Again

adv., prep., conj. Forms: 1 ongegn, ongægn, ongeægn, ongén, onʓeán, onʓán; later aʓén, aʓeán, aʓán. South. 2 onȝein, oȝein, anȝen, 2–4 aȝein, aȝen, aȝé, 3 aë, 3–4 aȝeyn, aȝayn, ayé, 4 ayein, aȝeen, 5 ayhen, ayhé, 5–6 ayen(e. North. 4 ogayn(e, ogain(e, 4–6 agayn(e, again(e, (Sc. agane, agone). Midl. 3 onnȝænn, aȝean, aȝan, aȝeon, aȝon, agen, 3–4 ageyn, 5–6 ageyn(e, agein(e, agayn(e, 5–7 againe, 7–9 again, in poets agen.

  [f. OE. like the cogn. langs. shows two forms: (1) onʓeán, earlier *onʓeaʓn, onʓeæʓn, ongægn, *ongagn, OHG. in gagan, cf. ON. gagn sb., gagn- adv. pref.; (2) onʓén, earlier onʓeʓn, ongegn, OS. angegin, OHG. in gegin, in gegini (MHG. engegene, engein, mod.G. entgegen), ON. i gegn (Sw. igen, Dan. igjen); f. on, in + (1) gagn, (2) gegn, best explained as:—*gag(a)na, *gag(a)ni, variant O- and I- stems of gag(a)n. Not found in Gothic. From onʓén came the various southern forms of which ayen was the type; from the earlier ongegn, onʓeʓn, the type ayein; from aʓeán, the southern and midl. types ayan, ayon; from the earlier ongægn, ongæʓn (perh. influenced later by Norse), the northern a-gain. The late agen was a mixed form between ayen and again, and showed the common literary pronunciation even when again was written; hence it was used by the poets down to the present century (found 1834). 2. The primary meaning of gagn, gegn seems to have been ‘direct, straight’ (see GAIN a. and sb., and cf. ON. gegn adj.), whence on-gegn ‘in a direct line with, opposite, facing locally,’ and so extended to all ideas of meeting, opposition, reversal, recurrence, repetition. Originally a separable adverbial particle, as in ongegncuman, which, when separated from the vb., became an adv. or prep. according to the construction: he cymeð aʓén, he him cymeð agén, he cymeð him aʓén, he cymeð aʓén him or hine. 3. As early as 1130 there arose in the south a variant with advb. genitive aȝenes, againes, corrupted bef. 1400 to aȝenst, against (see next word) as the prepositional form. Early in 16th c. again was restricted to the advb. use, and against alone used as prep. (and conj.). In Sc. and north Eng. where against was not adopted, again still retains all its early constructions, occasionally borrowed also by southern writers since 1525.]

  A.  adv.

  1.  † a. In the opposite direction; back. Obs.

993.  Batt. Maldon, 137. Ðæt spere sprengde, ðæt hit sprang onʓean.

c. 1220.  Leg. St. Kath., 1368. & ba binden ham swa, Þe fet & te honden, Þat ha wrungen aȝain.

1382.  Wyclif, Ecclus. xiii. 13. Be thou not to gredi, lest thou be put aȝeen [1611 put back].

c. 1400.  Apol. for Loll., 105. Þe wif of Loth, bat … loking aȝen, was turnid in to an image of salt. Ibid. No man leying hand to þe plowe, and loking aȝen, is able to þe kyndam of God.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., clxiii. 147. The walsshmen … were so strong that they dryuen the englysshmen ageyne.

  b.  esp. with go, come, wend, turn, throw: back, esp. all the way back, back to the point of starting Obs. exc. in the arch. and dial. ‘turn again,’ and as in d.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom. (Sweet 77). Gecyrde se apostol onʓean mid miclum wurðmynte.

1031.  O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.). Her com Cnut aʓan to Englalonde. Ibid. (1070). Swa Thomas to þam timan aʓean ferde buton bletsunga.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 79. Ȝif þu mare spenest of þine hwan ic aȝen cherre; al ic þe ȝelde.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 91. Elhc cristene man makeð þis dai procession fro chirche to chirche and eft agen.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Exod., 3267. Ðo quoðen he, ‘wende we a-gen, An[d] israel folc lete we ben.’

c. 1300.  Beket, 147. And was oute threo ȝer and an half, er he aȝe com.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. I. 407. Fynde and see, And þanne torne home aȝe. Ibid. (1398), Barth. De P. R., IX. iii. (1495), 347. A cercle that comyth agayne into itself and is renewed.

1513.  More, Edw. V. (1641), 17. But sith things passed cannot be called againe.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 217. Nay, come againe, good Kate, I am a gentleman. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., IV. iii. 1. Againe: and bring me word how ’tis with her.

1611.  Bible, Judg. iii. 19. Hee himselfe turned againe from the quarries. Ibid., Luke x. 35. When I come again, I will repay thee [1881 Revised I, when I come back again, will repay thee].

1678.  Bunyan, Pilgrim, 9. Come then, Neighbour Pliable, let us turn again, and go home.

1742.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 363. Go and shut the Chamber-door and come to me again.

Arch.  ‘Turn again Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London!’

Mod. Sc.  I have come far enough, it is time for me to turn again.

  † c.  To and again: to and fro, backwards and forwards. Obs.

1628.  Digby, Voy. to Medit. (1868), 7. Wee plyed to and againe the Spanish shore.

1665.  Pepys, Diary, 15 July. Staid an hour crossing the water to and again.

1697.  Perry, Hist. Coll. Am. Col. Ch. They all sat down not at a table but to and again about the room as we are now sitting.

1702.  W. J., trans. Bruyn’s Voy. to Levant, ii. 3. A white Plume of Peacocks Feathers … which they wafted to and agen to drive off the Flies.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1858), 356. He walked along the shore, to-and-again, with his father.

1736.  Bailey (Fol.).

  d.  strengthened with back, re-turn; thus passing into 3. (In OE. eft ‘again’ was strengthened by onʓeán ‘back’; in mod. Eng. again having taken the place of eft requires back in place of onʓeán.)

1052.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). And ʓewende þa Godwine eorl ut aʓean … and ða oðra scipu ʓewenden heom eft onʓean to Sandwic.

1506.  Guylford, Pylgr., 7. The 16th day of June we retournyd ayen to Venys.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iii. 8. Nurse, come backe againe.

1611.  Bible, Prov. ii. 19. None that goe vnto her, returne againe.

1813.  Scott, Trierm., II. xxii. Recall thine oath! and to her glen Poor Gyneth can return agen.

  2.  In reaction or reciprocal action; in return, in reply, in response, back; either of an action returned, or one done in return for it. Obs. or arch. exc. in ‘Answer again,’ and as in b, c.

c. 1220.  Leg. St. Kath., 1331. We nullen, ne ne duren, warpen na word aȝain.

c. 1305.  St. Edm. Conf., 31. Hi seide aȝe þat hi ne miȝte noȝt bi so lute beo.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Squieres T., 124. And answere hym in his langage ageyn [Lansd. aȝeine, Camb. a-geyn].

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom. (1879), lx. 245. [He] wedde a ȝonge gentil damiselle to wyfe; and he loviede hir moche, and she hatide hin ayene.

c. 1500.  Notborune Mayd. (1842), 33. For neuer a dell He wyll me loue agayne.

1535.  Coverdale, Judg. i. 7. As I haue done, so hath God rewarded me agayne.

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Tit. ii. 9. Not answering againe, neither pickers.

1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 1113. Who did not whet his teeth at him again. Ibid. (1596), Merch. Ven., I. ii. 87. He would pay him againe when he was able. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., III. v. 132. I maruell why I answer’d not againe.

1611.  Bible, Luke vi. 35. Doe good and lend, hoping for nothing againe.

1662.  in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 68. The which we doe faithfully promise shall be payd to you agayne.

1742.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 78. If he did not love me again, would he have flung his Book at my head?

c. 1840.  Longf., Endymion, vii. Ye shall be loved again!

Mod. (? dial.).  Very saucy, and inclined to answer again.

  b.  esp. in ring, echo, etc., again, To echo back, re-echo; passing into, To sound in response or sympathy.

1561.  Bible (Genev.), 1 Sam. iv. 5. All Israel shouted a mightie shoute, so that the earth rang againe. [So 1611; Wycl. thurȝ sownede. Coverd. sounded withall.]

1605.  Shaks., Macb., V. iii. 53. I would applaud thee to the very Eccho, That should applaud againe.

1810.  Scott, Lady of L., II. xix. Echo his praise agen.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., I. 261. He laughed till the glasses in the sideboard rang again.

  c.  From echo, extended to creak, crack, thrill, shake, reel, dance, ache, shine, gleam, wink, etc., to express sympathetic response to action, indicating the intensity of the action itself.

a. 1536.  Tindale, Writings (1849), II. 12. They make poor women howl again.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 205. Wooing heere, vntill I swet againe … I gat a promise.

1623.  Massinger, Dk. of Milan, I. i. Drink hard; and let the health run through the city, Until it reel again.

1710.  Palmer, Proverbs, 53. To open upon the cry till they are hoarse again.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw. The wind blowing … till every timber of the old house creaked again. Ibid. Rubbing away [with the towel] till his face shone again.

1857.  W. Collins, Dead Secret, II. 72. She gallops and gallops till the horse reeks again. Ibid. (c. 1870), Biter Bit., 286. He struck his fist on the table so heavily that the wood cracked again.

  3.  Back into a former position or state; back.

a. 1067.  Charter of Eadweard, in Cod. Diplom., IV. 195. Gif ani land sy owt of ðen biscopriche ʓedon, ich wille ðæt hit cume in onʓean.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Exod., 405. And he sal bringen man a-gen In paradis to wunen and ben.

1297.  R. Glouc., 36. And a ȝeyn in his kyndom mid gret honour ydo.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4254. Til þou … haue heled þe werwolf … and maked to man aȝe.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. I. 119. Anon þey were i-cast vp aȝe.

a. 1400.  Covent. Myst., 377. From dethe to lyue I am resyn ageyn.

1475.  Bk. of Noblesse, 2. For relevyng and geting ayen the said Reaume.

c. 1540.  Wyatt, Compl. Love to Reason, 157. ‘Thou gave her once,’ quod I, ‘but by and by Thou took her ayen from me!’

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. i. 129. Take them againe. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, V. iii. 131. And would never Receive the ring again.

a. 1665.  Cleveland, Obseq., 39.

1728.  Young, Love of Fame, V. (1757), 121. Then Like April suns, dives into clouds agen.

a. 1763.  Shenstone, Odes, 214. ’Tis yours, ye fair, to bring those days agen.

1790.  Wolcott (Peter Pindar), Wks., 1812, II. 338. Go, children, to your leading-strings agen.

1818.  Byron, Childe Har., I. vii. Monks might deem their time was come agen.

1855.  H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Lit., vi. (1878), 216. Bringing … the old books to light and life again.

  b.  Back in a former position or state; anew; once more as before.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, Leg. G. Wom., 72. As of the lef agayn the flour to make.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom. (1879), 95. He is here ayene!

a. 1447.  Cdl. Beaufort, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 4, I. 8. Lette seele the Cofir aȝeyn with a signet of myn.

1624.  Quarles, Job (1717), 215. Confess to men, I was a Leper, but am clear agen.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 492, ¶ 3. You are to know these careless pretty Creatures are very Innocents again.

1835.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., II. 536. And Robin never was himself again.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 78. The principles of the treaty of Dover were again the principles of the foreign policy of England.

Mod.  Clown in the Pantomime: ‘Here we are again!’

  4.  Repetition of an action or fact: Another time; once more; any more; anew.

1382.  Wyclif, Ecclus. xxxi. 42. Bere thou not hym doun in aȝee asking.

c. 1450.  Lonelich, Grail, xvi. 367. Thanne Ioseph aȝen took þat schrewe … And bond him aȝen in alle mennes siht.

1526.  Tindale, John viii. 21. Then sayde Iesus agayne [Wycl. eft] vnto them.

a. 1528.  Skelton, Dk. of Albaney, 153. For ye be false echone False and false again.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., V. iii. 133. Speake it again! Twice saying Pardon doth not pardon twaine. Ibid. (1602), Ham., I. ii. 188. I shall not look upon his like again.

1611.  Bible, Gen. viii. 21. I will not againe [Wycl. no more] curse the ground any more for man’s sake.

a. 1622.  Wither, Brit. Rememb., 164. I saw how Cities, Commonwealths, and men, Did rise and fall, and rise and fali agen.

1736.  H. Browne, Pipe of Tob. (B. P.), ii. 21. Happy thrice and thrice agen, Happiest he of happy men.

1835.  Crabbe, Village, I. 193. He hears and smiles, then thinks again and sighs.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 137. He meditated the design of again confiscating and again portioning out the soil of half the island.

  b.  This sense is more fully expressed by once again, over again, and the repetition increased by too and again (obs.), again and again, ever and again, time and again. Now and again: occasionally, now and then.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Kings xviii. 34. Do it yet once. And they dyd it once agayne.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 372. I haue told thee often, and I re-tell thee againe and againe. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 134. I … Will cry it ore again. Ibid., III. ii. 44. Hearken once againe to the suite I made to thee.

1659.  Ross, in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 379. Your Committee too and again offered it as an expedient.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 26. You may thus work it round again and again.

1759.  Johnson, Rasselas, xlv. (1787), 130. They came again and again, and were every time more welcome than before.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 91. Again and again the assailants were driven back.

1865.  A. Trollope, Belton Est., ix. 96. I will come up every now and again.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., IV. 414. Time and again, he, listening to such word, Felt his heart kindle; time and again did seem As though a cold and hopeless tune he heard.

1876.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 188. The name appears over and over again.

1880.  Cyples, Hum. Exp., iii. 63. The flesh, ever-and-again, pleasantly tingles.

  5.  Repetition of quantity: Once repeated; as much again = this and as much more, twice as much; half as much again = this and half as much more, one-and-a-half times as much.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. iii. 7. Lent shall bee as long againe as it is.

1669.  Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. (1682), 11. A good deal larger … if not as large agen.

1695.  Dryden, Dufresnoy, Pref. p. xliij. (J.). A Theatre, more than as large and as deep again as ours.

1799.  Pope, Criticism, 81. Yet want as much again to manage it.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist., v. 178. The Grouse is about half as large again as a Partridge.

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 84. About half as heavy again as an equal bulk of atmospheric air.

  6.  Repetition locally (as on a tour): In any (or some) other place to which you may go; anywhere or somewhere besides, or further. arch.

1555.  Fardle of Facions, II. x. 209. Horses and mares, in suche plentie, as I beleue no parte of the earth hath againe.

a. 1626.  Bacon, War w. Spain, in Misc. Wks. (1670), 23 (J.). There is not in the world again, such a Spring and Seminary of brave Militar People, as in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United Provinces.

Mod.  You’ll not meet with the like of it in London again.

  7.  As another point or fact. a. of transition or contrast: On the other hand. b. of simple succession: Further, moreover, in the next place, besides.

a. 1533.  Frith, Answ. Rastell, § 15. He saith, We have an advocate; and saith again, for our sins.

1580.  Baret, Alvearie, A 222. And he againe on the other parte.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., II. ii. 113. Th’ other againe Is my kinsman. Ibid., V. v. 15. Come, litle ones: And then, again, it is as hard to come, as for a Camell To thred the postere of a needles eye.

1611.  Bible, 2 Sam. xvi. 19. And againe, whom should I serue?

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, 52 (J.). Those Things that we know not what to do withal if we Had them; and Those Things again, which Another Cannot Part with but to his own Loss and Shame.

1742.  Richardson, Pamela, IV. 87. But now again, see what succeeds to this.

1853.  Wallace, Euclid, III. v. Again, because E is the centre of the circle CDG, EC is equal to EG.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 499. What again is the legal effect of the words?

  † B.  prep. Obs. or dial.

  ¶  Illustrations of the development of the prep. from separable adverbial article.

a. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1067. Þá he onʓeán-cóm. Satan, 301 (Grein). [Se þe] ús onʓeán-cymeð. Hymn, iv. 59 (Grein). Þonne storm cymeð mínum ʓæste onʓeʓn. Ælfric, Hom. (Sweet 77). Him urnon onʓeán weras and wif. Ags. Gosp., Luke xiv. 31. Hwæðer he mæʓe cuman aʓén þone þe hym aʓén cymð.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1796. Esau him cam aȝen. Ibid., 3912. King … cam hem ageon.

a. 1300.  Havelok, 2024. Hwo mihte so mani stonden ageyn? Ibid., 3912. Hwo mouhte agey[n] so many stonde?

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 7942. Nathyng þam salle ogayne-stand. Ibid., 7964. Na thyng salle mow ogayne þam stand.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., 41. My bydyng standes he not ogane.

  † 1.  Of position: Opposite to, facing, in front of, in full view of. (= AGAINST 1.)

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xix. 30. Gaas in woerc þæt onʓeaeʓn is [Rushw. ongæʓn].

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., ibid. Farað on þæt castel þe onʓean [v.r. onʓen] inc ys.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Deut. xxxii. 49. On þam lande Moab, onʓean Iericho.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 3. Þane castel þet is onȝein eou.

1297.  R. Glouc., 6. Euene aȝeyn Fraunce stonde þe contre of Chichestre, Norwiche aȝeyn Denemarc, Chestre aȝeyn Yrlond.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 6366. Þe son sal þan in þe este stande … And þe mone ogayne it in þe weste.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, Leg. G. Wom., Prol. 48. To seen this flowre ayein the sunne sprede.

c. 1430.  Syr Generides, 8323. Right ageyn [Clarionas] he stoode.

c. 1440.  Morte Arth., 85. The mayde knelyd the kynge a gayne.

1466.  J. Paston’s Funeral, in Lett., 549, II. 266. To the iiii orders of fryers that rede ageyn the cors.

  † 2.  fig. Of mental attitude or disposition: Towards, in the sight of, in regard to. = AGAINST 3.

1340.  Ayenb., 114. Ne is hit naȝt grat þing ne grat ofservinge aye God.

c. 1430.  Lydgate, Bochas, II. xxvi. (1554), 62 a. To be piteous Ageine Cresus.

c. 1440.  Morte Arth., 52. Ageyne the kynge trator is he.

1540.  Whitinton, Tully’s Offyce, I. 44. Howe we shulde behaue ourselfe agayn other men.

  † 3.  Of motion: In a direction contrary to or facing; towards, in the direction of, forward to, to meet.

894.  O. E. Chron. Ða woldon ferian norð weardes … onʓeán ða scipu.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 5. Ure drihten sende his ii apostles oȝein þene castel.

c. 1200.  Moral Ode, 351. Þos goð uneaðe aȝien þe cliue and aȝien þe heie hulle.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Exod., 1438. Eliezer him cam a-gon.

c. 1300.  St. Brand., 32. That Aȝe me … threo journeyes he wende.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 3624. And prykeþ ys stede & forþ he nam Agayn þe hulle an heȝe.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Man of L. T., 293. And preyeth hir for to ride agein the queene.

c. 1440.  Morte Arth., 24. They ran as swithe as euyr they might Oute at the gates hym agayne.

  † b.  In reception of, in welcome of. = AGAINST 5 b.

a. 1300.  Havelok, 1106. Belles dede he ageyn hire ringen.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 118. Mald þe Emperice com to lond, Þe castelle of Arondelle open ageyn hir fond.

  † 4.  Advancing into forcible contact or into collision with; = AGAINST 6.

a. 1300.  Havelok, 568. Hise croune he þer crakede Ageyn a gret ston.

a. 1325.  Metr. Hom., 32. Mani pas, That than igain me casten was.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 2850. Wiþ ys fuste harde a gerte; Gyoun agayn þe teþ. Ibid., 2569. Casten aȝe þe wal.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. of Fame, 1035. Betynge of the see … ayen the roches holowe.

a. 1593.  Marlowe, Edward II., II. ii. 209. Libels are cast again thee in the street.

  † 5.  Towards with hostile intent; to meet in hostility. = AGAINST 11.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xviii. 29. Hwylce wrohte bringe ʓe onʓean þysne man?

c. 1250.  Gen. & Exod., 3912. King … seon, for to figten cam hem ageon.

1297.  R. Glouc., 451. Ladde ost gret ynou aȝe þe kyng & his.

a. 1305.  St. James, in E. E. Poems (1862), 58. Aȝen þe deuel he com adoun: & bad þe schrewe abide.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 356. To gone agayne pryde.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, XVI. 7315. The Prinse hym persayuit and preset hym agayn.

1664.  Flodden Field, viii. 75. Who manfully march’d them again.

[1782.  J. Trumbull, McFingal, II. (1795), 41. To each of whom, to send again ye Old Guy of Warwick were a ninny.]

  † 6.  gen. In hostility or active opposition to (with fight, strive, act, be, speak, murmur, etc.) = AGAINST 12.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Mark ix. 40. Se þe nis aʓen eow se is for eow [v.r. aʓean; Lind. & Rushw. wið].

1012.  O. E. Chron. Wearð þa se here swiþe astyred anʓean ðone biscop.

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 219. And habbe anwealda and riche anȝen godelmichti.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1842. He shollde fihhtenn Onnȝæn ane drake.

c. 1300.  Beket, 54. Dude here beste aȝe the Prince. Ibid., 1456. Than contek holde in suche lond, and nameliche aë the Kinge.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 4142. Anticrist es … Als he þat es ogayn Crist ay.

c. 1430.  A.B.C. of Aristotle, in Babees Bk., 10. Argue not aȝen þat.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 55. Ye shull fight ageyn yowre enmyes.

1521.  Fisher, Wks., 311. The sermon of Iohan the bysshop of Rochester made agayn the pernicyous doctryn of Martin luuther.

c. 1550.  Cheke, Matt. xxi. 12. Y^e murmured again y^e good man of y^e house.

1604.  Middleton, Five Gallants, II. iii. Wks. II. 255. Go and suborn my knave again me here.

1829.  Scott, Antiq., xv. 96. I’m no again your looking at the outside of a letter neither.

  † b.  In competition with, as against.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 189. In preysing of the flour agayn the leefe, No more than of the corne agayn the sheefe.

  † 7.  Opposed to in tendency or character, contrary to. = AGAINST 10.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. v. 23. Þæt þin broðor hæfð ǽniʓ þing aʓen þé [v.r. aʓeán; Lind. & Rushw. wið].

c. 1230.  Ancren Riwle, 200. Onloðest God & most aȝean his grace.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 304. Þat men þam says ogayn þair likyng.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knightes T., 1593. Al be it that it is again his kind.

1424.  Paston Lett., 4, I. 13. Ageyn the kinges peas.

1432–50.  trans. Higden, Rolls Ser. I. 131. Hit is bareyne in pastures, ageyne the nature of other regiones.

1523.  Fitzherbert, Surveying, 4. It were agayne reason to a bridge a man of his owne right.

1596.  R. H., trans. Lavaterus’s Ghostes & Spir., 128. Licence to doo these things … againe his owne expresse commaundement.

  † 8.  In resistance to. = AGAINST 13.

1048.  O. E. Chron. Him láð wære ðæt hi onʓeán heora cynehláford standan sceoldan.

c. 1230.  Ancren Riwle, 50. Þiccure aȝein þe wind.

a. 1300.  Rel. Antiq., I. 63. Þolemod aȝean alle wowes, and in alle uveles.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, IV. 186. Neyll the bruce held Kyndrummy Agane his sone.

1384.  Chaucer, Mother of God, 111. We mowen make resistance Ageyn the feend.

a. 1423.  James I., King’s Quair, II. x. Again distresse confort to seke.

1488.  Act 4 Hen. VII., xix. § 1. The defence of this land ageyn oure ennemyes outwarde.

  † 9.  In return for, in exchange for; in place of, instead of. = AGAINST 14.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 15. Ne scalt þu ȝelden vuel onȝein uuel nuða.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 7. Nis tis þeowdom inoh aȝain þat.

  † 10.  Time: Towards, drawing near; near the beginning of. = AGAINST 17.

1096.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). Fela hungerbitene onʓean winter ham tuʓon.

c. 1305.  St. Edm. Conf., 14. Aȝen eue he cudde furst his lyf.

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 1940. The wynd arose ayen the nyght.

  † 11.  In view of, in anticipation of, in preparation for; to meet. = AGAINST 18.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 31. Hwen he beoð ute, hauest aȝain his ham cume sar care & eie.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 562. Ðat arche was a feteles good, set and limed a-gen ðe flood.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4041. Thir takens … þat ogayn þe worldes ende shuld be.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 1496. Þys messagers agayn þe morwe; a-rayd hem for hure message.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Squieres T., 134. Ageyn this lusty somerestyde.

a. 1450.  Syr Eglamore, in Dom. Archit., II. 202. Ageyn ye evyn ye kyng gart dyȝt A bath for ye gentyll knyȝt.

  † C.  conj. or conj. adv. Obs. or dial.

  † 1.  In return for the adverse fact that.

  a.  with relative particle. b. simply.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 21. And he hine iblecie onȝein þe he hine acursede.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 11143. [Þeȝȝ] himm sinndenn cweme, onnȝæn þatt teȝȝ Himm wærenn ær uncweme.

  † 2.  Of time: Against the time that, before that.

  a.  with relative particle. b. simply.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 6128. All þe birrþ bitæchenn itt þe preost o Godess hallfe, Onnȝæn þatt he shall shrifenn þe.

c. 1315.  Pol. Songs, 151. Aȝeyn this cachereles cometh, thus y mot care.

a. 1400.  Sir Perceval, 192. Wolde scho noȝte with hir bere Bot a lyttille Scottes spere, Agayne hir sone ȝode.

1632.  Massinger, City Madam, III. i. Get … His cap and pantofles ready … And a candle Again you rise.