Pa. t. withdrew; pa. pple. withdrawn. Forms: see WITH prep. and DRAW v.; also 4 widdraw; pa. t. 4 wid-drogh, widrouh; pa. pple. 5 othedraw, withdrawed. [f. WITH- (I) + DRAW v. (Cf. L. retrahĕre to RETRACT, RETRAY, F. retirer to RETIRE.)]
I. trans. 1. To take back or away (something that has been given, granted, allowed, possessed, enjoyed or experienced).
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 230. Ure Louerd … wiðdraweð his grace, & his cumfort.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, VII. 490. Ich mey ȝyuen, and eke wyþ-draȝe, Al þat myn hys.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 332. Þat he no may his loue haue, Grete strengþe him doþ wiþ-drawe.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 91. Lich unto the greene tree, If that men toke his rote aweie, Riht so myn herte scholde deie, If that mi love be withdrawe.
a. 1400. Prymer (1891), 41. The sonne with drowȝ his liȝt.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xx. 65. Now the from me withdraweth bytter deth.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Chron. xvii[i]. 13. I wyl not withdrawe my mercy from him.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lv. § 3. Impossible it is that God should withdrawe his presence from any thing.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., II. Wks. 1856, I. 23. My mistresse … withdrewe her gratious aspect even now.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 1. Those noursing fathers and mothers … that withdraw from them who hang vpon their breasts … liuelyhood and support.
1815. Shelley, Alastor, 16. Withdraw No portion of your wonted favour.
1833. Tennyson, Two Voices, 145. When Life her light withdraws.
1854. R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., xxxvi. (1901), I. 288. They … said they’d withdraw their subscriptions from the hounds.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ii. § 8. 105. The office of sheriff was withdrawn from the great nobles of the shire.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xiv. Then you are not disposed to withdraw your name from the concern?
† b. To subtract (arithmetically). Obs.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 45. Vnder that nombere [1400] I wrote a 1397; þan withdrowe I the laste nombere owte of þat, and þan fond I þe residue was 3 ȝere.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), V. xiv. (1859), 81. Where that it nedeth oughte to adden, or withdrawen.
c. 1430. Art of Nombryng (E.E.T.S.), 6. The figures that thow hast withdraw, adde them ayene to the omyst figures.
† c. To cause to decline, decrease or disappear.
c. 1450. Capgrave, St. Augustine, xxxv. 45. Þat ȝe schuld … not be lettyd with no cold whech schuld withdrawe ȝour deuocion.
1546. Gassar’s Prognost., b viij. The heat of Summer shalbegynne to be wythdrawne by rayne.
1563. Shute, Archit., B ij b. It hath ben withdrawen and hidden (as almost al other knowlages … hath bene) through ignoraunce.
2. To draw back, take away, remove (a thing) from its place or position.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3803. Aaron … ðis fier blessede and wiðdroȝ.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 870. Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. v. (Skeat), l. 129. Whan the see ebbeth and withdraweth the gravel.
c. 1400. trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., 70. Reubard … withdrawys þe fleume fro þe mouth of þe stomake.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), vi. 21. Syrus … withdrew þe water and destruyd þe citee.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 241. Whan a man sittyth atte mette he sholde wythdrawe his honde afor that he be y-fillit.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xiv. 352/12. Whan charlemagne sawe that reynawde had, wythdrawe his baner, he was glad of it.
1648. Gage, West Ind., 176. I withdrew my foot a little.
1671. Milton, Samson, 192. In prosperous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head.
1834. Hook, Gilbert Gurney, iii. This speech … induced me suddenly to withdraw my head.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 463. So as to admit of withdrawing, and reintroducing the vines without injuring them.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lviii. Harriet was withdrawing her hand to open the book, when Alice detained it for a moment.
1854. Ronalds & Richardson, Chem. Technol. (ed. 2), I. 168. The most appropriate spot for withdrawing the gases from this furnace.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xxv. As he spoke he had withdrawn from his pocket a folded paper.
b. To take (one’s eyes, etc.) off something.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 5. He is happy that withdraweth his ere & his eye from alle vyle thinges.
1542. Elyot, Oculorum remissio, a withdrawyng of the loke.
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Tuggs’s at Ramsgate. As her eye caught that of Mr. Cymon Tuggs, she withdrew it from his features in bashful confusion. Ibid. (1838), O. Twist, xxxviii. Till even she, who was not easily cowed, was fain to withdraw her eyes, and turn them towards the ground.
c. To remove (money) from capital, or from a bank or other place of deposit.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., II. iii. I. 403. That part is, from that moment, withdrawn from his capital.
1828. Act 9 Geo. IV., c. 92 § 38. After having withdrawn any Sum or Sums of Money from or out of any Savings Banks.
1861. Act 24 Vict., c. 14 § 4. The Officers of the Postmaster General … shall not disclose the Name of any Depositor nor the Amount deposited or withdrawn.
d. To draw (a veil, curtain, etc.) back or aside; to draw back (a bolt). Now rare.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xi. The veil was at length withdrawn.
1833. L. Ritchie, Wand. Loire, 170. The sound of opening doors, withdrawing bolts, and hoarse voices hallooing from tower to tower.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, ix. Withdrawing the little window curtain, she gazed out.
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 106. Here’s the veil withdrawn from landscape.
3. fig. † a. To retract, revoke, rescind. Obs.
c. 1290. Beket, 1829, in S. Eng. Leg., 159. Ȝif þov wenest wel for-to do, with drauȝ þine dede sone.
c. 1290. St. Nicholas, 265, ibid. 248. With-drauȝ þi red, ich þe rede.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 3459. The king withdrogh his jugement.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cress., 327. Withdraw thy sentence, and be gracious.
b. To remove from the scope of an inquiry, from a particular category, or the like.
1725. Broome, Notes Pope’s Odyss., VI. 331. Nausicaa … is withdrawn, and a whole nation introduced for a more general praise of Ulysses.
1839. Hallam, Lit. Eur., II. v. § 97. One [poem] by Hercules Rollock … is … equal, a few names withdrawn, to any of the contemporaneous poetry of France.
1848. H. R. Forster, Stowe Catal., 236. The next two lots were withdrawn.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, II. 259. The marvellous element … withdraws the narrative … from the course of ordinary occurrences.
1895. Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 637/2. It was not a case which should have been withdrawn from the jury.
c. To take back, retract (one’s words, an expression). Often absol. in imper., in parliamentary procedure, to demand the withdrawal by a member of an expression or a statement.
1793. in Ld. Auckland’s Corr. (1862), III. 37. Burke got up twice, but the House was so satisfied, that it would hear nothing, and nothing was heard but Withdraw, withdraw.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., i. The Chairman was quite sure the hon. Pickwickian would withdraw the expression he had just made use of.
1880. Hansard’s Parl. Deb., 20 Aug., 1756. I call upon the hon. Member to withdraw the word ‘offensive.’… (Cries of ‘Withdraw!’)
d. To refrain from proceeding with or prosecuting (a course of action, a proposal, etc.); to cease to support or present (a candidate, etc.).
1781. Blackstone, Rep., II. 1028. The Court allowed the Plaintiff to withdraw his Demurrer.
1834. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Steam Excurs. Mr. Alexander Briggs moved as an amendment, that [etc.]…; but after some debate consented to withdraw his opposition.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 555. The latter proposition was withdrawn.
1880. Hansard’s Parl. Deb., 20 Aug., 1739. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxiii. Nero … neither repeated nor withdrew his command.
1913. Act 3 & 4 Geo. V., c. 6 § 1. If the candidate is withdrawn or deemed to be withdrawn.
4. † a. To keep back or hold (one’s hand); also, to withhold (a blow). Obs.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 859 (Camb.). His dent he gan wiþ-draȝe, For hi were neȝ aslaȝe.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 369. Achilles tho withdrowh his hond.
c. 1400. trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., 52. Whanne kynges … withdrawes her bondys frome þe … poscessiouns of her subgitz.
† b. To keep back, withhold (something due, customary or necessary); hence gen. to withhold.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21906. Þai serue him all apon þair wise, And man wit-draus his seruise.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 617. I koude noght withdrawe My chambre of Venus from a good felawe.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 231. They haue preuyd þat þey with-drowe no dewete þat was wonyd & vsyd.
1510. in Leadam, Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 70. The seid priour … withdraweth suche dueties as they of Right owght io take.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 6 b. Whan god withdraweth his rayne,… than shall there be neyther oxe ne cowe.
1580. [see WITHDRAWER].
† c. To keep back, restrain (a person, his desires, etc.). Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 254. Þe guode man and þe wyse wyþdraȝeþ hare wyl and hare lostes … be temperance.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 393. Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 96. Forto wythdraw all men of such oþes and wordys Seynt Poule … forbedyth yche cristen man not to speke all maner ydull speche.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, I. xix. 51. Yf yt happe … that any … be dystracte from saynge … eny … verse … and may not say yt, but yf he withdrawe his voyce from syngynge.
1530. Palsgr., 781/2. Let him go whan he wyll, he shall nat be withdrawen for me.
5. To draw away, deflect, divert (a person, his mind, etc.) from an object, pursuit, line of conduct, etc.; † also, to draw, attract; to distract. Now rare.
† Occas. const. inf.: To divert from doing something.
1340. Ayenb., 58. Þet hi myȝten his … uram þe guode þet hi habeþ y-conceyued wyþdraȝe. Ibid. Yef þou be þine tonge wyþdraȝst ane man oþer a child wel to done.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 215. Þat man leve no worldly goodis þat wiþdrawiþ his wille fro God.
1477[?]. Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 34. Parauenture more chargeful besynes hathe othedraw yower mynde.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxix. F iv. Withdrawe towardys the, the hertes of straungers by yeftes.
1542. Elyot, Auocamentum,… recreation, that withdraweth the mynde from heuynes or melancholy.
1563. Golding, Cæsar, III. (1565), 76. Those sorte of rascals whom hope of spoile … had wythdrawen from husbandrye and daylye labor.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., II. ii. With how contrarious thoughts am I withdrawne! Why linger I twixt hope and doubtfull feare?
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. iv. 23. Aduantagious care Withdrew me from the oddes of multitude.
1606. Reg. Privy Council Scot. (1885), VII. 181. To alienat and withdraw thaim from thair due obedience to his Majestie.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. viii. 33. Whatsoever is new, or great,… withdrawes a man … from the intended way of his discourse.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 612. They thought Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw The number of thy worshippers.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. India, I. 593. It would have been happy if he had never been withdrawn from those pursuits.
1859. W. Collins, Q. of Hearts, i. The circumstances which have withdrawn us from the world for the rest of our days.
6. To remove (a person) from a position; to cause to retire or recede; † occas. to take aside; spec. to cause (a force, troops) to retire from a position; to draw off from an engagement.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 107. Mani that haue be withdrawe oute of abbeyes, for thaire londes.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 149. Saturne wythdrowe his peple on that oon syde.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 206. His onely sauegarde and comforte, were to withdrawe hym and his compaignie into Fraunce.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., III. iii. A shining blade Withdrawes a coward theefe that would inuade.
1615. in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 160. I presently did withdraw him … until I had discovered that which I desired.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 87. The prisoner withdrawen.
1805. C. James, Milit. Dict. (ed. 2). To withdraw, to call back; to make to retire.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, xlii. Where’er that Power may move Which has withdrawn his being to its own.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., ix. A sounder … had … withdrawn in pursuit of him all the dogs … and the greater part of the huntsmen.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, xxi. III. 175. She would be compelled to withdraw her forces from Lesbos.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, ix. Walter Scape was withdrawn from Eton, and put into a merchant’s house.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xx. She has withdrawn her spies.
b. Law. To remove (a juror) from the panel in order to put an end to the proceedings.
a. 1676. Hale, De Jure Maris, I. vi. (1787), 36. The court and the king’s attorney-generall … were so well satisfied with the defendant’s title, that they moved the defendant to consent to withdraw a juror.
1789. New Lond. Mag., Sept., 458/2. And Mrs. Phillips agreed on her part that a Juror should be withdrawn.
1866. Foster & Finlason, Nisi Prius Cases, IV. 942. The plaintiff’s counsel proposed to withdraw a juror, which was assented to.
1881. Odgers, Libel & Slander, 550. Actions of defamation are often compromised before the judge comes to sum up the evidence. A juror is often withdrawn, sometimes at the suggestion of the judge.
† 7. = withdraw from in various senses. Obs. rare.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 895. Sin ȝe maugray ȝour miht mote hit wiþ-drawe.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1257. Yff þow wolt drawe the to wit, & rebawdry withdrawe.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 304. He with-drow the forsaid court, by the mean of a frendly accorde.
II. refl. 8. To remove oneself from a place or position; = 12. Now rare or arch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19175. Þai badd þat þai þam suld witdrau Quils þai samen spak a thrau. Ibid. (13[?]), 21654 (Edinb.). Adam quen he wroȝt hauid woȝ Vndir þis tre he him wiþ-droȝ.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 73. He him withdrowh So prively that sche ne wiste Wher he becom.
c. 1410. Master of Game, xxvi. (1904), 83. Þei ought to wiþdrawe hym in þe softest maner … and þan go preuyli to þei be vndir þe wynde.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Aug., 39/19. He wepte, and with-drow him.
1485. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 314/1. The said William had withdrawn him out of thys Lande.
1530. Palsgr., 783/1. He hath withdrawen him selfe in some corner.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. iii. 28. Withdraw your selues, and leaue vs here alone.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 627. Vortigern had withdrawen himselfe into these parts.
1718. Atterbury, Serm., Acts i. 3 (1734), I. 177. It was requisite that he should not withdraw himself from their Sight, at once.
1839. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 103. The King disguised himself, and … withdrew himself from the midst of his troops.
† b. Of combatants, troops, etc.: = 12 b. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3253. Þe brutons hom wiþdrowe, & þe saxons hom reste.
c. 1300. K. Horn, 886 (Laud MS.). Hys feren gonnen hem wyt drawe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 169. Cirus … feyned hym to flee and wiþdrowȝ hym.
† c. Of water: = 12 c. Obs.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiv. 111. Þe see, þat before bette apon þe mount, withdrewe it.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 196. The See meveth and hym wyth-drawyth aftyr the mewynge … of the mone.
9. To remove oneself from a condition, sphere, society, etc.; = 13. Now rare or arch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28136. Oft als haue i me wit-draun Til vncuth pryst, and fra myn aun.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind., G j b. Voyces of deuyls … withdrawing them from the right waye.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 102 b. It is also to be feared lest suche as would haue ioyned them selues into this league, wyll be affrayde nowe of this, and withdrawe them selues.
1612. Sir J. Digby, Lett., 10 Oct., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 609. Some of the beste of them have withdrawen themselves from their trade.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 24. Let our Imagination therefore among multitudes of people … withdraw it selfe to some secrecie.
1663. Sc. Acts Chas. II. (1820), VII. 455/2. All … persons who shall … wilfully withdraw and absent themselffs from the ordinary meitings of divine worship.
1770. Junius Lett., xxxix. He cannot withdraw himself from the Complaints … of his Subjects.
1798. Malthus, Popul. (1878), 448. Every man may … have the redress of withdrawing himself from the club.
1812. Belsham, Mem. Lindsey, 348. Withdrawing himself from an office the duties of which he was so fully competent to discharge.
1865. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 233. I am withdrawing myself from engagements of all kinds.
† 10. To cease, refrain; = 14. Obs.
c. 1290. St. James, 159, in S. Eng. Leg., 38. Of is luþere þouȝt þat he þouȝte for drede he him with drovȝ.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10221. Þe king of alimayne sende … To king Ion, þat he wiþdrowe him of is wou.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 10872. Of þat man hyt ys grete drede, Þat wyþdraghþ hym fro gode dede.
1340. Ayenb., 52. Huanne hi wyþ-draȝeþ to do wel.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 243. He that is custumet to ette two tymes in the day, yf he wythdrawe hym sodaynly, anone he may grevaunce take.
11. To contract. Obs. rare.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 497. His synewis shronke and withdrewe then.
III. intr. 12. To go away, depart or retire from a place or position, from some one’s presence, to another room or a private place, etc.; † to draw back or turn aside.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3983. If ðin asse ne were wið-draȝen, Her suldes ðu nu wurðen slaȝen. [Vulg. nisi asina declinasset de via … te occidissem, Num. xxii. 33.]
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xxii. [xi.] (Tollem. MS.). Nouȝt withdrawinge towarde þe lyfte side, oþer towarde þe ryȝt side.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 170. He made his marouners to saylle and rowe with alle diligence for to withdrawe fro the porte. Ibid., 239. Whan she was a lytill withdrawen fro the temple.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 302/2. The people with their goodes and Cattell being fled and withdrawen into the Wooddes and Mountaynes.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, III. iv. 100. Madam, withdraw, the Prince … and all the gallants of the towne are come to fetch you to Church.
1600. 1st Pt. Sir J. Oldcastle, V. x. 43. I will withdraw into some other roome.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 711. Who was there, but withdrawn under a hedge with the Prince and Duke.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., viii. 19. Scarce from our upper World the Shades withdrew.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 108, ¶ 6. Upon withdrawing into my Room after Dinner. Ibid. (1712), 536, ¶ 1. She delivered the remaining part of her Message, and withdrew.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XVIII. xiii. Sophia now took the first Opportunity of withdrawing with the Ladies.
1781. Cowper, Retirem., 447. A man … Who comes when call’d, and at a word withdraws.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xxxvii. The Minstrel … from the shore withdrew.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, III. iii. I bowed slightly, and she withdrew to the countess.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxvii. 209. The men … withdrew from me, and approached the eastern boundary of the glacier.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 3. 127. By the treaty of Lambeth, Lewis promised to withdraw from England on payment of a sum which he claimed as debt.
b. Of combatants, troops, etc.: To retire from the field of battle or any contest, or from an advanced position.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3681. Prest aȝen him he was & slou of hom to grounde, so þat hii gonne wiþ drawe.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 12746. Lenger to iuste myght þey nought stande, But þem defended al wyþdrawande.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 2015. I … will at þou knaw þat for na drede I with-draw.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 401. Whan the two oostes were withdrawen.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lix. 203. Cause your men to withdraw fro the batayle.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., V. iv. 8. Withdraw my Lord, Ile helpe you to a Horse.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, XI. 559. I beg your Greatness … beaten, to withdraw.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 83, ¶ 10. The Confederates are preparing to withdraw into Winter Quarters.
1880. Hensman, Afghan War (1881), 449. On Saturday night the Amir’s troops occupied the Kotal, a mile from our camp, evidently fearing a surprise, and only withdrew at daylight on Sunday.
† c. Of water: To subside, ebb. Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 596. In armenie ðat arche stod, Ðo was wið-draȝen ðat ilc flod. Ibid., 599. Dunes wexen, ðe flod wið-droȝ.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 1399 (Camb.). Whanne þe se wiþ droȝe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2008. The wodenes of waghes wightly with droghe.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 280. Whan the see was withdrawen & ferre ebbed.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. liii. [lii]. 76/2. They founde ye ryuers withdrawen.
1618. Bolton, Florus, III. x. (1636), 199. The Tide withdrawing upon course.
13. To draw away from a person; to remove oneself or retire from a society or community, from publicity, etc.; to retire from participation in or pursuit of something; † to resign.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 257 [331]. Thow … makyst wise folk fro me withdrawe.
1540. Bible (Cranmer), Prov. xix. 7. Hys awne frendes withdrawe from him.
1667. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 227. A large petition from the Earle of Clarindon, intimating that he was withdrawn.
1677. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. III. (1912), V. 120. Withdrawing from the publik ordinances in their owne paroch kirkes.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, XII. 757. [He] wisely from th’ infectious World withdrew.
1715. Pope, Iliad, II. 448. Now great Achilles from our aid withdraws.
1746. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 108. Wisely they withdrew from that immense multiplicity of learning.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, iii. 63. An ideal world, into which we can withdraw at pleasure.
1849. A. Scratchley, Build. Societies, 100. Desirous of withdrawing from the society.
1853. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. iv. 174. Classes and ranks withdraw from each other more and more.
1870. J. E. T. Rogers, Hist. Glean., Ser. II. 23. Wiklif withdrew from his political and social projects.
1892. Gladstone, in Daily News, 4 Nov., 5/4. I have … withdrawn from all attendance at public banquets.
1911. Marett, Anthropol., ix. 237. No one has a chance of withdrawing into his own soul.
† b. Of an immaterial thing, a condition, etc.: To depart, disappear.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6583. [He] biheld toward þe water, & is grete herte wiþdrou. Ibid., 9189. Þe verste tuo ȝer god cas & hap inou … com to king steuene, ac suþþe it wiþ drou.
13[?]. Cursor M., 4698 (Gött.). Bot alkines welth bigan widdrau.
1426. Audelay, Poems, 25. Dredles deuocioun hit is with draw.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, II. 151. Then grace withdrawyth and the fende enteryth.
† 14. Const. of or inf. To cease or refrain from, or from doing, something. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10893. Seint edmond … ofte him bisouȝte Þat he wiþdrowe of is dede.
1340. Ayenb., 53. Ich wille þet þou loki and wyþdraȝe.
c. 1375. Cato Major, 523, in Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 598. Þou most with-drawe of diuers metes, And vse no glotenie.
1450–80. trans. Secr. Secr., v. 8. Whan he withdrawith forto take the goodis and possessiones of his sugetis.
