Forms: 2–3 lah (inflected laȝe), 3 lahȝh, laih, 3–4 laȝh, 4 lagh(e, 3 lohe, louh, 3–4 loȝ(e, 4 loghe, 4–5 louȝ(e, (4 lowh, loewȝ), 5 lough, lowȝe, 3–7 lowe, (5 loe, 7 lo), 4– low. Also Sc. and north. 4–6 lawe, 4, 7 lau(e, 4–5 lauch(t, lawch, 5 lawgh, 6 lewche, 6–9 leuch(e, 8–9 leugh; see also LAIGH. [Early ME. lāh (lāʓ-), a. ON. lág-r (Sw. låg, Da. lav) = OFris. lêge, lêch, MDu. lage, laech, lege, leech (Du. laag), MHG. læge flat (early and dial. mod.G. läg), OE. with different meaning *lǽʓe in lǽʓhrycg (see LEA a.):—OTeut. *lægio- from the root of LIE v.1]
A. adj. (Usually the opposite of high.)
I. Literal senses.
1. Of small upward extent or growth; not tall; little, short. (Now rarely of persons, though still commonly said of stature.)
c. 1150. Grave, 17, in Thorpe, Analecta (1834), 142. Þin hus … bið unheh and lah,… ðe hele-waʓes beoð laʓe, sid-waʓes unheʓe.
c. 1200. Ormin, 15232. Þær wass an bennkinnge lah.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 380. The vallis of the toune than wer Sa law, that [etc.].
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., III. 304. Make hem [sc. trees] lough in cleuis that decline.
1530. Palsgr., 452/2. I … make a thynge so lowe that it be levell with the grounde.
1558. Galway Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 388. The said John … ys bound to make … ther but a loe gardinge, not plantinge anny great tres.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 663. Low-shrubs wither at the Cedars roote.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 474. It is a little low hearb.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 250. We shall … be turn’d … to apes With foreheads villanous low.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 245. Low men love to stand on tiptoes.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 80. Their cowes are low, and their horns grow only skin deep.
1724. R. Wodrow, Life J. Wodrow (1828), 55. My mother was of a stature rather low than tall.
1771. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., iv. (1876), 348. Agesilaus was low, lame and of a mean appearance.
1827. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VII. viii. V. 95. Her full voluptuous growth gave you … the impression that she was somewhat low in stature.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 483. His forehead low as that of a baboon.
1855. Browning, How it Strikes a Contemporary, 102. Who … stood about the neat low truckle bed.
1860. Trollope, Framley P., II. ix. 183. I do remember the young lady,… a dark girl, very low, and without much figure.
1874. Parker, Goth. Archit., I. iii. 56. Early Norman buildings were generally low.
b. Rising but little from a surface. Low relief (a) = BAS-RELIEF 1; (b) = BAS-RELIEF 2.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 380. The low-relieves, and ornaments of columns and edifices.
1901. 19th Cent., July, 100. The modelling in low-relief of a life-sized bull in painted terra cotta.
c. Of a woman’s dress: Cut so as to leave the neck exposed. So also low neck.
1857. Trollope, Barchester T., xxxvi. (1858), 299. I’m sorry you’ve come in such low dresses, as we are all going out of doors.
1866. Howells, Venet. Life, xx. 329. Ladies planted in formal rows of low-necks and white dresses.
1899. Rider Haggard, Swallow, iii. A lovely lady in a low dress.
2. Situated not far above the ground or some other downward limit; not elevated in position. † Formerly prefixed to names of countries or districts, denoting the part near the sea-shore (now only in the comparative LOWER), as Low Germany, Low Egypt (obs.), Also LOW COUNTRY. (Cf. Low DUTCH, Low GERMAN.)
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1761. Þe myst dryues þorȝ þe lyst of the lyfte, bi the loȝ medoes.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xxxiv. 9. Turned shuln ben his stremes in to pich, and his loewȝ erthe in to brunston.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), Pref. 3. Egipte þe hie and þe lawe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6952. He led hom forth lyuely by a law vale.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 622. The lauch way till Enrawyn thai ryd.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., xxxv. (Percy Soc.), 183. We were glad when ye had forsaken The lowe vale.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 259 b. She was laden with much ordinaunce, and the portes left open, whiche were very lowe.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 75/1. All alongst the sea coasts of low Germanie.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 38. [They] draw thaim selffis to ane leuche place out of the Inglischemenis sight.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 832. The Raine-Bow consisteth of a Glomeration of Small Drops, which cannot possibly fall, but from the Aire, that is very Low.
1653. R. Sanders, Physiogn., 221. The second Cardinal house is the fourth, called the low heaven.
1707. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., III. iii. 274. His [an Earl’s] Coronet hath the Pearls raised upon Points, and Leaves low between.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 25. Trees growing in low and shady places do not yield so good tar.
1796. Coleridge, Destiny of Nations, 19. In this low world Placed with our backs to bright reality.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), I. 47. Orfordness, a low beach running out into the sea.
b. Of a heavenly body: Near the horizon.
1676. Walton & Cotton, Angler, II. ii. (1875), 228. The sun grows low.
1801. Campbell, Hohenlinden, 1. On Linden, when the sun was low, All bloodless lay the untrodden snow.
1811. A. Scott, Poems, 8 (Jam.). The moon, leugh i’ the wast, shone bright.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 598. The third day … Made a low splendour in the world.
1889. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xvi. There was a low moon.
c. Lying dead, or dead and buried. Now only predicative. † Formerly also absol.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems (E. D. T. S.). v. 329. Þat body þat he tok of hys oȝen, Hou mytte hyt ligge amang þe loȝen.
1808. Byron (title), And wilt thou weep when I am low?
1826. Scott, in Croker Papers, 19 March. My head may be low—I hope it will—before the time comes.
1852. Tennyson, Death of Wellington, 18. The last great Englishman is low.
† d. Of the ear: ‘Bowed down.’ Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2650. Let your lordship lystyn with a loue ere.
e. Of an obeisance: Profound, deep.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 234. He toke of hys cappe, and made a low and solempne obeysance.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., Induct. i. 53. With a lowe submissiue reuerence Say [etc.].
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. vi. 947. He presently doffes his cap most solemnly, makes a low-leg to his ladiship.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 157. Rising up to make him a low congey, she proceeded.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 835.
1887. W. P. Frith, Autobiog., I. xix. 237. ‘I am very much obliged to you,’ making a low bow.
f. Phonetics. Of a vowel sound: Produced with the tongue or some part of it in a low position.
1876. [see HIGH a. 4 b].
g. Path.
1898. P. Manson, Trop. Diseases, xix. 317. Occasionally it [sc. epidemic gangrenous rectitis] may begin higher up—in the colon. In this case it is called the ‘high’ form; in the other, the ‘low’ or rectal form.
† 3. Situated under the level of the earth’s surface, far down in the ground; deep. Obs. in positive; cf. LOWER, LOWEST.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xvii. 30. He mekis þaim in til þe lawe pitt of hell.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 314/1. Low, or lowe, profundus.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, II. 157. And ek thar to he was in presoune law.
1533. Gay, Richt Vay (1888), 49. He first passit dwne to ye law portis of the zeird.
1718. G. Jacob, Compl. Sportsman, 53. The good Dogs produc’d in a deep Low-Country, will always excel the good Dogs upon the Plains.
4. Of a liquid: Less in vertical measurement than the average, or than is usual; shallow. Hence of a river, a spring, etc.: Containing or yielding less water than usual. See also LOW TIDE, LOW WATER. (For low ebb lit. and fig., see EBB sb.)
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 314/2. Lowe, or ny the drestis, bassus.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 269. The river … when the flood is gone, it is so low, yt it may be passed without all daunger.
1621. T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 98. He … compares old age to Wine that is lowe and almost nothing but lees.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, IV. (1723), 234. The Springs and Rivers are very low.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 236. The ships were in extreme peril: for the river was low.
II. Transferred and figurative senses.
5. Of humble rank, station, position or estimation.
Not now (in the positive) said of persons exc. in contemptuous use (see 7 c); but cf. LOWER a.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 35. Ne was þe engel isend ne to none heȝe … men … ac to loȝe and eðeliche men.
c. 1205. Lay., 686. Nis þar nan swa laih þæt [etc.].
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne (E.E.T.S.), 6560. Ȝyf a cursed man hadde cumpany with one or ouþer, logh or hy.
1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 73. Pore ant loȝe thou were for ous.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 119. He hath set al his corage … Upon a Maide of low astat.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2805. Al such mayntenance … Sustened is naght by persones lowe.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 184. King Eduuardis man he was … Off rycht law byrth.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xx. 18. Hie vertew may stand in law estait.
1531. Latimer, Lett. to Baynton, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1324/1. We lowe subiectes are bounde to obey powers and their ordinaunces.
1687. Settle, Refl. Dryden, 49. The lowest Boy in Westminster would have told him that [to be Borne] was a passive verb.
1718. Freethinker, No. 7, ¶ 8. I shall subjoin a Matrimonial Story in Low-Life.
1770. Gentl. Mag., XL. 426. That the low people never taste flesh is a proof of their extreme poverty.
1810. Bentham, Packing (1821), 140. One law for gentlemen, another for low people.
1844. Thirlwall, Greece, VIII. lxvi. 441. Andriscus, a young man of low birth,… had been … acknowledged as king.
1874. Deutsch, Rem., 327. Men low in the social scale.
absol. a. 1200. Moral Ode, 162. Þer sculen eueningges bon þe riche and þe laȝe.
c. 1275. Lay., 22928. For þar sal þe heȝe be efne to þan lowe.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1590), 17. All the people of this countrie from high to lowe, is giuen to these sportes of the witte.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xviii. Look at the high and the low, all the world over, and it’s the same story.
1890. Spectator, 22 Nov. Having … the benefit of vast experience of the low.
6. Of inferior quality, character or style; wanting in elevation, commonplace, mean.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 140. Þet so unimete louh þinc … schal drawen into sunne so unimete heih þinc.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. lvi. 133 (ch.-heading), That man must ȝeue him to lowe workes [L. humilibus operibus] whan hye workes failen.
1598. Florio, Ep. Ded. 1. My poore studies may in so lowe a cottage entertaine so high … dignities.
1665. G. Havers, P. della Valle’s Trav. E. India, 9. Which low School of Reading and Writing, the said Fathers keep for more convenience of Children.
1725. Pope, Postscr. to Odyssey (1840), 389. There is a real beauty in an easy, pure, perspicuous description even of a low action.
1743. Fielding, J. Wild, II. vii. They passed an hour in a scene of tenderness, too low and contemptible to be recounted.
1753. Adventurer, No. 39. The low drudgery of collating copies,… or accumulating compilations.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 467. Much parliamentary ability of a low kind.
1856. Kingsley, Plays & Puritans, 31. To discriminate between high art and low art, they must have seen both.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 173. In patients of low type of intelligence.
b. Of literary style, words, expressions, hence of a writer: The opposite of sublime; undignified.
1672. Dryden, Def. Epil., Ess. (ed. Ker), I. 172. Never did any author precipitate himself from such height of thought to so low expressions, as he often does.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 347. And ten low words oft creep in one dull line. Ibid. (1725), Postscr. to Odyssey (1840), 389. But whenever the poet is obliged by the nature of his subject to descend to the lower manner of writing, an elevated style would be affected.
1765. in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury, I. 130. Superior to Runkenius … whose language is rather low.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Prior. Prior is never low, nor very often sublime.
c. Of races of mankind: Inferior in degree of civilization, little advanced. Of animals or plants, their type, etc.: Not highly organized.
1859. J. R. Greene, Protozoa, Introd. xviii. The lowest form of animal life with which we are acquainted.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iv. 79. Languages spoken by very low races.
1881. Tyndall, Ess. Floating-Matter of Air, 125. Germs of bacteria and other low organisms.
7. As a term of reprobation or disgust.
a. In a moral sense: Abject, base, mean.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Mowbray’s Banishment, xvii. Through flattery loe, I dyd his yll vpholde.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 8 Sept. Much … discourse … of the low spirits of some rich men in the City, in sparing any encouragement to the poor people that wrought for the saving their houses.
1790. H. Walpole, in Walpoliana, clxiv. 75. Low-cunning, self-interest, and other mean motives.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 401. Flattery or fawning or other low arts.
1895. A. F. Warr, in Law Times, XCIX. 507/1. Whenever a dramatist wished to introduce intrigue, chicanery, or other dirty work, his dramatis personæ included a low attorney.
b. Degraded, dissolute.
1599. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. IV. 431. [Paid] to John Wosley for his horse and dragge to be used for the whippinge of low woomene, 4d.
c. Wanting in decent breeding; coarse, vulgar; not socially ‘respectable.’
1759. Dilworth, Pope, 18. Notwithstanding Mr. Wycherley’s low behaviour to Mr. Pope.
1780. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, May. She has evidently kept low company.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xii. Tilda’s friends are low people.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 483. A considerable number of low fanatics … regarded him as a public benefactor.
1861. R. G. Wilberforce, Life S. Wilberforce (1882), III. i. 27. They [Irish priests] are generally low fellows—McHale is a very coarse low fellow himself.
1872. Punch, 6 Jan., 5/1. What is there in common between a respectable shopkeeper who pays rates and a low person who wheels a barrow?
8. Wanting in bodily strength or vigor; poorly nourished, weak.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IV. iii. (1495), 83. Dryenesse makyth the body lene and lowe.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, c j. Sum put hawkys in mew at high estate, and sum when thay be right low.
1530. Palsgr., 317/2. Lowe of complexyon, fieble.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 155. They keep them low and down by subtraction of their meat.
1684. Lond. Gaz., No. 1912/4. A Plain Black Gelding,… low of flesh.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 321. Before his Training, keep him poor and low.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 585. He was so low, that it was not probable he could live many weeks.
1783. H. Watson, in Med. Commun., I. 165. She … grew low from loss of appetite.
1802. Mrs. E. Parsons, Myst. Visit, II. 62. So low and ill, that she gladly accepted a small cup of usquebaugh.
1887. Poor Nellie (1888), 162. When I had my severe crisis off Vera Cruz, I was frightfully low at the time.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 575. If … the patient is in low condition, an improvement in the diet may be of service.
b. Emotionally depressed; dejected, dispirited, dull, esp. in phr. low spirits.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 101. Lives which seem hardly worth living for bad appetite, low spirits, restless nights.
1779. Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 302. I am low and dejected at times, in a way not to be described.
1822–34. Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), III. 49. An undue secretion of melancholia … was supposed … to produce a low or gloomy temperament.
1860. Emily Eden, Semi-attached Couple, II. 121. Lady Eskdale was low, and sent off a groom with a bulletin.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, III. xii. 170. She’s wake and low and nervous, so no kissing.
c. Of diet, feeding: Affording little nourishment or stimulation; poor.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1897), I. I. 386. These were both … men of great sobriety, and lived on a constant low diet.
1752. Berkeley, Th. on Tar-water, Wks. III. 503. Such low diet as sour milk and potatoes.
1863. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia, 111. The general low diet of the slaves.
1886. C. Scott, Sheep-farming, 55. Low Feeding of Sheep.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 367. The patient should be put on a low diet. Ibid. (1899), VIII. 214. The percentage of children … who presented low nutrition.
9. Little above the minimum, not high, in amount or degree of intensity. (Often with implied reference to position in a graduated scale.)
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 34. Right now the hyhe wyndes blowe, And anon after thei ben lowe.
1715. Cheyne, Philos. Princ. Relig., I. (ed. 2), 321. We see an Image of this slow and low kind of Life in Swallows, Insects, Vipers [etc.].
1736. Butler, Anal., Introd. Such low presumption, often repeated, will amount even to moral certainty.
1742. Lond. & Country Brew., I. (ed. 4), 72. The Grinding also must be considered, according to the high or low Drying of the Malt.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 239. The fever is kept low, and the eruption greatly lessened.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 154. When the flour is too fine, the colour will be low.
1822–34. Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), I. 688. Low or slow Nervous Fever. Ibid., III. 48, note. Hence, also, the terms high madness and low madness.
1832. Brewster, Optics, ix. 83. Muriatic acid has too low a refractive and dispersive power to fit it for [etc.].
1840. E. Turner’s Chem. (ed. 7), II. 447. Heating the mixture to low redness.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxii. 151. Friends who visited me always complained of the low temperature of my room.
1875. Fortnum, Majolica, xii. 132. Grotesques … in low olive tint on a blue ground.
b. of price, rate, numbers, amounts, etc.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. i. 13. Nought enters there, Of what validity and pitch so ere, But falles into abatement and low price Euen in a minute.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., IV. iii. 1794. If we can intertaine these schollers at a low rate.
1683. Apol. Prot. France, ii. 23. Merchants subsist by their Credit: if their credit be low, they must fall.
1691. Locke, Lower. Interest, Wks. 1727, II. 72. It [the Exchange] is Low, when he pays less than the Par.
1693. J. Dryden, jun., in Dryden’s Juvenal, xiv. (1697), 355. So of old Was Blood, and Life, at a low-Market sold.
1831. J. Davies, Manual Mat. Med., 227. The low price of lime.
1885. Manch. Exam., 12 Nov., 5/2. Chinese workmen … work for low wages.
c. Geog. Of latitude: Denoted by a low number; at a short distance from the equator.
1748. [see LOWER 1].
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Low Latitudes, those regions for removed from the poles of the earth towards the equator, 10° south or north of it.
d. Of things: Having a low value, price or degree of some quality. (Chiefly with the specific reference expressed or contextually indicated.) † Of gold: Not reaching a high standard of fineness. Of a card: Of small numerical value.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. i. 8. Sena abounds in Elephants Teeth and low Gold, of 18 or 19 carects Fineness.
1740. Wimble’s List of Snuffs, in F. W. Fairholt, Tobacco (1876), 268–9. English Rappee … Best Dunkerque Rappee … Rappee Bergamot … Low Rappee.
1798. Monthly Mag., VI. 236. Horses still continue low [sc. in price].
1835. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 140. Hence, by the plan of mixture, much low English wools are consumed in our cloth manufacture, that would otherwise find no market at all.
1885. Proctor, Whist, ii. 33. In general a low card is to be played second hand.
1900. G. Newman, Bacteria (ed. 2), 116. ‘Low’ yeasts … sink in the fermenting fluid, act slowly, and only at the low temperature of 4° or 5° C.
e. Of condition: Not flourishing or advanced.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 319. My Creditors grow cruell, my estate is very low.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 68. During the weak and low Condition of the Eastern Emperors.
1844. T. Wright, Anecd. Lit., 23. Of course we ought to make great allowances for the low state of this branch of philology in Tyrwhitt’s time.
10. a. Of or in reference to musical sounds: Produced or characterized by relatively slow vibrations; grave.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 231. Tho … haue the voice atte the begynnynge of the worde grete and lowe.
1530. Palsgr., 845/1. With a low voyse, a basse voyx.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 166. Songs which are made … in the low key.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, iii. 14. Sing sho tun notis, the one is out of tone, As B acre lau and B moll far abone.
1878. in Grove’s Dict. Mus., I. 27/1. These [words] are ‘high’ and ‘low,’ the former denoting greater, the latter less, rapidity of vibration.
b. Of the voice, a sound: Not loud.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 314/2. Lowe, or softe yn voyce,… submissus.
1605. Shaks., Lear, V. iii. 273. Her voice was euer soft, Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman.
1724. R. Wodrow, Life J. Wodrow (1828), 93. His voice was but low and none of the strongest.
1839. Marryat, Phant. Ship, xxxviii. A low tap at the door was heard.
1852. Ida Pfeiffer, Journ. Iceland, 172. The explosions are always preceded by a low rumbling.
1863. Woolner, My Beautiful Lady, 15. Her warbling voice, though ever low and mild.
1881. Bowen, Virg. Æneid, III. 320. Bending her face to the ground, in a whisper low she replies.
11. Humble in disposition, lowly, meek. Now rare.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 36. Nede is next hym … as low as a lombe for lakkyng of that hym nedeth.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 118. Thou most … with low herte humblesce suie.
c. 1403. Cuckow & Night., 3. The god of love … can make of lowe hertes hye, And of hye lowe.
1426. in Surtees Misc. (1888), 5. Þe law submission of þe said John Lyllyng.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay (1888), 30. God hes al tyme hwyd the richt visdome … and schawis it to thayme that ar simpil and law.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S. T. S.), II. 38. In the meane tyme held thame selffis lewche and quyit.
1836. Mrs. Browning, Poet’s Vow, II. viii. I thought … The teachings of the heaven and earth Did keep us soft and low.
12. (With allusion to sense 4.) Of one’s pockets, stock of money or any commodity: Nearly empty or exhausted. Hence of persons, to be low in pocket, etc.
1700. S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind. 94. I thought it high time … to recruit my Pockets, which were now very low.
1821. Scott, Pirate, xxxiv. We have junketed till provisions are low with us. Ibid., xxxi. My own [money] was waxing low.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, 40. And you talk of being low in your pocket.
13. Of an opinion, estimate: Attributing small value or poor quality; depreciatory, disparaging.
Mod. I have a very low opinion of his abilities.
14. Of a date: Relatively recent. Chiefly in compar. and superl.
Mod. The date assigned by this critic to Ecclesiastes seems to be too low.
15. Said of religious doctrine, as the opposite of high in various applications (see HIGH a. 15); often colloq. = LOW CHURCH.
1854. S. Wilberforce, Lett., in Life (1881), II. vi. 234. The Church of England will seem to be committed to Low doctrine, which she does not teach, as to this sacrament.
1881. Trollope, Dr. Wortle’s School, I. i. Among them [Low Church prelates] there was none more low, more pious, more sincere.
III. In complemental use with verbs both trans. and intr. where the complement frequently indicates the result of the action.
16. To bring low: to bring into a low condition, with respect to health, strength, wealth or outward circumstances; also, to bring to the ground. Cf. low-brought in 23 below.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 277. His son Occe … was byseged at York, and [i]-brouȝte lowe [L. humiliato].
1530. Palsgr., 468/1. For all his great bely, this syckenesse hath brought hym lowe ynoughe.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. ii. 7. The Lorde … bryngeth lowe and exalteth.
1611. Bible, Job xl. 12. Looke on euery one that is proud, and bring him low.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. (1701), 16/1. His Father … brought his Estate so low, as to want even necessaries.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 360. The nobles of Savoy have long since been brought low.
1819. Shelley, Julian & Maddalo, 601. Perhaps remorse had brought her low.
absol. 1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. II. iii. 129. At one quick blow Shoot, and bring low!
17. To lay low: a. To lay flat; to bring to the ground, to overthrow in fight, to stretch lifeless. b. To lay in the ground, to bury. c. in immaterial sense or fig.: To abase, humble.
a. c. 1386. Chaucer, Manciple’s T., 118. She shal be cleped his wenche, or his lemman. And … Men leyn that oon as lowe as lith þat oother.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 726. Schir Edmond loissit has his life, and laid is full law.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XX. xxii. For I wene thys day to laye the as lowe as thou laydest me.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 137. The dire event … Hath all this mighty Host In horrible destruction laid thus low.
1740. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Lady Pomfret, 25 Nov. I bought a chaise at Rome…; and had the pleasure of being laid low in it the very second day after I set out.
1791. Burns, Lament for Earl Glencairn, ix. O! had I met the mortal shaft Which laid my benefactor low!
1815. W. H. Ireland, Scribbleomania, 111. Whenever morality hitches the toe, Delinquent with crab-stick shou’d straight be laid low.
b. c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 862. When it es in erth layd lawe, Wormes þan sal it al to-gnaw.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 164. I would that I were low laid in my graue.
1795. Jemima, II. 187. Little did his now laid low Lordship think his days were so closely numbered.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xxiv. Use me ere they lay me low Where a man’s no use at all.
c. a. 1225. Juliana, 62. Ant þeo þet heieð ham her leist ham swiðe lahe.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 1649 (Trin.). I shal hem laye ful lawe þat sett so litil of myn awe.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LX. vi. [God] shall lay our haters low.
1611. Bible, Isa. xiii. 11. I … will lay low the hautinesse of the terrible.
18. To lie low: a. literally. To lie in a low position or on a low level, deep down; also, to crouch. b. To lie on or in the ground, lie prostrate or dead; fig. to be humbled, abased. Of an erection: To be overthrown or broken down, to lie in fragments. c. Mod. slang. To keep quiet, remain in hiding; to bide one’s time.
a. c. 1250. Death, 166, in O. E. Misc., 178. Þu schald nu in eorþe liggen ful lohe [Jes. Coll. MS. lowe].
1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 56. Behind the Bus (Lord) bot I liggit law.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 76. To ly rycht law in till ane Crib.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 40. Beside a bubling fountaine low she lay.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., II. iii. (1712), 49. Whether it might not have laid so low in the Earth as never to have been reached.
1674. Josselyn, Voy. New Eng., 171. It lyeth low, by reason whereof it is much indammaged by flouds.
b. a. 1300. Cursor M., 1649. I sal do þam lij ful lau þat letes sua lightly on min au.
1307. Elegy Edw. I., ii. Of wham that song is that y synge, Of Edward kyng that lith so lowe. Ibid., iv. Aȝeyn the hethene for te fyhte, To wynne the croiz that lowe lys.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xiv. (Lucas), 80. Þe angel his trumpe sal blav, & ger þame ryse þat lyis law.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. ii. (Skeat), l. 58. His auter is broke, and lowe lyth.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 10. That Lucifers lordshup ligge sholde ful lowe.
c. 1400. Cato’s Morals, 171, in Cursor M., App. iv. Loke þou lere sum craft, quen þi hap turnis baft, and logh þou lise.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. x. 18. Lo now he liggis law, for al his feris.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 297. The castell als thai gart it lig full law.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 52. If he could but rite himselfe with quarrelling, Some of vs would lie low.
a. 1822. Shelley, Marg. Nicholson Fragment, 12. Monarch thou For whose support this fainting frame lies low.
1871. R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, lxviii. 22. All our house lies low mournfully buried in you.
1879. J. D. Long, Æneid, II. 730. Priam by the sword Lies low.
c. 1880. J. C. Harris, Uncle Remus, ii. (1881), 20. De Tar-Baby, she sot dar, she did, en Brer Fox, he lay low.
1892. Pall Mall G., 11 March, 3/1. Mr. N— … has not really been dead at all, but only ‘lying low’ in Canada.
1894. Marg. Verney, Mem. Verney Fam., III. 475. Royalists who had lain low were showing signs of life.
1901. Scotsman, 2 March, 9/4. To that end the opposition lay low.
19. With certain other verbs, the meaning of which includes the notion ‘to make’ or ‘to become’; to burn low (see BURN v. 2 c); † to go low, (a) to become worsted; (b) to become exhausted; to run low (see RUN).
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 23. Þe Kyng herd þat telle, þat his side ȝede lowe.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 61. Pouerte pursued me and put me lowe.
1555. Bradforth, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xlv. 131. Other men in Ingland whose stoutnes must be plucked lowe.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., III. 117 b. Their victuals went very low.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 621. Should I chance on some distant journey to be reduced low in pocket.
IV. In Combination.
20. In concord with sbs. forming combinations used attributively or quasi-adj., as low-blast, -carbon, -caste, -class, -flash, -grade, -ground, -heel, -life, -neck, -power, -pressure, -tension, -tread, -type, -warp, etc.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Low-blast Furnace, a metallurgic furnace in which the air of the blast is delivered at moderate pressure.
1900. Engineering Mag., XIX. 751/2. Copper and *low-carbon ingot steel.
1894. Pop. Sci. Monthly, XLIV. 500. The *low-caste Hindus.
1898. Daily News, 11 Nov., 5/1. All such *low-class methods.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 25 July, 2/3. *Low-flash oils, imported chiefly from America.
1879. H. George, Progr. & Pov., III. vi. (1881), 191. It is not low wages which will cause the working of *low-grade ore.
1899. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., March, 133. Maize flour of a low-grade quality has taken the place of low-grade wheaten flour in the manufacture of boots.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 1 Sept., 1/3. The high and *low ground game fauna of the country.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 526, ¶ 6. Such as appear discreet by a *low-heel shoe.
1794. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Ode to For. Soldiers, Wks. 1812, III. 248. Saint Crispin … The *low-life Cobler’s Tutelary Saint.
1885. F. Anstey, Tinted Venus, 95. The peculiar stave by which a modern low-life Blondel endeavours to attract notice.
1901. Lady’s Realm, X. 646/2. With the coat and skirt the *low-neck blouse is wofully out of place.
1878. Abney, Photogr. (1881), 306. The student is recommended to commence with a comparatively *low-power objective.
1833. N. Arnott, Physics (ed. 5), II. I. 97. The high-pressure or condensed steam … expands … until it becomes *low-pressure steam.
1873. B. Stewart, Conserv. Energy, iv. 108. Let us take, for example, the low-pressure engine.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 564. Those exceptional cases of Bright’s disease, in which a low-pressure pulse is found. Ibid. (1898), V. 983. Not infrequently … the *low-tension pulse presents marked fluctuation of the base line.
1885. Howells, Silas Lapham (1891), I. 71. An easy *low-tread staircase.
1897. W. C. Hazlitt, Ourselves, 122. It is natural that this *low-type Realism should be ruled by circumstances.
1899. Mackail, Life Morris, II. 46. The *low-warp loom he dismissed, as useless for his purpose.
21. Parasynthetic derivatives in -ED2, unlimited in number, as low-arched, -backed, -bodied, -boughed, -bowed, -conceited, -conditioned, -crowned, -filleted, -flighted, -fortuned, -heeled, -levelled, -masted, -minded (hence low-mindedness), -panelled, -priced, -purposed, -quartered, -rented, -rimmed, -roofed, -statured, -thoughted, -toned, -tongued, † -vanitied, -voiced, -wheeled, -withered, -witted; low-blooded, of low blood, race or descent; low-necked, (of a dress) cut low in the neck or bosom.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Lady G. Baillie, i. 7. By *low-arched door.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1656/4. A Sorrel Mare, about 13 hands high,… a little *low Back’d.
1827. Lady Morgan, O’Briens & O’Flahertys, IV. 60. A low-backed car is the common vehicle used for the purposes of husbandry.
1839. Times, 19 March. It failed, as *low-blooded knavery always does.
1892. E. Reeves, Homeward Bound, 28. The passing of weak, low-blooded paupers by careless selectors.
1882. Stevenson, New Arab. Nts., Prov. & Guitar, ii. Léon looked at her, in her *low-bodied maroon dress.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. 54. The peacock … dropping it [his tail] gracefully from some *low-boughed tree.
1898. R. Kipling, in Morning Post, 5 Nov., 5/3. The *low-bowed battleships slugged their bluff noses into the surge.
1864. Hawthorne, S. Felton (1883), 266. The *low-ceilinged eastern room where he studied.
1648. Bp. Hall, Select Th., § 10. Humble and *low-conceited of rich endowments.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Hon., V. ii. Of … an abject temper,… poore and *low condition’d.
1600. Rowlands, Lett. Humours Blood, v. 72. A little *low cround Hatte he alwayes weares.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., 141. His … low-crowned oil-skin hat, and leather gaiters.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2271/4. Stolen or strayed…, a Chesnut Gelding…, *low-Fillited.
1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, F 3. The Portugals and Frenchmens feare will lend your Honors richer ornaments, than his *low-flighted affection (fortunes summer folower) can frame them.
1627–47. Feltham, Resolves, 430. The *low-fortuned ploughman.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2295/4. A Roan Gelding…, about 14 hands, all his paces, *low-heel’d before.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. xxvii. The *low-levell’d sunbeams.
1696. Phillips (ed. 5), *Low-masted, a Ship is said to be low-masted, or under-masted, when her Mast is too small, or too short.
1730–46. Thomson, Autumn, 188. Giddy fashion and *low-minded pride.
1829. Southey, Sir T. More (1831), II. 48. Not so much from the *low-mindedness of individuals, as from the circumstances wherein they are placed.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 30 July, 6/3. A *low-necked wedding gown.
1902. Blackw. Mag., May, 653/2. Entering under a *low-panelled door, we found ourselves in a long and wide bar.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 171. He … falling into some *low-prized rogueries afterwards,… was … transported.
1842. Bischoff, Woollen Manuf., II. 199. The German cloths are not so well manufactured as ours, particularly the low-priced cloth.
1729. Savage, Wanderer, v. 298. The *low-purpos’d, loud, polemic Fray.
1860. Reade, Cloister & H., III. 59. They [shoes] were *low-quartered and square-toed.
1802. Trans. Soc. Arts, XX. 348. To live in *low-rented houses.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. IV. Handie-Crafts, 90, The *low-rooft broken wals (In stead of Arras) hang with Spiders’ cauls.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 272. Philosophy … From Heaven descended to the low-roofed house Of Socrates.
1635. R. Johnson, Hist. Tom a Lincoln (1828), 100. A very *low-statured dwarf.
1634. Milton, Comus, 6. With *low-thoughted care Confin’d.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VII. 208. So she *low-toned; while with shut eyes I lay Listening; then look’d.
1871. G. Meredith, H. Richmond, li. Your dear mother had a low-toned nervous system.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. iii. 15. Didst heare her speake? Is she shrill tongu’d or *low?
1830. Tennyson, Adeline, 51. Doth the low-tongued Orient Wander from the side of the morn.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. 86. Your foolish, your *low-vanity’d Lovelace.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. iii. 16. Madam, I heard her speake, she is *low voic’d.
1842. Tennyson, Talking Oak, 110. Sitting straight Within the *low-wheel’d chaise.
1884. St. Stephen’s Rev., 28 June, 14/2. Saddles … suited to the *low-withered Arab horses.
22. In combination with pres. and pa. pples., forming ppl. adjs., corresponding to the vbl. phrases in senses 16–19, as low-laid, -lying, -made.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. iv. 103. Be content, Your *low-laide Sonne, our Godhead will vplift.
1811. Shelley, Tear, IV. 7. Sure man … May weep in mute grief o’er thy low-laid shrine.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., 611. A mild, soft day, with *low-lying clouds.
1567. Golding, Ovid’s Met., VIII. (1593), 202. And ducking downe their heads, within the *low-made wicket came.
23. Special combinations and collocations: low bailiff (see quot.); low boat U.S. sport, that which secures the smallest quantity of fish or game (Cent. Dict.); † low-brought ppl. a., reduced to distress, weakness or subjection (see sense 16); low celebration Eccl. (see quot.); † low-cheered a., mild-faced, having a meek look; low comedian, an actor of low comedy; low comedy, (a) comedy in which the subject and treatment border upon farce; (b) Theat. slang = low comedian; † low-day, any day that is not a Sunday or feast-day; Low Dutch a. and sb. (see DUTCH A. 1, B. 1 and 3); hence Low-Dutchman (cf. DUTCH 3 b); † Low Easterday LOW SUNDAY; low embroidery, fermentation (see quots.); Low German a. and sb. (cf. GERMAN A. 1 b, B. 1 b, 2 b); low grinding = low-milling; Low Latin a. and sb. [= F. bas-latin], late Latin or mediæval Latin; hence Low-Latinist, a scholar in Low Latin; low mass (see MASS); low-milling (see MILLING vbl. sb.); † low-pad cant = FOOTPAD; † low-parted a., of no great parts or abilities; † Low parties pl., the Netherlands; low-rope = slack-rope; low-sail (Naut.) = easy sail (cf. EASY a. 5); low tea U.S., a plain tea; † low Toby (see quot.); Low Week, the week following Easter week; † low-wood = COPSEWOOD 2; low-worm (see quot.).
1835. 1st Munic. Corp. Comm. Rep., App. III. 1601 [Lancaster.] The Bailiff of the Commons, sometimes called the *Low Bailiff, is elected at an annual meeting of the free burgesses from among the commons.
1459. Paston Lett., No. 331, I. 444. He … is ryte *lowe browt, and sore weykid and feblyd.
1545. Primer Hen. VIII., DD iv. Beholde, how I am lowe brought from the cruel pursuers.
1596. Spenser, State Irel. (Globe ed.), 614/2. How comes it then to pass, that having once beene soe lowe brought, and throughly subjected, they afterwardes lifted themselves soe strongly agayne?
1867. Walker, Ritual Reason Why, 79. *Low celebration is the administration of the Holy Communion without the adjuncts of assistant ministers and choir.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 258. Grace gaue Piers a teme, foure gret oxen: Þat on was Luke, a large beste and a *lowe-chered.
1749. W. R. Chetwood, Hist. Stage, 82, note. A well-esteem’d *low Comedian.
1890. Barrie, My Lady Nicotine, xiii. (1901), 43/1. This is the low comedian Kempe.
1608. Day, Humour out of breath, I. B 4 b. Attendance sirra, your *low Commedie, Craues but few Actors, weele breake company.
1671. Dryden, Evening’s Love, Pref. Ess. (ed. Ker), I. 135. Low comedy especially requires, on the writer’s part, much of conversation with the vulgar, and much of ill nature in the observation of their follies.
c. 1750. T. Aston, Suppl. to Cibber, 12. There being no Rivals in his dry, heavy, downright Way in Low Comedy.
1885. J. K. Jerome, On the Stage, 39. Our low comedy, who knew the whole piece by heart.
c. 1613. T. Campion, To Henry, Ld. Clifford, Wks. (1889), 64. The vulgar *low-days undistinguished, Are left for labour, games, and sportful sights.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, 23 b. The Germaines and *lowe Dutch … should bee continually kept moyst with the foggie aire and stinking mistes that arise out of their fennie soyle.
1764. Harmer, Observ., Pref. 8. Egmont’s and Heyman’s Travels … translated from the Low Dutch.
1576. Newton, Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 63. The Netherlanders, and *low Dutchmen bordering upon the Sea.
1603. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 271. The second … on Ester Monday … the third on *Lowe Esterday.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, *Low Embroidery. This term includes all the needlework formed with Satin or other fancy stitches upon solid foundations, whether worked upon both sides alike, or slightly raised (not padded) by run lines from the foundation.
1881. Tyndall, Ess. Floating-Matter of Air, 257. This beer is prepared by what is called the process of *low fermentation; the name being given partly because the yeast … falls to the bottom of the cask; but partly also because it is produced at a low temperature.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., I. 287. The champion of the modern views,—a *low German, Erasmus of Rotterdam.
1887. [see GERMAN A. 1 b].
1884. Bath Herald, 27 Dec., 6/4. [Flour Mill.] The system in vogue up to a dozen years ago was *low grinding.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 159. The Hanseatic league derives its name from the *Low Latin ‘hansa.’
1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 65. The Ruffler is metamorphosed into a *Low-Pad.
1662. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., verse 18. ix. § 2. 377. The heart [may be] sound and sincere, where the head is *low-parted.
1502–9. Henry VII., in J. Gairdner, Lett. Rich. III. & Hen. VII., 449. He [would shew] unto us mervelous conclusions touching the rule and [governance] of these *Lowe parties.
1697. Dryden, Ded. to Æneis, in Ess. (1900), II. 201. This is like Merry Andrew on the *low rope.
1805. in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1846), VII. 134, note. Saw the Enemy to leeward under *low-sail on the larboard tack.
1883. Howell, Woman’s Reason, II. xviii. 133. The world … sent her invitations to little luncheons and *low teas.
1825. Knapp & Baldw., Newgate Cal., III. 438/1. A *low Toby, meaning it was a footpad robbery.
1884. Catholic Dict., 604. From Holy Saturday till Saturday in *Low Week.
1684. Scanderbeg Rediv., v. 115. In the midst of the Copse or *Low-wood.
1704. Dict. Rust., *Low-worm is a Disease in Horses, hardly known from the Anthony-Fire or the Shingles … ’tis a Worm that is bread on the back of a Horse … or runs along the Neck to the Brain.
B. Quasi-sb. and sb.
I. The neuter adj. used absol.
1. What is low, a low place, position, or area.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 79. Adam ure forme feder þet alihte from hehe in to lahe.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lviii. 10. Þou takis me vp fra my laghe in til þi heghe.
c. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 518. Schir Ameryis rout he saw, That held the playn ay & the law.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Auian, xxvi. To thende he falleth not from hyhe to lowe.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxxviii. 1. Musical harmony … being but of high and low in sounds a due proportionable disposition.
1875. Browning, Aristoph. Apol., 5120. I … Face Low and Wrong and Weak and all the rest.
† 2. With preps. At, in, on low: down low, on the ground, below, on earth = ALOW 1. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11260. On hei be ioi, and pes on lagh.
13[?]. S. Erkenwolde, 147, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 269. Such a lyche here is, Has layne lokene here one loghe, how longe is vnknawene.
1340. Ayenb., 119. Þanne ine ous beginneþ þise graces … ine loȝ and sseweþ an heȝ.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3261. Now in leuell, nowe on-loft, nowe in law vnder.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. xiv. 570. And truly, syrs, looke that ye trow That othere lord is none at-lowe.
II. As sb.
3. (with a and pl.) a. A piece of low-lying land. b. An area of low barometric pressure.
1790. Trans. Soc. Arts, VIII. 92. This Low, as it is called, traversing the best part of our saltings.
1878. Pop. Sci. Monthly, July, 310. These high and low areas, or ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ as they are technically known, travel.
4. In All-fours: The deuce of trumps, or the lowest trump dealt. (Earlier books have ‘highest, lowest,’ etc.)
1818. Todd, s.v. All-fours. The all-four are high, low, Jack, and the game.
1830. [see GAME sb. 8 f].
1897. in Webster.
