Story v.¹

[f. STORY sb.¹]

  1.  trans. In early use, to record historically; to relate the history of (obs.); in later use, to tell as a story, to tell the story of. Often with clause as obj. Now rare; very common in the 16–17th c. esp. quasi-impers. in passive, It is storied that.…

  The original sense appears occasionally down to the end of the 17th c., but from the middle of the century, or even earlier, it is often difficult to determine whether the older or the newer use is intended. Cf. the sb.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, cxv. 156. She owithe well forto be … storied in scripture with other good ladyes.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. xii. 351. Ech fundamental storie speking of this seid voice seith and storieth that it was mad in the eir. Ibid., 353. And this Eusebi … took up on him for to write and storie the hool lijf and the deeth of the same Constantyn.

1563.  Foxe, A. & M., 1353/1. It were a large and a long proces to story al the doinges, trauailes, and wrytynges of this Christian Bishop [Latimer].

1610.  Guillim, Heraldry, III. xvii. (1611), 159. It is storied, that the old Eagles make proofe of their yong by exposing them [etc.].

1621.  Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 209. Their Tithes are not onely storied to haue been payed, but are strictly commanded to be payed.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 516. What the sage Poets … Storied of old in high immortal vers Of dire Chimera’s and inchanted Iles.

1649.  Prynne, Demurrer to Jews’ Remitter, 41. Nicholas Trivet … thus stories the Jews banishment.

1652.  Sparke, Prim. Devot. (1663), 583. On our British isles too (story some) This Canaanite bestowd first Christendom.

1657.  G. Thornley, Daphnis & Chloe, 90. Daphnis then storied to her what he had seen.

1672.  Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. III. ii. 33. Truth wrapt under these fables … as tis evident, by what is storied of the Floud.

1701.  Howe, Some Consid. Pref. Enquiry, 7. That … which is storied of Plato, that having one in his Academy that [etc.].

1796.  Coleridge, Ode to Departing Yr., 67. With many an unimaginable groan Thou storied’st thy sad hours!

1813.  W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem., II. 414. Are you not afraid of seeing the Peninsula evacuated before you have storied the ancient explosions of independence?

1864.  Bishop Alexander, trans. Victor Hugo’s The Emperor’s Return, in Spectator, 7 May, 538/1.

  † b.  With adv. To story forth: to proclaim the story of. To story out: to invent stories of; also, ? to unravel the true story of. Obs.

1591.  1st Pt. Troub. Raigne K. John, E 4. My tongue is tunde to storie forth mishap. Ibid., G 4 b. I goe my selfe, the ioyfulst man aliue To storie out this new supposed crime.

a. 1661.  Holyday, Juvenal, X. (1673), 188. Men once beleiv’d, Athos was sail’d about, And all that lying Greece dares story-out [L. et quicquid Graecia mendax Audet in historia.]

  2.  To decorate with paintings or sculpture; to represent in painting or sculpture. Cf. STORY sb.¹ 8.

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, II. xiii. (Skeat), 76. Purtreytures storied with colours medled.

1812.  Cary, Dante, Purg., X. 66. There, was storied on the rock [It. Quivi era storiata] The exalted glory of the Roman prince … Trajan the Emperor.

1844.  Hood, Haunted Ho., III. 285. Rich hangings, storied by the needle’s art, With Scripture history, or classic fable.

1853.  Mrs. Gaskell, Ruth, i. A window of stained glass, storied all over with armorial bearings.

1854.  Talfourd, Castilian, III. iv. The walls Of alabaster, storied with the deeds Of saints and martyrs.

  Hence Storying vbl. sb., the action of the vb.; † a historical narrative. Storying ppl. a.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. i. 133. Bi his writing in storiyng or cronycleing. Ibid., III. xii. 354. The seid Damesis storiyng writun by Damasus long sithen Constantyn died.

1793.  Coleridge, Kisses, 1. Cupid, if storying Legends tell aright, Once fram’d a rich Elixir of Delight.

1820.  J. H. Wiffen, Aonian Hours (ed. 2), 153. Thou hast thy records which surpass Or storying stone, or sculptured brass!