Son sb.

Forms: α. 1 sunu, 1–2 suna, (1) 2–5 sune, 4 sunn(e, 4–5 sun, 8 Sc. sin. β. 3–8 sone (4 zone), 4–5 soone, 4, 6 soon, 6 soonne; 5 soun(e; 4–7 sonne, 4– son (6 dial. zon, Sc. schon, 7 sonn). [Common Teut.: OE. sunu (gen. suna), = OFris. sunu, sune, sone (EFris. sûnû, WFris. soan, NFris. sen, sên, etc.), MDu. sone, zone (Du. zoon), OS. sunu (MLG. sone, LG. sone, sön, sän, etc.), OHG. sunu, sun (MHG. sune, sun, son, G. sohn), ON. sunr, sonr (Icel. sonur, Norw. and Sw. son, Da. søn), Goth. sunus. Outside of the Teutonic languages similar forms appear in Lith. sûnus, OSlav. synŭ (Russ. сынъ), Skr. sūnu (Zend. hunu). The root su- is also that of Gr. υἱός.

  The declension in OE. is variable through confusion of the different cases and the introduction of new forms, as gen. sing. sunes, nom. pl. sunan, gen. pl. sunena. From early ME. the usual possessive and plural forms are those in -es or -s.

  Senses 2–7 represent for the most part Biblical uses of the word, examples of which occur freely in all the English versions of the Scriptures.]

  1.  A male child or person in relation to either or to both of his parents. Sometimes said of animals.

  See also MOTHER’S SON.

  α.  Beowulf, 645. Oþ þæt … sunu Healfdenes secean wolde æfenræste.

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 1. Þa wæs þær Apollines dohtor Iobes suna.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 7. Ðu cennest sunu þone þu nemnest Hælend.

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1052 (MS. D). His sunan wæron eorlas & þæs cynges dyrlingas. Ibid. (c. 1122), an. 1121 (Laud MS.). Seo wæs Willelme þes cynges sune … to wife forʓyfan.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 488. And ta twa prestess wærenn Aaroness suness baþe.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2175. Alle we ben on faderes sunen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 796. Of þat ilk appel bitt þair suns tethe ar eggeid yitt.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 298. He had þre þryuen sunez & þay þre wyuez.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 6567. Se ye not the sun of youre sure kyng … turnyt away?

1559.  Mirr. Mag., O. Glendour, vi. How would we mocke the burden bearing mule If he would brag he wer an horses sunne.

1786.  Burns, Halloween, xvi. Our Stibble-rig was Rab M‘Graen…. His Sin gat Eppie Sim wi’ wean.

  β.  a. 1275.  Prov. Ælfred, 574, in O. E. Misc., 134. Sone min swo leue, site me nu bisides.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 21. Edwyne, is sone, was king i-maud.

1340.  Ayenb., 48. Ne uorzakeþ nenne ne uader ne broþer ne zone.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 385. Dedalus wiþ his sone Icarus.

c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2736. A man þat sone was To a conseil, was take in þis trespas.

1473.  Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 191. Thome Sowtar forsaid and his thre sonys.

1529.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 57. I gyue and bequethe to my saide Soon Gregorye A Bason.

1596.  Bacon, Max. & Use Com. Law, II. (1636), 48. During the minority of his eldest sonn.

1681.  Dryden, Abs. & Achit., I. 32/2. Indulgent David view’d His Youthful Image in his Son renew’d.

1741–2.  Gray, Agrippina, 67. If the son reign, the mother perishes.

1764.  Goldsm., Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1771), IV. 28. Lord Colchester, son to the earl of Rivers.

1812.  Southey, Lett., in Life & Corr. (1850), III. 325. His name is Shelley, son to the member for Shoreham.

1857.  Borrow, Romany Rye, xxxix. Soliman … after his death befriended his young son.

1871.  Smiles, Charac., ii. (1876), 46. To inspire her sons’ minds with elevating thoughts.

  fig.  1781.  Cowper, Heroism, 59. Famine, and pestilence, her first-born son.

  b.  In the phrase son and heir. Also fig.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9607. In is warde he let do Henri is eldoste sone & is eir al so.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 5. Sorow & site he made … For his sonne & heyre.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 666. I schal … sothely sende to sare a son & an hayre.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, I. viii. Of Phœbus … Poetes write that he was sonne and heire.

1481.  Cov. Leet Bk., 475. The son & heir of hym that nowe pretendeth to be kyng.

1576.  in Excheq. Rolls Scotl., XX. 372. Jhone Dromond,… quhe is schon and air to his fader Jhone Dromond.

1604.  Dekker, Honest Wh., I. v. (1605), B 4 b. As cleane as your sons and heires when they ha spent all.

1833.  Tennyson, Death Old Year, 31. To see him die … His son and heir doth ride post-haste.

  c.  = SON-IN-LAW.

1533.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 38. My said sone Briane Tunstall.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 78. Bap. Sonne, Ile be your halfe, Bianca comes.

  2.  Theol. The second person of the Trinity. (Cf. 4 a.)

c. 825.  Vesp. Hymns, viii. 21. Bledsien we feder & sunu & ðone halʓan gast.

a. 900.  Halsuncge, in Durh. Rit. (Surtees), 114. Ic eow halsiʓe on fæder naman, and on suna naman.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 85. Þe feder and þe sune and þe halie gast.

1340.  Ayenb., 12. Þe oþer article belongeþ to þe zone aze to his godhede.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 John ii. 24. Ȝe shulen dwelle in the sone and the fadir.

c. 1420.  [see GOD 5 d].

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xliv. 29. That Sone is Lord, that Sone is King of kingis.

1548.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Athanas. Creed, The Father is God, the Son is God.

a. 1628.  F. Grevil, in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), I. 108. We seeme more inwardly to knowe the Sonne.

1671.  Milton, P. R., II. 260. It was the hour of night, when thus the Son Commun’d in silent walk.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

1817.  Shelley, Satan broke Loose, 5. The Father and the Son Knew that strife was now begun.

1858.  Whittier, Trinitas, 56. Father, and Son, and Holy Call; This day thou hast denied them all!

  3.  One who is regarded as, or takes the place of, a son. † Also spec. at Cambridge, one presented for a degree by the ‘father’ of his college. † White son: see WHITE a.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter ii. 7. Dryhten cwæð to me: Sunu min ðu earð; to deʓe ic cende ðec.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Exod. ii. 10. And heo hine lufode, & hæfde for sunu hyre.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xix. 26. Þa cwæþ he to his meder: Wif, her ys þin sunu.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 19. Alle men ben godes children, for þat he hem alle shop, and ches hem to sunes and to dohtres.

a. 1400.  Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., 87. His mercy … That … me, a wreche, his sun walde make.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 33. Quhome God ressaifis to his sone and air, Him will he scurge.

1574.  M. Stokys, in Peacock, Stat. Cambr. (1841), App. A. p. x. The Father … shall call fourthe his eldest sone, & animate hym to dispute.

1665.  in Wordsworth, Univ. Life 18th C. (1874), 412. Then the Father calleth up the Answerer, and showeth him his sons.

1718.  Prior, Solomon, III. 889. Let Thy command Restore, great Father, Thy instructed son.

1799.  Wordsw., The Fountain, 62. And, Matthew, for thy children dead I’ll be a son to thee!

1877.  Baring-Gould, Lives Saints, Oct., 305. The child afterwards lived and died in God’s service at Ripon, and was called the bishop’s son.

  b.  Used as a term of affectionate address to a man or boy by an older person or by one in a superior (esp. ecclesiastical) relation.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. ix. 2. La sunu forʓefen biðon … ðe synno ðina.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 108. Mi Sone, in alle maner wise, Surquiderie is to despise.

c. 1400.  trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 49. Soune most glorious, most rightful Emperour.

c. 1440.  Alph. Tales, 196. Þe bisshop sayd; ‘Nay, son,… here hase bene a noder emperour of long tyme.’

1534.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1183/2. The Foxe … charged hym to … lye styll and sleepe lyke a good sonne.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., III. i. 161. Duke. Son, I haue ouer-heard what hath past between you & your sister.

1820.  Scott, Monast., xxv. ‘Prove thy strength, my son, in the name of God!’ said the preacher. Ibid., xxxii. ‘Even now, if thou wilt,’ said the Sub-Prior,… ‘come hither, my son, and kneel down.’

  4.  Son of God: a. Jesus Christ. (Cf. 2.) Also † God’s son. Hence Son-of-godship.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xxii. 70. Cuoedon ða alle, ðu … arð sunu godes.

  c. 1200.  Ormin, 267. Till þatt Godess Sune Crist Himm shollde onn eorþe shæwenn.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 403. And ȝet sal godes dere sune In ȝure kin in werlde wunen.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 5044. In … archaungel steven, And in þe son of Goddes awen beme.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (Prose), vii. 12. Als tapostil saide of godis sune.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Prayer to Second Person, 2. O benygne Jesu,… The only Sonne of God by filiacion.

1588.  Kyd, Househ. Phil., 449, Wks. (1901), 250. For our worlde was dignified with the presence or the true Sonne of God.

1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 138. Beyond compare the Son of God was seen Most glorious.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The Son of God Created the World; the Son of God was Incarnate.

1817.  W. Taylor, in Monthly Mag., XLIV. 315. This claim to the son-of-godship renders the facts irrefragably certain.

1884.  Addis & Arnold, Cath. Dict. (1897), 900/1. The ideas … are applied to Christ, and united to the doctrine of his generation as the Son of God before the world was made.

  b.  A divine being; an angel.

1382.  Wyclif, Job xxxvii. 7. Who dide doun the corner ston of it, whan … alle the sones of God shulden ioȝen?

1560.  Bible (Geneva), Job i. 6, marg. Meaning, the Angels which are called the sonnes of God.

1599.  Davies, Immort. Soul, VII. ix. (1714), 47. The Angels, Sons of God are nam’d.

1643.  Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 37. The Angels … are the sons of God by temporal Creation.

1671.  Milton, P. R., I. 368. I came among the Sons of God, when he Gave up unto my hands Uzzean Job.

1784.  Cowper, Task, V. 821. And all the sons of God Shouted for joy.

  c.  One spiritually attached to God.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John i. 12. [He] ʓesalde ðæm mæht suno godes wosa.

1382.  Wyclif, Rom. viii. 14. Sothli who euere ben lad by the spirit of God, thes ben the sones of God.

1643.  Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 1887. That priviledge is assured to the sons of God (1 Joh. 3. 2.) We shall see him as he is.

1667.  Milton, P. L., XI. 617. That sober Race of Men, whose lives Religious titl’d them the Sons of God.

  5.  Son of man: a. One of the human race; a mortal. Also pl. sons of men.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter viii. 5. Hwet is … sunu monnes forðon ðu neosas hine?

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. lxxix. 16. Si þin seo swiðre hand … ofer mannes sunu.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter iv. 3. Mennes sones, towhen of hert vnmeke?

1382.  Wyclif, Isaiah li. 12. Who [art] thou, that thou drede of a deadly man, and of the sone of man.

1562.  Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 14. Thow sone of man, the house of Israell is turnit into drosse.

c. 1639.  Sir W. Mure, Ps. cxlvi. 3, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 226. Trust not in princes, in the sone Of man who can not save.

1671.  Milton, P. R., I. 237. The Eternal King, who rules All Heaven and Earth, Angels and Sons of men.

1718.  Prior, Solomon, I. 1. Ye sons of men, with just regard attend.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. xii. Deciduous Forests that die and are born again, continually, like the sons of men.

  b.  spec. Jesus Christ.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. viii. 20. Sunu … monnes ne hæfis huer heafud … ʓebeʓes.

c. 1275.  Passion our Lord, 172, in O. E. Misc., 42. Monnes sune biþ bi-tauht in sunuulle honde.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19439. And man sun þare se i stand, Iesus, bi godd on his righthand.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. viii. 20. But mannes sone hath nat wher he reste his heued.

1575.  Gascoigne, Posies (1907), 56. The sunne [is like] the Sonne of man.

1865.  Ruskin, Sesame, ii. § 95. Shall the stones cry out against you, that they are the only pillows where the Son of Man can lay His head?

1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lv. Then, with hushed voices,… they spoke of the Days of the Son of Man.

  6.  A male descendant of some person or representative of some race.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. i. 1. Boc cneurise haelendes cristes dauides sunu abrahames sunu.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Baptist), 63. Mony sonnis of israel … to god, þar lord, turne sal he.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s T., 62. Though that I, unworthy sone of Eve, Be synful.

c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 577. The Dowglass … Wan wichtly of weir … Fra sonnis of the Saxonis.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 66. Adams sonnes are my brethren.

1781.  Cowper, Expost., 124. Such … People and priest, the sons of Israel were.

1830.  Scott, Monast., Introd. They have no share in the promise made to the sons of Adam.

  b.  One who inherits the spirit, or displays the character, of some person, etc.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 268. Þerfore seiþ austyn … þat þou art his soone whoos werkis þou dost. Ibid. (1382), Judges xix. 22. Camen men of that cytee, the sones of Belial.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 896. Thay were the sones of Belial, that is, the devel.

1508.  Dunbar, Poems, vii. 12. Welcum the soun of Mars of moste curage.

1594.  Kyd, Cornelia, IV. i. 167. G 3. Braue Romaine Souldiers, sterne-borne sons of Mars.

1672.  Dryden, Defence, Wks. 1883, IV. 240. They can tell a story of Ben Jonson, and, perhaps, have had fancy enough to give a supper in the Apollo, that they might be called his sons.

a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Son of Apollo, a Scholar…. [Son of] Venus, a Lover of Women. [Son of] Mercury, a Wit.

a. 1700–85.  [see MARS 1].

  c.  A member or adherent of a religious body or order, or a follower of the founder of one.

1416.  Munim. de Melros (Bann. Cl.), 539. Alle þe Sonnys of oure hali modir þe kirk.

1590.  in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., V. 189. To be ruled by you as an obedient son of the Society.

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 174. Young knights … professe themselves Sonnes of the Church.

1630, 1695.  [see MOTHER sb.¹ 2 c].

1757.  in J. Morris, Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1872), I. iv. 206. A son of Ignatius, a Priest of the Society of Jesus.

1851.  Pugin, Chancel Screens, 83. More than a hundred sons of S. Benedict.

  7.  a. One who is characterized by the presence, possession, influence, use, etc., of some quality or thing.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke x. 6. And ʓif ðer sie sunu sibbes, wunað ofer hia sibb iuera.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 312. Forther ouer, it maketh hym þat whilom was a son of Ire to be son of grace. Ibid., ¶ 335. Therfore be we alle born sones of wratthe and of dampnacion perdurable.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 191. If they speake more or lesse then truth, they are villaines, and the sonnes of darknesse.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. i. 329. Amongst all the sonnes of pride, he is the king.

1648.  Prynne, Plea for Lords, 5. They are the Sonnes of Conquest introduced by the Conquerour.

1700.  T. Brown, trans. Fresny’s Amusem. Ser. & Com., 42. Certain Sons of Parchment, call’d Solicitors and Barristers.

1748.  Johnson, Van. Hum. Wishes, 250. The fierce Croatian, and the wild Hussar, With all the sons of ravage crowd the war.

1770.  J. Adams, Diary, 1 July, Wks. 1850, II. 243. Came home and took a pipe after supper with landlord, who is a staunch, zealous son of liberty.

1803.  Visct. Strangford, Poems of Camoens, Notes (1810), 127. Locks of auburn, and eyes of blue, have ever been dear to the sons of song.

1872.  De Vere, Americanisms, 313. Sons of wax is neither an uncommon nor an uncomplimentary name for them [boot and shoe makers].

  b.  A person regarded as the product or offspring of a certain country or place.

  Son of the soil: see SOIL sb.¹ 5 b.

1595.  Shaks., John, V. ii. 25. We, the sonnes and children of this Isle.

1628.  Milton, Vac. Exerc., 91. Whether thou be the Son, Of utmost Tweed, or Oose, or gulphie Dun. Ibid. (1667), P. L., II. 692. Art thou hee, Who … Drew after him the third part of Heav’ns Sons?

1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. i. 75. IV. 13.

1764.  Goldsm., Trav., 112. Could Nature’s bounty satisfy the breast, The sons of Italy were surely blest.

1807.  P. Gass, Jrnl., 235. These good hearted, hospitable and obliging sons of the west.

1842.  Borrow, Bible in Spain (1843), III. iv. 59. They have taught him their language, which he already speaks as well as if he were a son of the prison.

1871.  Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. 55. The foreign spoiler … insensibly changed into the Son of the soil, into an Englishman.

  transf.  1712.  Blackmore, Creation, VI. 272. See, her tall Sons, the Cedar, Oak, and Pine, The fragrant Myrtle, and the juicy Vine.

  c.  In miscellaneous fig. uses.

1617.  Fletcher, Valentinian, V. ii. Wks. 1647, 23/1. song, Easie, sweet,… thou son of night, Pass by his troubled senses.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VI. i. As an actually existing Son of Time, look … at what the Time did bring.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 3. Man, who is a worm, and the son of a worm.

  d.  In terms of abuse or contempt.

  See DUNGHILL sb. 2, GUN sb. 6 c, sea-cook SEA sb. 23, SHOEMAKER, WHORE.

  8.  a. Son-before-the-father, a name given to various plants, as the willow-herb, meadow-saffron, coltsfoot, etc., on account of the flowers appearing before the leaves or because of some other peculiarity.

  See Britten & Holland Dict. Engl. Plant-names 442.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, I. li. 74. The second [= red willow herb] is called of some … Filius ante Patrem, that is to say, the sonne before the father.

1597.  Gerarde, Herball, I. lxxxii. 131. The Latins thought this a fit name for it Filius ante Patrem: and we accordingly may call it, the Sonne before the Father.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 65/1. The Son before the Father, so called of some Herbalists.

1825.  Jamieson, Suppl., Son-afore-the-father, Common Coltsfoot.

1869.  N. & Q., 4th Ser. III. 35/1. Ibid., 91/1.

  b.  Son-of-the-sun, the frigate-bird.

1895.  Lydekker, Roy. Nat. Hist., IV. 287. The frigate-bird, which has received the title of the Son-of-the-sun, is one of the most swift and active of all pelagic birds.

  9.  attrib., as son-spouse, -worship.

1850.  Thackeray, Pendennis, xxxvi. Son-worship amongst mothers.

1897.  Q. Rev., July, 69. The Great Goddess of Asia, attended by her mystic Son-spouse.

  Son, obs. form of SOUND sb., SUN sb.