[ad. L. conclūd-ĕre to shut up closely, close, end, f. con- + claudĕre to close, shut.]
I. To shut up, enclose, include.
† 1. (in physical sense). Obs. or arch.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 423. [There] be ij waters, oon of whom concludethe an yle moved to and fro with the wynde.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 92. It is usual to conclude them in Parks.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., I. xi. 449. When an animal is concluded in a limited quantity of … air, it dies as soon as the air is vitiated.
1859. Tennyson, Merlin & Viv., 510. I dreamt Of some vast charm concluded in that star.
b. fig. 1388. Wyclif, Gal. iii. 22. But scripture hath concludid [1382 enclosyde] alle thingis vndir synne.
1611. Bible, Rom. xi. 32. God hath concluded [Gr. συνέκλεισε, Revised shut up] them all in vnbeliefe, that he might haue mercy vpon all.
1865. Bushnell, Vicar. Sacr., III. v. 358. Whom he has first arrested and concluded in sin.
† 2. To include, comprehend, comprise, sum up.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 500. And schortly to concluden al his wo, So moche sorwe had never creature.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 160. There be … .x. commaundementes … but they be all concluded and comprehended in two.
1647. N. Bacon, Hist. Disc., lvi. (1651), 162. That … the written Laws were wholly concluded into the Norman tongue.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., III. 11. In the simple Concord I conclude all his compounds.
1709. Stanhope, Paraphr., IV. 53. Each Member of the City or Borough is concluded as a Citizen.
1828. C. Wordsworth, King Chas. I., 154. It appears … in a nutshell, contained and concluded almost wholly under that single word ‘however.’
† b. To shut up or comprehend within definite limits; to restrict, confine. (Also with up.) Obs.
1548. Gest, Pr. Masse, 118. Whereas Christ saieth God is in heaven, he doth not by yt his so saieng conclud and hemen him ther.
1642. Declar. Lords & Com., 6 June, 6. Much lesse can the Power of Parliament be concluded by his Majesties command.
1646. J. Gregory, Notes & Observ. (1650), 72. The Faithful Church of that time, concluded up in the family of Seth.
1679. Penn, Addr. Prot., II. ii. (1692), 68. Those that chuse to be concluded by the Letter and Text of Christ’s Testament.
c. To confine, or shut up to.
1646. H. Laurence, Comm. & Warre with Angels, Aa 3 b. The saints not so concluded to one Angell, as not to injoy oftentimes the service of many.
† 3. a. To shut up from a course of action, etc.; to preclude, debar, restrain, ‘estop.’ Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Sam. xviii. 28. Blessid be the Lord thi God, that hath concludid the men, that rereden her hoondis ayens my lord the kyng.
1483. Act 1 Rich. III., c. 6 § 1. The said … Defendants be not concluded thereby, but … may answer and plead to the Action.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (1870), 85. The protestacion to be entred ther … but not to conclude us from judginge of Flood.
1705. Stanhope, Paraphr., III. 176. Suffer Lazarus to go and warn my Relations who are not yet thus finally concluded by Death.
b. To shut up to a course of action, etc.; to bind, oblige. Still in legal use.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 185. This open thing … Concludeth him by suche a way, That he the feith mo nede obey.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 36 § 1. Fynes with proclamacions … shuld be a fynal ende and conclud aswel pryuies as strangers to the same.
1671. H. Stubbe, Reply, 24. The Theologicians did not hold themselves concluded by the Sentiments of the Canonists.
1690. Locke, Govt., II. viii. (Rtldg.), 98. The consent of the majority shall … conclude every individual.
1883. Law Rep., 1 Q. Bench, 575. In settling the value of a copyhold fine the tenant is not concluded by the amount of rent … reserved on the premises.
† 4. To overcome in argument; to confute, ‘shut up’; to convince. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14713 (Cott.). Wit wordes suilk war þai Wit scil concluded and ouercummin.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, Catharina, 256. A madyne … Þat throw gret wit & sutelte Concludis all my mene & me.
1401. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 86. By verre contradiccion thou concludist thi silf.
1407. Exam. W. Thorpe, in Arb., Garner, VI. 53. In all those temptations, Christ concluded the Fiend.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 459/2. When they be contuted and concluded openly therin.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 283. Though the Scythians had better Arguments to offer … they would not be concluded by them.
[1858. Bushnell, Serm. New Life, 92. The mere seeing of any wonder never concludes the mind of the spectator.]
† b. To refute (a statement). Obs. rare.
1388. Wyclif, Prol., 36. Job argueth aȝens hise enemyes … and concludith many errouris that suen of hire false bileeue.
II. To close any transaction; to end.
5. trans. To bring to a close or end; to wind up, finish, close. (Said of a person, or of a final act, etc.)
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. For my beheste with deathe I shall conclude.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 417. In euery triangle … three lines, the first beginneth, the seconde augmenteth, the third concludeth it a figure.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. i. 190. His fault concludes, but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt.
1592. Earl Essex, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 237, III. 164. My Lady Walsingham … doth now conclude all sutes with one request.
1660. T. Willsford, Scales Comm., 113. Saturday concluding both moneth and year, and Sunday beginning the year 1660.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian (1824), 697. She would have concluded her days within the walls of San Stefano.
Mod. This concluded the proceedings of the meeting.
absol. 1847. Tennyson, Princ., II. 429. A solemn grace Concluded.
† b. To put an end to, ‘do for’ (a person). (Now humorous.)
1606. G. W[oodcocke], trans. Ivstine, 118 a. The stratigem that concluded the Father.
1612. Shelton, Quix., I. I. iv. 24. Pay him instantly or else … I will conclude thee, and annihilate thee.
1862. E. Lear, A Book of Nonsense, 63.
| There was an Old Person of Cromer, who stood on one leg to read Homer; | |
| When he found he grew stiff, he jumped over the cliff, | |
| Which concluded that person of Cromer. |
† c. Const. inf. with to. Obs.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), H v a. And here I conclude to speake of exercise. Ibid. (1541), Gov., II. vii. And here I conclude to write any more at this tyme of mercy.
6. absol. To make an end of an action, e.g., speech or writing; to end, finish, close (with or by).
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm., p. xlix. Concluding with this clause.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 303. The bysshops concludynge answered and sayd, We haue no kynge but Cesar.
1541. Barnes, Wks. (1573), 222/2. After much communication, hee concluded wyth mee, & sayd, how that I was but a foole.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. ii. 57. And to conclude, The Victorie fell on vs.
1776–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. x. 37. By this time, you are ready to fear I shall never conclude at all.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., II. lxiii. In bloodier acts conclude those who with blood began.
1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, 55. My paper being filled … I must conclude with kind regards to Emily.
7. intr. Of things: To come to a close or end; to close, end, finish, terminate.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 839. Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe.
1616. Brent, trans. Sarpi’s Hist. Counc. Trent (1676), 392. To avoid all negotiation, because it would conclude with the dishonour of the Pope.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 207, ¶ 12. Nothing is ended with honour, which does not conclude better than it began.
1885. Law Rep., 29 Chanc. Div. 457. The report … concluded as follows.
† b. To end, issue, or result in; = END v. 5 b.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1677), 465. It must … at last conclude either in Popery or Atheism.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 336. All pious frauds have ever concluded at last in Superstition or Atheism, or the ruine of that … Party that used them.
III. To come to a conclusion, infer, prove.
8. To arrive by reasoning at a judgment or opinion; to come to a conclusion, draw an inference, infer, deduce. a. with subord. cl.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 694. I wol conclude that it is bet for me To sleen myself.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 172. The Pope concluded that he regned nevyr but be strength and violens.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 163 b. Rosell, Angelus, and other doctours determyneth and concludeth that, etc.
1611. Bible, Rom. iii. 28. Therefore wee conclude, that a man is iustified by faith.
1668. Hale, Pref. Rolle’s Abridgm., 7. It were a vain thing to conclude it is irrational, because not to be demonstrated … by Syllogismes.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. xvi. By his way of speaking, I concluded there were six.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. iv. 129. Concluding that his life was in danger.
b. with obj. and inf. compl. (to be often omitted).
c. 1532. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 1071. Ye have concluded you a phisycion.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. 138. Reson concludyth bothe necessary and expedyent to be, to have al lawys in the vulgare tong.
1628. Ford, Lover’s Mel., I. iii. Then you conclude me proud?
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., Pref. 17. We cannot but conclude such Prognostics to be within the circle of possibilities.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. xiv. Some concluded him dead.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. 1842, I. 12. The greatest part of the governments … must be concluded tyrannies.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 262. We concluded it unsafe to anchor.
c. with simple obj.: To infer.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. iv. 125. Yif I haue concluded soþe of þe vnselynesse of shrewednesse.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7470. Shaltow never of apparence Seene conclude good consequence.
1583. Babington, Commandm., i. (1637), 4. That we might conclude liberty thereon to sinne at our pleasure?… No, no.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, vi. To conclude the finenesse of the cloth from the largenesse of the measure.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 317. What conclud’st thou hence?
1729. Franklin, Busy-Body, No. 5, Wks. 1905, II. 123. All this is infer’d and concluded from a Character I have wrote in my Number III.
1864. Bowen, Logic, vii. 201. From EA in the Second, we may conclude not only E, but O.
d. absol. or with preps. (Chiefly as to manner.)
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., X. vii. To conclude truely.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 11. Not to conclude or dogmatize vpon this or that peremptorily.
1701. Jer. Collier, trans. M. Aurelius, 82–3. Don’t you conclude upon any real damage; for there’s no such thing.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xxviii. You … conclude too hastily from the infelicity of marriage against its institution.
1834. Fonblanque, Eng. under 7 Admin. (1837), III. 19. Our own experience certainly concludes unfavourably to the use of the wig.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 164. From the omnipresence of geometry, Oersted thus concludes to a universal beauty of form.
† 9. trans. To lead to the conclusion; to demonstrate, prove. (Said of a person, an argument, etc.) Const. obj. and compl., or subord. cl. Obs.
1549. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Priests. Nothyng … but that … may be concluded, and proued by the scripture.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, I. i. The success Concludes the victor innocent.
1687. H. More, App. Antid., x. § 7. 207. That our arguments are sophistical because they … conclude that there is an incorporeal substance in beasts.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xii. 257. I … concluded to the commanders that they had done what they … should have been ashamed of.
a. 1797. Burke, Tracts Popery Laws, Wks. 1842, II. 434. This mode of conviction … concludes the party has failed in his expurgatory proof.
† 10. intr. To lead to a conclusion, be conclusive. Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 98. Thy reason in this case concludeth not.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. viii. § 3 (1622), 58. No part of his Obiection concludeth for pure Atheists.
1653. Ashwell, Fides Apost., 155. This is but a negative argument, and concludeth not.
1713. Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., iii. This objection concludes equally against a creation in any sense.
1714. Fortescue-Aland, Pref. to Fortescue’s Abs. & Lim. Mon., 7. The Argument will equally conclude to both.
IV. To bring or come to a decision, settle, decide, determine.
11. trans. To bring (a matter) to a decision or settlement; to decide, determine (a point, a case at law). b. To settle, arrange finally (a treaty, peace, etc.).
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxl. 169. They wolde bring thyder their lorde the Erle of Flanders, and there to conclude vp the maryage.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 736. The French king … determined to conclude a truce.
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 127/2. Such orders as are concluded, and established in parlement.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iv. 107. Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 3. Five Commissaries … who should treat of the differences and should have power to conclude them.
1792. Anecd. W. Pitt, I. viii. 187. He had concluded a treaty with Spain.
1885. Sir J. C. Mathew, Law Rep., 14 Q. Bench Div. 465. The case is concluded practically by the decision in Read v. Anderson.
12. To come to the conclusion or decision (to do a thing), to decide (on a course of action), determine, resolve. Const. inf. or subord. cl.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, I. viii. (1558), 11 b/1. This stepmother … concluded hath in her entencion Him to destroy.
c. 1490. Caxton, Blanchardyn, 205. They concluded with in them selfe, that they sholde lye al nyghte in their harneys.
c. 1532. Ld. Berners, Huon, xlix. 165. He … concludyd to send for all his men of warre.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1850. They did conclude to beare dead Lucrece thence.
1611. Bible, Acts xxi. 25. As touching the Gentiles which beleeue, wee haue written and concluded, that they obserue no such thing, saue onely that they keepe themselues from things offered to idoles, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xxix. (1647), 81. The Emperour and the King of France concluded to besiege Damascus.
1707. Funnell, Voy. (1729), 153. Finding a loss in boiling our meat we concluded to eat it raw.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 262. We concluded to drop an anchor as soon as we got into clean ground.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1842), I. 623. It was concluded to bring him to trial.
1832. De Quincey, Cæsars, Wks. 1862, IX. 85. This plan, however, he hesitated to adopt, from some apprehension that he should be torn to pieces on his road to the forum; and, at all events, he concluded to postpone it to the following day.
1853. Miss Yonge, Heir of Redclyffe, vii. She … concluded that she would wait.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., I. 79. My wife concluded to hire a balcony.
a. 1869. Conington, Misc. Writ. (1872), I. 126–7. He [the king] concludes to carry out at once the resolution he had formed, and to send Hamlet to England, with secret instructions, of which we now hear for the first time, to have him put to death on landing.
1876. L. Stephen, Hist. Eng. Thought, I. 422. He … concludes to express his sentiments.
† b. pass. (Cf. to be determined, resolved.) Obs.
1452. Dk. York, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 13. I … am fully concluded to proceed in all haste against him.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xi. At the last they were concluded that Merlyn shold goo with a token of kyng Ban.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Certus, I am concluded to do it.
1643. [Angier], Lanc. Vall. Achor, 3. We are all unanimously concluded to be ayding and assisting.
† 13. intr. To come to a decision, make an arrangement or agreement, resolve, determine. a. of, on, upon (a question, a thing to be done, etc.).
1475. Caxton, Jason, 48 b. Jason … hering the fayr Myrro so ordeyne and conclude of their sodayn departing. Ibid. (1490), Eneydos, xl. (1890), 131. Whan … they had concluded togyder of ther besines.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cliv. 185. To conclude on another maner of peace.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. II. 41. The Negros and we soone concluded of price.
1666. Pepys, Diary (1879), IV. 97. We judged a third man is necessary, and concluded on Sir W. Warren.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 30. They might … conclude upon the measures they intended to pursue.
1727. Philip Quarll (1816), 34. This being concluded on by all parties.
1796. Mrs. E. Parsons, Myst. Warning, III. 183. Peace has been concluded upon.
† b. with (a person, etc.): To agree, come to an arrangement, make terms. Obs.
1462. Edw. IV., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 41, I. 127. [They] have conspired, accorded, concluded, and determined with owr outward enemyes as well of Fraunce and of Scotland.
1586. Warner, Alb. Eng., I. vi. (1612), 20. Concluding with his companie how to conuay her thence.
1591. Lambarde, Arch. (1635), 213. Howsoever they should conclude amongst themselves.
1680. C’tess Manchester, in Hatton Corr. (1878), 217. My Lord hath concluded wth him to travell wth my son.
† c. To close with (an opinion). Obs.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589), 259. Concluding with their opinion who persuaded to fight.
† 14. trans. To decide or determine upon. Obs.
c. 1532. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxv. 223. These .ii. traytours deuysyd and concludyd the deth of Huon.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 1372. His death was concluded one evening, and … should have been put in execution the next day.
15. intr. Sc. Law. In a summons (now, only in the Court of Session): To state formally, in a clause called the ‘conclusion,’ the object or objects sought for. See CONCLUSION 14.
1826. in P. Shaw, Cases, IV. 310. I am now satisfied that it is not necessary to conclude for expenses.
1868. Act 31–2 Vict., c. 101 § 59. It shall be lawful to libel and conclude and decern for general adjudication.
