Cry v.

Pa. t. and pple. cried. Forms: 3–5 crie-n, (3 creie-n), 4–7 crie, crye, 4– cry, (4 crei, crij, cri, criȝe, criy). Pa. t. 3–5 cryde, 4–5 criede, cryede, 4–7 cride, cryed, 4– cried, (4 crijd, crid, creid, 7 cri’d, 7–8 cry’d). [a. F. crie-r = Pr. and OSp. cridar, It. gridare, Sp. gritar:—L. quirītāre to raise a plaintive cry, to wail, scream, shriek out, cry aloud, bewail, lament, orig. (according to Varro) to implore the aid of the Quirītes or Roman citizens: ‘quiritare dicitur is qui Quiritum fidem clamans implorat.’]

  I.  1. trans. To entreat, beg, beseech, implore, in a loud and emoved or excited voice. † a. with the thing begged as direct object. Obs. (Now cry for.) Hence to cry QUARTER, TRUCE: see these words.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20746 (Cott.). Þan crijd [G. creid] he merci atte last. Ibid., 1131 (Gött.). His blod … fines noght wrake to crij [v.r. cri, crye, cry].

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 338. Alle … þat with good will Confessen hem and crien mercy. Ibid., C. VIII. 109. A bedreden womman To crye a largesse by-fore oure lorde.

1597.  Shaks., Lover’s Compl., 42. Or monarch’s hands that let not bounty fall Where want cries some, but where excess begs all.

1668.  Pepys, Diary, 18 Dec. He became as calm as a lamb, and owned … and cried excuse.

  † b.  with the person addressed as indirect (dative) object, and the thing begged as direct object; esp. in to cry him mercy, and analogous phrases. Obs. (The earliest known English use.)

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 44. Crieð him eorne merci & forgiuenesse.

a. 1240.  Lofsong, in Cott. Hom., 205. Ich … creie þe leafdi merci.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 381. He … cryde hym mylce & ore.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 90. Þe knyght … cryed iesu mercy.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 81/1. Whan they repente … and crye their god mercy.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxi. 249. Syr, I crye you mercy for goddes sake doo not to me so grete an outrage.

1672.  Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, I. i. (Arb.), 29. No, cry you mercy: this is my book.

  † c.  with on, to him, in place of the dative. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2789 (Gött.). Ȝerne on þaim he crid merci. Ibid., App. ii. 739 (Brit. Mus. Add. MS.). The folke hem bad mercy to crie to iesu cryst.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XIV. 13. Þe kynge cride to abraam mercy.

1795.  Southey, Joan of Arc, VII. 521. This Alençon … Cried mercy to his conqueror.

  † d.  with const. him (to him) of (grace). Obs.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 77. Þenne knelede I on my kneos and criȝed hire of grace. [1393 Ibid., C. III. 1 And cryede to hure of grace.]

  2.  To call in supplication or reverential invocation (on, upon, unto, to a person). a. intr. Obs. or arch.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 75/479. On god huy criden and wepen sore.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6789. Crie to me þei shal And I forsoþe wol here her cal.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 94. Þei maken us dreden and crie on Crist.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxxiii. 62. Why crye ȝe so on me?

1550.  Crowley, Way to Wealth, 213. Crienge and callinge vpon them in thy nede.

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., III. iii. 97. How he cride to mee for helpe.

a. 1850.  Rossetti, Dante & Circ., I. (1874), 176. She is cried upon In all the prayers my heart puts up alone.

  b.  with object sentence containing the utterance, or clause expressing its purport. (Now merged in 3.)

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 495. Criinde pitosliche, that he ssolde … abbe reuthe of Cristendom.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4737 (Cott.). Criand … ‘Ha reuth on vs, þou blisced man.’

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 898. Alle crieden … Haue mercy Lord vp on vs.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 190 b. Criyng on his men to do valiauntly.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. ii. 21. Shee … with ruefull countenaunce, Cride, Mercy, mercy, Sir, vouchsafe to show.

1659.  B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 149. The Foot … was deserted by the Horse … and cryed to them to stand, and make good their ground.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 455. He … Thus mourning, to his Mother Goddess cry’d, Mother Cyrene [etc.].

1886.  R. C. Leslie, Sea-painter’s Log, 27. Turning a … deaf ear to the solicitations of admiring companions when they cry, ‘Do let I come wi’ ye, Bill.’

  c.  fig. (intr.) of things. Cf. 7 and Cry out.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1130 (Cott.). His blod on erth sced lijs Efter wrak to me it crijs.

1552.  Ascham, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 12. Mischief … so moche as did crye to God for a generall plage.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iv. 53. Maiden blood, thus rigorously effus’d, Will cry for Vengeance at the gates of heaven. Ibid. (1607), Timon, II. i. 20. But tell him, My Vses cry to me.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 258, ¶ 3. Sir, these Things cry loud for Reformation.

1835.  Thirlwall, Greece, I. ix. 344. Injuries and insults … which cried aloud for vengeance.

  3.  intr. To utter the voice loudly and with exclamatory effort, whether under the influence of emotion, as indignation, fear, pain, surprise, or merely in order to be heard afar, or above any noise that would prevent the ordinary speaking voice from being heard or distinguished; to call aloud (to a person), shout, vociferate.

  It differs from bawl, scream, screech, shriek, in that these describe particular tones used in crying.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4401 (Gött.). And quan i crid ful sone i-fledd [v.r. he fledde]. Ibid., 22607 (Cott.). He sal … Bath cri and brai for dute and drede.

1382.  Wyclif, Acts xix. 28. Thei … cryeden, seiynge Greet [1388 is the] Dian of Ephesians.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 225. Why cridestow? who hath the doon offence?

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxiii. 151. Grete noyse of waters þat a man may noȝt here anoþer, crie he neuer so hie.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour-Landry (1868), 9. Men synging and crienge, iaping, and plaieng.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 33. The damned ghosts in torments fry, And with sharp shrilling shrieks doe bootlesse cry.

1611.  Bible, Isa. xxxiv. 14. The satyre shall cry to his felow.

c. 1684.  Frost of 1683–4 (Percy Soc.), 19.

1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, Let. xii. If onybody stops ye, cry on me.

1830.  Tennyson, Mermaid, 26. Call to each other and whoop and cry All night, merrily.

  † b.  in connection with sale by candle (CANDLE 5 d). Obs.

1660.  Pepys, Diary, 6 Nov. We met all, for the sale of two ships by an inch of candle … I observed how … they all do cry, and we have much to do to tell who did cry last.

  c.  quasi-trans. with complemental accusative.

1674.  Leighton, in Lauderdale Papers (1885), III. xxxiii. 55. The germans cri’d their throats dry with calling for a generall Councill.

  4.  trans. To utter or pronounce in a loud exclamatory voice, to call out. The object may be a. a description or term for the utterance; b. the word or words uttered; c. a clause stating their effect.

  a.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 16388 (Cott.). Þis word ai mar and mar to cri all þai be-gan.

1382.  Wyclif, Acts xix. 32. Othere men cryeden othir thing sothli the chirche was confused.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxvii. 230. When he sawe his tyme, he cryed his worde and token.

a. 1635.  Corbet, Poems (1807), 16. What cryes the town?… What cryes the University?

  b.  1382.  Wyclif, Acts xix. 34. O vois of alle men was maad, criynge … Greet Dian of Ephisians.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., V. v. 209. I went to her in greene, and cried Mum, and she cride budget. Ibid. (1610), Temp., II. ii. 53. For she had a tongue … Would cry to a Sailor goe hang.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 763. With his last Voice, Eurydice, he cry’d.

1709.  Prior, Despairing Sheph. And yet I pardon you, she cry’d.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, V. xii. Lest grave men and politicians … may cry pish at it.

1831.  Blackw. Mag., XXIX. 564. Ten thousand voices cried, ‘The King! The King!’

  c.  1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. xviii. 49. He cries that [this Cavity] is so small, that it will hardly admit a little Pea.

1680.  Otway, Orphan, I. i. He … cries He’s old, and willingly would be at rest.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 249. This they cried was a poor dependance.

1847.  Tennyson, Princess, IV. 463. Some crying there was an army in the land.

  d.  spec. To shout (a war-cry, watchword, or the like).

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XV. 497. Than his ensenȝe he can hye cry.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 78. Loud on hicht he cryit hes his seinȝe.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 103 b. Thei issued out of the castle criyng sainct George, Talbot.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 188. They presently shake and vibrate their Swords vpon their Shields, crying aloud Nayroe.

  5.  To announce publicly so as to be heard by all concerned; to give oral public notice of, to proclaim; to appoint or ordain by proclamation.

c. 1300.  Beket, 2477. Forte the dai were icome, That was icrid into al that lond that he scholde beo up ynome.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 5497 (Fairf.). He lete cry a parlement.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), Pref. 2. He will ger crie it openly in þe middell of a toune.

c. 1465.  Eng. Chron. (Camden), 6. He leet crie and ordeyne general justis at Londoun, in Smythfeld.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, liii. 179. The kynge caused to be cryed … that none sholde be so hardy to speke.

1646.  Buck, Rich. III., I. 14. Those who cry him so deepe an homicide.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 514. They bid cry With Trumpets regal sound the great result.

1883.  W. D. Howells, in Century Mag., XXVI. 446/1. I was induced to outbid, by five or six thousand dollars, bids that were cried by the auctioneer, but that had never been made at all.

  absol.  1605.  Shaks., Lear, V. i. 48. Let but the Herald cry, And Ile appeare againe.

  b.  To announce (a sale, things for sale); to sell by outcry; to offer for sale by auction or by hawking in the streets.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 226. Kokes and here knaues crieden hote pyes, hote!

1483.  Cath. Angl., 82. To Cry in þ^t merketh, preconizare.

1586.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., 318. Diogenes when he was to be sold for a slave … mocked the Serjeant that cried him to sale.

1632.  Massinger, Maid of Hon., III. i. I will cry broom, or cat’s-meat, in Palermo.

1677.  Act 29 Chas. II., c. 7. Noe person … shall publickly cry, shew forth, or expose to sale, any wares, merchandizes, fruit, herbs, goods, or chattells.

1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, 265. He went to the Camp, when he heard the Sale was cryed, to bid for the Empire.

1875.  Howells, Foregone Concl., 1. A peasant crying pots of pinks and roses.

  Proverb. To cry stinking fish.

1660.  Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit. (1671), 805. Does ever any man cry stinking fish to be sold?

1825.  Mrs. Cameron, Crooked Paths (Houlston Tracts, I. xxv. 5). ‘Sir,’ answered the woman, looking wise, ‘nobody cries stinking fish.’

1861.  Thackeray, B. Lyndon (1878), IV. iii. 444. This was not true; but what is the use of crying bad fish?

  c.  To give public oral notice of (things lost or found).

1596.  Nashe, Saffron Walden, 114. His Master … is readie to … get his Nouice cride in euerie market Towne in Essex.

a. 1626.  Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law (1636), 65. [The strayes] to be seized … and to be cryed in three markets adjoyning.

1799.  S. Freeman, Town Off., 58. Persons who take up any stray beast, shall cause him to be posted and cried.

a. 1845.  Barham, Ingol. Leg., Knight & Lady, xiii. We ’ve sent round the Crier, and had him well cried.

1885.  Sir J. F. Stephen, in Law Times’ Rep., LIII. 782/2. The prisoner found a purse and money, and … heard soon afterwards that it was cried in the street.

  d.  To proclaim the marriage banns of; to ‘ask’ in church. (Still in Scotland and New England.)

1775.  Sheridan, Rivals, V. i. Or perhaps be cried three times in a country church.

1867.  Lowell, Biglow Papers, Ser. II. Introd. The Courtin’. An’ all I know is they wuz cried In meetin’, come nex Sunday.

1875.  W. M‘Ilwraith, Guide to Wigtownshire, 123. Loving couples landing on the Saturday got ‘cried’ on the Sunday, and were married, firm and fast, on the Monday.

  e.  To read or recite aloud in the streets.

1710.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), VI. 572. The justices have ordered the constables to take up all those that cry such libells.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 503. Broadsides of prose and verse written in his praise were cried in every street.

  † 6.  To summon in a loud voice; to call (to come). Obs.

c. 1420.  Pallad. on Husb., II. 10. The medes clensed tyme is now to make, And beestes … from hem to crie.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. li. There he … cryed onto harneis alle that myghte bere armes.

  † 7.  To call for, demand loudly. Also fig. of things. Obs.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 277. Th’ Affaire cries hast: And speed must answer it.

1621.  Fletcher, Pilgrim, I. ii. This cries money for reward, good store too.

1798.  Southey, Inscriptions, xv. The innocent blood cried vengeance.

  † 8.  To extol; = cry up. Obs.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. i. 27. Now this Maske Was cry’de incompareable.

a. 1625.  Fletcher, Hum. Lieutenant, I. i. When all men cry him.

1628.  Earle, Microcosm., Vulgar-spirited Man (Arb.), 70. That cries Chaucer for his Money aboue all our English Poets.

  9.  intr. To utter inarticulate exclamations, esp. of grief, lamentation, or suffering, such as are usually accompanied with tears; to weep and wail.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 13. Heo cryede and wep with sorwe ynow.

c. 1300.  Seyn Julian, 179. Þe Justice bigan to wepe and crie.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 475. Bot ligge and sprawel and cry and wepe.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), iv. 13. Scho began to crie, as a thing þat had mykill sorowe.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 261. He be-gan to make grete sorow, and cried high and cleer that thei with-ynne vpon the walles myght wele it here.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. iii. 25. She gan … to … cry, and curse, and raile, and rend her heare.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, III. iii. 69. If you heare a child crie in the night you must call to the nurse, and bid her still it.

1611.  Bible, Ezek. xxvi. 15. When the wounded crie, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., liv. 18. An infant crying in the night: An infant crying for the light: And with no language but a cry.

1884.  J. Parker, Apost. Life, III. 124. You will never persuade the world that Jeremiah did anything but cry.

  b.  trans. with into, out of, etc.

1746.  W. Horsley, Fool (1748), I. 196. We must … not let … [them] whine and cry us into a tame submission.

  10.  This passes in later use into: To weep, shed tears; used even where no sound is uttered.

c. 1532.  Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 939. To crye or wepe, braire.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., III. i. 21. ’Mercie on mee, I haue great dispositions to cry.

a. 1631.  Donne, Poems (1630), 200 (J.).

1662.  Pepys, Diary, 14 Oct. And she so cruel a hypocrite that she can cry when she pleases.

1742.  Chesterf., Lett., I. xci. 252. He [Julius Cæsar] even cried when he saw the statue of Alexander the Great.

1840.  P. Parley’s Annual, I. 116. What! have you not left off crying yet? I shall give you something to cry for before you go home.

1883.  G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. 108. Poor Pauline, who cried copiously.

  b.  quasi-trans. To cry tears, cry one’s eyes or heart out, cry oneself blind, sick, to sleep, etc.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., II. iv. 46. And cry my selfe awake?

1704.  Cibber, Careless Husb., I. i. I could cry my Eyes out. Ibid. I should cry my self sick in some dark Closet.

1831.  Blackw. Mag., XXIX. 524/1. A sickly infant, which a stern stepmother bids cry itself to sleep.

1862.  Kingsley, Water-Bab., iv. (1886), 157. He … sat down … and cried salt tears from sheer disappointment.

1864.  Tennyson, Grandmother, x. I cried myself well-nigh blind.

1888.  Mrs. Oliphant, Joyce, I. 169. When she had cried her heart out.

  11.  intr. Of an animal: To give forth a loud call or vocal sound; to utter its characteristic call.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxiii. (1495), 131. Amonge byrdes and foules … the male cryeth and not the female.

c. 1450.  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 576/44. Cuculo, to crye as a Cokow. Ibid., 607/3. Recano, to crye as a tygre.

1563.  Fulke, Meteors (1640), 51. Frogs crying … forewarne us of a tempest.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., V. i. 90. There I cowch when Owles doe crie.

1821.  Byron, Heav. & Earth, iii. 732. Hark, hark! the sea-birds cry!

1839.  Thackeray, Major Gahagan, iv. The camels began to cry.

  b.  Said of the yelping of hounds in the chase.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, E viij a. Whi theys houndes all Bayen and cryen.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 135. Sowter will cry vpon’t for all this, though it bee as ranke as a Fox. Ibid. (1602), Ham., IV. v. 109. How cheerefully on the false Traile they cry, Oh this is Counter you false Danish Dogges.

  c.  quasi-trans.

1796.  Burke, Regic. Peace, i. Wks. VIII. 143. Like importunate Guinea-fowls crying one note day and night.

  † 12.  transf. Of things inanimate: To emit a wheezing or creaking sound. Obs.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 10. If it synge or crye, or make any noyse vnder thy fete, than it is to wete to sowe.

1781.  [see Cry out].

  II.  Phrases and combinations.

  * Phrases.

  13.  In many phraseological expressions, as to cry AIM, COCK, CRAVEN, CREAK, CUPBOARD, FIE, HALVES, HARROW, HAVOC, MEW, QUARTER, QUIT, QUITS, QUITTANCE, SHAME, TRUCE, VENGEANCE, etc., for which see these words. To cry encouragement: to shout encouraging words. Cry fish: see 5 b. Cry mercy: see 1 a, b. To cry smack: to give out the sound of a smack. Cf. also sense 17.

1627.  W. Sclater, Exp. 2 Thess. (1632), 124. He heares not the sweet Busse cry smacke.

1872.  Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 324. Where so many voices cry encouragement, it is well that one should speak warning.

  ** With prepositions.

  (For the constructions in which both words have their ordinary senses, see above.)

  14.  Cry against ——. To raise one’s voice against; to utter protests or reproofs against; also fig. of things.

1382.  Wyclif, Deut. xv. 9. Lest he crye aȝens thee to the Lord.

1611.  Bible, Jonah i. 2. Arise, goe to Nineueh that great citie, and cry against it.

1635.  Swan, Spec. M., vi. § 2 (1643), 185. Reason it self doth crie against it.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xc. 24. I find not yet one lonely thought That cries against my wish for thee.

  15.  Cry for ——. To beg or call for loudly and imploringly, or with tears; fig. to be in pressing need of, to demand in the name of justice (see above 2 c).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9610 (Cott.). All þat sco wald for cri or call.

1581.  Mulcaster, Positions, xxxviii. (1887), 159. If ye shew a child an apple, he will crye for it.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 145. Some swearing, some crying for a Surgean.

1860.  T. Martin, Horace, 96. The toilworn wretch who cries for ease.

  † 16.  Cry of ——. To hail from, belong to. Obs.

c. 1314.  Guy Warw. (A.), 7001. Redi to fiȝtes Wiþ alle þat crie of þat cuntre.

  17.  Cry on, upon ——: see senses 2, 3. Also (obs.), To call upon in the way of appeal, to appeal to; to exclaim against; to choose by acclamation; to invoke or bring by outcry (fame, honor, hate, etc.) on or upon. Cf. cry SHAME upon.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6139 (Gött.). Þan gan þe folk apon him cri, And said ‘do ȝou forth in hey.’

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 6504. Then criet he full cantly þe knightes vpon.

1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 396/1. He cryed vpon them to doe penaunce.

1547–64.  Bauldwin, Mor. Philos. (Palfr.), 73 b. All their religiones were wicked and abhominable And therefore some of them cried upon them.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 154. This yere fell a great controversie … about the chosyng of the Maior … the Commons … cryed upon Thomas fitz Thomas.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., V. i. 62. That very enuy … Cride fame and honor on him. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., V. v. 35. His mangled Myrmidons … come to him, Crying on Hector.

  *** With adverbs.

  18.  Cry back. a. trans. To call back. Sc.

1864.  W. Chambers, in Athenæum, No. 1923. 301/2. Rin and cry back the laird.

  b.  intr. Hunting. To return as on a trail; to hark back; fig. to revert to an ancestral type.

  19.  Cry down. a. trans. To proclaim (a thing) as unlawful, to forbid, suppress or condemn by public proclamation; to decry; publicly to disclaim responsibility for.

1457.  Sc. Acts Jas. II. (1597), § 65. That the fute-bal and golfe be vtterly cryed downe, and not to be vsed.

1684.  Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1879), 211. Her Husband first cried her down at the Cross, and then turned her out of his Doors.

1692.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 565. The lord mayor sent his officers to cry downe the faire.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm. (1774), I. 278. The king may … decry, or cry down, any coin of the kingdom, and make it no longer current.

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), I. i. 38. Bad money was cried down, with penalties.

  b.  To condemn, depreciate or disparage loudly, vehemently or publicly.

1598.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. v. He condemned, and cry’d it downe for the most pyed and ridiculous that ever he saw.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xxi. 135. These cry up Drakes fortune herein to cry down his valour.

1742.  Fielding, J. Andrews, I. xvii. A book which the clergy would be certain to cry down.

1888.  Rider Haggard, Meeson’s Will, i. Did Meeson’s subsidize a newspaper to puff their undertakings, the opposition subsidized two to cry them down.

  c.  To put down, overcome, silence, by louder or more vehement crying.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. i. 137. Ile to the King, And from a mouth of Honor quite cry downe This Ipswich fellowes insolence.

a. 1628.  Preston, Saints Daily Exerc. (1629), 103. Our sinnes cry lowder then our prayers, they cry downe our prayers.

  20.  Cry off. intr. To exclaim that a negotiation is broken off, on the part of the exclaimer; to announce one’s withdrawal from a negotiation, treaty, engagement, etc.

1775.  Sheridan, Rivals, III. i. I should never be the man to bid you cry off.

1857.  Trollope, Three Clerks, xxxviii. Would she be the first to cry off from such a bargain?

1890.  G. M. Fenn, Double Knot, I. Prol. iv. 62. He soon cried off on finding that his challenge was taken up.

  21.  Cry out. To utter loud and (usually) impassioned exclamation; to exclaim. intr. and trans. Of things: To emit a creaking sound.

1382.  Wyclif, Ecclus. l. 18. Thanne crieden out the sonus of Aron.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 82. To Cry owte, exclamare.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. xii. 6. Crie out, and be glad, thou that dwellest in Sion.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. iii. 109. Art thou a man? thy forme cries out thou art.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xix. 67. Threatening if they cryed out never so little to kill them all.

1781.  Archer, in Naval Chron., XI. 291. Our poor ship grinding, and crying out at every stroke.

1818.  Byron, Juan, I. ccvii. They will not cry out before they ’re hurt.

1890.  A. Gissing, Village Hampden, III. iii. 72. He just cried out a good-night to the other two, and set off.

  b.  Const. against, at, on, upon (persons or things objected to); for (something wanted); † to cry out of, to complain loudly or vehemently of (a matter).

c. 1385.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 157. All cristene men schal crie out on þes deuelis blasphemyes.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 14 b. All pore people will rayle and crie out upon us. Ibid., 209 b. Which commaundement so vexed … that they cryed out of God.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 249. Criyng out of the dammages and great hurtes that they had susteyned.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 41. His crueltie was so loudely cryed out on.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., II. iii. 29. They say he cried out of Sack.

1630.  Bp. Bedell, in Abp. Ussher’s Lett. (1686), 421. He is the … most cried out upon.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 160. A seuere Scholler … cries out against their filthinesse.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xv. 48. Crying out for help.

a. 1680.  T. Brooks, Wks. (1867), VI. 217. Sometimes they cry out of the malice, plots, envy, and rage of men.

1711.  trans. Werenfelsius’ Meteors of Stile, 194. You cry out Thief upon a Man.

1722.  De Foe, Plague (1884 Rtldg.), 218. They wou’d cry out of the Cruelty of being confin’d.

1759.  Goldsm., The Bee, Wks. (Globe), 366/2. The world … may cry out at a bankrupt who appears at a ball.

1871.  R. H. Hutton, Ess. (1877), I. 92. Every living movement of human thought … cries out against it.

1879.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. IV. i. 15. The state of the church cried out for a general council.

  † c.  To be in child-birth. Cf. SHOUT. Obs.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. i. 67. What, is she crying out?

1668.  Pepys, Diary, 12 July. Betty Michell about midnight cries out, and my wife goes to her, and she brings forth a girl.

1692–1754.  [see CRYING 2].

  † d.  To sell out by auction. Obs.

1701.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3748/4. Mr. John Boulte … Pawn-broker … gave over his Employment, and cried out his Goods.

  22.  Cry up. trans. To proclaim (a thing) to be excellent; to endeavor to exalt in public estimation by proclamation or by loud praise; to extol.

1593.  Drayton, Misery Q. Mary, Wks. 1753, II. 388. When she up is cry’d, Of all angelic excellence the prime.

1631.  T. Powell, Tom All Trades, 144. When your credit is cryed up to the highest.

1648.  Jenkyn, Blind Guide, iv. 88. You cry up Miracles as you cry down the Word.

1673.  Temple, Ess. Trade Ireland, in Misc. (ed. 5), 106. All the Effect that I conceive was made by crying up the Pieces of Eight, was to bring in much more of that Species in stead of others currant here.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 125, ¶ 5. We often hear a poor insipid Paper or Pamphlet cried up.

1792.  Burke, Corr. (1844), III. 390. They who cry up the French revolution, cry down the party which you and I … belong to.

1874.  Helps, Soc. Press., v. 73. Isn’t it good to hear Milverton cry up the virtue of athletic sports…?

  † b.  intr. To raise one’s voice, shout. Obs.

1684.  T. Goddard, Plato’s Demon, 259. Worthy Patriots, who cry up so much for Liberty and Property.

  Cry-, in many words, obs. f. CRI-.