ 624. He that … casteth hym to no bisynesse … shal falle in-to pouerte.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Chichev. & Bycorne. Bycorne castith hym to devoure Alle humble men.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur (1816), II. 371. I cast me never to be married.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. (1822), 48. In time of pece, he kest him to find occasioun of weir.

c. 1565.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot., Jas. II. The Earl of Douglas cast himself for to be stark against the King.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb., 169. To this this Oake cast him to replie Well as hee couth.

1662.  H. More, Antid. Atheism, II. vi. (1712), 57. It cast them with more courage upon attempting the virtue of those (plants).

  † 35.  To add, throw in, as an addition to. Obs.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 274. Þis childhede is betere ȝif vertues be castid þerto.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., V. viii. 528. A religion caste to the lawe of kinde.

1528.  More, Heyesyes, II. Wks. 197/2. All other thinges … shal be cast vnto vs.

1554.  Philpot, Exam. & Writ. (1842), 365. Not so bold that he would cast anything to the institution of Christ.

  36.  To bestow, confer, allot. arch. or obs.

1612.  Brinsley, Lud. Lit., 285. God … wil cast learning vpon them so far as shall be good.

a. 1626.  Bacon, Use Com. Law (1635), 25. Leaving it to goe (as the law casteth it) upon the heire.

1809.  Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Descent, An heir is he upon whom the law casts the estate immediately on the death of his ancestor.

  VI.  To reckon, calculate.

  37.  To count or reckon, so as to ascertain the sum of various numbers, orig. by means of counters, to the manipulation of which the word probably refers.

  a.  intr. Formerly in the phrases to cast in or at accounts. Now, To add a column of figures.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 135. If any man in dede wille keste in a countes.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., App (Edinb. MS.), 20834. Qua wel can caste sal finde it euin.

a. 1360.  Song Yesterday, 66, in E. E. P. (1862), 135. And in vr hertes acountes cast Day bi day.

138[?].  Antecrist, in Todd, Three Treat. Wyclif, 138. To cast at þe countes.

1842.  Tennyson, Audley Crt., 43. Who would cast and balance at a desk?

1884.  Law Times, 25 Oct., 419/2. A resort to the court in order that … a mistake in casting be corrected.

  b.  trans. To reckon up, sum up; now technically, to add up a (column of figures or amounts).

c. 1305.  St. Edmund, 223, in E. E. P. (1862), 77. His figours drouȝ aldai & his numbre caste.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 248. Þei … Examend þam & cast ilk amountment.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 22062 (Fairf.). To be laused atte þe laste quen þa þousande ȝere ware caste.

1496.  Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), I. xxv. 62/1. They that calculen & casten yeres dayes & monethes.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 133. The marchaunt … vseth euery nyght to cast his boke.

c. 1590.  Marlowe, Jew Malta, I. ii. This ten years tribute … we have cast, but cannot compass it.

1624.  Bedell, Lett., xii. 161. Review it, and cast it ouer againe.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., IV. 240. Archangels fail’d to cast the mighty sum.

1805.  Naval Chron., XIV. 341. The books were cast and properly adjusted.

1886.  Law Times, LXXX. 165/2. Every column cast before the bill is left for taxation.

  c.  esp. in to cast accounts, originally to sum up or reckon accounts (so to cast reckonings); now, to perform the ordinary operations of arithmetic.

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 279. Caste all þe countis þat þe kyng holdith.

1529.  More, Supplic. Soules, Wks. 294/1. Folke that will learn to cast accoumpt.

1530.  Palsgr., 477/1. I caste an accomptes, after the comen maner, with counters, je compte par ject.

1565–78.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Abaculus … a counter or other like thing, that men doe use to cast reckenings with.

1574.  Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1584), 85. The count being wel cast, the wood costes as deare as the dressing.

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 44 b. You cast your accomptes amisse in your numbryng.

1655–60.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., 26/1. Counters used in casting accounts … sometimes stand for a great number, sometimes for a lesser.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xi. (1857), 66. They can read, write, and cast accounts.

1871.  Ruskin, Fors Clav., iv. 3. To be taught to read, and write, and cast accounts.

  † 38.  To reckon, calculate, estimate. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8775. Þe king did cast wit scantliun, And did mak al þe timber bun.

1475.  Bk. Noblesse, 39. After as it may be cast it was .cc.iiij^xxxj. yere.

1542–75.  Recorde, Gr. Artes, 78. Then will I caste the whole charge of one monethes commons at Oxforde.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Hist Ivstine, 2 a. Wisely casting the inconuenience that might redound hereby vpon himself.

a. 1642.  Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1703), 341/2. He must be … perfect in Casting the Tides.

1666.  Pepys, Diary, 29 Sept. The wages, victuals, wear and tear, cast by the medium of the men, will come to above 3,000,000.

  † b.  absol. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1313. Of fiue and twenty yeer his age I caste.

1575.  Laneham, Lett. (1871), 48. Yoor iewellers by their Carrets let them cast.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. i. 115. It is as proper to our Age To cast beyond our selves in our Opinions.

1633.  Ford, ’Tis Pity, I. ii. You need not cast upon the dearth of flesh.

  39.  To calculate astrologically, as to cast a figure, horoscope, nativity, etc.; also absol.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 25. [He] cast, and knew in good plyte was the Mone To do viage.

1430.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. She gan anone to casten and deuyse When that the moone on heauen would aryse.

1591.  Spenser, M. Hubberd, 511. Or cast a figure for a bishoprick.

1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., Democr. (1676), 36/1. For casting a Nativity.

1667.  Dryden & Dk. Newcastle, Sir M. Mar-all, Epil. (1668), 72.

1823.  New Monthly Mag., VIII. 257. Their apprehension of his casting figures and preventing the butter from coming when they churn.

1841.  Brewster, Mart. Sci., III. i. (1856), 181. Drawing an income from casting nativities.

1855.  Smedley, Occult Sc., 312. Cardan … has cast the horoscope of our Saviour.

  † b.  To interpret (a dream). Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, Gen. xli. 15. I sawȝ sweuens, ne there is that opnith, the which I haue herd the most wiseli to caste.

  † 40.  To cast water: to diagnose disease by the inspection of (urine). Also fig. Obs. or dial.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 296. An Italian [physician] … casting my water … commaunded the chamber to be voyded.

1589.  Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 35. Able to cast his disease without his water.

1599.  W. Goddard, Mastiff-Whelp, xlvi. D ij b. Your vrine … I’le truly cast, and tell you your disease.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., V. iii. 50. If thou could’st Doctor, cast The Water of my Land, finde her Disease.

1632.  B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, III. iv. (1640), 37 (T.).

1647.  Cleveland, Char. Lond. Diurn., 2. It casts the water of the State, ever since it staled bloud.

1706.  Hearne, Collect. (1883), I. 189. I don’t cast Water now, but Accounts.

1877.  E. Peacock, N.-W. Linc. Gloss. (E. D. S.), s.v., A person is said to cast another’s water who pretends to discover diseases by the inspection of urine.

  † 41.  To calculate or conjecture as to the future; to anticipate, FORECAST: a. intr. (sometimes with subord. cl.) To cast beyond the moon: to conjecture wildly; to indulge in wild conjectures.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 1148. Thoo gan I in myn hert cast That they were molte awey with hete.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 137. As fer forþ as we conne caste.

1530.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford, 92. As far as may be cast or imagiened.

1559.  Mirr. Mag., 529. Beyond the moone when I began to cast … what place might be procur’d.

1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 158. He casth beyonde the moone . great diuersitie, Betwéene far castyng and wise castyng, may be.

1588.  Greene, Pandosto (1843), 8. [She] began to cast beeyond the moone … which way she should offend her husband.

1599.  Montgomerie, Cherry & Slae, 524. He sall nevir schaip to sayle the se, That for all perrils castis.

1607.  Heywood, Woman kild, Wks. 1874, II. 138. But oh, I talke of things impossible, And cast beyond the moone.

1658.  Ussher, Ann., VI. 309. Every man cast in his mind, that Eumenes would be all in all.

  † b.  trans., as in to cast danger, peril, the worst.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 259. He … the kynges couetous cast not before.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. xi. 53. Thanne perel is castid.

1494.  Fabyan, VI. clxxxii. 181. The kynge, castyng no parell, thanked hym of his kynde request.

1530.  Palsgr., 476/2. It is wysdome to cast afore what may come after.

1532.  Hervet, Xenophon’s Househ. (1768), 22. Man can not caste theym afore hande.

1553.  Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 9. To caste the worste, yf they should perishe in this viage.

1627.  E. F., Hist. Edw. II. (1680), 126. With a world of Melancholy thoughts he casts the danger.

  VII.  To resolve in the mind, devise, contrive, purpose, plan.

  † 42.  To revolve in one’s mind, debate with oneself, consider, ponder, deliberate. Obs. or dial.

  a.  intr. often with subordinate clause.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter xiii. 2. Þai kast & studis how þai moght doe in dede þat þai haf wickedly thoght.

1393.  Gower, Conf., III. 161. He caste and hath compassed ofte, How he his prince might plese.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., V. vi. 518. Thei schulen desire and caste and … be constreyned to abide.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxiii. 199. They caste … how they myght breng hym out of prison.

1549.  Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Phil. i. 23. I haue cast what is best for me.

1600.  Holland, Livy, X. xlv. 385. Men began to cast in their minds … how they should do.

a. 1634.  Chapman, Alphons., Wks. 1873, III. 202. They ward, they watch, they cast, and they conspire.

1678.  Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, VI. xxvii. § 4. 611/2. I lay still … casting and discoursing with my self, whether I waked or was in a dream.

  † b.  trans. Obs. or dial.

1530.  Palsgr., 477/2. I have caste many thynges in my mynde, sythe the mater began.

1577.  Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 168. The Iudge casting doubts with himselfe.

c. 1590.  Marlowe, Faust., v. 26. Cast no more doubts.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 431, ¶ 1 (J.). I have lately been casting in my Thoughts the several Unhappinesses of Life.

  43.  To machinate, contrive, devise, scheme.

  † a.  intr. Const. with inf. (or clause). Obs.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1455. To compas and kest to haf hem clene wroȝt.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 439. Antecrist haþ cast to be knyttid wiþ kyngis.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 143. [Thei] Caste þat þe comune sholde hure comunes fynde.

c. 1450.  Lonelich, Grail, lvi. 150. Oure londis they casten to wasten ful pleyn.

1590.  Marlowe, Edw. II., V. ii. K 2. Edmund casts to worke his libertie.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 77. I thought I should haue gone madde, with casting and deuising.

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., King & No K., III. 48. A strange Land, where mothers cast to poyson Their only Sons.

1612–5.  Hall, Contempl. O. T., XX. Athaliah & J., 16 She straight casts for the kingdom of Judah.

1653.  Walton, Angler, iv. 109. Before you begin to angle, cast to have the wind on your back.

  b.  trans. To contrive or devise (an action, etc.).

1382.  Wyclif, Gen. xlii. 11. Ne thi seruauntis eny thing casten [1388 ymaginen] of evil. Ibid. (c. 1420), Esther, Prol. (MS. M.). He [Aman] castide the deeth of Mardochee.

c. 1440.  Bone Flor., 2181. Be hyt nevyr so slylye caste.

c. 1590.  Marlowe, Jew Malta, V. ii. I’ll set Malia free; And thus we cast it.

1613.  Beaum. & Fl., Captain, II. ii. To cast A cheape way how they may be all destroyed.

1833.  Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bd., Poems (1850), I. 184. Do not cast Ambiguous paths, Prometheus, for my feet.

  † c.  Phrase. To cast counsel.

c. 1460.  Play Sacram., 224. After ward more counselle among vs shall [be] caste.

1596.  Spenser, State Irel., 1. Good plottes devised, & wise Councels cast already.

  † 44.  To design, purpose, intend, determine (to do a thing). Obs.

138[?].  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 104. No man doiþ ouȝt in hiddis and ȝit he castiþ to be in apert.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XV. xii. (Tollemache MS.). I wonder þat þou castes [1535 purposeste] to fyȝte with women.

c. 1430.  Hymn. Virg. (1867), 106. He þat castep, wiþ conscience clere, To kepe, wel Cristes Comaundement.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 1444. Whan I am more of elde I cast my armes forto welde.

1567.  Drant, Horace’s Epist., I. ii. C v. That owner … hauing riches competent, doth cast to vse theim well.

1653.  Walton, Angler, iii. 70. That has made me and my friend cast to lodge here too.

1660.  Lassels, Voy. Italy, I. 67. We cast to be there at the solemne entry, which this Duke made for his new Spouse.

1808.  Scott, Marm., IV. xvii. The marshall and myself had cast To stop him.

  † b.  To cast oneself, one’s advice: to form a design, purpose. Obs.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur (1817), II. 61. As yet I caste me not to marye in this countrey.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxlvii. 789. This lorde of Destornay dyde cast his aduyce to get agayne Andwarpe.

  VIII.  To put ‘into shape’ or into order; to dispose, arrange.

  (Some senses originally belonging here, have prob. been subsequently influenced by IX since that became a leading sense of the vb.)

  † 45.  To put into shape, dispose, arrange or order; to lay out in order, plan, devise: a. a piece of ground, piece of work, or other thing material.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9947. A tron of iuor graid, Craftili casten wit compass.

c. 1320.  Sir Beues, 4610. A faire chapel of marbel fin, Þat was ikast wiþ queint engin.

c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 807. Þreo bayles … i-cast w^t cumpas and walled abouten.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 1170. Ne coude casten no compace Swich another for to make.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 63. Caste warke or dysposyn, dispono.

1563.  Shute, Archit., B iij b. Ye must furst haue knowlaige how to cast your ground plotte.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 162 b. Let your nestes and lodginges, both for laiyng and brooding, be orderly cast.

1596–7.  S. Finche, in Hist. Croydon, App. (1783), 153. The measure of the ground … that the plotte might be caste square.

1611.  Bible, Pref., 8. They did not cast the streets, nor proportion the houses in such comely fashion.

1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 276. The cloister … would have been proper for an orange-house, and the other for myrtles or other more common greens, and had, I doubt not, been cast for that purpose.

  † b.  things not material. (Cf. 52.) Obs.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1976. Þan byhoved us our lyf swa cast Als ilk day of our lif war þe last.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2310. So thei can here iournes cast.

1589.  Pappe w. Hatchet (1844), 18. The sermon is not yet cast.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 151. Y^e musicke is so to be cast as the point bee not offensiue.

  46.  a. To dispose or arrange in divisions; to divide or ‘throw’ into divisions.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 432. Alle mans lyfe casten may be … in þis partes thre.

1622–52.  Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 62/1. Constantine cast it into three provinces.

1689.  Burnet, Tracts, I. 69. They were cast into little States, according to the different Valleys which they inhabited.

1710.  Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 253, ¶ 4. I shall cast what I have to say under Two principal Heads.

1835.  T. Walker, Original, ii. (1887), 21. By casting them into other distinctions to abolish the first and great distinction.

  b.  To ‘throw’ into a (particular) form.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 5, ¶ 6. Casting into an Opera the Story of Whittington and his Cat.

1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., xx. (1857), 437. Casting my facts … into a series of letters.

  47.  Painting. † a. To arrange or dispose (colors). Obs.

1567.  Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 274. M. Harding casteth his colours to shadow that thing, that will not bee hidde.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 37. Cunning Painters who for the whitest worke, cast the blackest ground.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. vii. 1. Cast her colours To seeme like Truth.

1633.  T. Adams, Comm. 2 Peter i. 5. Some painters are so skilful in casting their colours, and can paint a fire so lively, that at the first blush you would think it to be a fire indeed.

  b.  To dispose (the draperies in a painting).

1706.  Art of Painting (1744), 30. To set or cast a Drapery.

1813.  Examiner, 7 Feb., 90/2. The draperies are cast with much ease.

  48.  Theat. To allot (the parts of a play) to the actors; to appoint (actors) for the parts.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 219, ¶ 12. Our parts in the other world will be new cast.

1737.  Fielding, Hist. Reg., III. Apollo. Is there anything to be done? Prompter. Yes, Sir, this play to be cast.

1809.  Malkin, Gil. Blas (Rtldg.), 372. They … wanting a boy … to personate the young King of Leon, cast me for the part.

1864.  Realm, 30 March, 8. The piece is very strongly cast, and … was most creditably performed.

1866.  Mark Lemon, Wait for End, xxviii. 365. She had been cast (as it is called in the language of the stage) a most interesting mother.

1875.  Macready, Remin., 125. The part of Hermione was cast to Mrs. Egerton.

  b.  ? transf.

1763.  Chesterf., Lett., ccclxxii. IV. 192. You will have known … from the office, that the departments are not cast as you wished.

  IX.  To cast (molten) metal; to found. Now one of the most used literal senses.

  † 49.  To throw (anything plastic or fluid) into a particular shape. Obs. in general sense.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 22941. Þe potter … whenne he fordoþ his new vessel he casteþ soone al in a bal a bettre for to make.

1693.  J. Beaumont, On Burnet’s The. Earth, I. 23. A fluid Mass always casts it self into a smooth and spherical Surface.

  50.  To form (metal, or the like) into a shape, by pouring it when melted or soft into a mold, where it is allowed to cool or harden.

1512.  Act 4 Hen. VIII., viii. § 7. Untrue or deceivable Metal … of Tin or Pewter … wheresoever it be cast … or wrought.

1546.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford, 182. For takyng doune the leade … and castyng hit into sowes.

1553.  Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 29. They … melte it & caste it fyrste into masses or wedges.

1581.  Act 23 Eliz., viii. § 2. Every Piece of Wax … so melted and cast.

1728.  Woodward, Fossils, 228 (J.). It … will not run thin, so as to cast and mould.

1750.  Beawes, Lex Mercat. (1752), 694. The different Species of Metals, cast and wrought here.

1814.  Lett. fr. England, III. lxxv. 341. A large collection … have … been cast into candlesticks and warming pans.

  51.  To form (an object) by running molten metal, etc., into a mold; to found.

1496.  in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scot., I. 285. To the man that castis the chameris to the brassin gun.

1535.  Coverdale, Ex. xxv. 12. Cast foure rynges of golde.

15[?].  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot., 112. Seven Canons, called the Seven Sisters, casten by Robert Borthwick, the Master-Gunner.

1668–9.  Pepys, Diary, 1 March. Did bring home a piece of my face cast in plaister.

1677.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 35. You must Cast a Nut of Brass upon the Spindle.

1753.  Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, 10. A figure cast in soft wax.

1834.  Lytton, Pompeii, I. ii. Buckets of bronze, cast in the most graceful shapes.

1851.  D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), I. II. ii. 345. A mould of serpentine … and another of granite … intended to cast ornamented celts of two sizes.

  52.  fig.

1593.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., Pref. ii. § 8. All cast according to that mould which Calvin had made.

1606.  Day, Isle of Gulls, III. i. 24. Let’s cast our inventions in a new mould.

1671.  Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 230. Hereafter to cast it into other languages.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 40, ¶ 1. Several of the celebrated Tragedies of Antiquity, are cast in the same Form.

1844.  Emerson, Ess. Self-Reliance, Wks. (Bohn), I. 28. Is the parent better than the child into whom he has cast his ripened being? Ibid. (1876), Lett. & Soc. Aims, Poet. & Imag., III. 158. Our habit of casting our facts into rhyme to remember them the better.

  X.  To turn, twist. [Parallel to warp:—OE. weorpan to throw, and throw:—OE. práwan to twist, turn.]

  53.  Of timber, etc.: To warp. a. intr.

1544.  Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 28. My goode bowe clene cast on the one side.

1641.  Best, Farm. Bks. (1856), 112. When oake cometh to dry, it will shrink, cast, drawe a nayle.

1669.  Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 239. If you lay them in the Sun or Wind, they chap, or shrink, or cast.

1677.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 110. Stuff is said to Cast, or Warp, when by its own Droughth or Moisture … or other Accident, it alters its flatness and straightness.

1881.  Eng. Mechanic, 23 Dec., 368. In consequence of the liability of this wood to cast.

  b.  ? trans. (only in pa. pple.)

1641.  Best, Farm. Bks. (1856), 122. To prevent them [theire pikes] from beinge casten.

1717.  Tabor, in Phil. Trans., XXX. 551. They [bricks] were very firm, and not in the least Warp’d or Cast in Burning.

1726.  R. Neve, Builder’s Dict. (ed. 3), s.v., A Piece of Timber … is said to Cast or to be Cast when it alters its Flatness.

1824.  Carlyle, in Froude, Life (1882), I. 237. The old tile roof is cast by age, and twisted into all varieties of curvature.

1874.  Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 497. Cast, warped—-said of sprung timber.

  † 54.  intr. To turn in one’s course. Obs.

c. 1450.  Bk. Curtasye, 336, in Babees Bk. (1868), 309. Noþer to harme chylde ne best, With castyng, turnyng west ne est.

1600.  Roxb. Ball. (1887), VI. 404. The birds of Heauen the nearest way haue flowne, And under earth the moules doe cast aright.

  b.  Naut. To veer, turn.

1671.  Lond. Gaz., No. 580/2. Which causing a mistake at Helm, the ship cast a contrary way.

1798.  Capt. Miller, in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1846), VII. Introd. 159. We cast so as to open the view of our broadside to her.

1882.  Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 199. Prepare for casting to port.

1885.  W. C. Russell, Strange Voy., I. xiv. 208. The wind has so got hold of her that she won’t cast one way or the other.

  c.  trans. To bring (a ship) round.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Jib … It’s effort in casting the ship, or turning her head to leeward is very powerful.

1836.  Marryat, Three Cutt., i. Her foresail is loose, all ready to cast her.

  55.  To turn (the scale or balance). Obs. or arch. Cf. casting-vote.

1597–8.  Bacon, Faction, Ess. (Arb.), 83. When matters have stuck long in ballancinge, the Wynning of some one man casteth them.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., ccliii. (1862), I. 355. One grain-weight less would have casten the balance.

1667.  Naphtali (1761), 139. Such advantages do preponderate and cast the scales.

1676.  Marvell, Mr. Smirke, sig. I. He cast the Scales against Arrius.

1837.  J. H. Newman, Proph. Office Ch., 112. Nor can we cast the balance between the outward advantages and disadvantages.

  † 56.  intr. To have an inclination; to incline, slope, slant; to lie away. Obs.

1599.  Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 193. Their Countries casting so much as they doe towards the North are out of his way.

1787.  Best, Angling (ed. 2), 66. After some sudden rain, or breaking up of a great snow in winter, you will plainly see which way the ground casts.

  XI.  † 57. To cover by casting (mortar, or the like) on; to plaster, daub. Obs. Cf. ROUGH-CAST.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. xii. (1877), I. 233. They … cast it all ouer with [thicke] claie to keepe out the wind.

1663.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I., II. 63 (Jam.). Our minister … kest with lime that part where the back of the altar stood, that it should not be kent.

  XII.  Senses of doubtful position, and phrases.

  † 58.  To tie or make (a knot): also to catch (in a cord, etc.), to entangle. Obs.

1591.  Drayton, in Farr’s S. P. (1845), I. 133. The bar’d steed with his rider … Whose foot in his caparison is cast.

a. 1605.  Montgomerie, Sonn., xxxvii. I can not chuse; my kinsh is not to cast.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 320. Of hurts in the legs, that cometh by casting in the halter or collar.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., cxxii. (1862), I. 304. When Christ casteth a knot, all the world cannot loose it.

1691.  Ray, Creation, II. (1704), 316. Cast a strait Ligature upon that part of the Artery.

1825.  Jamieson, Dict., s.v. Kinsch, To cast a kinsch, to cast a single knot on the end of a rope, or of a web; a term commonly used by weavers.

  59.  Hawking. To cast a hawk: in various senses: cf. V, III, and see quots.

c. 1430.  Bk. Hawkyng, in Rel. Ant., I. 296. Ye shull say cast your hawke thereto [to her game], and say not lete flee.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, A ij b. Bere thi hawke home on thi fiste and cast hir on a perch. Ibid., A vj b. Ye shall say cast yowre hawke to the perch, and not set youre hawke vppon the perch. Ibid., B vj. Whan she is cast to a fowle, she fleith a waywarde as thogh she knewe nott the fowle.

1615.  Latham, Falconry, Gloss., To cast a Hawke, is to take her in your hands before the pinions of her wings, and to hold her from bating or striuing, when you administer any thing vnto her.

1623.  Fletcher, Maid in Mill, III. ii. If you had … handled her as men do unman’d hawks, Cast her, and mail’d her up in good clean linen.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Eyess, It will be proper to shew how to Seel a Hawk … Casting your Hawk, take her by the Beak, and put the needle through her Eye-lid.

  60.  Hunting. intr. Of dogs (or huntsmen): To spread out and search in different directions for a lost scent. Cf. cast about.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Hare-hunting, So will they [Greyhounds] soon learn to cast for it at a doubling or default.

1846.  R. Eg.-Warburton, Hunt. Songs, xiii. (1883), 36. Whenever check’d, whenever crost, Still never deem the quarry lost; Cast forward first … Cast far and near, cast all around, Leave not untried one inch of ground. Ibid., xliv. 129. I can only backwards cast, or Blow my horn and take ’em home.

1863.  Whyte-Melville, Gladiators, I. 233. Like a hound … casting forward upon a vague speculation.

1885.  Dk. Beaufort & M. Morris, Hunting (Badm. Libr.), ii. 80. When they [harriers] come to a check … let them swing and cast;… only when they are utterly non-plussed should the huntsman go to their assistance. Ibid., 87. In casting, do not be afraid to cast forward in the first instance.

  b.  transf. and fig. To cast about one: to look about (mentally).

1823.  Scott, Peveril, vii. I cast round the thicket.

1825.  in Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 292. I remember the old squire and his sporting chaplain casting home on spent horses.

1867.  Howells, Ital. Journ., 277. Spinabello cast about him to find a suitable husband for her.

1879.  Browning, Pheidipp., 28. Gravely they turned to take counsel, to cast for excuses.

1885.  Law Times, LXXIX. 190/1. He casts about him for the wherewithal to meet the … expenditure.

  61.  trans. To cast hounds: to ‘throw off,’ put on the scent.

1781.  P. Beckford, Hunting (1802), 163. When he casts his hounds, let him begin by making a small circle.

  62.  intr. (Sc.) Of the sky: To clear of clouds. Cf. overcast.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 58 (Jam.). The sky now casts an’ syne wi’ thrapples clear, The birds about begin to mak their cheer.

  63.  trans. To cast loose: to unfasten or let loose with force or decisiveness, set adrift; said esp. of a boat, or the like; also to cast adrift. Also fig.

1582–8.  Hist. Jas. VI. (1804), 85. All the people were cassin sa louse, and were become of sic dissoluit myndis.

1660.  J. Guthrie, in Life (1846), 249. The Lords Day disregarded and casten loose.

1751.  Adm. Hawke, in Naval Chron., VII. 464. Instead of daring to cast the squadron loose.

1805.  A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron., III. 353. The captain ordered the boat to be cast loose. Ibid., 354. The boat … turned bottom upwards, her lashings being cast loose. Ibid., IV. 27. The boat was veered astern, and soon after cast adrift.

1856.  Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, V. i. ii. 284. The smallest possibility of error on the part of God would cast the universe loose from its moral obligation.

1880.  Baring-Gould, Mehalah, ii. (1884), 27. She … cast loose, and began to row.

  † 64.  To cast clean: to cleanse. To cast open: to open suddenly, ‘throw open’; also to open a way through. Obs.

1522.  World & Child, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 256. From sloth clean you cast.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 474. Therefore will I cast open the frontiers of Moab.

1663.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1792), I. 126 (Jam.). The watch-word … being heard, the gates are casten open.

  65.  † To cast (any one) in the teeth: to reproach or upbraid him (with, that) obs.; later construction to cast (a thing) in one’s teeth.

1526.  Tindale, James i. 5. Which geveth to all men … withouten doublenes, and casteth no man in the teth [1611 vpbraideth not].

1530.  Palsgr., 764/2. I caste him in the tethe or in the nose.

1563.  Homilies, II. Repentance III. (1859), 546. That we shall never be cast in the teeth with them.

1578.  Timme, Calvin on Gen., 254. He casteth the Jews in the teeth that their fathers served strange Gods.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 30. He cast them in the teeth with their former injurious casting him out.

  b.  1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 36. Deuiseth to cast in my teeth Checks.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 125. The trecheries of his parents … will be cast in his teeth.

1611.  Bible, Matt. xxvii. 44. The thieues also which were crucified with him, cast y^e same in his teeth.

1675.  Brooks, Golden Key, Wks. 1867, V. 328. God … will never hit him in the teeth with his former enormities, nor never cast in his dish his old wickednesses.

1716.  Horneck, Crucif. Jesus, 33. Strangers cast it in his Teeth so often, Where is now thy God?

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 101. I would not have you cast in my teeth that I am a haughty Aexonian.

  † 66.  To cast one’s wits: to exercise or apply one’s wits. Obs.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11428. Þan þai comynd in the cas, castyn hor wittes.

15[?].  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. Cast his ingine to set a remedy thereto.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 236/2. If the enterprise bee great, he must cast all his wit y^e way.

  † 67.  To cast their heads (together): to unite in consultation. Obs.; now put, lay heads together.

1535.  Coverdale, Prol. Bible. Occasion to cast their heads together, and to make provision for the poor.

1577.  Patericke, trans. Gentillet’s Agst. Machiavel, (1602), 318. They of the nobilitie all casting their heads, and employing their abilities for their gentleman.

  68.  To cast eggs: a. to beat them up; b. ‘to drop them for the purpose of divination’ (Jam.).

a. 1825.  MS. Poem (Jam.). By … casting eggs, They think for to divine their lot.

Receipts Cookery, 7 (Jam.). Mix with it ten eggs well cast. Ibid., 8. Cast nine eggs and mix them with a chopin of sweet milk.

  69.  To cast a clod between (Sc.); to widen the breach between. † To cast galmoundis (Sc.): to cut capers. To cast a (point of) traverse: (see quots.). † To cast stones against the wind: to labor in vain. Also To cast ambs-ace, anchor, a bone, cantraips, cavel, a damp, damper, an essoin (excuse), lots, a spell; for which see those words.

1529.  Lyndesay, Compl. King, 181. Castand galmoundis with bendis and beckis.

1657.  R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 43. I grew weary of casting stones against the wind.

1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., Cast a Point of Traverse, in Navigation, signifies, to prick down on a chart the Point of a Compass any Land bears from you, or to find on what Point the Ship bears at any instant, or what way the Ship has made.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 105 (Jam.). Betweesh them sae by casting of a clod.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., To cast a traverse, to calculate and lay off the courses and distances run over upon a chart.

  XIII.  In combination with adverbs.

  70.  Cast about.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and ABOUT adv.

1648.  Herrick, Hesper. (1885), 36. Sighs numberless he cast about.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Past., iv. 73. Begin … to cast about Thy Infant Eyes.

1789.  Wolcott (P. Pindar), Subj. for Paint., 69. She cast about her eyes in thought profound.

  b.  intr. To turn about. Naut. To change the course, to go on the other tack. Cf. 54.

1591.  Raleigh, Last Fight Revenge (Arb.), 18–9. Perswaded … to cut his maine saile, and cast about.

1611.  Bible, Jer. xli. 14. The people … cast about and returned, and went vnto Johanan.

1635.  Ld. Lindsey, in Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1703), 335/1. If I cast about in the night, I will shoot a Piece of Ordnance.

a. 1716.  Sc. Pasquils (1868), 277. Prone to cast about to th’ other shore.

  c.  To go this way and that in search for game, a lost scent, etc., orig. a hunting locution. Cf. 60.

1575.  Turberv., Venerie, xl. 120. Huntesmen may caste about in the moste conuenient moyst places, and … vnder some bushe or shade.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 111. Dogs … will cast about for the game, as a disputant doth for the truth.

1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, I. vii. There is nothing for it but to cast about for the scent.

1879.  Stevenson, Trav. Cévennes (1886), 166. I began to cast about for a place to camp in.

  d.  fig.

1677.  Hales, Prim. Orig. Man., I. i. 22. I cast about for all circumstances that may revive my Memory.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., vi. § 32. They who cast about for difficulties will be sure to find or make them.

1875.  E. White, Life in Christ, III. xix. (1878), 252. Casting about for some explanation of the Atonement.

  e.  To consider, contrive, devise means, lay plans. Const. with inf. or clause. Cf. 42, 43.

c. 1590.  Marlowe, Jew Malta, II. ii. Like a cunning Jew so cast about, That ye be both made sure.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 428. The Turkes being mo in number, cast about to haue encloased them.

1677.  Yarranton, Engl. Improv., 18. Now he casts about how to preserve himself from the Storm.

1704.  Swift, Batt. Bks. (1711), 248. She cast about to change her Shape.

1712.  Spect., No. 524, ¶ 9. I was casting about within myself what I should do.

1861.  S. Wilberforce, Agathos, Tent in Pl. (1865), 141. I cast about in my mind how I should speak to him.

  71.  Cast aside.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and ASIDE.

1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 803. For on entering He had cast the curtains of their seat aside.

  b.  To throw aside from use, discard.

a. 1420.  Occleve, De Reg. Princ., 319. He … cast our holy cristen feithe aside.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., I. vii. 35. Worne now in their newest glosse Not cast aside so soone.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 664. A Snake … has cast his Slough aside.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 11 Nov., 3/3. Purchased for railway reading and then carelessly cast aside.

  72.  Cast away.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and AWAY.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1954. Lok þai cast a way þe blod.

1388.  Wyclif, Gen. xxi. 15. Sche castide awei the child vndur a tre.

1549.  Compl. Scot., iii. 28. The file that filit the yrne is vorne ande cassin auaye.

1885.  R. L. & F. Stevenson, Dynamiter, 125. To cast the bag away from him.

  b.  esp. fig. To put from one, part with forcibly, dismiss, reject.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 25675 (Gött.). Mi soru i cast away.

1382.  Wyclif, Ezek. xvi. 45. Thi modir, which castide a wei hir husboond and hir sones.

1535.  Coverdale, Jer. xxxiii. 24. Two kynreddes had the Lorde chosen and those same two hath he cast awaye.

1613.  Answ. Uncasing of Machiav., F b. All Cards and Dice … discard and cast away.

1758.  Johnson, Idler, No. 1, ¶ 10. Hope is not wholly to be cast away.

1812.  Landor, Ct. Julian, II. iv. 27. Egilona … casts away, Indifferent or estranged the marriage-bond.

  † c.  To thrust, push, turn or drive away. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5688. Come hirdes and awai þam kest. Ibid. (c. 1340), 14332 (Trin.). Þe graue lid awey þei kist.

1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, vi. 9. Her husbonde kiste away his herte from his wyff.

  d.  To throw away, i.e., in waste or loss; to spend uselessly, waste wantonly, squander, ruin.

1530.  Palsgr., 477/1. Thou wylte caste away thyselfe and need nat.

1595.  Shaks., John, II. 334. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away?

1629.  Shirley, Wedding, V. ii. What d’ ye mean To cast yourself away?.

1713.  Addison, Cato, V. ii. Our father will not cast away a life So needful to us all.

1885.  Wingfield, B. Philpot, I. iii. 43. Never with my consent shall you thus be cast away.

  e.  To wreck (a ship); to throw upon the shore, to strand. Also transf. and fig.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., III. i. 105. Anthonio … Hath an Argosie cast away comming from Tripolis.

1665.  Earl Dorset, Song written at Sea, viii. (J.)

1667.  E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit. (1684), 141. Goods floating on the Sea, and Goods cast away by the Sea on the Shore.

1684.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1988/1. The Capitana of the Gallies of Naples … was in a great storm cast away.

1717.  Act 4 Geo. I., xii. If any owner … shall … wilfully cast away burn or otherwise destroy the ship.

1779.  Arnot, Hist. Edinb., 98. The very next day, the vessel was cast away in the Forth.

1810.  Naval Chron., XXIV. 474. Our fatigue has been very great, being cast away on a barren place.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xvii. 47. The small Mexican brig which had been cast away in a south-easter, and which now lay up, high and dry.

1864.  Tennyson, En. Arden, 714. Enoch, poor man, was cast away and lost.

  73.  Cast back.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and BACK. † b. ? To put or thrust back, repulse, defeat (obs.); ? to leave behind. † c. To throw behind, hold or drag back, impede (obs.). d. intr. To go back over the same course, revert.

c. 1450.  Boctus, Laud MS. 559 fol. 9. ij … That in here lawe were holden wys For to despute with Sidrak, But he caste hem all a bakke And ouercome all here reasoun.

1622.  R. Preston, Godly Mans Inqvis., ii. 47. Beware of blind lanes, and circuiting perambulations: crooked wayes and crooked feete will cast backward.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 337. Mine [feet], cast back with age, Came lagging after.

1862.  Mrs. Riddle, City & Suburb, 197 (Hoppe). You cast back for hundreds of years, and rake up every bit of pleasure I ever had in my life. Ibid., 202. I think there must have been a dreadful misalliance somewhere in our genealogy, and that you have cast back to it.

  74.  Cast behind.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and BEHIND. b. ‘To leave behind in a race’ (J.).

1681.  Dryden, Span. Friar, Prol. 14 (J.).

1714.  Ellwood, Autobiog. (1765), 85. We were so far cast behind the Trooper, that we had lost both Sight and Hearing of him.

1735.  Somerville, Chase, III. 464. Tho’ far he cast the ling’ring Pack behind.

1850.  Browning, Easter Day, xxvii. The mind So miserably cast behind To gain what had been wisely lost.

  † 75.  Cast by. To throw aside from use. Obs.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. i. 100. Verona’s ancient Citizens Cast by their Graue beseeming Ornament.

1647.  W. Browne, Polex., II. 319. That great heart … cast by the scepter of Gheneoa.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., I. iii. § 20. 24 (J.). Men … cast by the Votes and Opinions of the rest of Mankind, as not worthy the reckoning.

  76.  Cast down.

  a.  See senses 11–13 and DOWN.

c. 1300.  Cursor M., 23720. Dame fortune turnes þan hir quele And castes vs dun.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter cxx. 3. Pride kastes men down.

1530.  Palsgr., 477/1. Who wolde have thought that so lytell a felowe coulde have caste him downe.

1535.  Coverdale, Lament. ii. 1. As for the honore of Israel, he hath casten it downe from heauen.

1565–78.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Abjicco, He … cast himselfe downe a long in the grasse.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. § 15. 101. The flanks of the mountain were covered by the blocks which had been cast down from the summit.

1885.  Creighton, Age of Elizabeth, 22. Henry VIII. delighted to show that he could cast down and could raise up.

  b.  trans. To overthrow, demolish (a building).

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 5. And warpeð eauer toward tis tur for to kasten hit adun.

c. 1300.  Cursor M., 16705. Þou said þat þou suld cast it [þe temple] dun and ras it þe thrid dai.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VII. viii. 90. The castelle than on Twedmouth made … Wes tretyd to be castyn down.

1572.  Lament. Lady Scotl., in Sc. Poems 16th C., II. 247. I se ȝour tempills cassin downe.

1637.  S. Rutherford, Lett., cxlv. (1881), 267. Bulwarks are often Casten down.

  c.  To bend and turn downward (the head, face, the gaze of the eyes).

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., I. i. 7. Þus þis compaygnie of muses I-blamed casten wroþely þe chere adounward to þe erþe.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, li. 172. Huon … spake no worde but cast downe his hede.

1752.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 190, ¶ 1. Every eye was cast down before him.

1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, iv. 60. Sheila cast down her eyes, and said nothing.

  d.  To deject in spirits, disappoint, dispirit. Chiefly in pa. pple. = downcast.

1382.  Wyclif, Job xl. 28. And alle men seende he shal ben kast down.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, V. iii. 6. For the oppressed king I am cast downe.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 256, ¶ 8. How often is the Ambitious Man cast down and disappointed, if he receives no Praise where he expected it?

1775.  Sheridan, Rivals, V. iii. Come, Mrs. Malaprop, don’t be cast down.

1853.  G. Rawson, Hymn ‘In the dark & cloudy Day.’ Comfort me, I am cast down.

  77.  Cast forth.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and FORTH.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 889. The gates … like a Furnace mouth cast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame.

1694.  Acc. Sev. Late Voy., i. (1711), 114. I caused the Lead to be cast forth, but could not get ground at eighty Fathom.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust., s.v. Withering, This will not only cause her to cast forth her latter Burden, but dead Calf.

  b.  To throw or put out of doors, company, etc., expel, eject.

1382.  Wyclif, Jer. xxxvi. 30. His careyn shal be cast forth at the hete bi the dai.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 157. To be cast forth in the common ayre.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VI. xii. 15. That litle Infant … which forth she kest.

1611.  Bible, Nehem. xiii. 8. I cast foorth all the houshold stuffe of Tobiah out of the chamber.

  † c.  To throw out (roots, branches). Obs.

1611.  Bible, Hosea xiv. 5. I wil be as the dew vnto Israel: hee shall grow as the lillie, and cast foorth his rootes as Lebanon.

  78.  Cast in.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and IN. b. fig. To throw in (as an addition, or something extra).

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. i. 86/1. We shall treat of the Dugs of Women, casting in between while, wherein those of Men differ therefrom.

1682.  Dryden, Relig. Laici, 283. ’Twere worth both Testaments, and cast in the creed.

  c.  To cast in one’s lot among or with: to become a partner with, to share the fortunes of.

1535.  Coverdale, Prov. i. 14. Cast in thy lott amonge us.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xx. Numbers of these men … prepared to cast in their lot with the victors of Loudon-hill.

1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. (L.). Baxter cast in his lot with his proscribed friends, refused the mitre of Hereford, quitted the parsonage of Kidderminster.

  † d.  To choose partners at cards. Obs.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, II. 259. We cast in, and Miss Boroughs and my master were together.

  79.  Cast off.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and OFF. b. To throw off (clothes or anything worn).

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12661. Palomydon … cast of his clothis cantly & wele.

c. 1400.  Maundev., v. 41. A woman myghte wel passe there, withouten castynge of of hire Clothes.

1609.  Bp. W. Barlow, Answ. Nameless Cath., 274. Them hee casteth off, as the fellow … did his spectacles.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. vii. 165. In a weeks time the Tree casts off her old Robes.

  c.  fig. To throw off as clothes, a yoke, etc.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxviii. § 6. The Christian religion they had not utterly cast off.

1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 786. To cast off this Yoke.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., I. iii. § 11. 19 (J.). But ’tis not to be imagin’d, That a whole Society of Men, should, publickly and professedly, disown, and cast off a Rule, which they could not, in their own Minds, but be infallibly certain, was a Law.

1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), V. i. 11. Casting of the belief of the true God.

a. 1876.  J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. iv. 179. National habits and opinions cannot be cast off at will without miracle.

  d.  fig. To put from one, discard, abandon, disown.

1535.  Coverdale, Ezek. xvi. 45. Thy mother … that hath cast of hir houszbonde and hir children.

1611.  Bible, Ps. lxxi. 9. Cast me not off in the time of old age.

1681.  Dryden, Span. Friar, V. i. (1690). 54 (J.). To cast off my Father when I am great.

1713.  Addison, Cato, III. vii. When I have gone thus far, I’d cast her off.

1850.  Ht. Martineau, Hist. Eng. Peace, II. V. xvii. 455. [The Prince] did make the other [Brummell] the fashion, and then cast him off.

1875.  E. White, Life in Christ, I. viii. (1878), 72. To be cast off by God may be to perish.

  e.  Hawking and Hunting. To throw off (the couplings of hounds); to slip (dogs); to let fly (hawks).

1602.  2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. v. (Arb.), 32. Another company of houndes … had their couples cast off.

1611.  Cotgr., Ajetter un oiseau, to cast, or whistle, off a hawke; to … let her flie.

1677.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1706), 42. You may then cast off your young Hounds.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 274. Just as a huntsman casts off his hounds.

1774.  Goldsm., Retal., 107. He cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas’d he could whistle them back.

1826.  Sir J. S. Sebright, Observ. Hawking (1828), 26. When a magpie is seen at a distance, a hawk is immediately to be cast off.

  † f.  To throw off, as vapor, or the like; to run off melted metal. Obs.

1674.  Ray, Smelt. Silver, 115. The Lead … is cast off by the blowing of the bellows. Ibid. (1692), Discourses, XI. (1732), 80. The ocean doth evaporate and cast off to the dry Land.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Calaminaris, They cast not off above twice in 24 hours.

  g.  Naut. To loosen and throw off (a rope, sail, etc.), to let go, let loose; to loosen (a vessel) from a mooring. Also intr. for refl.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 17. It is like to overblow … cast off the Top-sail Sheets.

1745.  P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 146. On the 2^d there being little Wind and variable, we cast off the Gloucester, and the next Day took her again in Tow.

1779.  Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 252. Cast off, and rowed down the river.

1805.  A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron., IV. 29. One of the crew … jumped on shore and cast off the stern-fast of the boat. Ibid. (1806), Nelson, 30. La Minerve … cast off the prize.

1853.  Kane, Grinnell Exp., xvi. (1854), 124. We cast off again about 7 A.M.

1855.  Russell, War, 47. The gaskets cast off the fore topsail.

  h.  Dancing.

1760.  Goldsm., Cit. World, xxviii. She … makes one in a country dance, with … one of the chairs for a partner, casts-off round a joint stool, and sets to a corner-cupboard.

  i.  Knitting. To take the work off the wires, closing the loops and forming a selvedge. Cf. 58.

1880.  Plain knitting, &c., 11. To cast off which is done by knitting two loops and pulling the first made loop over the last.

1887.  Fancy Work-basket, No. 4. 62. Cast off 5 stitches in the usual way.

  80.  Cast on.

  a.  trans. To throw on (a plaid, or shawl); to put on (clothes).

1813.  W. Beattie, Fruits of Time (1871), 25. The young man now cast on his plaid.

  b.  To make the initial loops or stitches on the wires in knitting. Cf. 58.

1840.  in Westmrld. Gloss.

1887.  Fancy Work-basket, No. 4. 62. Cast on 83 stitches.

Mod.  Will you cast on a stocking for me?

  81.  Cast out.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and OUT.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 177. Þe se flouweð þe hi casteð ut þat water of hire stede into þat lond.

1535.  Coverdale, Lament. i. 17. Sion casteth out hir hondes, and there is no man to comforte her.

1674.  Ray, Allom Work Whitby, 139. After the second water is drawn off they cast out the Mine.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. iii. 64. When we see them … we cast out a Line and Hook.

1713.  Addison, Cato, I. iv. (J.).

  b.  To drive out forcibly, to expel, make an outcast. lit. and fig.

1297.  R. Glouc., 375. He caste oute of hom & hous of hys men gret route.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., 17. When all vayne lufe and drede, vayne joy and sorowe es casten owte of þe herte.

138[?].  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 67. Þei token Crist and kesten him out of Jerusalem. Ibid. (1382), Mark ix. 37. Maistir, we syȝen sum oon for to caste out fendis in thi name.

1488.  Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 42. Yf thou cast us out sende us in to a herde of hogges.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., lxxxv. (1862), I. 217. Christ now casten out of His inheritance.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 37. His Pride Had cast him out from Heav’n.

1884.  Chr. World, 9 Oct., 766/3. Fear casts out love, just as constantly as love casts out fear.

  c.  To throw out of one’s house, one’s keeping or preservation; to fling away; to thrust out of doors, society, etc.

1388.  Wyclif, Matt. v. 13. To no thing it is worth ouere, no but that it be cast out.

1535.  Coverdale, Jer. xxxvi. 30. His deed corse shalbe cast out.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxiv. § 5. Whom the cruelty of unnatural parents casteth out.

1730.  Thomson, Autumn, 47. Raiser of human kind! by Nature cast Naked, and helpless out amid the Woods.

1887.  Academy, 4 June, 391. A sorceress … cast out by her own father for her infamous conduct.

  † d.  To set forth by power, set free, deliver. Obs.

a. 1300.  Fall & Pass., 96, in E. E. P. (1862), 15. Of þe pit vte he ham cast an broȝt ham to heuen lyȝt.

c. 1400.  Maundev., Voy., xxi. 225. God … wolde casten hem out of servage.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, ix. 226. Good lorde … that dydest cast danyell out fro the lyons.

  e.  To eject from the mouth, to vomit. Also transf. and absol. Cf. 25. arch.

1388.  Wyclif, Job xx. 15. He schal caste [v.r. spue] out the richessis, which he deuouride.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 306/3. What he ete or dranke alweye he vomyted and casted oute.

1561.  Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 15 a. He that hath a drye cough and doth not caste out.

1611.  Bible, Isa. xxvi. 19. The earth shall cast out the dead.

1751.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Casting, In the morning she [the hawk] will have cast them [pellets of cotton] out.

  f.  intr. To disagree, quarrel, fall out. Sc. and north. dial.

1730.  A. Ramsay, Mercury in Q. Peace. The gods coost out, as story gaes.

1851.  Mrs. Oliphant, Marg. Maitland, 180. To be together but one week … and to cast out in the time.

1861.  E. B. Ramsay, Remin., vi. (ed. 18), 213. He’s gane to mak four men agree Wha ne’er cast out.

1877.  E. Peacock, N. W. Linc. Gloss. (E. D. S.), They cast out wi’ one another six year sin’.

  82.  Cast over. See simple senses and OVER.

  a.  trans. To turn over in one’s thought. dial.

1872.  E. Peacock, N.-W. Linc. Gloss. (E. D. S.), I’ve been castin’ ower i’ my head what you said.

  83.  Cast up.

  a.  trans. See simple senses and UP.

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1192. Ho … stel to his bedde Kest vp þe cortyn & creped with-inne.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. lix. [lx.] 4. A token … y^t they maye cast it vp in the treuth. Ibid., Ruth iii. 2. Boos Oure kynsman … casteth up barly now this night in his barne.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 181 b. A little dust cast up on hie.

  † b.  To vomit. Cf. 25. Obs. or dial. (To cast up one’s accounts is used humorously in this sense.)

1484.  Caxton, Curial, 6. We ete so gredyly … that otherwhyle we caste it vp agayn.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. iii. 96. Thou prouok’st thy selfe to cast him vp.

1629.  Earle, Microcosm. (Arb.), 80. As in a nauseeating stomacke, where there is nothing to cast vp.

1633.  Rogers, Treat. Sacraments, ii. 12. A penitentiall triall, by which a beleever … searches himselfe and casts up his gorge that he might … return to God.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict., s.v. Bear, Which she eats and casts up again to her young ones, and so feeds them.

1735.  M. Poole, Dial., 128. The very Body of Christ … may be cast up by Vomit.

1808.  R. Anderson, Cumbld. Ball., 26. The breyde she kest up her accounts In Rachel’s lap.

  c.  Said of the action of the sea.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. xlvii. (1495), 569. Some precyous stones ben cast vp out of the grete see.

1556.  Chron. Gr. Friars (1852), 46. Grete men and women of Spanyarddes … ware drownyd and lost and gast up.

1611.  Bible, Isa. lvii. 20. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast vp myre and dirt.

1883.  Manch. Guard., 18 Oct., 4/8. Yesterday the body of a man … was cast up at Southport.

  d.  To throw, turn up or raise suddenly (the eyes, the head; formerly also, the nose, arms, etc.).

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 935. Now quod he thoo cast vp thyn ye.

1535.  Coverdale, Ezek. viij. 17. Purposely to cast vp their noses vpon me.

1590.  Lodge, Euphues Gold. Leg. (1887), 21. Casting up his hand he felt hair on his face.

1704.  Worlidge, Dict. Rust., s.v. Bridle, To make him Rein well and not cast up his Head.

1859.  Sala, Tw. round Clock, 39. His eyes … cast up to count the peaches on the wall.

  e.  To throw up (with a shovel), to form by this means, to raise (a ridge, mound, rampart, etc.).

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1621), 737. To cast up new fortifications within.

1611.  Bible, Isa. lvii. 14. Cast yee vp, cast yee vp; prepare the way.

1618.  Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 17. The way … was cast up by the Patriarchs.

1721.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 99. Two hundred [men] … had orders to cast up a large ravelin.

1783.  Watson, Philip III. (1839), 67. Casting up entrenchments to secure his troops.

1881.  Russell, Haigs, ii. 35. To cast up a barrier between them and the aggressive inhabitants.

  † f.  To dig up, to dig. Obs.

1660.  Sharrock, Vegetables, 100. This he onely did by casting up their nests.

  † g.  To shake or toss up. Obs.

1557.  F. Seager, Sch. Vertue, 62, in Babees Bk. (1868), 338. To cast vp thy bed It shalbe thy parte, Els may they say that beastly thou art.

1563.  Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 75. The hearb sodden with oyle, and after cast vp in glister forme, doth put away the paines.

  † h.  To ‘throw up’; give up, abandon. Obs.

1530.  Palsgr., 478/2. She hath ben his soverayne lady, this tenne yeres, and nowe he casteth her up.

1540.  Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), N j b. Men haue dispised & cast them [mistresses] vp.

1663.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1792), II. 115 (Jam.). His wife cast up all labouring.

  i.  To rake up and utter as a reproach; to cast in one’s teeth. Sc. and north. dial. (or in lit. Eng. by northern writers).

1604.  Glasgow Kirk Sess. Rec., in Hist. Glasgow, xvii. (1881), 149. To speak ill of the dead or to cast up their demerits.

1609.  Bp. W. Barlow, Answ. Nameless Cath., 12. To cast vp such a disastrous example in his Maiesties teeth.

1725.  Ramsay, Gentl. Sheph., III. ii. Unless ye may cast up that she’s but poor.

1823.  Ann. Reg., 21 March. No one shall cast up to me, that I killed my father.

1848.  Mrs. Gaskell, M. Barton, II. viii. 118. But we shall ne’er cast it up against you.

1864.  Tennyson, North. Farmer (Old Style). But a cost oop, thot a did, ’boot Bessy Marris’s barne.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., II. xxxi. 274. It was to be hoped that he would never cast it up to her that she had been going out as a governess.

  j.  To add up, reckon up, calculate.

1539.  Househ. Ord., in Thynne’s Animadv. (1865), Introd. 33. The Clerke of the Greencloth shall … cast up all the particular Breifments of the House.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXXIII. xlvii. 850. After he had cast up the bookes.

1660.  Pepys, Diary, 10 Dec. Did go to cast up how my cash stands.

1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., s.v. Abacus, sometimes signifies … a Table of Numbers for casting up Accounts.

1849.  Grote, Greece, II. lxviii. (1862), VI. 149. An arithmetician, may … cast-up incorrectly, by design.

1873.  Act 36 & 37 Vict., lxxi. § 30. The returning officer … shall … cast up and ascertain the number of valid votes given to each person.

  k.  intr. To ‘turn up’; emerge into view; to come up as it were accidentally. Sc. and north.

1723.  Wodrow, Corr. (1843), III. 16. It will be strengthening to our brethren to have our sentiments on what casts up among them.

1753.  Stewarts’ Trial, App. 128. If Allan Breck did not soon cast up in the country.

1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, Let. xi. If the money cast up.

1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., II. ii. 183. Another countryman, and Jesuit priest … now casts up.

  l.  Of the weather, the day: To clear up (cf. 62); also, Of clouds: To gather for a storm, etc. Sc.

1825.  Jamieson, s.v., It’s castin’ up, the sky is beginning to clear, after rain.

Mod.  It’s casting up for a storm.