[f. prec.]
† 1. So as to be squared (by multiplication). Obs.
1557. Recorde, Whetst., E ij. And so moche doth 15 make, being multiplied square.
† 2. Steadily, copiously. Obs.
1570. B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., iv. 47 b. Foure dayes long they tipple square, & feede and neuer reast.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. ii. 198. Iosephus reporteth that by making an Ambassador to tipple square whom his enemies had sent unto him, he wrested all his secrets out of him.
1608. Armin, Nest Ninn., G 3. Hee … got downe into the Seller, and fell to it tipple square, till he was lost, and quite drunck.
3. Fairly, honestly; in a straightforward or direct manner. In later use slang or colloq.
1577–82. Breton, Toyes of an Idle Head, Wks. (Grosart), I. 29/1. If that Coggers all were barde,… And euery Gamster would play square: Then some men would hope well to fare.
1661. Feltham, Resolves, II. xlii. 266. Nature implants a Moral Justice, which, unperverted, will deal square.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 324. I never thought of selling anything but tins. How could I, if I wished to do the thing square and proper?
1883. J. T. Trowbridge, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 212/1.
| He’ll wonder what sort of a beast I be, | |
| When I tell him square out how it seemed to me, | |
| What a blamed, ridickelous, fool’s idee | |
| That I should forgive a debtor! |
1891. H. Herman, His Angel, 140. ‘I reckon the boy means square,’ muttered the old man.
Comb. 1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 8. The old fellows … were what I should call very decent square-dealing men.
b. colloq. Solidly, without reserve.
1867. F. W. Newman, in Sieveking, Mem. (1909), ix. 198. N. C. comes out ‘square’ for the Republican party.
c. colloq. Properly, in correct form.
1889. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xxviii. Here they were married, all square and regular, by the Scotch clergyman.
4. So as to be square; in a rectangular form or position; directly in line or in front.
1631. Chapman, Cæsar & Pompey, III. i. Free minds, like dice, fall square whate’er the cast.
1678. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 66. Two edges of two boards, when thus shot, ly so exactly flat and square upon one another, that light will not be discerned betwixt them. Ibid. (1683), Printing, x. ¶ 9. The upper-sides of the Holes in the Iron Plates being square Bored.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., The Dwarf. The German stood square in the most unaccommodating posture that can be imagined.
1821. Lamb, Elia, I. Old Benchers. He walked burly and square.
1852. Hawthorne, Blithedale Rom., xxiv. Logs … piled up square.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xvi. ‘Well, cousin, are you ready to go to meeting?’ said Miss Ophelia, turning square about on St. Clare.
5. At right angles. Freq. const. to, with, etc.
1680. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 213. To cut straight down all the way; that is, to cut it square down at right Angles with the outside of the Work.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Roof, Sometimes the roof,… instead of terminating in a Ridge or Angle,… is cut square off at a certain Heighth.
1792. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 337. In a position square with the streets.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., s.v. Gun, The carriage … must be cast loose, and trained athwart-ship, square with the ship’s sides.
1847. Infantry Man. (1854), 74. Pivot men … face square into the new direction.
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 61. You’ll find a path going square off to the right.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., xix. 332. The shadows of objects are distorted when the light does not fall square upon their surfaces.
