Forms: 5–6 controlle, 6 controule, -trowll, 6–7 trowl(e, -trole, 7 (controal), 6–8 controll, 6–9 controul, 6– control; also 5–8 comptrol(l. Pa. t. and pple. controlled; also 6 -troulde, 6–7 trold(e. [a. F. contrôler (16th c. in Littré), earlier contreroller (c. 1300 in Anglo-Fr.) ‘to take and keepe a copie of a roll of accounts, to controll, obserue, ouersee, spie faults in’ (Cotgr.), f. F. contrerolle (now contrôle): see CONTROL sb. Both in vb. and sb. the spelling controul was almost universal in 18th c. and early part of 19th, and is still occasional.]
1. trans. To check or verify, and hence to regulate (payments, receipts, or accounts generally): orig. by comparison with a ‘counter-roll’ or duplicate register; now in the wider sense of 4.
[c. 1310. MS. Cott. Tib. E viij lf. 49 (Househ. Ord. Edw. II.). Un contrerollour qui doit contre roller au tresorere de la garderobe toutz lez receitez.]
c. 1475. Househ. Ord., 59. To controlle the receytes & all the yssues of the Thesaurers office.
1575. Barclay, Egloges, iii. (1570), C ij/4. Or some busy body … Comptroll their countes be they neuer so right.
1539. Househ. Ord., in Thynne, Animadv., Introd. (1865), 35. To controule the same [expenditure], giveing noe larger allowance than there ought to be.
1549. [see 5].
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., Introd. iii. 24. And to comptroll his books from time to time.
2. transf. To check by comparison, and test the accuracy of (statements, stories, or their authors). arch.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 726/2. He shalbe sure seldome to meete anye manne that hath bee there, by whome hys tale might be controlled.
1612. Davies, Why Ireland, etc., 41. Which by mine own search and view of the Records heere I can justly controll.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, IV. vi. (1840), 186. Afterwards this report was controlled to be false.
1878. J. C. Morison, Gibbon, 1. Anyone who wishes to control my statements will have no difficulty in doing so.
† 3. Hence: a. To take to task, call to account, rebuke, reprove (a person). Const. of, for. Obs.
a. 1529. Skelton, Ware the Hawke, 96. Whereof I hym controlde.
1612. Shelton, Quix., I. Pref. 9. To be controaled for the Evil, or rewarded for the Good.
1692. Dryden, Cleomenes, Prol. Control these foplings and declare for sense.
† b. To challenge, find fault with, censure, reprehend, object to (a thing). Obs.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Venom. Tongues, Wks. I. 133. That I would Controlle the cognisaunce of noble men.
1567. Turberv., Ovid’s Epist., 143. How oft did I controll the sluggish oares.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Luke i. 78, note. Maruel not if Heretikes controule the old authentical translation.
1623. Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. T., Pref. ¶ 1. I put not out anything rashly in print … especially in this age so ready to controll.
1713. S. Ockley, Acc. Barbary, 80. The Women … never dare Controul or Dispute their Husbands Commands.
1738. Swift, Polite Conv., p. xxii. An Argument not to be controlled.
4. To exercise restraint or direction upon the free action of; to hold sway over, exercise power or authority over; to dominate, command.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 22 § 6. Any persone assigned to comptroll and oversee theym in their werking.
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 265. But (oh vaine boast) Who can controll his Fate?
1692. E. Walker, Epictetus’ Mor., lxx. But the Philosophers exalted Soul No little outward Trifles can controul.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XI. 456. Thy words like music every breast controul.
1809. Pinkney, Trav. France, 184. Castles … built with the evident purpose of controuling … the navigation.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. iv. 196. Such is the way in which great thinkers control the affairs of men.
absol. 1709. Prior, Merry Andrew, 27. Henceforth may I obey, and thou control.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 400. A Resident, with power to advise and control.
b. To hold in check, curb, restrain from action; to hinder, prevent (? obs.).
1549. Latimer, Ploughers (Arb.), 27. Who comptrolleth the deuyll at home at his parishe, whyle he [the prelate] comptrolleth the mynte?
1593. Drayton, Eclogues, iv. 96. Felt the stiffe curbe controule his angrie Jawes.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., X. lx. (1612), 266. Through God that drift she chiefly hath controld.
1727–38. Gay, Fables, I. xxxviii. 29. Controul thy more voracious bill.
1854. Brewster, More Worlds, i. 16. The superabundance of life is controlled by the law of mutual destruction.
c. refl. To hold in check or repress one’s passions or emotions; so to control one’s feelings, tears, etc.
1818. Shelley, Laon, Ded. IV. 8. I then controuled My tears.
1855. Kingsley, Heroes, II. 231. He [Theseus] controlled himself.
1856. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. iii. 99. Difficulty in controlling his temper.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 36. Good men are those who are able to control themselves.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. I. xii. 146. [He] could not control his emotion at the loss of his men.
† 5. To overpower, overmaster. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 678. Till with her own white fleece her voice controlled Entombs her outcry. Ibid. (c. 1600), Sonn., xx. A man in hew all Hews in his controwling. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 373. His Art is of such pow’r, It would controll my Dams god Setebos.
1755. Johnson, s.v., He controlled all the evidence of his adversary.
b. Law. To overrule (a judgment or sentence).
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 122. Sir John Holt’s opinion … I doubt in practice … hath been frequently controlled.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 372. The superadded words of limitation may be admitted to controul the preceding words.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. iv. 19. Though the preamble may assist in construing ambiguous expressions in a statute, it will not be allowed to control clear ones.
c. Fencing. To control the point: ‘to bear or beat it down’ (Gifford in loco).
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. v. I will learne you, by the true iudgement of the eye, hand, and foot, to controll any enemies point i’ the world. Ibid., IV. v.
