Forms: 5–6 combyne(n, 6– combine. [a. F. combine-r (14th c. in Littré), ad. late L. combīnāre to join two by two, yoke together, f. com- + bīnī two together; perh. the Eng. was formed directly from the Latin.]
1. trans. To couple or join two or more things together: † a. material things in material union.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 88. Combynyn, or copulyn … combino, copulo.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 308/2. A Synue cut a sunder … and how the Chirurgione shoulde combine agayne the same.
1616. Bullokar, Combine, to couple or joyne together.
b. persons or material things in non-material or ideal union: To join in action, condition, or feeling; to conjoin, band together, associate, ally.
1503. More, Ruful Lamentation (R.). The faithful loue, that dyd vs both combyne.
1593. Abp. Bancroft, Dangerous Positions, III. xvi. 131. They haue combined themselues together into a strange brotherhood.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 388. God, the best maker of all Marriages, Combine your hearts in one, your Realmes in one.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Christ despised no man. Combining man to himself by the fresh cement of his precious blood.
1749. R. Hurd, Comm. Horace Ars P., Note (R.). The art of combining woods, lakes, and rocks, into … agreeable pictures.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. i. 329. A sense of common danger might … combine them in operations of defence.
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, xxii. 282. The youths and maidens combined themselves with the gentler animals into groups.
c. things immaterial; esp. in to combine efforts, forces, etc.
1529. More, Heresyes, I. Wks. 112/1. Which two pointes, himselfe had combyned and knitte together.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., III. 1115. Ordain we then two sorrows to combine, And in one point the extremes of grief to join.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., III. § 10. Every one’s true interest is combined with his duty.
1862. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., II. v. 151. It is only to a limited extent that the education of children can be advantageously combined with bodily labour.
1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., III. V. iii. 451. Known for combining sacred and classical studies in his monastery.
† d. To combine a league. Obs.
1562. Phaër, Æneid, IX. (R.), Old duke Cedicus … did combyne … freendly league with Remulus of Tyburt coast.
2. To cause to unite or coalesce into one body or substance; esp. in Chem.
1799. G. Smith, Laborat., I. 5. To combine oil with sulphur.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat, § 117. It generally exists combined with some other liquid.
3. To unite (distinct qualities); to possess or exhibit in union.
1827. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 49. Combining French clearness with old English depth.
1856. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., v. (1858), 244. A position which … combined … strength, beauty, and fertility.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 18. Some substance which will … combine the characters requisite for all the different functions of Money.
4. intr. To come together into one body, coalesce; spec. in Chem. to enter into chemical union, unite by chemical affinity with. Cf. COMBINATION 6.
1712. Blackmore, Creation, IV. The scattering bodies never would combine, Nor to compose a world by concourse join.
1766. T. Amory, J. Buncle (1825), III. 223. The mercury revivified, and the acid combined with it.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 139. The oxide of manganese … combines with the oxygen.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 444. Silver combines with chlorine when … heated in contact with the gas.
fig. 1856. Froude, Hist. Eng., I. 291. Their wisdom, if we may so use the word, combines crudely with any form of superstition or fanaticism.
5. To unite together for a common purpose, to co-operate for some end; to confederate, form a union, spec. for some economic, social, or political purpose; to form a combination.
[1529. Hen. VIII., in Fiddes, Life Wolsey, Collect. p. xxxiv. A great part of the youth … with contentious factions and manner, daily combineing together.]
1605. Shaks., Lear, V. i. 29. Combine together ’gainst the Enemie.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 241. All … combine to drive The lazy Drones from the laborious Hive.
1722. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), II. VII. 18. Though the powers of darkness … combine against them.
1770. Burke, Pres. Discont. When bad men combine, good men must associate.
1883. Law Rep., 11 Q. B. Div. 568. The parties combined to negotiate a loan contrary to the provisions of the Companies Act.
1890. Railway Herald, 31 May, 11/2. The Tradesmen, Miners and Dockers have sufficient strength … should they combine respectively.
b. fig. of things.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xiii. 103. Their pride and their prejudices combined against him.
1814. Southey, Roderick, xxiii. The forms of piety and war, In strange but fitting union must combine.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Napoleon, Wks. (Bohn), I. 369. The times … and his early circumstances, combined to develop this pattern democrat.
¶ 6. In the following, perh. = To bind: cf. COMBIND. But other conjectures are current.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. iii. 149. For my poore selfe, I am combined by a Sacred Vow, And shall be absent. [Cf. A. Y. L., V. iv. 156, and COMBINATE a. b.]
