[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. That follows or moves after another.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 844. By the more Equall Spreading of the Tangible Parts, which thereby are more Sliding, and Following; As in Gold, Lead, Wax, &c.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XIV. 489.
| His foll’wing shield the fallen chief o’er-spread; | |
| Beneath his helmet dropp’d his fainting head. |
1796–7. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 125. The three’s wheel from the pivot flank, which then becomes the following one.
2. That comes after or next in order or in time; succeeding, subsequent, ensuing.
In most collocations placed indifferently before or after the sb.; as, in the following year, in the year following.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11378 (Cott.).
| And sum sais bot þe nest yeire | |
| Foluand. |
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 87. In þe ȝere folowand.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiv. 110. On þe nyght next folowand þe same whyte knyght appered.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. xii. 39. And vpon the daye folowinge, Iudas & his company came to take vp the bodies of them that were slayne, and to bury them in ye fathers graues.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 277.
| Living Carcasses design’d | |
| For death, the following day, in bloodie fight. |
1742. Johnson, L. P., Sydenham. That he should have leisure to continue the same office upon all following occasions.
1829. Marryat, F. Mildmay, xxii. ‘There is matrimony in that slap,’ said I; and the event proved I was right—they were asked in church the Sunday following.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. viii. 57. Early on the following day I was again upon the ice.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., iv. 46. The sk, a sibilant with following palatal mute, has been as it were fused together into the more palatal sibilant, sh, a simple sound.
b. In introducing a statement, enumeration, etc.: That now follows; that is immediately to be set forth, mentioned, recounted, or the like. Also absol. (the following).
1340. Ayenb., 1. Þise byeþ þe capiteles of þe boc uolȝinde.
1545–8. Yorksh. Chantry Surv., II. (Surtees), 461. In thandes of the personnes foloing.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 846. They are all but the Effects of some of these Causes following.
1653. Walton, Angler, To the Reader. I think fit to tell thee these following truths; that I did not undertake to write, or to publish this discourse of fish and fishing, to please my self, and that I wish it may not displease others.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 152, 24 Aug., ¶ 2. My Friend answered what I said in the following Manner.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 225. The following, however, as its influence is so singularly extensive, may not, as an example, be unworthy of notice.
1810. T. Thomson, A System of Chemistry (ed. 4), II. 166. The following bodies have the property of converting nitric oxide into nitrous oxide.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 123. Among the common dishes are the following.
c. Ensuing as an effect or consequence, resulting.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 165.
| And in his inward mind he doth debate, | |
| What following sorrow may on this arise. |
1687. Shadwell, Juvenal, x. 46. The Conquerors used to put the following spoyls upon the stumps of Trees, which were call’d Trophies; and this was done where they put the Enemies to flight in memory of the Victory.
† 3. Conformable, correspondent, answerable.
c. 1340. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, 145.
| Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale, | |
| & alle his fetures folȝande, in forme þat he hade. | |
| Ibid., 858. | |
| Tapyteȝ tyȝt to þe woȝe, of tuly & tars, | |
| & vnder fete, on þe flet, of folȝande sute. |
4. Of wind or tide: ? Moving in the direction of the ship’s course. (Cf. L. ventus secundus.)
1807. J. Boone, in Naval Chron., XXIII. 406. Our ship had but little sail set, yet we went at the rate of nine miles an hour: for she was assisted by a high following sea.
1830. Marryat, Phant. Ship, viii. You may sail for weeks with a cloudless sky and a following breeze, without starting tack or sheet.
1858. W. Cook, in Merc. Marine Mag., V. 42. We had a following sea previous to falling in with this mist, but the sea then changed to a kind of boil, or topping sea.
5. Billiards and Croquet. Following stroke = FOLLOW sb. 2.
1867. Dufton, Pract. Billiards, iii. 45.
1868. W. J. Whitmore, Croquet Tac., 15. In making the following stroke, the player must follow with the mallet head, as a person follows with the cue at billiards.
1884. [See FOLLOW v. 19 a].
