sb. [f. vbl. phrase come down: see COME v. 56.]
1. A descent, a downfall; a notable reverse.
1840. R. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxviii. This was a great come-down, from the highest seat in the synagogue to a seat in the galley.
1865. Sat. Rev., 2 Sept., 298/2. The Ott affair is a pitiful come-down.
† 2. Castle (of) come-down. [Here the sb. and pa. pple. interchange; the latter may be the original.] fig. An edifice that has come to ruin; an unsubstantial structure easily overthrown. Obs.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 1902/1. Her high buildinges of such ioyes and felicities, came all to a Castle Comedowne.
1583. H. D., Godlie Treatise Faith & Wks., 87. Sufficient to haue ouerthrowne your whole castle of comedowne of iustifying by the works of the law and grace.
a. 1635. Sibbes, Comm. 2 Cor. i. 12 (1862), 251. Many mistake, and build castles in the air, comb-downes as we say.
1660. S. Fisher, Rusticks Alarm, Wks. 431. The reasonable Reader may read afore-hand what a Come-down Castle the rest of thy Babylonish Building is like to be.
1682. H. More, Annot. Glanvill’s Lux O., 223. The fairest and firmest structures of Philosophical Theorems … will become a Castle of Come-Down, and fall quite to the ground.
