Also 4 charg, chaarge, 6 chardge, Sc. chairge. [a. F. charge fem.:—Romanic carga, late L. carrica (cf. It. carica, Sp. carga), f. the vb. carricāre, cargar: see CHARGE v., and cf. CARK, CHARCHE sb.]
I. A material load; that which can be borne, taken or received.
† 1. A (material) load, burden, weight. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 140. He was bute charge—& teide uor þui ane clot of heui eorðe to hire.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 416. So heuy charge of wayn.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 169. So mykelle was þat barge … & so heuy of charge.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Kings viii. 9. Fourty chamel chaargis [1388 the burthuns of fourti camels].
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 1352. Of fruyt hadde every tree his charge.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XIX. xxii. The shyp was great, fyve c. tonne to charge.
1638. Heywood, Wise Wom., II. i. Wks. 1874, V. 300. Having a charge of money about me.
1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 257. This charge, or weight, will be stopped, or stayed by the Inverse Arches.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., s.v. Charge, An unweildy Ship … is a Ship of Charge.
[¶ ‘Charge of Lead.’
1721. Bailey, A charge of Lead is 36 Pigs, each containing six Stone wanting two Pound.
This is merely a mistake of Bailey’s for Charre of Lead, used in Scotland in 14th c., explained by Cowel in his Interpreter, whence it passed into succeeding Law Dicts., and into Kersey 1708–21. See CHAR sb.2 2. Bailey’s error is duly perpetuated in modern Dictionaries, as if charge of lead were a current expression.]
2. The action of loading a vessel, etc. ? Obs.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 14. Any hauen, porte or rode of charge or discharge.
3. The quantity of powder, or (more loosely, with sportsmen, etc.) of powder and shot, with which a fire-arm is loaded for one discharge. See BURSTING charge, vbl. sb. 6.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xli. § 2. 162. Artillery, or Cannons of wood … behind the which they put boxes of iron, that held their charge.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. V. xi. § 1. 46. To tell readily how much Powder is a due Charge for any Piece.
1846. Greener, Sc. Gunnery, 327. One half of the musket charge will escape past the ball during its passage up the barrel.
1857. Livingstone, Trav., xviii. 331. A good-sized fowl was sold for a single charge of gunpowder.
1863. Bates, Nat. Amazons, II. 57. After watching the animal for about half an hour I gave him a charge of shot.
b. So Mining. A quantity of gunpowder or other explosive used in blasting.
4. gen. The quantity of anything that a receptacle, a piece of mechanism, etc., is fitted or constructed to bear, take in, or receive; e.g., the quantity of coal that a gas-retort takes in, the quantity of ore, etc., put into a furnace at one heat, etc., etc.
1672. Newton, in Phil. Trans., VII. 5097. By that means the Microscope will … bear a deeper Charge.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, V. 82. A charge of snuff the wily virgin threw.
1832. G. R. Porter, Porcelain & Gl., 165. The opening through which the charge was introduced.
1858–75. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 55. The charge [of lead-ore] employed varies in almost every establishment. In the North smaller charges are used than in most other localities. At Newcastle, the charge varies from 12 to 14 cwts. … in Cornwall, charges of 30 cwt. are not unfrequently worked.
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., Charge, the materials introduced at one time or one round into a furnace.
5. Electr. An accumulation of electricity in a Leyden jar, electric battery, etc., which may be again discharged.
1782. Brook, in Phil. Trans., LXXII. 387. No glass to be charged, as we call it, with electricity, will bear a greater charge than [etc.].
1885. Watson & Burbury, Math. Th. Electr. & Magn., I. 89. The algebraic sum of all the electricity on the surface of a conductor is called the charge on the conductor.
fig. 1858. J. Martineau, Stud. Chr., 269. [They will] accumulate fresh charges of threatening power in the intellectual atmosphere which surrounds the Church.
6. Her. Any device ‘charged’ or borne upon an escutcheon; a bearing.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1875), 15. Chaucers armes are not so meane, eyther for coolour, chardge, or particione as some will make them.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, II. iii. (1660), 52. A Charge is that thing whatsoever that doth occupy the field.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., I. xv. 47. This to my Elder Brother I must yield, I have the Charge, but he hath all the Field.
1876. Rock, Text. Fabr., vi. 56. To introduce many heraldic charges.
7. Farriery. A thick adhesive plaster applied to the body of a horse.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 287. Then lay on this charge following.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4495/4. He had, when lost, a hot charge laid on with Deer’s Hair on every Leg.
1831–72. Youatt, Horse, xvii. 382. A charge, or very strong adhesive plaster, across the haunch may be useful. Ibid., xxiii. 483. The following mixture makes a good charge.
II. A load of trouble, expense, responsibility, blame, etc.
* of trouble.
8. fig. A burden, load, weight (of trouble, inconvenience, etc.). Obs. b. concr. Anything burdensome; a source of trouble or inconvenience.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 7292. He n’ul that youre barouns … No beore charge of all this.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xx. 12. To vs, that han born the charge of the day and hete.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, H ij b. Which shalle be in grete charge and payne to gyue a good ansuere.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), I. 131. Folewe vertue and leue charges mundayne.
1713. Guardian, No. 1, ¶ 4. The charge of intelligence, the pain in compiling.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxxi. Thank God … I need not be a charge on the old mother.
** of importance.
† 9. fig. Moral weight, importance, moment. Obs.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 620. Thyng that beryth more effect & charge.
c. 1400. Maundev., xxii. 243. Thus anon hathe he hasty tydynges of ony thing, that berethe charge.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 28. Occupyed in maters of charge and weyghty.
1598. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., V. ii. 18. The Letter was not nice, but full of charge, Of deare import.
† b. In such phrases as it is no charge, it is of no importance, it does not matter; to make, give, have no charge, to make of no account, not to care (const. of or with clause). (Cf. CHARGE v. 20.)
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1940. Of þe chepe no charg.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxii. 16. There is no cure, or charge, to thee of eny man [1388 thou chargist not of ony man].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Squire’s T., 359. Dreem of which ther nys no charge.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 744. For hay … Make housyng as the list; it is noo charge [non refert].
c. 1440. Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), vi. He … makith noo charge what comyth of hymself.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. iv. 13. They retched not ne had no charge of suche goodis.
*** Pecuniary.
10. Pecuniary burden; expense, cost. arch.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., vi. (heading), Ordynaunces for the Kyngs Ordenarye Chargys.
c. 1510. More, De quat. Noviss., Wks. 90. Thou hast lytle money & much charge.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 157. The Globe which M. Sanderson to his very great charge hath published.
1653. Walton, Angler, iii. 79. ’Tis the company and not the charge that makes the feast.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 265. January … is the rich mans charge, and the poor mans misery.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. xlii. 114. The Profits can hardly bear the Charge.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 118. When the … certain charge of the Out-fit was duly taken into consideration.
1842. Macaulay, Fredk. Gt., Ess. (1854), II. 673/1. The whole charge of his kitchen was brought within the sum of two thousand pounds sterling a year. Ibid. (1848), Hist. Eng., I. 593. A small body guard of forty young men, well armed and mounted at their own charge, attended Monmouth.
b. The price required or demanded for service rendered, or (less usually) for goods supplied.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 388–9. The charge for conveying a single letter was twopence for eighty miles, and threepence for a longer distance.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, X. xx. His charges, too, are moderate.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 117. The bank is always willing to do the work for fixed low charges.
Mod. What is the charge for admittance? He declined to make a charge, but left it to us to pay what we thought proper.
c. pl. Expenses: often with sense scarcely or not at all distinguishable from the sing. arch.
1514. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 145. Atte custages and charges of the seid Maister and brethern of the seid Gilde.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. i. 61. Sent ouer of the King of Englands owne proper Cost and Charges.
1653. Walton, Angler, ii. 44. I’ll bear your charges this night, and you shall beare mine to morrow.
1662. Gerbier, Princ., 25. Builders ought to calculate the Charges of their designed Building.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), VII. XVI. 12. To defray the charges of his funeral.
1783. Bailey, Cadet, Cadee, one that serves as a volunteer in the wars upon his own charges.
1845. Thackeray, Cornh. to Cairo, ii. A … cathedral, built by the present bishop at his own charges.
d. Commerce. Expenses incidental upon business or commercial operations, especially such as do not come under other particular headings of the Profit and Loss Account.
1546. Johnson, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 143, II. 174. I have allowed for freight and charges of the same thiether.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 17. Tolls, fees, and tariffs of charges.
Mod. An analysis of the General Charges Account.
† e. To be at charge or at charges: to undergo (great) expense; to bear the expense or cost. So also, to be at the charge(s of. Obs.
1542. Brinklow, Compl., vii. (1874), 20. Nexte terme he must be at charge to come vp.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 256. Ile be at Charges for a Looking-glasse.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 110/2. These live sparingly, Are never at the charges of a Barber, Unguents, or Baths.
1714. Steele, Lover, i. (1723), 7. As I am a young Author … he would not be at that Charge.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 212. It is not needful that the Court should be at great Charges for this Pomp.
11. A liability to pay money laid upon a person or estate.
c. 1570. Thynne, Pride & Lowl. (1841), 20. To setten downe a bill of charge.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 54. Charge is where a Man granteth a Rent issuing out of his ground … this is called a Rent-charge.
1788. J. Powell, Devises (1827), II. 51. They do not furnish a single case of such a charge failing in event by the death of the devisee in the devisor’s life time.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, I. iv. (1852), 109. Whether the same proportional charge should be made on incomes of 100l. or 500l. a year, as on those of 1000l. or 5000l.? Ibid., II. vii. 318. A mere charge by one government department against others.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy Bk. Prop. Law, xxiv. 184. Limitation has … been put upon proceedings to recover charges on the estate.
1885. Act 48 & 49 Vict., c. 54 § 11. Any mortgage or charge duly created … upon the profits of any benefice.
**** Responsibility, care.
12. A task or duty laid upon one; commission, trust, responsibility; an office entrusted to one.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 20790 (Fairf.). He wille take na charge on him.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 393.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 28. Jason thenne began to thenke on the grete honour and charge that he hadde receyued.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxviii. § 2. Whose mere function or charge is the service of God.
1648. Milton, Tenure Kings (1650), 45. Pastors have a dreadfull charge, not performed by a formal preachment twise a week.
1754. Chatham, Lett. Nephew, iii. 14. Your tutor … I dare say he is every way equal to such a charge.
1810. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 151. It is incumbent on those who accept of great charges, to risk themselves on great occasions.
1885. Manch. Exam., 10 Jan., 5/2. He is now obliged by ill-health to seek a less burdensome charge, and the living becomes vacant. [Cf. 14.]
13. The duty or responsibility of taking care of (a person or thing); care, custody, superintendence. Phrase, To have, take, give (the) charge of.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 5. He shal take þe charge al sone as he is warned þerof.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8952. A cheftan with charge of hom all.
1483. Cath. Angl., 59. A charge, cura.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xc[i]. 11. He shall geue his angels charge ouer the.
1611. Bible, Acts viii. 27. An Eunuch … who had the charge of all her treasure. Ibid., 1 Macc. xiv. 42. He should take charge of the Sanctuarie.
1727. Swift, What passed in Lond., Wks. 1755, III. I. 187. If the reverend CLERGY showed more concern than others, I charitably impute it to their great charge of souls.
1841. Macaulay, W. Hastings, Ess. (1854), II. 597/1. His uncle … determined to take charge of him.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxvi. Under the charge of her kind … patroness.
b. In charge (of) is used both actively and passively; e.g., to leave children in charge of a nurse, or a nurse in charge of the children. The latter is the more recent use; thence officer, clerk, curate in charge, i.e., having actually the charge or care (of a place, business, etc.), ‘on duty.’ To give (an object) in charge (to a person): (a.) to commit (it) to his care, entrust him with it; (b.) to give an order or command, to charge (see sense 15, and CHARGE v. 14). To give (a person) in charge: to hand over to the custody of the police. So to have, take in charge.
1513. More, Rich. III. (1641), 276. Forgetting nothing given to him in charge.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., I. ii. 70. Where is the gold I gaue in charge to thee?
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 349. The Earl of Bulloin having in charge matters of greater concernment.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 478. The weighty terms, That he had taken in charge.
1793. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 51. I have it in charge from the President to assure the merchants … that [etc.].
1835. Marryat, Jac. Faithf., i. I was now left almost altogether in charge of the deck.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 442, note. They [the Dutch Archives] are in the charge of gentlemen whose courtesy, liberality, and zeal for the interests of literature, cannot be too highly praised.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1872), I. 78. Having the education of young girls in charge.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, iv. 33. No one seemed to know what it is to be ‘in charge,’ or who was in charge.
1885. Manch. Exam., 23 May, 5/4. Mr. Shaw-Lefevre … was left … in full charge of the House.
1885. Sir C. Butt, in Law Rep., Probate, 101. The European … was in charge of a duly licensed pilot.
1887. Newspr. The thief was promptly arrested and given in charge.
14. A thing or person entrusted to the care or management of any one. spec. The people or district committed to the care of a minister of religion.
1530. Palsgr., 157. Vne cûre, a cure, a parsonage, or a charge.
1590. Nashe, Pasquil’s Apol., 12. I wyll not be theyr vpholder which lye sleeping and snorting in their charges.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxxiii. (1612), 300. When Stafford and his double charge to Italie were come.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. ii. 6. Dio. How now my charge? Cres. Now my sweet gardian.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 220.
| Woe be to that Priest yborne | |
| That will not cleanly weed his corne | |
| And preach his Charge among. |
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 69. He hoped her fair charge was well.
1860. Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., x. (1866), 70. [The dog] has driven his charge away.
1872. E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. iv. 58. The vicar … resided on the latter charge.
1873. Burton, Hist. Scot., V. liv. 76. Instructions that the clergy should reside within their charges.
† b. Term for a ‘company’ of clergy having the cure of souls. Obs.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, F vij a. A Dignyte of chanonys, a Charge of curatis.
***** Mandate, admonition.
15. A precept, injunction, mandate, order.
138[?]. Wyclif, Last Age Ch. (1840), 24. The chargis of profetis tretynge þis matir.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 193. He … yaf him charge, That they ne suffre … His wife to go.
1535. Coverdale, Eccles. viii. 2. When a kynge geueth a charge, his commaundement is mightie.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. xviii. 5. The king gaue all the captaines charge concerning Absalom.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 324. A charge or commandment.
1702. Pope, Sapho, 119. No charge I gave you, and no charge could give, But this, be mindful of our loves, and live.
1726. Gay, Fables, I. xlviii. 36.
| Hast thou, thou most ungrateful sot, | |
| My charge, my only charge forget? |
1839. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., ii. (1847), 11. His parting charge.
b. spec. An official instruction or admonition given by a judge to a jury, by a bishop or archdeacon to his clergy, or by a member of a presbytery or senior minister to a young minister at his ordination.
1690. Bp. of Worc.’s Charge, 11 Sept., 1. The Charge was given by the Bishop himself.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1816), II. 245. Johnson … with humourous formality gave me a Charge, pointing out the conduct expected from me.
1864. Daily News, 26 March, 2/2. Irving’s ‘charge’ to the young minister at London-wall is something almost terrible to read.
1881. Bp. Wordsworth, in Public Opinion, No. 1044. 395. The main portion of my charge … delivered at our annual synod in Perth.
1888. Falkirk Mail, 1 Sept., 3/5. Mr. Reid … ascended the pulpit and delivered the charge to the pastor and the congregation.
Mod. In his charge to the jury, the Lord Chief Justice said, etc.
c. Sc. Law. The command of the sovereign’s letters to perform some act, e.g., to enter an heir. Also, the messenger’s copy of service, requiring the person to obey this command, or generally to fulfil the decrees of a court of law.
****** Accusation.
16. Attribution or imputation of something culpable; accusation.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., iii. in Ashm., 43. I pray God that this turne not me to Charge.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, D vij b. Puttyng the charge of the dede upon other.
1577. Patericke, trans. Gentillet’s Agst. Machiavel, (1602), 318. The gentleman … gave charge upon those which had taken away his betrothed wife.
1625. Bacon, Truth, Ess. (Arb.), 501. Such a Disgrace, and such an Odious Charge.
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 50. 324. He cannot prove these heavy Charges of Disloyalty.
1777. Priestley, Matter & Spir. (1782), I. Pref. 34. The writer … has well defended my hypothesis from the charge of infidelity.
1867. Mrs. Oliphant, Madonna M., iii. That such a charge was hanging over her head.
1880. McCarthy, Own Times, IV. lxiii. 418. He made the most startling and … the most sweeping charges.
b. Phr. To lay to one’s charge: to impute to one as a fault, charge one with, charge upon one.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xxxiv. [xxxv.] 11. False witnesses … laye to my charge thinges that I knowe not.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. ii. 139. To lay his Goatish disposition on the charge of a Starre.
1796. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., ii. (1813), 172. Two offences … you last night laid to my charge.
1872. E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. v. 75. Not having anything very serious to lay to the charge of the man himself.
c. spec. The accusation upon which a prisoner is brought up for trial; hence, in the slang of the police: A prisoner charged with an offence and brought up for trial.
1859. Sala, Tw. round Clock (1861), 422. One by one the ‘charges’ were brought in … and set before him in that little iron-railed dock. Some were felonious charges: scowling, beetle-browed, under-hung charges, who had been there many times before, and were likely to come there many times again.
III. An impetuous attack (and allied senses).
† 17. The position of a weapon ready for action. Cf. CHARGE v. 21. Obs.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. i. 120. Their armed Staues in charge, their Beauers downe.
1635. Barriffe, Mil. Discip., ii. (1643), 10. The Charges of the Pike are twofold, either for Defence, or Offence.
1650. R. Elton, Art. Milit., I. v. (1668), 5.
18. Mil. An impetuous attack or onset; the act of bearing down impetuously upon the opposing force (see quot. 1832). Also said of the rush of a powerful animal, as a bull, an elephant, of a player at football, etc.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 275. It chaunced certeine French men and Almaynes to geve such a charge and onset of the English hoste, that perforce they opened the Archers of the Princes battaile.
1579. Digges, Stratiot., 152. To abide a charge.
1611. Bible, 2 Macc. xi. 11. And giuing a charge vpon their enemies like lions, they slew eleuen thousand footmen, & fifteene hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. II. 41/158. This Leader was of knowledge great, Either for Charge or for Retreat.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. xix. 531. The two armies rushed with equal fury to the charge.
1832. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, III. 63. The Charge is that attack made with the greatest velocity and regularity possible, to break the order of the opposite enemy.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. viii. (1857), 137. Egmont returned to the charge, but was forced back with greater loss than before.
1855. Tennyson (title), Charge of the Light Brigade.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, v. The ‘Bravos’ of the School-house attest the pluckiest charge of all that hard-fought day.
1887. Spectator, 16 April, 532/1. Reform meetings were dispersed by charges of Dragoons.
b. fig.; esp. in phr. To return to the charge.
1752. Johnson, Rambl., No. 194, ¶ 11. He returns every day to the charge with increase of courage.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xiii. 165 (Hoppe). Nor, although he returned to the charge very often, could he obtain any useful intelligence on these essential particulars.
19. Mil. A signal for the attack sounded on a trumpet or other instrument. (Also fig.)
1650. R. Elton, Art Milit., III. xxiii. (1668). The several beats of the Drum; as first, of a Call; second, a Troop;… a March;… a Preparative;… a Battle or Charge;… a Retreat.
1682. Otway, Venice Pres., I. i. Beats not my heart as’t would alarum thine [heart] To a new charge of bliss?
1690. W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 92. The trumpets on both sides sound the charge.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxxiv. The pipers on both sides blew their charge.
1854. J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), I. xix. 311. The … proclamation rang like a trumpet charge over the hills and valleys of France.
20. Comb., as charge-bearer, -bearing; charge-inspector, an officer who inspects the charges entered in a charge-sheet; charge-man, the leader of a working squad; charge-sheet, the paper kept at a police-station on which are duly entered the names of persons brought in custody to the station, with the charge against them, etc.; charge-ways adv. (see 7), in the manner of a ‘charge’ or horse-plaister.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell. (1628), 272 A German souldier was obserued to kill in the field some Captayne or *charge-bearer among the Romans.
1592. Dee, Comp. Rehears., in Chetham Misc. (1851), I. 35. I have received … in money towards some of my *charges-bearing the son of [etc.].
* 1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 July, 3/1. The *charge inspector, being trained as a criminal lawyer as well as a policeman.
1885. R. Dale, in Daily News, 23 Oct., 6/6. I, as a *charge man, was the oldest at the particular hammer that I worked at.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Aug., 9/1. It was the custom for the constable to give the information which appears in the *charge-sheet.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Dispens., xvi. (1734), 304. Apply it *Charge-ways.
