[f. STAND v. + -ING2.] I. That stands upright or on end.
1. Of a person, an animal, a statue: That keeps an upright stationary position on the feet. † Also rarely of the limb used. Also fig.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 86. The standing image which he hath set in ye Oratorie pulpit.
1611. Bible, Lev. xxvi. 1. Ye shall make you no Idoles…, neither reare you vp a standing image.
1714. Parkyns, Inn-Play (ed. 2), 55. Throw your Lockt Leg against his standing Toe. Ibid. Hop full forwards with your standing Leg.
1899. Marg. Benson & Gourlay, Temple of Mut, i. 8. Two colossal standing statues are pitched forward on their shoulders.
absol. a. 1300. Cursor M., 27581. We may see bitide and ofsise Þe standand rall, the falland rise.
b. slang. (See quots.)
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Budge, Standing-Budge, the Thieves Scout or Perdu.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 102. An elderly man … stood up to speak on behalf of the ‘paper-workers’ ‘flying-stationers’ and ‘standing-patterers.’
1859. Hotten’s Slang Dict., 101. Standing patterers, men who take a stand on the curb of a public thoroughfare, and deliver prepared speeches to effect a sale of any articles they have to vend.
c. said of posture.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. vi. v. And we … endeavoured to talk gallantly in a standing posture.
d. transf. Of an action: Performed in a standing posture.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. (1836), I. 324. Sometimes he [Jesus] sendeth me out a standing drink, and whispereth a word through the wall.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 243. That Warr … sometimes on firm ground A standing fight, then soaring on main wing Tormented all the Air.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxviii. 284. Now, with incessant labor and standing-hauls, she moved at a snail’s pace.
1870. Mil. Engineering (1879), I. II. ix. § 110. The mode of executing the sap … is done in two ways, called kneeling sap, and standing sap, from the attitude in which the leading sapper works.
2. Of vegetation: That stands erect (in growth); growing (as distinguished from cut, felled or laid low by a storm or the like).
1382. Wyclif, Hos. viii. 7. A stondynge stalk is not in hem.
1535. Coverdale, Judg. xv. 5. And thus he brent ye stoukes and the stondinge corne.
1625. Massinger, New Way, II. i. I’le make my men breake ope his fences, Ride o’re his standing corne.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., cxii. When rolling Thunders roar, And sheets of Lightning blast the standing Field.
1707. Mortimer, Husb., 427. I suppose I shall be asked how, in a standing Wood, I could carry the Path so streight.
1807. P. Gass, Jrnl., 131. The hills come close in upon the banks of it, covered thick with standing timber and fallen trees.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. ii. 19. It was found advantageous to sell the standing grass.
b. (See quots.)
1884. W. Miller, Plant-n., 208. Ipomopsis elegans. Standing Cypress.
1891. Century Dict., Standing-cypress, a common biennial garden-flower, Gilia coronopifolia (Ipomopsis elegans), native in the southern United States.
3. Of an inanimate thing: That stands up, upright, or on end; that is set in a vertical position. Also occas. standing-up.
a. 1539. Cartul. Abb. de Rievalle (Surtees), 339. Other iij wyndows wt a standyng bar in euery wyndow and iii crosse barres.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, XI. xxix. 341. Standing lines are called those lower right lines of euery parallelipipedon which ioyne together the angles of the vpper and nether bases of the same body.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 274. What is like thee? You Tailors yard,… you vile standing tucke.
1611. Rowlands, Knave of Hearts (1612), B 3. Let vs haue standing Collers, in the fashion.
1846. Fairholt, Costume (1885), II. 157. The fall … not being so readily put out of order as the large standing-lace ruff, inasmuch as it reposed on the shoulders.
1853. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour (1893), 9. His waistcoats … were … made with good honest standing-up stiff collars.
† b. Standing strake. Naut. (See quot. 1644.)
a. 1618. Raleigh, Royal Navy, 12. We are forced to lye at trye with our maine Course and Missen, which with a deep keel and standing streake she will performe.
1644. Manwayring, Seamans Dict., 102. Some ships are built, with a standing strake, or two, that is, when there is the whole bredth of a planck or two, rising from the keele, before they come to the floare timbers.
c. Standing pillars: the door posts of a carriage.
1837. W. B. Adams, Carriages, 88. In the central portion of the bottom sides are framed the door posts, called ‘standing pillars.’
1912. H. J. Butler, Motor Bodies, 14. The toe of the front standing pillar is an instance where symmetry of outline has been studied rather than actual strength of timber required.
d. Remaining erect; not fallen or overthrown. † Also, Already erected.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 24 May 1695. We made a report of the state of Greenwich House, and how the standing part might be made serviceable at present for £6,000 and what ground would be requisite for the whole design.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., v. [All] were killed in defending the castle; and there is not a burning hearth or a standing stone in all Glen-houlakin.
1892. P. Lindley, Tourist-Guide to Continent (new ed.), 36. Broken flights of steps ascend … into yet standing fragments of the keep.
4. Having a foot or feet, a base, or a stem and base upon which to stand, esp. in standing bowl, cup, nut (see NUT sb.1 2), piece (of plate). Obs. exc. Hist.
1420. in E. E. Wills (1882), 46. A stondyng cuppe of seluer y-clepyd a chales cuppe. Ibid. (1424), 57. Also I wull þat Anneys my doughter haue þe standing pece þat was my faders, keuered.
1459. Paston Lett., I. 470. Item, ij. stondyng candilstikkes. Ibid., 486. Item, ij. staundyng aundyris.
1594. Greene & Lodge, Looking Gl. (1598), D 3 b. Fetch me that sweet wine,… Powre it into a standing bowle of gold.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXIII. xii. II. 483. A broad goblet or standing peece there was of his making.
1608. Shaks., Per., II. iii. 65. Say wee drinke this standing boule of wine to him.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxxiv. There was neither mazer-dish nor standing-cup upon the little table.
1843. Pugin, Apol. Rev. Chr. Archit., 51 b. On the step, two high standing candlesticks for consecration tapers. Ibid. On the right side of the altar—… A standing altar cross.
1871. A. Nesbitt, Catal. Slade Coll. Glass, 70. Blue Standing Cup.
5. Of a piece of furniture: That rests upon its base when set up for use (as distinguished from ‘hanging’ or ‘leaning’). Standing ladder = stepladder.
1485. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 29. A grete, new, standyng almerye with iij levys.
1503. Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls (Bundle 62, no. 7). I standyng cuppord.
1527. in Archæologia, XXXVI. 223. Item too standyng deskes, too reide lessons off.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. vii. A kind of wooden machine,… formed like a standing ladder.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), xx. ii. A standing screen which perpetually belies its name.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple, lii. I miss my regular watch very much … and I don’t much fancy a standing bed-place…. Nothing like a hammock, after all.
† b. Standing bed (or bedstead): a high bedstead, as distinguished from a truckle-bed. Obs.
1485. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 28. In the Cheffe Chaumbre a standyng bed, made with estrychborde.
1588. Lanc. Wills (1857), II. 75. The great standinge bedd wth the wheele bedd under yt in the greate chamber.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. v. 7. There’s his Chamber, his House, his Castle, his standing-bed and truckle-bed.
1624. in Archaeologia, XLVIII. 138. In the childrens chamber, a standing and a trundle bedsteed.
6. Naval Arch. Of a bevel or bevelling: Forming an angle greater than a right angle; obtuse.
1754. M. Murray, Shipbuilding, in Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v. Bevelling, But if the timber is not hewed square … [and] if a square be applied to it, there will be wood wanting either at the upper or lower side…. When the wood is deficient at the under-side, it is called under-bevelling; and when it is deficient in the upper side, it is called standing-bevelling.
1874. Thearle, Naval Archit., I. iv. § 44. 53. Their bevelings are always standing, or greater than a right angle.
II. That remains at rest or in a fixed position.
7. Of water, a piece of water: Still, not ebbing or flowing, stagnant; also rarely of air.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. liv. (1495), 487. In dyches is … bothe rennynge and stondynge water.
c. 1400. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 79. Þay ar vnhelfull, as þes stondyng waters.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 285/2. Lake, or stondynge watur, lacus.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., V. ii. Noisome parbreak of the Stygian snakes, which fills the nooks of hell with standing air.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 89. There are a sort of men, whose visages Do creame and mantle like a standing pond.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., I. 137. The standing Lake soon floats into a Floud.
1787. Best, Angling (ed. 2), 5. But eels never breed in standing waters that are without springs.
1831. Brewster, Optics, iv. 33. If we suppose the surface BB′ to be that of standing water, placed horizontally.
fig. 1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 168. Tis with him in standing water, betweene boy and man.
1874. L. Stephen, Hours in Library (1892), II. iii. 71. Coleridge … threw a great stone into the standing pool of contemporary thought.
b. Mining. (See quots.)
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 238. Standing Fire. A fire in a mine continuing to smoulder for a long time. Ibid., Standing Gas. A body of fire-damp known to exist in a mine, though fenced off.
† 8. Stiff, rigid. a. Of a limb or member of the body. Also rarely of the eyes: Projecting. [? After L. stantes oculi, Ovid, Fasti, VI. 133.] Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 216. Ase byeþ þe fole wyfmen þet guoþ mid stondinde nhicke.
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xv. [Good wolf-hounds should have] stondyng eeres and sharpe aboue.
1649. Bp. Reynolds, Hosea, iv. 79. A hollow and standing eye.
† b. Cookery. Of a stiff consistency (as distinguished from ‘running.’ Obs.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum (1862), 14. But loke þat hit be not to þyn, But stondand.
c. 1440. Anc. Cookery, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 431. Thyck hit with floure of rys, that hit be welle stondynge.
9. Of a thing: At a standstill. Of a machine, tool, or the like: Not in operation.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomenclator, 337. Æquilibrium,… standing weight: euen weight.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 695. Ixion … leans attentive on his standing Wheel.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 237. Standing. Not at work, not going forward, idle. Ibid., 238. Standing Bobby. An exploded shot which rips the coal but does not blow the stemming out.
† b. Standing quoin. (See quots.) Obs.
1626. [see CANTING ppl. a.1 2.].
1696. Phillips, s.v. Coin, Standing Coins are Billets or Pipe-Stave to make the Cask fast that they cannot stir nor give way.
1711. Milit. & Sea Dict., s.v. Quoyn, The standing Quoyns, made of Barrel-Boards, about four Fingers broad.
10. That is used in a fixed position.
1634. Ir. Act 10 Chas. I., c. 14 § 1. Setting of stop-Nets, Still-Nets, or standing-Nets fixed upon posts.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 749. The pieces of ore are sometimes merely stirred about with a shovel, in a trough filled with water. This is called a standing buddle.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Standing-vise.
1895. G. J. Burns, Gloss. Archit., etc., Standing waste, an overflow pipe fixed to the bottom of a cistern.
† b. Standing prick, a fixed archery target. Obs.
1468, 1541–2. [see ROVER1 1].
11. That remains in one spot; that is not moved or carried from place to place; stationary. Obs. exc. Mil. in standing camp.
1469. in Househ. Ord. (1790), 98. The estate, rule & governaunce of the seid Prince in his ridinge, beinge departed from his standing housholde.
a. 1500. in Kingsford Chron. London (1905), 189. They were servid well … and aswell seasoned mete as it had been dressed in a stondyng place.
1553–5. Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1871), II. 289. The sowme … debursit be the farmorars of the commoun mylnis … upon the standing grayth thairof.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, 2 b. The … standing watch (as we were wont to terme it) they now call after the French, or Wallons, Corps du gard.
1598. Stow, Surv., 75. Besides the standing watches all in bright harnesse in euery warde … there was also a marching watch, that passed through the principall streetes thereof.
1603. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 161. Townes they plant none, nor other standing buildings, but haue moouing houses.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXIV. xii. 258. We trusted upon our standing campe.
1642. Docq. Lett. Pat. at Oxf. (1837), 336. The Office of Keeper of his Majesties standinge Wardrobe within the Castle of Windsor.
1684. Wood, Life, July (O. H. S.), III. 102. Ralph Sheldon … spared not any mony to set up a standing library in his house at Weston.
1896. Baden-Powell, Matabele Campaign, ix. We got back to our standing camp outside the hills about mid-day.
† b. Standing house, standing mansion-house: a permanent or fixed dwelling-house; to keep, (take up one’s) standing house, to abstain from journeying. Obs.
1586. Harrison, England, II. vi. 167/2. The beere that is vsed at noble mens tables in their fixed and standing houses, is commonlie of a yeare old.
1589. Mar-Martine, A 2. Abbots were fat … The whoresons lov’de their ease, Yet standing house by them was kept.
1596. Norden, Progr. Piety (1847), 161. Having thus far proceeded … we must be forced to take up our standing house, and for a time abide in the earthly mansions of our bodies.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. IV. xviii. (1890), 234. That your Grace would settle a standing Mansion-house and Family, that Suitors may know whither to repair constantly.
1671. E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Eng., I. xiii. 203. The Yeomen of the Guard…. Their Office is to wait upon the King in his standing Houses.
† c. Taken ‘as it stands.’ Obs.
1788. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1853), II. 407. He rented a house with standing furniture, such as tables, chairs, presses, &c., and brought all other necessaries.
d. Printing. (See quots.)
1770. Luckombe, Hist. Printing, 227. Irregular Bodied Letter of the smaller sizes sometimes serves the ends of proprietors of standing and selling Copies.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., 131. Formes not distributed after printing are said to be ‘standing.’
12. That remains stationary while another part, or other parts, move.
1680. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 219. Then remove the standing point of the Compasses to either of the next Divisions … and in like manner describe another Circle.
1832. Brewster, Nat. Magic, ii. 27. The rotation should be effected round a standing axis by wheels and pinions.
1832. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry, II. 11. Dressing is to the ‘wheeling’ flank, and distance of files is preserved from the ‘standing’ flank.
1881. Greener, Gun, 266. Which process brings the breech ends of barrels nearer to the face of the standing-breech.
b. Naut. Chiefly in special collocations, as standing rigging, the fixed part of a vessel’s rigging which serves as a support for the masts and is not hauled upon, as distinguished from the running rigging; standing ropes pl., the ropes composing the standing rigging; so also in the names of various ropes and appliances, as standing backstay, block, bowsprit, etc.; standing part (of a rope, sheet, etc.), that end of a thing which is made fast as distinguished from the end, hauled upon.
a. 1625. Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301), Standing roapes.
1642. H. Bond, Boatswain’s Art, 3. 2 Lanniards of the Spritsaile standing Lifts.
1644. Manwayring, Seamans Dict., s.v., The standing parts are those parts of running roapes (or rather that end of a running roape) which is made fast to any part of the ship, to distinguish it from the other part, whereon we use to hale. Ibid., Standing roapes, are counted all those roapes … which are not used to be removed, or to run in any blocks.
1745. Observ. conc. Navy, 64. Every Ship should have her standing Masts constantly in and rigg’d, with her Booms and Stores aboard, sufficient to compleat her other Rigging.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. v. 56. The other ships of the squadron fixed new standing rigging.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L. (1793), § 143. We fixed the standing block to the stern timbers of our vessel,… bringing the chain along the deck to the moveable purchase block.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 25. Ropes extended from the … mast heads, to the after part of each channel for the support of these masts. They are distinguished by the name of Standing-Backstays. Ibid., 173. A large sail extended on the jib-stay to the extremity of … the jib-boom…. It gets the name of the standing-jib, in contradistinction to the flying-jib.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk. Standing Bowsprit, one that is fixed permanently in its place, not the running in bowsprit of a cutter.
1874. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., vi. (1875), 214. Sling a dipping lug 1/3 from the foremost yard-arm; standing lug 1/4.
III. That stands or continues.
13. Continuing without diminution or change; constant, permanent. Of colors: Permanent, unfading.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Peter), 22. Peter of ‘petra’ may be tane … for men may a stane neuir bow;… and þis petir, a-beove þe lafe, a stannand luf to criste can hafe.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VI. 292. Pitching our Tents beside a source or standing Well.
1646. Jenkyn, Remora, 16. A transient thought, becomes not a standing and a permanent mercy.
1716. Addison, Freeholder, No. 22, ¶ 2. The Landlord … worked up his complexion to a standing crimson by his zeal for the prosperity of the church.
1791. Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. I. II. iv. 200. This ground being a standing dye is not removed by the proof.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. iii. His age, which was of that standing middle sort you could only guess at.
1900. ‘R. Guthrie,’ Kitty Fagan, 183. Broon an’ black, good stan’in’ colours!
† b. Math. = CONSTANT a. 5. Obs.
1743. W. Emerson, Fluxions, 4. The first Letters of the Alphabet, a, b, c, &c. are … put for standing Quantities; and the last, x, y, z, &c. for variable or flowing Quantities.
† c. Of a work of art or literature: Enduring, ‘standard.’ Obs.
1698. W. Wotton, in Evelyn’s Mem. (1857), III. 372. I had almost forgotten to thank you for your honourable mention of my poor performances in so standing a work.
1710. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. IV. iii. 144. The standing Pieces of good Artists must be form’d after a more uniform way.
† d. Standing measure: a standard of measurement. Obs.
1668. Dryden, Ess. Dram. Poesie, 8. It was necessary, before they proceeded further, to take a standing measure of their Controversie.
1691. Locke, Lowering of Interest, Wks. 1714, II. 20. The value of any thing, compar’d with its self, or with a standing Measure. Ibid., 23. Supposing Wheat a standing Measure, that is, that there is constantly the same Quantity of it in Proportion to its vent.
14. a. Of employment, income, wages, prices, etc.: Fixed, settled, not casual, fluctuating, or occasional.
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 190. He payand … ȝerly to ws of standand male xlb of vsuale mone.
a. 1530. J. Heywood, Play Weather (1533), D ij b. I know not what god geueth in standynges fees [? read with ed. 1565 standyng fees] But the deuyls seruauntes haue casweltees A hundred tymes mo then goddes seruauntes haue.
1549. Thomas, Hist. Italie, 5. Many of theim [sc. artificers] liue as well as they that haue standyng liuinges.
1622. Pursuit Hist. Lazarillo (1672), T 3. To hear her … threaten with such arrogancy, a man would have thought she had given me … thirty duckets a year standing wages.
1670. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 468. My standing allowance from Michaelmas last till Christmas.
1730. Lett. to Sir W. Strickland rel. to Coal Trade, 19. Keeping a Fleet in standing Pay.
1901. Macm. Mag., April, 455/1. There are some booksellers who have no standing-price for their wares, but rate them according to what they think each customer will give.
b. of attributes.
1640. Bp. Reynolds, Passions, ii. Wks. (1658), 899. The Bias of Mens desires are often turned, by reason of some sudden or emergent Occurrences, contrary to the standing temper and complexion of the body.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1709), 125. ’Tis true, a Man cannot command the standing Features and Complexion; but the Diversities of Passion are under Disposal.
1835. Sterling, in Carlyle, Life, II. ii. (1872), 98. Under this head, of language, may be mentioned … two standing characteristics of the Professor’s style.
15. That continues in existence or operation; that continues to be (what the noun specifies); that does not pass away.
Standing order (Parliament): see quot. 1844. Standing order, rule (Mil.): see quot. 1802.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, I. v. § 3. He layes this down as a standing rule among them.
1686. Horneck, Crucif. Jesus, xiv. 326. The very Heathens … made it a standing maxim. That the Gods sold all their gifts for labour and industry.
1682. Shadwell, Medal John Bayes, 3. Thou never mak’st, but art a standing Jest.
1710. Burton, Truth’s Triumph, ii. 42. The Decisions of Judges … are made the standing Rules.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 583. The standing Order of the House, made Jan. 16, 1735, for restraining the Counsel at the Bar of that House … from offering Evidence.
1754. Sherlock, Disc. (1759), I. x. 275. These are the standing Proofs of the Being and Goodness of God.
1780. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xix. § 15. It is a standing topic of complaint.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 110. Then God’s own image on the soul impress’d Becomes a mock’ry, and a standing jest.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., s.v. March F ff 3/1. It is a standing rule in column, that every regiment should march with the same front, that the regiment does which precedes it. Ibid., s.v. Order, Standing Orders, certain general rules and instructions which are to be invariably followed, and are not subject to the temporary intervention of rank.
1844. May, Parlt., II. vii. 131. Both houses have agreed, at various times, to standing orders, for the permanent guidance and order of their proceedings; which, if not vacated or rescinded, endure from one Parliament to another, and are of equal force in all.
1859. Mill, Liberty, ii. 40. The beliefs … have no safeguard to rest on, but a standing invitation to the whole world to prove them unfounded.
1864. C. Knight, Passages Work. Life, I. i. 109. This is the standing joke nightly repeated.
1869. Tyndall, in Fortn. Rev., Feb., 237. The two great standing enigmas of meteorology—the colour of the sky, and the polarization of its light.
1874. L. Stephen, Hours in Library (1892), II. ii. 39. Burke was … a standing refutation of the theory.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 42/1. By referring to what is still the standing authority upon the question.
† b. Standing lottery, one that remains open and undrawn for a specified long period. Obs.
1615. Capt. Smith, Virginia, IV. 117. We manifested our intents, to haue drawn out the great standing Lottery long before this.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 207. There are two manner of Lotaries, namely, Standing Lotaries, and Running Lotaries; the first limitted for a continuance of time to bee drawne at the end thereof, without intermission by day and night; the latter to bee drawne daily.
† c. Of a building: Permanent, not temporary.
1624. Issues Exchequer Jas. I. (1836), 294. For making divers new ridings within his Majesty’s park at Theobalds,… making of standing bridges, levelling of ground [etc.].
16. Habitually used; stock. Standing dish: see DISH sb. 2 b. † Of clothing or trappings: Ordinarily worn, ‘everyday.’
1492. in Bury Wills (Camden), 75. My best stondyng gowne furred wt bever.
1533. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VI. 178. To be standing housouris to the grete hors, xviij elnis braid gray. Ibid. (1547), VIII. 23. Item,… To be standing howsis to the Kingis grace hors, lxxxiiij elnis thre quarteris braid gray.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., II. vi. He hath shift of names, sir: some call him Apple-John, some signior Whiffe; marry, his maine standing name is Cavalier Shift.
1667. O. Heywood, Heart-Treasure, i. 7. A plain allusion to an housekeepers old store, which makes a daily standing dish.
1705. Addison, Italy, Venice, 101. There are Four Standing Characters that enter into every Piece that comes on the Stage, the Doctor, Harlequin, Pantalone and Coviello.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 12, ¶ 11. He had a standing elegy and epithalamium, of which only the first and last leaves were varied.
1776. R. Twiss, Tour Irel., 37. Potatoes, which form a standing dish at every meal.
1861. T. A. Trollope, La Beata, II. xv. 148. He was fain to plead the standing excuse of a bad headache.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, ii. (1870), 31. The standing appellations of the army in the Iliad are these three, Danaoi, Argeioi, and Achaioi.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. App. 641. ‘Feri’ seems to be a standing epithet for all Saxons.
17. Permanently and authoritatively fixed or set up; stated, established, organized, regular.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Gal. v. 3–4. Whoso is content to receyue circumcision, muste lykewise therwith receyue sacrifices … standing fasting dayes, with suche other lyke.
1563. Homilies, II. Place & Time of Prayer, I. N nn j. The godly Christian people … began to chose them a standyng day in the weke, to come together in.
1578. in Househ. Ord. (1790), 250. Thirty standing posts appointed 18. 5. 0.
1609. in Reg. Secret Comm. Post Office, App. (1844), 42. In … Kent, where the stages of our standing posts, are now established and appointed.
1649. Milton, Eikon., vi. 58. Which not onely the general Maxims of Policy gainsay, but eev’n our own standing Laws.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 23 April 1661. [There followed, at the Coronation] Masters of standing offices being no Councellors.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 269. This standing, unalterable, fundamental government would make … that territory truly and properly an whole.
1842. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 29. 318. The Schools of the Prophets, and a standing Prophetic Order,… were formally established by Samuel.
1846. Grote, Greece (1862), II. xx. 493. A standing caravan commerce with Phenicia.
b. Of a legislative, administrative, or other body: Permanently constituted.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Counsel (Arb.), 329. I commend also standing Commissions; As for Trade; for Treasure.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 10 March 1671. To London about passing my patent as one of the standing Council for Plantations.
1735. Bolingbroke, Parties, 37. A standing Parliament, or the same Parliament long continued, changes the very Nature of the Constitution.
1739. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 217. A common form of Christian worship … with a standing ministry of instruction and discipline.
1810. Bentham, Packing (1821), 155. In packing into a standing Board a set of dependent Commissioners.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. III. v. Five Judges; a standing Jury…: they are subject to no Appeal.
1906. H. Montgomery & Cambray, Dict. Polit. Phr., 72/1. Standing or Grand Committees [of the House of Commons]. Two in number were set up in 1883. One, the Standing Committee on Law…. The other, the Standing Committee on Trade.
c. Of troops, etc.: Maintained on a permanent footing; esp. in standing army: see ARMY 3 b.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 235. He kept alwaies a standing army of forty thousand horse, and threescore thousand foot.
1655. Clarke Papers (Camden), III. 24. Commissions for raiseing of horse and foote, which are to bee in the nature of a standing Militia.
1673. Temple, Observ. United Prov., i. 22. The States first refused to raise any more moneys either for the Spaniards pay, or their own standing-Troops.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 9 Nov. 1685. The King in his speech required the continuance of a standing force instead of a militia.
1732. Swift, Beast’s Confess. (1738), 17. ’Twas known … That, Standing Troops were his Aversion.
1734. Pope, Sat., II. ii. 154. My Life’s amusements have been just the same, Before, and after, Standing Armies came.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, xxxviii. V. 55. He kept a standing army of 6000 mercenaries in his pay.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. vi. 512. The standing navy of England consisted of Sixteen ships.
d. Of an official: Holding permanent office.
1656. Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 159. That there should be a standing treasurer.
1658. R. Parr, Judges Charge, 31. Sirs, you that are the standing Magistrates of the County, will it be for your honour (think you) to give license to such [Tipling-houses]?
1659. Wood, Life, 11 Feb. (O.H.S.), I. 268. Nath. Crew … brought … a petition, to present to the parliament against standing Visitors in the university.
1809. Lond. Chron., 15 July, 50/3. An opinion which the Court of Directors had taken upon the subject from the Attorney and Solicitor General, and their standing Counsel, Mr. Adam.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Standing Warrants, those officers who remain with a ship in ordinary, or on the stocks, as the gunner, carpenter, boatswain, and cook, and till 1814 the purser.
1885. Law Rep. 15 Q. B. D. 374. A solicitor is not a standing agent for one who has been or may be his client, to receive [etc.].
† e. U.S. (See quot. 1911). Obs.
1861. Contrib. Eccl. Hist. Connecticut, 253. There arose a class of churches … which though purely Congregational in their principles and practices were not in fellowship with the churches of ‘the standing order.’
1911. Webster, Standing order,… the denomination established by law;—a term formerly used in Connecticut of the Congregational Church, the State church until 1818.
† IV. 18. predicatively. Consistent with. Obs.
1511–2. Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 23 § 5. It is not convenient nor standing with good … ordre that [etc.].
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 77. The oratours … wer buisie enough to speake thynges standyng with right & justice. Ibid., 288 b. Thy dooynges o Cato dooen more nere approche vnto the spirite of prophecie, but myne are muche better standyng with frendeship.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1909), 34. But such stubburnesse … is not standing with Iustice.
Hence † Standingly adv., as a regular thing.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 460. They used to pray, at the third, the sixth, the ninth houre,… standingly, besides other times and houres occasionally.
