Forms: see STILL a. [OE. stille = OS., OHG. stillo (MDu., MHG., mod.G. stille, Du. stil, Sw. stilla, Da. stille):—OTeut. type *stillō, related to *stilljo- STILL a.]
† 1. Without noise or commotion; quietly, silently; in a low voice, softly. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 735. Riht al swo stille stelen swa we wolden.
a. 1225. Juliana (Royal MS.), 36. Heo … stille bute stefne þus to criste cleopede.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 325. Winmon weped … lude and stille, for to vordrye hire wille. Ibid. (a. 1275), B. 653. Þe bicche bitit ille þau[h] [printed þan] he berke stille.
a. 1300. Havelok, 2997. Seye a pater-noster stille, For him þat haueth þe rym[e] maked.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 15852. Brian stirt forþ in hure weye, & stille seide þat he wolde seye.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., I. (1495), 2. Yf I played in felde other medes Stylle other wyth noys I prayed helpe in all my dedes.
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 263 b/1. He sayd thus to hym self alle stylle.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, I. liv. D j b. By whyche meane, the streame beneth wyl ronne more gently and styll.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 267 b. That they myght go styll and closely to their enemies campe.
† b. Secretly. Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2015. One and stille ðoȝt hire gamen wið ioseph speken and plaiȝen samen. Ibid., 2718. And moyses druȝ him to ðe strond, And stille he dalf him [in] ðe sond.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 287 (Camb. MS.). Þu schalt wiþ me to bure gon, To speke wiþ Rymenhild stille.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 71. [He] held the spek preue and still.
† c. Still and loud: both in secret and openly; under all circumstances: = loud and still, LOUD adv. 1 b.
[a. 1250: see 1.]
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 944. Þat al he … mis-doþ his neiȝebours boþe stille and loud.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7532. Fair-Welcoming … That ofte hath pleyed with you … The fairest games … Withoute filthe, stille or loude.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, III. v. (1554), 73. Among the people, both still and loude, He called was Tarquinius the proude.
2. At rest, motionless; without change of place or attitude. With certain verbs. (In ME. often in alliterative phrase still as stone, stone still; in mod.Eng. occas. stock still.)
For the justification for treating the word in this use as adv. rather than as adj. complement, see note to STILL a. 1.
a. To stand still. Sometimes merely a more explicit synonym of the vb. STAND in senses 4, 27 and 32.)
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., III. 262. Seo sunne stod stille.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2137. All swa summ þe steoressmann Aȝȝ lokeþþ till an steorrne, Þatt stannt aȝȝ still upp o þe lifft & swiþe brihhte shineþþ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8188. Þe strem all still began to stand.
c. 1300. Leg. Gregory (Schulz), 401. Gregorij stod stille so ston.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xii. 50. It rynnes noȝt, ne nowþer ebbez ne flowez, bot standez ay still.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 132. A tree hath a propertye to growe to a certayne heyght, and whan he commeth to that heyghte, he standeth styll.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xx. 32. Then Iesus stode styll, and called them.
1533. More, Answ. Poysoned Bk., Wks. 1062/1. How the running riuer of Jordane stode still.
1548. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. III. i. 134. Ye other ij Aldermen … which then shall remayne and stond still in the seyd office.
1577. Kendall, Flowers of Epigr., Trifles, 10 b. The Bowe that bended standeth still, his strength will loose and lack.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., civ. So your sweete hew, which me thinkes still doth stand Hath motion, and mine eye may be deceaued.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 740. The Ship stood still, and neither stirred forward or backwards.
1662. Playford, Skill Mus., III. (1672), 15. When your Bass standeth still (that is to say, hath two or more Notes together in one and the same place).
1668. R. Steele, Husbandm. Calling, iii. (1672), 30. If God’s providence above, and his plough below stand still, we must all shortly beg or starve.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 129, ¶ 1. A Clock that stands still is sure to point right once in twelve Hours. Ibid. (1712), No. 407, ¶ 1. Our Preachers stand stock still in the Pulpit.
1766. Goldsm., Vicar, x. One of the horses took it into his head to stand still.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, lxiv. I paused, and my heart stood still.
1858. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIX. I. 193. This shoot becomes a worthless tree … which after a few years’ growth stands still.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 32. Many people seem to think that the world stands still while they are away, or at dinner, or ill.
1877. Miss A. B. Edwards, Up Nile, xii. 317. Time seems to have stood as still as in that immortal palace where everything went to sleep for a hundred years.
b. To sit, lie still. (See the senses of the verbs.)
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 438. Hire swuster Maria sæt stille æt Drihtnes fotum.
c. 1200. Ormin, 5839. Forr leness whellp þær þær itt iss Whellpedd, tær liþ itt stille.
c. 1205. Lay., 3060. Þus seide þe mæiden … & seoððen set swþe stille.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 282. Me is leof to habbe reste And sitte stille in myne neste.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 243. To deþe he sset his owe fader þat he lai þer stille.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20509. Sittes stell now mar and lesse, And hers now þes mirines.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 492. The lady of the hous al stille sat, Til she had herd what the frere sayde.
c. 1460. Metham, Wks. (E.E.T.S.), 60/1617. But Cleopes for fere lay ston stylle.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 247. In that same hous thai socht him beselye; Bot he sat still, and span full conandly.
1530. Palsgr., 719/1. I syt styll, I remove nat, je ne me bouge. Let every man syt styll on payne of his lyfe.
1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 171. Kyng Henry … perceyving that the duke of Yorke lay still, and made no open apparance, of assemble or commocion, returned.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 56. Folke saie, better syt styll than ryse and fall.
1611. Bible, Zech. i. 11. And behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
1671. Milton, P. R., III. 164. And think’st thou to regain Thy right by sitting still or thus retiring?
1688. Bunyan, Heavenly Footman (1886), 182. He that backslideth, and he that sitteth still in sin.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 50, ¶ 7. This lazy People sat still above three hours.
1859. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 7. I rose at six, tired of lying still.
1901. Sir Redvers Buller, in Scotsman, 11 Oct., 5/8. I said … ‘He is a gallant fellow; he will sit still to the end.’
† c. With other verbs, as abide, dwell. Obs.
In the 15–16th c. quots. there is a transition to senses 3, 4.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 368. Dwelle ȝyt with me a woke stylle.
13[?]. Seuyn Sages (W.), 1533. The child bileft still in prisoun.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2746. In purgatori saules dueles stille Until þai be clensed of alle ille.
c. 1393. Chaucer, Scogan, 39. That rustyth in myn schede stylle in pes.
1393. Regist. Aberbrothoc (Bannatyne Club), II. 43. Of the xxxv marcis v marcis sal dwel style in the abbotis hand … quhillys the quer be thekyt and alurryt al abowyt with stane.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. xxxvi. (1495), 435. The vulture huntyth fro mydday to nyght and restyth styl fro the sonne rysinge to that tyme.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 1960. I pray yow for to dwel her still.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 25. Be it [a bandage] festned fast to þe girdel vpon þe womb, and lat it abide so stille to þe tyme come þat it be eft-sones remoued.
c. 1430. How Gd. Wijf tauȝte hir Douȝtir, 140, in Babees Bk. Wheþer þat þei dwelle stille or þei wende awey.
1526. Tindale, John xi. 6. Then aboode he two dayes still in the same place where he was.
1554. Interl. Youth (Waley), B j b. Let him come if he will, He were better to bide styll.
1560. Nice Wanton (facs.), C ij. Where it groweth strong there wil it abide stil.
3. With reference to action or condition: Without change, interruption or cessation; continually, constantly; on every occasion, invariably; always. Obs. exc. poet.
c. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5645. He broȝte hom alle to is wille, And hor olde seruage made hom holde al stille.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 337. In tokne … That sche schal duelle a maiden stille.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 649. Except candyl vppon candylmes day, the whyche the seyd mynchyns shul haue stylle.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xv. 58. Fame … hath … tonges … that speken stylle without ceasse.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. lx. 11. Thy gates shal stonde open still both day and night. Ibid. (1535), Eccl. i. 4. One generacion passeth awaye, another commeth, but the earth abydeth still [1611 for ever].
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 12 b. Delius … was called a cunnyng swymmer that could kepe hym selfe styll above water without perill of drounyng.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, II. lxviii. L vij b. It is not conuenient ne yet necessary to vse one espye styll.
1549. Latimer, Ploughers (Arb.), 21. That plough God woulde haue styll going.
1570. Levins, Manip., 124/5. Stil, iugiter.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., III. (1586), 154. They learne to liue as if they were still at the point to dye.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cxxvi. She may detaine, but not still keepe her tresure!
1613. Day, Festiv., Serm., vii. (1615), 20. How beit the Maister cannot still be at home, the Mistresse may.
1617. Brathwait, Smoking Age, 194, marg. Thus haue I prov’d Tobacco good or ill; Good, if rare taken; Bad, if taken still.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Ordinary, I. ii. (1651), 6. Woman was Not made to be alone still.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. v. 19. 48 Miles above the Earth … There is never no Rain, Dew, Hail, Snow, or Wind, but still a clear serenity.
c. 1680. Beveridge, Serm. (1729), I. 114. Thus it is that God still governs and orders every thing in the world.
1704. Trapp, Abra-Mulé, II. i. 494. His past Reign, which still has been attended With one continu’d Series of Misfortunes.
1704. Pope, Diss. Past. Poetry, § 10. Spenser’s … Stanza is not still the same, nor always well chosen.
1737. Doddridge, Hymn, Oh God of Bethel, by whose Hand Thine Israel still is fed.
1763. Goldsm., Introd. Nat. Hist., Misc. Wks. (1837), II. 517. The rook, if undisturbed, would never leave its native wood, the blackbird still frequents its accustomed hedge.
1766. Reid, Lett., in Wks. 1863, I. 44/1. But you must direct them [workmen] in everything, and be still over the work.
1781. Burns, 1st Ps., 8. The man … Who … with humility and awe Still walks before his God.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., xvii. (1882), 171. The unmeaning repetitions … which an unfurnished … understanding interposes at short intervals in order to keep hold of his subject, which is still slipping from him.
1819. Scott, Noble Moringer, xxii. God rest the Baron in his grave, he still was kind to me!
1864. Anster, 2nd Pt. Faust, I. 23. You never can get fools to understand How luck and merit still go hand in hand.
1865. Swinburne, Atalanta, 30. Howbeit these … Devise new things and good, not one thing still.
† b. Still still: on every occasion; ever more and more. Obs.
1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, Observ. for Rdrs. M 2 b. I am … constrained still still, before I am warme in any one vaine, to start away sodainely. Ibid. (1593), Christ’s T., 39 b. With example thou first exalteth them, and still still liftes them vp, till thou hast lifted vp theyr heads on thy gates. Ibid. (1594), Terrors Nt., Wks. 1904, I. 354. This slimie melancholy humor still still thickning as it stands still.
† c. Still opece (opese, opeese; corruptly off pees, a peace), continuously. (See PIECE sb. 14 b.) Obs.
There are 24 examples in Syr Generydes; otherwise the phrase occurs in our quots. only twice.
c. 1440. [see PIECE sb. 14 b].
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 933. Ȝeit still off pees the ost lugyt all nycht.
1555. Still a peace [see PIECE sb. 14 b].
† d. Still as: whenever. Obs.
a. 1656. Hales, Serm. Eton, iv. (1673), 60. A loose, but a rich fellow … was wont to walk the streets with a purse of money, and still as he met any man he would give him a box on the ear, and then a twelve-pence.
e. † Still and anon, † still an end (obs.): constantly from time to time. So Sc. still and on: ‘nevertheless, notwithstanding, yet’ (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. iv. 67. A Slaue, that still an end, turnes me to shame. Ibid. (1595), John, IV. i. 47. I … like the watchfull minutes, to the houre, Still and anon cheer’d vp the heauy time.
a. 1894. Stevenson, in Pall Mall Gaz. (1895), 21 Jan., 2/3. O still ayont the muckle sea, Still are ye dear, and dear to me, Auld Reekie, still and on!
1910. N. Munro, in Blackw. Mag., Feb., 221/1. ‘Still-and-on,’ said pawky Jamie Birrell cheerily, ‘one may have a turn of the raptures too, falling back on the affections when they’re done.’
f. With words denoting increase or progress: Ever more and more.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. vi. 18. Sir Arthegall renewed His strength still more, but she still more decrewed.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. I. Vocat., 235. All their Cattell proves, Still, still increasing like to Stares and Doves.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 74. I attended my studies seriously, the more I learnt out of my Books, adding still a desire to know more.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., III. § 6. He who thus still advanceth in Iniquity deepneth his deformed hue.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 289. All below, whether by Nature’s Curse, Or Fate’s Decree, degen’rate still to worse.
1703. Pope, Thebais, 527. Thus still his courage, with his toils encreas’d.
1779. Johnson, L. P., Dryden, Wks. II. 420. Whatever subjects employed his pen, he was still improving our measures &c.
1807. J. Barlow, Columb., I. 216. Its form unfolding as it still draws nigh.
1820. Shelley, Skylark, 10. Thou … singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.
4. Indicating the continuance of a previous action or condition.
a. Now (or at the time in question) as formerly.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale, 38. But and if Tindale wil nedis saye styll that I mocke out the Resurreccion.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 255 b. If he came to any commen plaies or open sightes, it is ye guise even yet still that reverence bee dooen to hym.
1587. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., V. 140. They take priests and other Catholics still very often; and now they begin to persecute also the schismatics.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., civ. For as you were when first your eye I eyde, Such seemes your beautie still.
1620. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 783/1. Minerallis … quhilkis hithertill hes lyin and still lyis obscure and his within the bowellis and centre of the earth.
1689. in Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875), XII. 79/2. Wee are still of the same mind quhich we did express in our former letter.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 164, ¶ 11. Their Tombs are still to be seen.
1760. Johnson, Idler, No. 100, ¶ 1. There still remain many words among us undefined.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., v. 52. But the reason is still to seek.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina, xi. (1791), I. 27. Seeing me still very much flurried, he led me to a seat.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), VIII. 462/2. The naval or rostral crown is still used with coats-of-arms.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci., III. iv. I. 207. Another writer on the same subject is Menelaus,… whose three books on Spherics still remain.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 592. Bridgewater was one of the few towns which still had some Whig magistrates.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. xi. 626. One of those harmless prejudices that still linger round the person of the sovereign.
1893. Law Times, XCIV. 559/2. In the deed the consideration was left blank, and for all I know it is blank still.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 558. The still vaguely defined and very multiform affection seborrhœa.
1906. E. V. Lucas, Wanderer in Lond., i. 14. When I first came to London, Piccadilly still had its goat.
¶ quasi-adj. That still is such. rare. Cf. NOW 16, THEN 9 b.
1879. Trollope, Thackeray, 22. The then and still owners of that happy periodical.
b. contextually. Now (or at the time in question) in contrast to the future; at present, as yet.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VII. 301. Hauing euer one Fruite ready to be plucked … and another comming forwards…, that as some Reape, some are growing greene, others budding forth, and some still in the floorish.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 5. The Jews construe it [Isa. xi. 6–8], of Christ still to come, and of his temporall Monarchy.
1766. Goldsm., Vicar, ii. I wrote a similar epitaph for my wife, though still living.
1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., xliv. A few large old trees, and many young ones still in their cages.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xxiv. 640. By sealing up the contracted aperture of the tube whilst it is still hot.
1849. Sir G. C. Lewis, Lett. (1870), 213. This is still in fieri.
1864. Meredith, Emilia, lv. He had waxed precociously philosophic, when still a junior.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ii. § 1. 62. The greater part of English soil was still utterly uncultivated.
c. After as before some point of time; in future as up to the present; further. ? Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 9. And though you receyue it not at your owne wyll, knocke styll, call on and perseuer, and you shall not mysse.
1577. Kendall, Flowers of Epigr., 104 b. Poore haue I been, and poore I am, and poore still shall I bee.
1597–8. Bacon, Ess., Regim. Health (Arb.), 56. Discerne of the comming on of yeares, and thinke not to doe the same things still.
1611. Bible, Exod. ix. 2. For if thou refuse to let them goe, and wilt hold them still, [etc.].
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 216. If it flie from thee as swift as a Roe or Hinde, yet follow the chace still.
1702. Rowe, Tamerl., IV. i. 1539. Oh! Death! thou gentle end of Human Sorrows Still must my weary Eyelids vainly wake In tedious Expectation of thy Peace.
† d. Continuously in the same direction as before; further. Obs.
1602. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 456/2. Keipand the said dyke southeist throuch Henderstoun-burne, and thairfra still southeist keipand the said dyke till it cum to the merche.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 182. Our course lay still from Swalley Road. Ibid., 186. Thence we sailed still South.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 173. To keep still on southing as well as East.
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit. (ed. 7), II. 365. Going still West, we came to Caermarthen.
e. In addition; after the apparent ending of a series; yet.
1790. Cowper, Lett., 27 Feb. P.S. … Still another P.S.
1857. Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, i. § 27. There is one thought still, the saddest of all, bearing on this withholding of early help.
5. In a further degree.
a. Used to emphasize a comparative; = yet.
1730. Lett. to Sir W. Strickland rel. to Coal Trade, 33. The Woodmongers Abuse … of a former Charter leaves still less Reason to fear they shou’d succeed.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VII. 393. But the generosity of her mind … is what stings me most. And the more still, as it is now out of my power any way … to be even with her.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., V. 50. The lower part of the neck … is covered with still smaller feathers than those on the belly and back.
1788. J. Brown, trans. Elem. Med., I. 159. The sthenic diathesis, taking place in a high degree over the whole body, but in a still higher in the vessels of the skin.
1830. Carlyle, Richter Again, Ess. 1840, II. 321. The two households stood like concave mirrors reflecting one another’s keen hunger into a still keener for both.
1832. Brewster, Nat. Magic, ix. 243. Returning to the spot next day, he heard the sound still louder than before.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 494. But already that feeling had been indicated by still stronger and more terrible signs.
1884. A. R. Pennington, Wiclif, viii. 247. He expresses himself still more strongly in his unprinted writings.
1912. J. L. Myres, Dawn of Hist., viii. 174. The Late-Minoan period is more precisely dated still.
b. Sometimes used where the comparative notion is merely implied. Now rare or Obs.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 229. The guilt beeing great, the feare doth still exceede.
1697. C’tess. D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 140. Their hands have no defect, they are little, white, and well shaped. Their large sleeves … still contribute to make them appear less.
1705. Addison, Italy, Ded. Whatever great Impressions an Englishman must have of Your Lordship, they who have been Conversant Abroad will find ’em still improv’d.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 233, ¶ 2. When thus much was obtained for him, their Minds still softened towards him.
1762. Goldsm., Nash, 47. Their mutton, butter, fish, and fowl, are all allowed to be excellent, and their cookery still exceeds their meat.
6. With adversative notion.
a. [Developed from sense 4.] After or at the same time with some event or condition implied to be adverse; even then.
a. 1699. Stillingfl., Serm., xxxvi. Wks. 1710, I. 564. If we ask, Cannot good Men differ about some things, and yet be good still? Yes.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 27, ¶ 1. While they pant after Shade and Covert, they still affect to appear in the most glittering Scenes of Life.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 212. For e’en though vanquished, he could argue still.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 22. Nothing can make such a room healthy. Ventilation would improve it, but still it would be unhealthy.
b. Quasi-conj. In spite of what has been stated or conceded; nevertheless, notwithstanding, yet. Sometimes preceded by but, or followed by however.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 7. ’Tis true, St. Giles’s buried two and thirty, but still as there was but one of the Plague, People began to be easy.
1779. Mirror, No. 66. Still, however, with all these precautions to introduce the thought in a familiar and easy manner, he is aware of her displeasure.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. ii. 67. I know well That they who love their friends most tenderly Still bear their loss the best.
1820. Milner, Suppl. Mem. Eng. Cath., 14. It is the law of nature and of the gospel that we should obey the constituted authority of the state…. Still this obedience has its limits.
1825. Macaulay, Ess., Milton, ¶ 40. Still, however, there was another extreme which, though far less dangerous, was also to be avoided.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 368. The quadrupeds, whose look, though prone, is still well suited to their form and condition.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xvii. The soul … has an interpreter—often an unconscious, but still a truthful interpreter—in the eye.
1865. Swinburne, Chastelard, I. ii. (1894), 23. The legend is writ small: Still one makes out this—Cave—if you look.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, vii. I confess I lost hope as she spoke, still I begged for an interview with the incoming teacher.
7. Comb. and quasi-Comb. When qualifying an attributive adj., the adv. is usually hyphened.
a. In sense 1, the hyphened collocations may be regarded as genuine combinations, but are rare.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. viii. 6. The people refuseth the stil-renninge water of Silo.
1897. Standard, 2 Oct., 2/2. On the banks of the still-flowing Medway.
b. In sense 3, ‘always,’ ‘ever.’
Many instances of the quasi-combination resulting from the prefixing of the adv. to an adj. or ppl. adj. occur in Shakespeare, though the hyphen is rarely used in the early edd. In the 17th and 18th c. the use was common, but confined to poetry; in the 19th c. it scarcely occurs, this sense of the adv. having become rare even in verse. See also STILL-GREEN a.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 84. In silent wonder of still gazing eyes. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 229. To fetch dewe From the still-vext Bermoothes.
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., II. ii. 30. To consume in vaine In latter Euen,… Ill-smelling oyles, or some still-watching lights.
1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., V. vi. Monthly, we spend our still-repaired shine, And not forbid our virgin-waxen torch To burne and blaze.
1603. J. Davies (Heref.), Microcosmos, 231. That still-closed booke of secrets.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. I. Vocat., 553. On a still-rocking couch lies blear-ey’d Sleep.
1609. Daniel, Civ. Wars, VIII. xcii. 226. His religious Confessor (who best Could cast, with what a violent accesse, This feuer of Ambition did molest His still-sick minde).
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XIII. 424. Thou still-wit-varying wretch!
1619. A. Newman, Pleas. Vis., C 4 b. My seruants haue … Still-liuing honors, and lou’d Fame.
1727–46. Thomson, Summer, 1641. The generous still-improving mind.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., VI. 9. Tardy pressure’s still-increasing weight.
1761. Glover, Medea, II. vi. 36. The settled frown, The still-renew’d upbraiding?
1780. Cowper, Progr. Error, 550. His still refuted quirks he still repeats.
1783. Crabbe, Village, II. 164. To bid the still-recurring thoughts depart.
1875. Browning, Aristoph. Apol., 77. Each prim stiff phrase Of each old play, my still-new laughing-stock, Had meaning.
c. In sense 4 a, ‘now as before,’ quasi-combinations of this kind are still formed freely.
1609. J. Davies (Heref.), Holy Roode, I 3. Thy still-fresh-bleeding Wounds.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, VI. cccii. As for the bugbear Threat of Death, behold Its confutation in still-florid Me.
1732. Belle Assemblée, II. 210. Kerme having seen his still-admir’d Leonora in the possession of what alone could make her happy.
1772. Cowper, Lett. to J. Hill, 5 Nov. The only return I can make you, for your many acts of still-continued friendship.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., XIV. x. (1864), IX. 355. It is believed by a still-diminishing few that [etc.].
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel (1876), 323. Most of these Psalms lament over the still-continuing abandonment to the Heathen.
1890. Gross, Gild Merch., I. 132. The still-existing Company of Merchants of Carlisle.
