v. colloq. Also tidi-, tiddi-. [In early examples tidi- or tiddivate, perh. from TIDY with a quasi-Latin ending, after cultivate.] trans. To make small alterations or additions to one’s toilet, etc., so as to add to one’s attractions; to make smart or spruce; to ‘touch up’ in the way of adornment, put the finishing touches to. Also with off, up.
1805. [implied in TITIVATION].
1824. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1825), 35. Decorated with his white flag in front, and tiddivated up to his elbows in a pair of unblemished … Holland sleeves.
1837. Sporting Mag., XIX. 341. The shot manufacturers want titivating too.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xxxiv. You’d better make yourself scarce, Peter, while I tidivate myself off a little, according to the rules and regulations … when you are asked to dine with the skipper.
1843. Haliburton, Attaché, xxii. I’ll arrive in time for dinner, I’ll titivate myself up, and down to drawin’-room.
1852. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, xxv. He … saw him titivating his hair and arranging his collar.
1882. Mrs. B. M. Croker, Proper Pride, I. ix. 186. Helen was calmly titivating herself at the glass, and did not observe her companion’s emotion.
1893. Quiller-Couch, Delectable Duchy, 60. Come here, and let me tittivate you.
1897. Daily News, 22 Dec., 8/3. It was drawn through the Fair … by eight oxen tidivated with ribbons and flowers.
b. intr. for refl.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Charac., vii. Regular as clockwork—breakfast at nine—dress and tittivate a little.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., xlviii. Whilst you call in your black man, and titivate a bit.
Hence Titivated, titt- ppl. a., Titivating, titt- vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Titi-, tittivation, the action of titivating; Titi-, tittivator, one who titivates.
1805. Sporting Mag., XXV. 187. Affords infinite amusement during the ceremony of titivation.
1831. Fraser’s Mag., IV. 462. One worthy with a titivated brown wig and a sprigged waistcoat.
1876. E. Jenkins, Blot on Queen’s Head, 15. He had a fancy for titivation … and for splendour and display.
1889. W. S. Gilbert, Gondoliers, II. Spend an hour in tittivating.
1895. Sat. Rev., 1 June, 726/2. People who never … compare the scene-painter’s titivated imitations with the … originals.
1902. C. G. Harper, Cambridge, Ely, etc., 56. The furbishers and titivators of things ancient and worshipful.
