ppl. a. [f. EXPOSE v. + -ED1.] In the senses of the vb. a. Displayed, disclosed to view. Exposed card (see quot. 1870). b. Unsheltered or unprotected from the elements, or from hostile attack. c. esp. Of children: Cast out or abandoned to chance.
a. 1630. Brathwait, Eng. Gentl. (1641), 15–6. When that Sex … gives way to foments of exposed loosenesse.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 139. Quantity is determined two ways; one by the sense … the other by memory, that is, by comparison with some exposed quantity.
1870. Hardy & Ware, Mod. Hoyle, Whist, 3. If a player plays a card from his hand (and therefore exposes it), without waiting to know if a card under the penalty of being called for is demanded, this card played from his hand is an exposed card.
1890. C. Mossop, in Pall Mall Gaz., 20 Oct., 7/1. D then placed the detached card on the table…, and the ‘detached’ card then became an ‘exposed’ card.
b. 1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 197. Cover with dry Straw … your young exposed Ever-greens.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 153. A passage … too exposed to be endurable in a hot sun.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Exposed anchorage. An open and dangerous place, by reason of the elements or the enemy.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 40. It [vapour] is drawn up … from every exposed piece of water.
c. 1662. Petty, Taxes, 4. The maintenance of … found and exposed children.
1772. Ann. Reg., 223. The hospital for the maintenance of exposed and deserted young children.
