v. Obs. Also 5–7 volue. [ad. L. volvĕre to turn, roll, etc., or obs. F. volver (= Sp. and Pg. volver, It. volvere, volgere) from the same source.]
1. intr. To turn over, to roll.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Lyon & Mouss, 204 (Bann. MS.). Voluand [v.r. Welterand] about with hiddouss rowmissing, Quhyle to, quhyle fro, gif he mycht succour get.
2. trans. To turn over the pages of (a book). Also absol. (Cf. REVOLVE v. 5.)
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. Auth. Pref. 2. Whan this ymaginacyon came to me, I volued, tourned, and redde many volumes and bokes, conteyning famouse histories.
1625. Darcie, Ann., To Rdr. I sedulously volued and reuolued Characters of Kings and Peers, Letters, Consultations.
1638. R. Chamberlain, Noct. Lucubrations, Ep. Ded. Many … Peeces of learning your Worship hath volved and revolved.
1677. P. A., Pref. Poem, in Cary’s Chronol.
| Even so our studious Friend, being keenly bent, | |
| To lay a Store of Knowledg, is intent | |
| On Books and Rending, so doth chuse and pick, | |
| Volve and Revolve, and finally doth stick. |
3. To turn over in the mind; to consider.
c. 1520. Barclay, Jugurtha (1557), 65 b. Somtyme he volued in mynd rather to subdue hymselfe … than to begyne war agayn.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., IV. 257. Cambuscan … volvd, revolvd, in diepe perplexitie How to fitt love and iustice remedie.
1760. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, VII. xx. I have been volving and revolving in my fancy … by what clean device I might … modulate them.
