Forms: α. 1 clýsan, 3 clusen; β. 3– close, (4 klose, 5 cloose, 7 cloze, north. 5–6 cloyse, 6 cloise, clois(s). [ME. close-n (13th c.), a. OF. clos- stem (close pres. subj.) of clore:—L. claud-ĕre to shut, close. OE. had already the vb. clýs-an, f. clús(e, a. late L. clūsa = clausa ‘shut or enclosed place.’ This came down to 13th c. in form cluse-n (ü), and probably close-n was at first viewed simply as a frenchified pronunciation of this earlier word: cf. biclusen, BECLOSE.
In French clore is of little importance, having been almost superseded by fermer:—L. firmāre, to make firm or fast, to fasten. In English, on the other hand, close and its accompanying adj. and sbs. have become great and important words, developing whole groups of senses unknown to French.]
I. To stop an opening; to shut; to cover in.
1. trans. To stop up (an opening or channel) so that it ceases to be open or to allow of passage. Where the opening is provided with a gate, door, or lid, turning on hinges or sliding, to ‘shut’ this is to close the opening; hence ‘close’ and ‘shut’ become to a certain extent synonymous, as in ‘shut’ or ‘close the door, the eyelid,’ etc.
Close is, however, a more general word, to shut being properly only a way of closing; hence the former is generally used when the notion is that of the resulting state, rather than the process.
c. 1205. Lay., 9760. Wel heo clusden heore ȝeten.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 566. Hor ȝates hii wiþinne none closi nolde.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. xxi. (1495), 239. A postume of the eere is heelyd and closyd.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 83. Closyn or schettyn … claudo.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 276 b. That no man sholde dyg ony pyt … but he sholde couer it agayne and close it.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xcv. 311. He … that closyth [v.r. shutteth] the stable dore whan the horse is stollen.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., I. III. (Arb.), 77. Riftes euyll closed.
a. 1771. Gray, Descent Odin, 57. Now my weary lips I close.
1798. Coleridge, Anc. Mar., IV. vii. I closed my lids and kept them close.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Relig., Wks. (Bohn), II. 99. A valve that can be closed at pleasure.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxiii. 282. A blank ice-cliff would close the way altogether.
a. 1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. iii. 137. [They] allowed the cities which they passed by to close their gates upon them.
b. To close is also applied to the place, chamber, vessel, etc., to which the opening leads, or the thing which the lid shuts up, as in ‘to close (or shut) a box, the eyes, a book,’ ‘to close a room.’ In reference to places, close usually means that access to them is officially stopped for the time, as ‘the Bodleian Library is closed for a week,’ ‘the grounds are closed to the public.’ (In this sense shut up is colloquially used.)
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 65. In Elyes tyme heuene was yclosed þat no reyne ne rone.
1382. Wyclif, Luke iv. 20. Whanne he hadde closid [Vulg. plicuisset, Ags. gefeald] the book.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 116. His herte was so closed … with anguissh.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 125. Blac papir and nailles for closyng and fastenyng of divers cofyns.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 459. Sleep … clos’d mine eyes.
1726. Butler, Serm., x. 193. It is as easy to close the Eyes of the Mind, as those of the Body.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 369. An attempt had been made, during Danby’s administration, to close the coffee houses.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., III. 144. The lady had already closed her book.
1876. Green, Short Hist., iv. 199. The King’s courts were closed, and all justice denied.
2. intr. (for refl.) To shut itself, become shut. Const. to close upon or over (what has entered, rarely upon what is without).
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 62 (Cambr. MS. Gg. 4. 27. c. 1440). Thanne closeth it [i.e., the flower] and drawith it to reste.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 266. She made his woundes close.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xviii. (1495), 123. Therby the mouth openith and closith.
1535. Coverdale, Numb. xvi. 33. The earth closed upon them, and so they perished.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., I. i. 24. These eyes shall neuer close.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Poems, Wks. 1764, I. 68. My ravish’d eyes! how calmly would they close!
1821. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. 40. When the rocks split and close again behind.
1879. C. Dickens, Life C. J. Mathews, II. 255. On June 24th … the eyes of the brilliant comedian closed upon the world in which he had worked so hard.
Mod. The grave had closed over all he loved.
3. trans. To ENCLOSE, confine, encompass, shut up, in, within. Obs. or arch.
c. 1205. Lay., 30698. Heo cluseden þer wið innen alle heore win-tunnen.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 28. He lette close fuyr in metal.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 2817. Þai er closed with-in þe erthe alle.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 221. The cumpany That in his wayn closit he had.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 835. Þe chest … In þe whyche þis blessud virgyn leyth yclosot inne.
1425. Paston Lett., No. 5, I. 19. I sende yow copies … closed with this bille.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 144. The which … the king sent unto diverse prisonnes, and some he closed within the Castell.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 761. Some purer chest, to close so pure a minde.
1626. Bacon, Sylva (1677), § 343. Fruit closed in Wax, keepeth fresh.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., App. 20. They … deposed … their King … and closed him in a Monastery.
1710. Hearne, Collect., 23 May (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. 399. Her bones were closed in Leather.
1859. Tennyson, Merl. & Viv., 207. The man so wrought on ever seem’d to lie Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower.
† b. To ‘set’ (a jewel). Obs.
[c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 2. Perle … To clanly clos in golde so clere.]
1530. Palsgr., 487/2. I close a precyous stone … in golde or sylver…. If this antique were closed in golde it were a goodly thynge.
† c. To enclose with walls, etc.; to enclose as walls or boundaries do. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 79. S. Cutberte’s kirke [he] closed with a wall.
c. 1400. Maundev., iii. (1839), 15. That Arm [of the See] closeth the two partes of the Cytee.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3919. I wole with siker walle Close bothe roses and roser.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. Defin., Varietees of lines that close no figures.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 267. Parys … was not as then walled nor closed.
d. fig. To include, contain within itself. arch.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 90. The bible, in which the lawe is closed.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 40. The Romaunt of the Rose, In which alle the art of love I close.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. 138. Al closyd in thys straunge tong of the old Romanys.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., I. iii. (1602), 11. The Lord Chancellor … and everie Justice … have (closed in their offices) a credit for conservation of the peace.
1842. Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 14. I clung to all the present for the promise that it closed.
4. To fill up (a gap or open place); to bound, shut in. (Often with the notion of filling up or completing.)
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 110. The trusty Guards come up, and close the Side.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), VIII. XIX. 198. The right wing was closed by 4000 slingers.
1807. Director, II. 335. In England there hardly ever is a central door, contrived in the flat which closes the scene.
1856. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., xii. (1858), 403. Lebanon closes the Land of Promise on the north.
5. To cover from a blow or an aim, or from sight. Naut. To shut out from view with, behind.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3941. [Generides] spored tho his stede, And toward him fast he yede; Amalek closed him with his shelde.
1858. Merc. Mar. Mag., V. 226. Closing Elizabeth Mansion behind Bradley’s Head. Ibid., 227. After having once closed it with the … South Head.
† 6. To keep close, keep out of sight or knowledge. Obs.
c. 1430. Freemasonry, 276. Hys mayster cownsel he kepe and close.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. v. They can it close and hyde.
7. techn. in various senses: e.g., To cover in, leave no openings in; to roof in a building.
1659. Willsford, Archit., 24. The house being clos’d, boarding of the rooms is next.
1869. Sir E. J. Reed, Shipbuild., xvii. 340. When these operations have been completed and the work ‘closed,’ the riveting is commenced.
b. To arch in the top of a crown with crossing bands or ‘diadems.’ Cf. CLOSE a. 1 b.
1766. Porny, Heraldry (1787), 214. The Crowns of other Christian Kings are Circles of gold,… closed by four, six, or eight Diadems. Ibid., 216. The Coronet of the Prince of Wales … was anciently a Circle of gold…; but since the happy Restoration, it has been closed with one Arch only.
II. To put an end to an open state of matters.
8. trans. To conclude, bring to a close or end; to finish, complete. To close one’s days: to die. To close an account: see ACCOUNT sb. 2.
[Already in L., as in claudere bellum, opus, cenam, etc.)
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13664. After course of our kynd closit his dayes.
1439. Will of C’tess Warw., Prerog. Court-bk. Luffenam lf. 213. My last will by me examyned and closid.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 138. Our valuationes was closet and sent to you in Marche last.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 144. That word which clos’d Thy sovran sentence.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Poems, Wks. 1764, I. 27. Where toil in peaceful slumber clos’d the day.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. T. (1816), 233. Having closed his evidence.
1871. Edin. Rev., Jan., 74. In favour of the power of closing debates.
1885. Manch. Exam., 15 July, 5/3. To close the subscription list.
b. To close a bargain. [Here bargain appears to have its earlier sense of negotiation, bargaining; but the phrase tends to be associated with those under 14, 14 c.]
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxxiv. He closed the bargain directly it reached his ears.
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xlix. He had closed the bargain.
c. ellipt. = To close dealings with (obs.); to close a speech, remarks, or the like.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 535. His sonne Ahijah, who would not close with his Idols.
1885. Manch. Exam., 20 June, 5/3. Lord Derby closed with a reference to his own modest attempt at federation.
9. intr. To come to an end, terminate.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxiii. The summer evening was closed.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., iii. 63. Life is boundless to him till it closes.
1884. Tennyson, Becket, 14. Over! the sweet summer closes, The reign of the roses is done.
III. To bring or come into close contact.
† 10. trans. To bring close together so as to leave no opening or breach between; to bring into close contact or union; to conjoin, unite, bind (books) together, etc. Obs. in general sense.
1566. Churchw. Acc. St. Dunstan’s, Canterb. One boke of Artekelles … one letelle boke of prayer … thes iij bokes are closed together.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 533. Close your hands And your lippes too.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. viii. 388. Hypocrisie consists of severall pieces cunningly closed together.
1655. Baxter, Quakers Catech., 12. The Spirit closeth these two together, even the Gospel and our Reason.
b. To close ranks or files: to bring those composing them in close order so as to leave no gaps or slack parts. Also absol.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. lvii. (1739), 107. The Barons and Clergy suddenly close their files, and like a stone wall stood firm to each other.
1796–7. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1803), 324. The officers commanding troops will each successively … close his rear rank.
1844. Regul. & Ord. Army, 179. The Files are to be as well closed as may be consistent with marching perfectly at ease.
1847. Infantry Man. (1854), 9. Right Close—Quick March.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 248. They did not … close Their sooty ranks, caw and confabulate For nothing.
c. Shoemaking. To join together the pieces that form the upper-leather of a shoe or boot.
1801. W. Huntington, Bank of Faith (1866), 40. I taught my wife to close the shoes which I made.
1841. Penny Cycl., XXI. 410/2. Many women … get a livelihood by closing the shoe…. The shoe, being previously cut out and closed, goes through sundry operations.
1884. H. M. Newhall, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 280/2. The small quarter and button piece are ‘closed’ on the large quarter.
† d. Cap-making. To make close (in texture).
1565. Act 8 Eliz., c. 11 § 4. The same Cap [shall] be first well scoured and closed upon the Bank.
e. Electr. To unite the parts of (a circuit) so as to make it complete. (See note to 11.)
1876. Tait, Rec. Adv. Phys. Sc., iv. 80. In this battery until the circuit is closed.
1878. Foster, Phys., III. i. 394. Closing a galvanic circuit.
11. intr. To come close together in contact or union; to join, unite, combine, coalesce, meet in a common center.
(As said of lines in quot. 1551, there appears to be a reference to the formation of a ‘closed figure,’ i.e., one having a continuous periphery.)
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. Defin., Lynes make diuerse figures also, though properly thei maie not be called figures, as I said before (vnles the lines do close).
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 29. They all close in the end, and sing with him the last verse.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., I. ii. 210. Many Lynes close in the Dials centre.
1704. Newton, Opticks (1721), 356 (J.). Doth not this shew that the acid Spirit … lets go the Water to close with the fix’d Body?
1766. Porny, Heraldry (1787), 213. From these rise four arched Diadems [of a crown]…, which close under a Mound, surmounted of a Cross.
1842. Tennyson, E. Morris. She turn’d, we closed, we kiss’d, swore faith. Ibid. (1851), To Queen, 27. A thousand claims to reverence closed In her as Mother, Wife, and Queen.
12. intr. To draw near, approach close. Const. † to, Naut. with. Also, usually with sense of hemming in, To close about, on, round, upon.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxxii. 146. He ordayned … one to go on his right hande, closyng to the see syde.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. lxiv. (1739), 129. They closed about this spark.
1823. Scoresby, N. Whale Fishery, 68. The ice immediately began to close about us.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xlv. We had closed with the brig.
1860. Merc. Mar. Mag., VII. 71. Vessels may close with the land until within soundings of 5 or 6 fathoms.
Mod. The men closed round him.
b. trans., chiefly Naut. To come close to or alongside of. To close the wind: to come near to the wind, to luff.
1673. Prince Rupert, in Lond. Gaz., No. 788/4. He sprung his Luff, and closed his Wind as much as … he could.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xvi. We joined the fleet … closed the admiral’s ship, and the captain went on board.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., To close the wind, to haul to it.
1882. P. W. Stephens, in Daily News, 27 Feb., 2/2. We closed the island by 8 a.m.
13. intr. To come to close quarters or to grips; to engage in hand-to-hand fight, grapple with. Said of men, armies, ships.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 9. He fierce uprose … And snatching his bright sword began to close With her on foot.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 20. If I can close with him, I care not for his thrust.
1644. Milton, Educ., Wks. 1738, I. 139. To tug or grapple, and to close.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XX. 511. Achilles closes with his hated foe.
1808. Scott, Marm., VI. xxv. They close in clouds of smoke and dust With sword-sway and with lance’s thrust.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. v. 477. The alternate failure and opposition of the winds prevented the squadrons from closing.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. ii. The large man closed with him and proved too strong.
14. To come to terms or agreement (with a person).
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 345. Harke how the villaine would close now. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 830. Close with him, giue him Gold.
1656. S. Winter, Serm., 90. They not closing with Christ … the Covenant not long after was made void.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 89, ¶ 1. Without being able either to close with their Lovers, or to dismiss them.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xi. (L.). In the hope that, by closing with them, he would lay the ground for a reconciliation.
b. To close with an offer, proposal, etc.: to accede to, give adhesion to, accept.
1645. Pagitt, Heresiogr. (1661), 255. When they can cloze with that which is called the chief Ordinance.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 77. To close with the kings desires.
1766. Goldsmith, Vic. W., xiv. I readily closed with the offer.
1844. Thirlwall, Greece, VIII. lxiv. 305. He immediately closed with the overtures of Philocles.
1859. Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 1063. Desire to close with her lord’s pleasure.
c. To agree upon a measure, etc.
1697. Temple, Misc., 42 (J.). Would not induce France, and Holland … to close upon some Measures between them to our disadvantage.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. ii. 172. They should have closed upon her caprice, and taken her when she was in the fancy.
IV. Combined with adverbs:
15. Close about [= OE. beclysan]. To close in on all sides, encompass.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4459. Þai er noght swa closed obout Þat þai ne mught lightly com out.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 83. Closyn abowtyn, vallo.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 119. With his fais he wes closit about.
1611. Bible, Jonah ii. 5. The depth closed mee round about.
16. Close down. To close by forcing or fastening down.
e.g., To close down the hatches of a ship in a storm.
17. Close in.
a. trans. To confine by closing the means of egress; to shut in, hem in, enclose.
c. 1400. Melayne, 129. The angele dange tham downn, That closede in that Cite.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 261. The apostles … closed them in togyther.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 270. The Frenche king … thought verily to have closed the king of England in betweene Abvile and the river of Some.
1611. Bible, 1 Macc. vii. 46. They came forth out of all the townes of Iudea round about, and closed them in.
b. To shut with inward motion.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 260. He drewe in his head and closed in his Wyndow.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. 12. The windows were closed in.
† c. intr. To come to terms or into agreement with. Obs.
1701. Swift, Contests Nobles & Com., Wks. 1755, II. I. 35 (J.). Bent all their thoughts and applications to close in with the people.
1715. South, Serm., John vii. 17. I. 244. He presently closes in, accepts, and complies with it.
1742. T. Morrice, in Orrery, State Lett., I. 77. He … therefore charged his lordship to close in with the duke.
d. To draw near to, or to advance into contact with, to come to close quarters with. Also fig.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, xi. I do now gladly close in with my subject.
1795. Nelson, 21 March, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 21. Which enabled the Agamemnon and Inconstant to close in with her.
e. Said of what surrounds: To draw in upon, or approach from all sides, so as to shut in; hence said of the approach of night or darkness.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xii. (1854), 95. The capricious ice closed in upon us.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, ix. 139. Evening was closing in.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 27. 206. As the night drew on, the mountains seemed to close in upon us.
1867. Parkman, Jesuits N. Amer., vii. (1875), 77. Night was fast closing in.
18. Close off. To close and rule off (an account).
1881. G. W. Cable, Mme. Delphine, v. 22. The moral account … was closed off, and the balance brought down.
† 19. Close out. To shut out, exclude. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Lament. iii. 8. He closede out myn orisoun [1383 excludid my prier].
c. 1490. Promp. Parv., 83 (MS. K). Closyn oute or schettyn owt, excludo.
20. Close to. intr. Naut. See 12 b.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xv. The ship had closed-to within a quarter of a mile of the beach.
21. Close up.
a. trans. To confine by building, blocking, or covering up; to confine out of sight or completely.
1530. Palsgr., 488/1. I close up in a wall or I close up bytwene walles … emmurer.… An ancker … closed up in a wall.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 289. The rest were closed up in the same Towre in prison.
1626. Bacon, Sylva (1677), § 317. There were taken Apples and … closed up in Wax.
b. To close by blocking or filling up; to close completely, stop by closing.
1545. Brinklow, Lament. (1874), 89. God closeth vp the eyes of the Kynge.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 281. To close up the passage by the sea.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 9. My Banket is to close our stomakes vp.
1653. Greaves, Seraglio, 110. He … closeth up his stomack with a Bocklava [marg. A Tart].
c. To close by bringing separate parts together.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. Prol. 13. With busie Hammers closing Riuets vp.
1611. Bible, Gen. ii. 21. He tooke one of his ribs, and closed vp the flesh in stead thereof.
1705. Addison, Italy, 498 (J.). As soon as any Publick Rupture happens, it is immediately clos’d up by Moderation and good Offices.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. § 17. 321. The walls of the crevasses are squeezed together, and the chasms closed up.
d. To end, complete; to sum up. Also absol.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 81. Having spoken sufficiently of a matter, we close up the sentence with these words.
a. 1600. Hooker, Serm. Remedie agst. Sorrow & Fear (R.). To register in the Book of Life after what sort his seruants haue closed vp their dayes on earth.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 37. I must now close up.
1793. Eliza Parsons, Woman as she should be, IV. 219. And now, my dear mother, I close up my correspondence from Grove-House.
e. intr. To close by the union or coalescence of separate parts; to come together so as to leave no intervals or gaps; esp. of ranks of soldiers.
1835. L. Hunt, Poems, Capt. Sword, II. 49. Close up! close up! Death feeds thick.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 101. The wall closed up again.
1885. Gen. Grant, Personal Mem., I. xxii. 302. Giving the two flanking divisions an opportunity to close up and form a stronger line.
Close, obs. pl. CLOVE sb.2, and obs. f. CLOTHES.
