Forms: 5–6 estymat(t, 7 æstimate, estimat, 6– estimate. [f. L. æstimāt- ppl. stem of æstimāre, in class. L. = sense 1; in late L. also as in 1 b, 2–4. Cf. ESTEEM.]
† 1. trans. To assign a value to; to appraise, assess; to fix proportionately (penalties, wages, etc.). Const. at. Obs.
1611. Bible, Lev. xxvii. 14. As the Priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. xiv. 255. If she were between the age of five and twenty, shee was to be estimated but at ten shekels.
1695. Locke, Further Consid. Value Money, Wks. 1740, II. 91 (J.). ’Tis the weight of silver in it, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities by.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, ii. 68. The wages are to be estimated according to the qualifications which are necessary in the person.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 118, ¶ 9. To … estimate securities, and to engage for mortgages.
b. To value (subjectively); to attribute value to; to appreciate the worth of; to esteem, hold in (higher or lower) estimation.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, IV. iii. (1609), 88. Their wisedome … Liue-dogges before dead Lyons, estimates.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Clerus Dom., 6. Sauls messengers, and Saul himselfe turned Prophets, that they might estimate the place and preserve its priviledge.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 172, ¶ 8. It is difficult not to estimate what is lately gained above its real value.
2. To form an approximate notion of (the amount, number, magnitude or position of anything) without actual enumeration or measurement; to fix by estimate at. Also with clause as obj.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 157. The Error is to be imputed … to the judgment in estimating the Distance run, in making it too little.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith. (1690), 82. Some have estimated, that there are not above Three hundred Millions of People in the whole World.
1765. Maty, in Phil. Trans., LV. 308. The difference of declination was only estimated.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 143. By the rule of proportion, we may estimate his size at eight or nine feet.
1828. J. H. Moore, Pract. Navig., 16. Estimate 8 parts out of 20 of the next smaller division.
1848. S. C. Bartlett, Egypt to Pal., xiii. (1879), 286. One of our number … estimated that this valley would pasture a thousand cattle three months.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. II. xii. 278. The amount of injury inflicted during this dismal period, it is not possible to estimate.
1885. Manch. Exam., 6 July, 4/7. The prosecutors estimate the defalcations at about 1,800l.
† 3. To esteem, consider, judge (a thing to be so and so); with simple complement, or as. Obs. rare = ESTEEM v. 5.
c. 1532. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 1066. We may make no greatter honour to God than to estymat him trew … nor greatter dishonour than to mystrust hym.
1654. trans. Scudery’s Curia Politiæ, 69. Those who are interested will estimate us as their Liberators.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 153. This may properly be estimated as a part of the Indian dress.
4. To gauge; to judge of, form an opinion of.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xliii. 327. This Article [that Jesus is the Christ], is the measure, and rule, by which to estimate, and examine all other Articles.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., III. vii. In estimating a Man’s condition, we should not only consider what Possessions he has, but what Desires.
1692. Locke, 3rd Let. Toleration, Wks. 1765, V. 215. The measure of punishments being to be estimated … by the length of their duration.
1768. Johnson, Pref. to Shaks., Wks. IX. 240. While an author is yet living, we estimate his powers by his worst performance.
1794. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), III. 50. If it be just to judge a private man by his friends, it is not amiss to estimate a public officer by his foes.
1837. Landor, Pentameron, Wks. 1846, II. 358/1. Bacon and Hooker could not estimate Shakspeare, nor could Taylor and Barrow give Milton his just award.
1878. Morley, Carlyle, Crit. Misc. Ser. I. 201. To estimate the intention and sincerity of a movement.
