Withal

adv. and prep. arch. [Properly two words, orig. with al(le (see WITH prep. and ALL A. 9 e); in the earliest instances predominantly northern; ultimately superseding the older mid alle (see MID prep.¹ 7 a). The spelling withall continued till nearly 1800.]

  A.  adv. 1. Along with the rest; in addition; besides; moreover; likewise; as well. Often in the collocations and withal (so-and-so), and (so-and-so) withal. See also FORTHWITHAL.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 2572. Ne nan ne beoþ … þatt muȝhe … tredenn dun þe deofless mahht, swa summ ȝho tradd wiþþ alle. Ibid., 2997. Þatt Godess Gast iss soþfasst Godd & Allmahhtiȝ wiþþ alle. Ibid., 4203. He beoþ all unnbeshorenn þa swa þwerrt ut wel wiþþ alle.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7012. Seint edward held at windelsore a uair feste wiþ alle.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3491. He þat was rugh was rede wit-al.

13[?].  K. Horn, 424 (Harl.). Ich am ybore þral, Þy fader fundlyng wiþ al.

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 2984. Romiraunt com forþ snelle A Sarrazin a strong wiþ elle.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 143. The constable of þat castel … Is a wys knyght with-alle.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IV. 549. A bow he bair … And arrous als, bath lang and scharpe with aw.

1528.  More, Dyaloge, III. Wks. 224/1. Thereupon they burne up the booke and sometime the good manne withall.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 35. Meryly spoken & nippyngly withall.

1611.  Bible, Acts xxv. 27. It seemeth to me vnreasonable, to send a prisoner, and not withall to signifie the crimes laid against him.

1643.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 2. 139. He that shall consider how many thousand severall words have beene … composed out of 24. Letters; withall how many hundred lines there are to be drawn in the fabrick of one man; shall [etc.].

1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 128. I shall, thou say’st, expel A brutish monster: what if I withal Expel a Devil who first made him such?

1771.  Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 11. When he played and sung withal, it was extremely agreeable to hear.

1808.  Scott, Marm., I. xxviii. Nor lord nor knight was there more tall Or had a statelier step withal.

1837.  Southey, Lett. to Wynn, 24 May. Withall have not often read a book that interested me so much.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, viii. She … was so sweet and kind, and withal seemed … so dependent on him.

1897.  Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 266. Of such peculiar suppleness that you could wind it round anything,… and as strong withal as a hawser.

  b.  Contextually: ‘At the same time’; in spite of all; notwithstanding, nevertheless.

1596.  Danett, trans. Comines, VIII. v. 326. Yet is it verie troublesome for horsemen, bicause it is full of ditches like to Flaunders,… but withall it is much pleasanter.

1654.  Bp. Bramhall, Just Vind., vi. (1661), 124. St. Gregory … disliked the Law, but withall according to his duty published it.

1794.  Southey, Lett. to G. C. Bedford, 11 May. They have shown me that happiness is attainable; but, withal, taught me by repeated disappointments never to build on so sandy a foundation.

1802.  Wordsw., To the Small Celandine, 17. Modest, yet withal an Elf Bold, and lavish of thyself.

1859.  Lang, Wand. India, 161. He confessed that his master was rather severe, but withal a very good man.

1880.  Academy, 23 Oct., 299/2. This colossal and impressive, though withal faulty, work [Couture’s Les Romains de la Décadence].

  2.  = THEREWITH 2, 3.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12318. Iesus … bar it ham als in a ball, And present þan his moder wit-all.

1389.  in Engl. Gilds (1870), 101. Ye Den schal gedren ye forseyde halpenys, and by wyht-al breed.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 83. Lok thou dele noght withal.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (prose), 29/33. Yef any es tan wid-al.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Macc. iv. 44. He toke aduysement, what he might do withall.

1586.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. 301. A Philosopher … taking a lanterne and a candle lighted at midday … was demanded what he ment to do withall.

1605.  A. Wotton, Answ. to late Popish Articles, 78. We are not ashamed of our small nomber: though the Papists twight vs with all, in comparison of their huge multitudes.

1657.  Sanderson, Serm., Pref. § 4. The Papists,… escaping in the mean while Scot-free, seldome or never meddled withall in any of their Sermons.

1833.  Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bound, 92. Having spoiled the gods Of honours, crown withal thy mortal men Who live a whole day out.

  To begin withal: see WITH prep. 37 e.

1531.  Tindale, Expos. 1 John v. (1538), 83. And to begynne wythall, they sayde Confiteor.

1553.  Bradford, Serm. Repentance (1574), B vij b. I wyll (to begyn withal) shew you what repentance is.

1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., V. i. Then have at him, to begin withal.

  † b.  I cannot do withal: I cannot help it.

1470–1611.  [see DO v. 54].

  B.  prep. Substituted for WITH prep. in postposition, esp. at the end of a relative clause or its equivalent or of a direct or indirect question, governing a relative (expressed or implied) or an interrogative; † occas. = WHEREWITHAL 2 b.

  The relative may be either expressed (e.g., that … withal = with whom or which; as after such, etc.) or not expressed (freq. in the inf. construction, e.g., a rod to be beaten withal = a rod with which to be beaten).

  The advs. herewithal, therewithal, wherewithal, were modelled upon the earlier herewith, therewith, wherewith.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6374. Bot tel yew of his suinc i sall, He drou þat fraward folk wit-all.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxvi. 122. Þai giffe a grete soume of monee for to bye oute þaire penaunce withall.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 7. Leste ye resemble hym that seketh a rod to be betyn with all.

1517.  in Glasscock, Rec. St. Michael’s, Bp.’s Stortford (1882), 35. A skeyn to kefer w^t alle the same booke.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxlvi. 71 b/2. And we be so sore strayned that we haue nat to lyue withall.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. xvi. 26. What shall a man geve to redeme hys soule agayne with all?

1531.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 25. Suche tithes as I was behind withall.

1555.  R. Pownall, Musculus’ Temporiser, i. B vj b. Yonder commeth he that I haue dyuers tymes desyred to talke withall.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 328. Ros. Ile tel you who Time ambles withall, who Time trots withal,… and who he stands stil withall. Orl. I prethee, who doth he trot withal?

a. 1628.  Preston, Breastpl. Faith (1630), 30. Whatsoever you part withall, you shall have a hundred fold in this life.

1665.  in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. III. (1912), 236. Peter Johnson of Hollam tooke one Rebecah who he liues withall as his wife and hath children by her.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 238. Which sort of Bricks, is commonly used … to pave Yards or Stables withal.

a. 1774.  Goldsm., Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776), I. 365. Though we took the best telescope to observe him withal.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., iv. But for hurting a man I have drunk my morning’s draught withal, ’tis clean against my conscience.

1884.  Lowell, Democr. (1887), 6. Such eyes and ears as Nature had been pleased to endow me withal.

  † b.  in other cases, esp. with indirect passive.

1556.  in Lodge, Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791), I. 215. Notwithstanding ther layt brags and doings, wherin they have ben somwhat met w^thall.

a. 1568.  Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 45. Will in children, wiselie wrought withall, maie easelie be won.

1642.  Tasman, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1694), 141. From that time they were better to be spoken withal.

1680.  W. Allen, Peace & Unity, Pref. p. xv. If such were indulgently dealt withal and tolerated.

c. 1685.  Roxb. Ball. (1891), VII. 477. Full six legs she travels withal.

1700.  T. Brown, trans. Fresny’s Amusem., 28. The Devil’s Broker may be spoken withal every Sunday.