Frame v.

[OE. framian to be helpful or profitable, to make progress, f. fram forward adj. and adv. (see FROM); cf. the equivalent ON. frama to further, advance, get on with. The cognate ON. fremja (= OE. fręmman, fręmian: see FREME v.) to further, execute, perform, may have influenced the development, as it has no umlaut in pa. t. and pa. pple. (framðe, framdr).]

  † 1.  intr. To profit, be of service. Const. with dat.; also quasi-impers. Also, to supply the needs of. Obs.

c. 961.  Æthelwold, Rule St. Benet, lvii. (Schröer), 95. Forðy, þe he bydæle þære stowe mid his cræfte framað.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 31. Þat tu understonde hu lutel hit frameð ham.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1641.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11112. To nemne hem here, litel hit frames.

  † 2.  To gain ground, make progress; to ‘get on’ (with); to prosper, succeed. Also, in neutral sense with adv., to get on well, ill, etc. Obs.

a. 1050.  Liber Scintill., iv. (1889), 20. Eadmodness swa micelum swa heo is ahyld to neowlum swa micelum heo framað [proficit] on heahnysse.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), II. 253.

1526.  Skelton, Magnyf., 1863. The feldfare wolde have fydled, and it wold not frame.

1550.  Latimer, Last Serm. bef Edw. VI., Wks. I. 228. Now I could not frame with it, nor it liked me not in no sauce.

1559.  Mirr. Mag., Dk. York, xxiii.

1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron., I. 186/2. When the world framed contrarie … to his purpose.

1582.  T. Watson, Centurie of Loue, lxxxi. (Arb.), 117. So frames it with mee now, that I [etc.].

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, IV. 11.

1634.  Rutherford, Lett., xli. (1863), I. 126. Even howbeit the business frame not, the Lord shall feed your soul, and all the hungry souls in that town.

1669.  J. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 184 It framed not according to expectation, the Bees in the inner Hive being so far removed from the Light and Air became lazy.

  † 3.  trans. To prepare, make ready for use; also, to furnish or adorn with. Obs.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3144.

13[?].  Coer de L., 1859.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 6204.

  † 4.  To prepare (timber) for use in building; to hew out; to prepare the timbers, perform the carpenter’s work for (a building). Phrase, to frame and rear, frame and set up. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 481 (530). This timber is al redy up to frame.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 176/2. Framyn tymbyr for howsys, dolo.

1520.  Whitinton, Vulg. (1527), 1. To square tymbre, frame and rere ony buyldynge.

c. 1520.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 205. Will’mo Caruer framyng the sayd fertter per ij dies & alias, 2s. 2d.

1542ú3.  Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 25. It shalbe lawfull … to erecte, make, frame and set vp … one good … windemill.

1557.  Trin. Coll. Acc., in Willis & Clark, Cambridge, II. 472. William Carpenter 4 dayes in framing tymber for y^e upper floor. Ibid. (1603), II. 491 Paid to him vppon a bargayne to frame finish and set vp y^e roofe of y^e kitchen.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 302. The Carpenters Work to hew the Timber, saw it out, frame it and set it together.

1724.  in Temple & Sheldon, Hist. Northfield, Mass. (1875), 199. I hope the fort and houses will be framed and set up this month.

  5.  To shape, give shape to; to fashion, form. a. with material obj. Obs. exc. with additional notion as in 6 and 7.

1553.  Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 30. They frame the roofes of these cotages, with sharpe toppes after the maner of rownde tentes.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 190. This brittle bottle framed out of clay.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 181. The effigies of Saint Ierome, miraculous, framed by the naturall veines of the stone, in reward of his often & affectionate kisses.

1678.  R. Barclay, An Apology for … Quakers, v. xxiii. 171. Like as by the heat of the Fire, the Iron (of its own nature cold) is warm’d, and by the strength of the Hammer, is softned and framed, according to the mind of the Worker: So the cold and hard Heart of Man is, by the Virtue and Powerfulness of this Word of God, near and in the Heart, as it resists not, warmed and softned, and receiveth a Heavenly and Cœlestial Impression and Image.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 9. Batter it out … till it comes to its breadth, and pretty near its shape; and so by several Heats, if your work require them, frame it into Form and Size. Ibid., 183. The Gouge that it may … also frame pretty near the hollow Moldings required in the Work.

  b.  To shape, compose, give (specified) expression to (the countenance).

1565–73.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Frons castigata, a Countenance so well framed that it cannot be reprehended.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. ii. 186. Why I can … frame my Face to all occasions.

1632.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 21. The Admirall (framing the best countenance he could) departed thence.

  c.  To shape, direct (one’s thoughts, actions, powers, etc.) to a certain purpose. Also with a person, etc., as obj., to shape the action, faculties, or inclinations of; to dispose. † In early use, to train, discipline; = FORM v. 2. † Also in passive, to be in a certain frame or mood. Const. for, to, to do.

1547.  J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, 210. You shall so frame his youthe with verteous preceptes, Godly examples, and sincere educacion.

1552.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Deacons. Will you applye all youre diligence to frame and fasshion youre owne lyues, and the liues of all your familie according to the doctrine of Christ?

1556.  Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer (1577), Q ii. v. The good man of the house … firste with faire woordes, afterward with threatninges, attempted to frame hir to do his pleasure.

1569.  J. Parkhurst, Injunctions. You must endeuour so to order and frame your selues in the setting foorth of Gods true Religion.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 127. Lycurgus the lawgiuer of the Spartans did nourish two Whelpes both of one sire and one damme: but after a sundry manner, for the one he framed to hunt, and the other to lye alwayes in the chimneyes ende at the porredge pot.

1599.  B. Jonson, Every Man out Hum., II. i. (Rtldg.), 38/1. I cannot frame me to your harsh vulgar phrase, ’tis against my genius.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., clxxxvii. (1891), 367. Frame yourself for Christ, and gloom not upon His cross.

1640.  Marcombes, in Lismore Papers, Ser. II. (1888), IV. 117. When they come to know themselfes a little better, and to tast a little of y^e libertinage of the Companys bothe of Italy and of Paris, it will be a harder matter for me to frame them to their bookes again.

1660.  Pepys, Diary, 26 Jan. We were as merry as I could frame myself to be in the company.

1662.  Newcome, Diary (Chetham Soc.), 44. I got up about 8, and was but ordinaryly framed, Sathan had made spoyle by my dreames.

1675.  trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz. (ed. 3), Introd. 6 b. She both framed her Tongue to a pure and elegant way of speaking, and inform’d her Mind with apt Documents and Instructions.

1742.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 177. She cannot quite readily, yet, frame her Mouth to the Sound of the Word Sister.

1775.  Mad. D’Arblay, Lett. to Mr. Crisp, 8 May, in Early Diary. I have wrote so much on this subject, (which is now next my heart) that I cannot frame myself to any thing else for this bout.

1814.  Cary, Dante, Paradise, III. 110. God knows how, after that, my life was fram’d.

1846.  Keble, Lyra Innoc. (1873), 150.

  d.  To direct (one’s steps); to set out upon (a journey). Also refl. and absol. To shape one’s course; to betake oneself, resort. Obs. exc. dial. = ‘go.’

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 169. Many and diuers sortes of men, amonge whom the greatest part be of good countenaunce, honourable and renowmed, haue framed themselues to my conuersation.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 20.

1598.  Yong, Diana, 61. I shall not do amisse if I frame my selfe to the seruice of some Lord or Gentleman in this Court.

1608.  Shaks., Per., Prol. 32.

1637.  Heywood, Dial., Navragium, i. Wks. 1874, VI. 100.

1847.  E. Brontë, Wuthering Heights, v. ‘Frame upstairs, and make little din.’ Ibid., xiii. A threat to set Throttler on me if I did not ‘frame off,’ rewarded my perseverance.

1865.  B. Brierley, Irkdale, I. 120. I fraimt up to her and sed.

  e.  intr. for refl., in various applications, now chiefly dial.: (a) To put oneself in a posture of doing something; to set about, make an attempt or pretence to do; (b) to go about a work in a promising manner; to give promise of becoming skilful; (c) to manage, contrive, to do something.

  Cf. shape intr., used dialectally in all these meanings.

1602.  2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., IV. v. (Arb.), 62.

1611.  Bible, Judg. xii. 6. Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.

1634–5.  Brereton, Trav. (Chetham Soc.), 119. The masters being not accustomed, nor knowing how to frame, to till, and order their land, the ground hath been untilled.

1664.  Flodden F., ix. 83.

1674.  N. Fairfax, A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World, 130. We had not only slit open the body of the she, but were taking out the inwards before he could frame to get loose of her.

1863.  Mrs. Toogood, Yorksh. Dial., She frames with the butter, does Mary Ann.

1867.  Miss Parr, Mr. Wynyard’s Ward, I. 79. ‘I frames to get about, but I’se racked wi’ rheumatiz terrible—terrible.’

1876.  Whitby Gloss., s.v. ‘She frames at eating a bit’ … ‘He frames badly at wark.’ Ibid. ‘It’s framing for wet.’

1887.  H. Smart, Cleverly Won, iv. 31. If … the mare framed well for jumping … he would [etc.].

1889.  Longm. Mag., XIII. Feb., 442. And when the other maids was back, she was framin’ to be asleep, with her cap o’ rushes on.

1894.  Westm. Gaz., 15 June, 5/3. He was just framing to play when a ball … came right through the next net.

1894.  Mrs. H. Ward, Marcella, II. 265. They tell me he frames well in speaking, and will probably make a mark with his speech next Friday.

  6.  trans. To adapt, adjust, fit (chiefly an immaterial object) to or into (something).

c. 1550.  R. Weaver, Lusty Juventus, in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 93.

1639.  S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 10. Rosana who framed her selfe unto all the humours of the Prince.

a. 1656.  Ussher, Power Princes, II. (1683), 131. To frame our wills to the chearful performance of that duty which we owe unto our Governours.

1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, 15. Good Carpenters do frame their Railes to Ballesters. Ibid., 94–5. Carpenters do frame them so exact to the width and height of the stone casement of the window.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 131. They are to be framed into one another with Tennants and Mortesses.

a. 1716.  South, Serm. (1744), II. 305. The desires of the righteous are so suited and framed to an agreeableness with the ways of God, that they find a continual freshness growing upon them in the performance of duty.

1806.  Wordsw., Intimations, vii. Unto this he frames his song.

  † b.  intr. for refl. To adapt oneself, conform. Of things: To suit, fit. Obs.

1533.  More, Confut. Barnes, VIII. Wks. 783/1. If they had neuer a boke written of the apostles that wer at that tyme comen to theyr handes, as it was lykely there was not, how would then those wordes frame.

1586.  W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 80. It will not frame altogether so currantlye in our English as the other, because the shortnesse of the seconde Penthimimer will hardly be framed to fall together in good sence, after the Latine rules.

1606.  Holland, Sueton., 76. Having in a great and ardent heat begun a Tragaedie, when he saw his stile would not frame thereto and speede no better, he defaced and wiped it quite out.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 436. Bids us try the Unicorne whether he … will … draw our cart … meaning that his wildnesse will not frame to it.

  7.  trans. To make, construct. Now always implying the combination and fitting together of parts, and adaptation to a design; in 16–17th c. often used more widely.

1555.  Eden, Decades (Arb.), 111. Of theyr soundeste plankes, with other new, made of the trees of that Region (which they say to be excedinge bygge and hygh) they framed a newe carauel shortly after, whiche they myght vfe to serue for theyr necessitie.

1571.  Digges, Pantom., I. vi. C ij b. Couple y^e endes of those two right lines togither with a thirde, and so haue you framed a Triangle equall to the former.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586) 39 b. [Hemp] serveth both for makyng of Canvesse, and framing of Ropes. Ibid., IV. 185. They be greater, as though their bodies were purposely framed for generation.

1598.  Barret, Theor. Warres, IV. i. 116. To frame bridges ouer riuers.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 264. Alexander the great caused Lysippus (that singular workman) to frame the pictures of all those Knights which in his company were slain at the River Granicum.

1612.  Enchir. Med., 94. A cataplasme framed of crumbs … and milke with oile of Roses.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 690.

1691.  T. H[ale], Acc. Nem Invent., 120. The principal things and notions which to be considered in framing and fitting of a Ship.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 321. Their rafts (for they had almost finished four large ones) were lifted off from the place where they were framed, which was a kind of a dry dock, and dashed all to pieces, and the timber, such as it was, all carried away.

1726.  Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., I. 72/2. You may frame wooden dams.

1810.  Scott, Lady of L., III. v. The fieldfare framed her lowly nest.

1847.  Emerson, Repr. Men, Plato, Wks. (Bohn), I. 291. If the tongue had not been framed for articulation, man would still be a beast in the forest.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 417–8, The Republic, VII. Will he not think that heaven and the things in heaven are framed by the Creator in the most perfect manner?

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 189/2. This is really the first stage in the operation of ‘framing’ a wood ship.

  8.  In various immaterial applications. a. To contrive (a plot, etc.); to devise, invent, fabricate (a rule, story, theory, etc.); to put together, fashion, compose; to put into words, express.

1514.  Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), 23.

1570–6.  Lambarde, A Perambulation of Kent (1826), 187. Leland calleth it Noviodunum, which word is framed out of the Saxon Niþanðune, and soundeth as much as, The New-hill.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 150. I will frame an aunsweare, to your two severall letters.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 16. Because (not able to wryte) he can not so easely frame a false accompt.

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 127.

1608.  Bp. Hall, Char. Virtues & V., 122 (Slothfull). He is wittie in nothing but framing excuses to sit still, which if the occasion yeeld not, he coineth with ease.

1658.  Bramhall, Consecr. Bps., vii. 153. He [Bonner] who had so great a hand in framing the Oath, He who had taken it himself, both in King Henryes time, and King Edwards time.

1674.  Playford, Skill Mus., I. xi. 40. He would not run into such Errours, as most easily he falleth into, who hath framed to himself a manner of Singing.

1682.  Burnet, Rights Princes, ii. 27. This was a Story framed long after, so that the Historian was deceived by it.

1767.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 128. We may observe, with how much nicety and consideration the old rules of law were framed.

1791.  Cowper, Odyss., II. 226.

1808.  Scott, Marm., I. vii.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iv. 359. The convocation … had framed their answer in the same spirit.

1859.  Kingsley, Misc. (1860), I. 66–7. There existed in England certain statutes concerning rebellion and high treason, which must needs have been framed for some purpose or other.

  b.  To form, articulate, utter (words, sounds).

1609.  Bible (Douay), Num. ix. comm. God answered by a voice framed by an Angel.

1702.  Pope, Dryope, 80.

1782.  Han. More, Belshazzar, I. 62.

1880.  G. Meredith, Trag. Com. (1881), 153. She framed the words half aloud in a moan.

  c.  To form or construct in the mind; to conceive, imagine. More fully to frame to oneself. † Also with out.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. ii. § 2. These trencher-mates (for such the most of them be) frame to themselues a way more pleasant, a new method they haue of turning things that are serious into mockerie, an Art of Contradiction by way of scorne.

a. 1618.  Raleigh, Sceptick, in Rem. (1651), 21. As several humours are predominant, so are the fantasies and conceits severally framed and effected.

1653.  H. More, Antid. Ath., I. iii. (ed. 1712), 13. There is in man an Idea of a Being absolutely and fully Perfect, which we frame out by attributing all conceivable Perfection to it.

1710.  Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., § 98. Whenever I attempt to frame a simple Idea of Time, abstracted from the succession of Ideas in my Mind, which flows uniformly, and is participated by all Beings, I am lost and embrangled in inextricable Difficulties.

1782.  Han. More, Moses, III. 14.

1814.  Cary, Dante, Paradise, II. 48.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, I. ix. He could frame to himself no probable image of love-scenes between them.

  † d.  To cause, produce, bring to pass. Obs.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, Epit. A iv b. Can you name A better place then countrie blest? Where … Summers frame Joyes.

a. 1592.  Greene, Alphonsus, V. Wks. (Rtldg.), 243/1.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., V. ii. 32. Feare frames disorder. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., IV. i. 180. Which Heauen so frame.

  9.  [from the sb.] To set in a frame; to enclose in or as in a frame; to serve as a frame for. Also with in.

1705.  Addison, Italy, 7.

1842.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 138. I have your little Florentine Villa framed and hung up, and I look at it very often for its own beauty and your sake.

1876.  W. H. Pollock, The Drama, in Contemporary Review, XXVIII. June, 63–4. Scenery and machinery were employed to frame the play, as a fine setting is given to a rich jewel: not as a specious casket which may distract attention from the unworthiness of the thing which it holds.

1878.  Browning, Poets Croisic, li.

1883.  Ld. R. Gower, My Remin., I. xiii. 237. Beyond lay the lovely lake, framed in by a background of soft-swelling hills.

  Hence Framing ppl. a., that serves as a frame.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., II. xxxiv. 382. By this light her yellow face with its darkly-marked eyebrows and framing rouleau of grey hair looked as handsome as was necessary for picturesque effect.