Forms: 1 éaʓe, éʓe, (éʓo, éʓu, ǽʓe), 2–4 eȝe, 2–3 eȝhe, 2–5 eiȝe (3 ehe), 3–5 eghe, 3–7 eie, 4 egȝe, ei, hei(e, he (north.), 4–5 eyȝe, eyghe, eighe, yȝe, iȝe, 4–7 ey, 5 egh, yghe, ighe, eyhe, ehe, yhe, ye, ie, (hyghe, hye, iey, ȝee, hee, iȝee, ieae), 5–6 e (north.), (eae, iee), 5– north. (and 9 Poet.) ee, 6 iye, yie (yey, ye, yae, eey, i,) 4– eye. Pl. α. 1 éaʓan, ǽʓan (north. éʓo, éʓu), 1–2 éʓan, 2 enȝen, 2–4 eȝen, 2–5 eiȝen, 3 eihen, æȝen, ehȝen, 3–5 eghen, eien, 3–5 (7 arch.) eyn, 4 eyiȝen, eiȝyen, ȝeȝen, hegehen, eye, 4–5 eyȝen, yȝen, eyghen, eighen, iȝen, yen(e, ein, 4–6 (9 arch.) eyen, 4–7 (9 arch.) eyne, 5 ighen, yeghen, yhen (eene, eyon, ygne), 5– north. and Sc. een, 6 iyen, ien, yien, (ain) Sc. ene, (6–7 eine, 7 aine, 8–9 Sc. e’en). β. 3 eȝenen, eȝene, eȝhne, 3–5 ehnen, ehne, 4 egghnen, iȝene, ine, ewine, eiine, 5 eghene, enyn (hynon, enghne). γ. 4 eiȝes, 5 yȝes, 6 iyes, yes, ies, yees, ayes, ees, 6–7 eies, (7 eys) 6– eyes. Also with prosthetic n, 5 neghe, ney, 4–6 nie, nye, Pl. 5 nyen, -on, -non. [OE. éage, wk. neut., corresponding to OFris. âge, OS. ôga (MDu. ôghe, Du. oog), OHG. ouga (MHG. ouge, Ger. auge), ON. auga (Da. öie, Sw. öga), Goth. augo:—OTeut. *augon-.
By most scholars referred to the OAryan root *oq- to see, to which belong the synonymous words in all the other branches of the Aryan family exc. Celtic; but the anomalous representation of OAryan o by au instead of a presents difficulties; for various hypotheses intended to account for it see Brugmann Grundriss I. 333, Kluge Etym. Wb. (ed. 5), s.v., Fick Vergl. Wb. (ed. 4), I. 371. Otherwise, no plausible affinities have been found for the Teutonic word.]
The original plural was in -an, in ME. -en, whence north. dial. een, and archaic eyne. In some forms of ME. a second inflexional -en (reducible to -e) was added, making eȝenen, eȝene, whence in 15th c. enyn. Our first instance of the modern -s plural is a. 1375 eiȝes.
I. 1. The organ of sight.
a. in man and vertebrate animals.
a. 700. Epinal Gloss., 1093. Vitiato oculo: unþyotoʓi eʓan [a. 800 Erfurt Gloss. undyctʓi æʓan].
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xciii. 9. Se ðe hiowede eʓe ne scewað.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xi. 34. Gif eʓo ðin bið milde.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. v. 29. Gyf þin swyðre eaʓe þe æswicie ahola hit ut.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 23. Þes monnes eȝan, and his fet, and his hondan.
c. 1200. Ormin, 9393. Ȝif þatt tin eȝhe iss all unnhal.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9361 (Cott.). Als douues eie hir lok es suete.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 1106. His egghnen out of his hed sterte.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 3780 (Fairf.). In slepe a ladder him þoȝt he seyghe fra þe firmament riȝt to his eyghe.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, Paulus, 557. With fleshy ewine he na se mocht.
c. 1380. Chaucer, Min. Poems, Merciles Beaute, 1. Youre two eyn will sle me sodenly, I may the beaute of them not sustene.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 1023. Hir nose, hir mouth, and eyhe … Wel wrought.
c. 1430. Bk. Hawking, in Rel. Ant., I. 299. Take a tame heron and drawe out the both eyon of her.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, B jb. The yolow be twene ye Beeke & ye yeghen.
1513–75. Diurn. Occurrents (Bannatyne Club), 179. Ane monstrous fische … havand greit ene in the head thairof.
a. 1529. Skelton, Poems agst. Garnesche, 37. Your ien glyster as glasse, Rowlynge in your holow hede.
1586–7. Q. Eliz., in Four C. Eng. Lett., 31. Paine in one of my yees was only the cause.
1605. Camden, Rem., 124–5. Not of piercing the king of Scots through the eie, as Hector Boetius fableth.
1674. Brevint, Saul at Endor, 116. To set new Eies, and new Tongues, instead of those that were bored out or pulled off.
1725. Watts, Logick, II. v. i. § 7. 395. The Distance at which these Glasses are placed from the Eye.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 192. The orbits of the eyes were deeper.
1797. Coleridge, Sibyl. Leaves (1817), 233. A little Sun, No bigger than your ee.
1831. Brewster, Optics, xxxv. § 166. 286. The human eye is of a spherical form, with a slight projection in front.
1856. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. v. 182. The eye of an eagle is nearly as large as that of an elephant.
1858. Kingsley, The Red King, 37, Poems 109. His eyne were shotten, red as blood.
b. Poet. attributed to heaven, the sun, etc. The eye of day, of heaven = the sun; the eyes of heaven, of night = the stars.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. iii. 4. Her angels face, As the great eye of heaven, shyned bright.
1595. Shaks., John, III. i. 79. The glorious sunne … Turning with splendor of his precious eye The meager cloddy earth to glittering gold. Ibid. (c. 1600), Sonn., xviii. Sometime too hot the eye of heauen shines. Ibid. (1603), Ham., II. ii. 540. Would haue made milche the Burning eyes of Heauen.
1738. Wesley, Psalms cxlvii. 2. All ye sparkling Eyes of Night.
1820. Scott, Monast., II. 204. So soon as the eye of day hath opened its lids.
c. with adjs. denoting the color of the iris.
c. 1300. Poem, vi. in Retrospective Rev. (1853), I. 397. His hegehen war … grai.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (Abbotsf. ed.), 7806. He loked on þe wiþ wrake Sternliche wiþ his eyȝen blake.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 145. That region hath peple with whyte heire, peyntede eien and ȝelowe.
1500–20. Dunbar, None may Assure, x. Ene of amiable blyth asure.
1572. Mascall, Govt. Cattle, Horses (1627), 167. The Fleabitten, with a thinne crest, hauing blacke eyne.
1704. Pope, Windsor For., 351. He turn’d his azure eyes Where Windsor-domes and pompous turrets rise.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxii. This young man … was upwards of six feet high, had … blue eyes.
a. 1852. Moore, Fire Worshippers. I never nurs’d a dear gazelle, To glad me with its soft black eye.
transf. 1843. G. P. R. James, Forest Days (1847), 64. The blue eye of heaven had seldom been altogether withdrawn.
d. taken as including the eyelids, or the surrounding parts; the region of the eyes. See BLACK EYE 2.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., John ix. 6. & ahof ðæt lam ofer eʓu his.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 108. Wiþ eaʓena sar … ʓenim þysse ylcan wyrte seaw, & smyre ða eaʓan þærmid.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 121. Summe þer weren þet his eȝan bunden.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 426. He wolde þat he iseȝe Teres in evrich monnes eȝe.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 547. Hys Eyn with his hand closit he.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 10. Smale fowles maken melodie, That slepen al the night with open yhe.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, B ij a. An hauke that is broght vp vnder a Bussard … hath wateri Eyghen.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xlvii. 157. The pyrates … bounde his handes … and iyen.
1675. Hobbes, Odyssey, XVI. 11. Kisses his head and hands, and both his eyne.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., II. lxxvi. 306. These gummy eyes, lantern jaws, and toothless chaps.
1840. E. Howard, Jack Ashore, III. ix. 178. That kindly looking gentleman, that’s blushing up to the eyes.
e. in invertebrate animals. Compound eye: see quot. and COMPOUND a. 2 d.
1665. Hooke, Micrographia, 178. Each of these Pearls or Hemispheres is a perfect eye.
1700. T. Brown, trans. Fresny’s Amusem. Ser. & Com., 87. Their Collections of Rarities exceeds that of John Tradusken, for here are … the Eyes of Oysters.
1841–71. T. R. Jones, Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4), 353. The individual eyes, or ocelli, as we shall term them.
1878. M‘Kendrick, in Encycl. Brit., VIII. 816/1. The compound eye … consists essentially of a series of transparent cone-like bodies, arranged in a radiate manner against the inner surface of the cornea. Ibid. The eyes of many insects have a field of about half a sphere. Ibid. (1881), XIII. 143/2. In the larval state the eyes [of insects] are ordinarily simple, and each eye is usually a congregation of separate eye-spots.
2. Phrases. (For those relating to the function of the eyes, etc., see 3–6). a. Mind († beware) your eye (now vulgar): look to the safety of your eye; fig. be careful. One might put a thing in one’s eye (and see never the worse): indicating the insignificance or non-existence of the thing. For, by reason of the fair eyes of: for the sake of; cf. Fr. pour les beaux yeux de.
1509. Payne, Evyll Marr., 146. As moche as a man may put in his eye.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 34. I might put my winnyng in mine eye, And see neuer the woorse.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 119. I shall lodge all the men-of-ware into my Eae, that shall land in Scotland.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 222/1. They rule not by reason of their faire eyes.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut., clxxxiv. 1145. It is not for their faire eyes (as they say).
a. 1663. Robin Hood, xxxi. in Child, Ballads (1888), III. V. cxlv. 201/2. The ladies gave a shout, ‘Woodcock, beware thyn ee!’
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, All that you get you may put in your Eye and see ne’er the worse.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour (1861), II. 224. You must mind your eye, if you are shovelling slop into a cart.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6701 (Cott.). Ei for ei, and toth for toht.
1570. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 5. To pluck out the beame out of his own i.
c. Colloq. To pipe the eye, to put the finger in the eye: derisively used for to weep. To cry one’s eyes out: to weep excessively.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 206. No longer will I be a foole, To put the finger in the eie and weepe.
c. 1626. Dick of Devon, III. iv. in Bullen, O. Pl. (1883), II. 58. Would one have thought the foolish ape would putt The finger in the eye and tell it daddy!
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., I. v. § 22. 36. So blubber’d with Teares, that she may seem almost to have wept her Eyes out.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 27. I can’t help it, if I would cry my Eyes out.
1883. Stevenson, Treasure Isl., IV. xix. The smoke … kept us coughing and piping the eye.
Mod. ditty: Cry, baby, cry; put your finger in your eye.
d. Colloq. or slang. Referring to drinking or drunkenness.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., V. i. 205. O he’s drunke … his eyes were set at eight i’th morning. Ibid. (1610), Temp., III. ii. 10. Drinke seruant Monster … thy eies are almost set in thy head.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 15. You must own you had a Drop in your Eye … you were half Seas over.
1789. Burns, O Willie brewed a peck o’ maut. We’re nae that fou, But just a drappie in our e’e.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Bagman’s Dog, xix. She ask’d him to ‘wet t’other eye.’
e. Up to the eyes: fig. deeply immersed or occupied. (Mortgaged) up to the eyes: to the utmost limit.
1884. Reade, Gd. Stories, Born to Gd. Luck. A neighbour’s estate, mortgaged up to the eyes, was sold under the hammer.
1889. Gordon Stables, in Boy’s Own Paper, 16 Nov., 103/3. The stewards were up to their eyes packing baskets and making preparations.
f. To (make a person) open (his) eyes: to (make him) stare with astonishment. To close an eye (negatively), To † lay, put one’s eyes together: to go to sleep. † My eyes draws straws (vulgar): I am sleepy.
1633. T. James, Voy., 36. Not one of them put his eyes together all the night long.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 350. He could not lay his Eyes together.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 214. I’m sure ’tis time for honest Folks to be a-bed—Indeed my Eyes draws straws.
1814. D. H. O’Brien, Captiv. & Escape, 132. I never closed an eye. The night at length elapsed.
1889. Jessopp, Coming of Friars, ii. 72. The new fashions made his neighbours open their eyes.
g. Sporting. To wipe the eye of another shooter: to kill game that he has missed.
1886. Walsingham & Payne-Gallwey, Shooting, I. 128. If you do perchance wipe the eye … of another shooter … apologize.
h. Slang or vulgar. All my eye: all humbug, ‘stuff and nonsense’; also, in same sense, † All in the eye. My eye(s! used as an expression of astonishment or asseveration.
1768. Goldsm., Good-n. Man, II. That’s all my eye—the king only can pardon.
1782. Eliz. Blower, George Bateman, II. 113. That’s all my eye, and my elbow, as the saying is.
1785. Grose, Class. Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Betty Martin, that’s my eye betty martin.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. Congress, 2. All my eye, Betty.
1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., I. xxxi. 344. [A bride] sobbed aloud … although, as Bob and Davy afterwards declared, that was all in the eye.
1810. J. Poole, Hamlet Travestie, I. i. 2.
| But I have that within, you can’t take from me— | |
| As for black clothes,—that’s all my eye and Tommy. |
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, viii. ‘My eyes, how green!’ exclaimed the young gentleman.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xvi. Church, my eye, woman! church indeed.
1842. Hood, Spring, xi. The tenderness of Spring is all my eye.
1871. Punch, 30 Dec., 271/1. ‘Nothing in the papers!’ Isn’t there, though. My eye!
3. With reference to its function: The eye as possessing the power of vision. Often pleonastically for emphasis in To see with one’s own eyes, † with (or at) eye.
In Eng. as in other langs. to lose an eye often means merely to become blind of one eye; similarly to put out the eyes = to deprive of sight.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 53/215. Huy i-seien alle with eiȝe.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 376. Me ssolde pulte oute boþe hys eye, & make hym pur blynd.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11324 (Cott.). Symeon … he o ded suld neuer die, Till he suld se crist self wit ei.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 100. Men mosten more thyng beleve Then they may seen at eighe.
c. 1450. Bk. Curtasye, 323, in Babees Bk. (1868), 308. Gase not on walles with þy neghe.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. x. 12. All his solace for tinsale of his E.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 13. That the eye seeth not, ye herte rueth not.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 31. Let them belieue no more but what they see with their Eies.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxv. 136. Many eyes see more then one.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 350. I have seen it with my own Eyes.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 199. They say, Hedges have Eyes, and Walls have Ears.
1776. Trial of Nundocomar, 24/2. I have seen him … with my own eyes take off his seal.
1820. Keats, St. Agnes, xxxix. There are no ears to hear or eyes to see.
1846. Greener, Sc. Gunnery, 300. We … have a friend who lost an eye and blew down a house side.
1871. Rossetti, Poems, Dante at Verona, xxxiii. Thou hast beheld, past sight of eyne.
1878. M‘Kendrick, in Encycl. Brit., VIII. 822/2. If we wish to see each word distinctly, we ‘run the eye’ along the line.
b. Phrases. (To have but) half an eye: even the smallest power of vision. (To see) with half an eye: at a glance, without effort. † At the eye’s end: close at hand. To open any one’s eyes: to restore his sight. † To put out one’s eyes with gifts: fig. to bribe. Where are your eyes? said to a person who fails to observe what he ought to see. With all one’s eyes, with all the eyes in one’s head: with eager gaze. Eagle eye: see EAGLE 10. The naked eye: see NAKED.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 94. He [Jesus] openede my yȝen.
a. 1547. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark, Pref. 4. Ought with all the iyen in theyr heades to watche.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 348. But euery man that hath but halfe an eye, seeth these grosse inconsequences.
1598. Pelegromius, Synonym. Sylva, 35/2. To Bribe; vide to put out ones eyes with giftes.
1598. W. Phillips, Linschoten (1864), 190. These Haraffos … can discerne it [counterfeit money] with half an eye.
1611. Bible, Ps. cxlvi. 8. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blinde.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. x. 15. We judg them near, at the eyes end.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 10. The Captain … seeing the Light, ask’d the Master, Where his Eyes were?
1860. Russell, Diary India, II. xiii. I looked with all my eyes, but they failed to detect any difference.
1883. Stevenson, Treasure Isl., IV. xviii. I saw with half an eye that all was over.
c. fig.; esp. as attributed to the heart, mind, or to quasi-personified objects.
c. 1040. Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 2. Geopenedum eaʓum urum.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 157. [He] mid þe eȝene of his hoste bihalt in to houene and sicð þe muchele blisse þet he is to ilected.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 3. Opene to understonde þe ehne of þin heorte.
1460. in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 187. Mi goostli iȝen ben ful of dust.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 435. Sleepe … sometime shuts vp sorrowes eie.
1687. T. Brown, Saints in Uproar, Wks. 1730, I. 82. This it is to want the eye of faith.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Mark vi. 6 (1739), 104/2. None but a spiritual Eye can discern Beauty in an humbled and abased Saviour.
1837. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 2), III. xxiii. 372. Excitement, which has power to fascinate the eye of our minds.
1851. Sir J. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., II. vi. 166. To witness facts with the eyes of reason.
1856. Grindon, Life, i. (1875), 5. Science needs all its eyes … to discern it.
d. Applied to a person who uses his eyes on behalf, or instead, of another.
1382. Wyclif, Job xxix. 15. An eȝe I was to blinde.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 173. I haue bene ane Ee to ye blind.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 650. The seav’n Who … are his Eyes That … Bear his swift errands.
1689. Hickeringill, Ceremony-Monger, Wks. (1716), II. 503. The Bishop’s great Eye (Mr. Arch-deacon) is getting himself a Stomach to his Dinner.
1806. Wordsw., Ode Intim. Immort., 112. Thou best Philosopher … thou Eye among the blind.
1836–48. B. D. Walsh, Aristoph., 17, note. The Kings of Persia had certain officers who were called ‘his Eyes.’
e. fig. Applied to a city, country, province, etc.: The seat of intelligence or light.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. 118. The eyes of the realme, Cambridge, and Oxford.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 240. Athens, the eye of Greece.
1680. Morden, Geog. Rect., England (1688), 25. In the beautiful Body of the Kingdom of England, the two Eyes are the two Universities.
1845. R. W. Hamilton, Pop. Educ., vii. (ed. 2), 165. Massachusetts … is the eye of the States.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 355. The destruction of Corinth the eye of Greece.
4. Used in sing. and pl. for: The action or function of the eyes; the sense of seeing; ‘ocular knowledge’ (J.), sight. Chiefly in phrases: (To have) before one’s eyes: lit. and fig. To believe one’s (own) eyes. To catch, † fix, strike, take the eye. † At (first) eye: at first sight.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 49. He litlede him seluen to-foren mannes eiȝen.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 59. Þat for a tym desceyuiþ & iapiþ þe ȝee, but þis biggiþ þe vnderstonding perpetual.
1440. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), II. 76. Þai, havand Gode before þer eyghen, do trewe execution of þis my presentt testament.
1471. Arriv. Edw. IV. (Camden), 33. It appered to every mann at eye the sayde partie was extincte.
1509. Fisher, Wks., I. (1876), 68. Al thynges be naked and open to his [God’s] eyen.
a. 1541. Wyatt, Poet. Wks. (1861), 22. With false favour … you deceive th’ayes.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1986/1. The English capteines … perceiuing at eie that … they were not able to anie aduantage to mainteine this onset.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 72. Is this face Heroes? are our eies our owne? Ibid. (1605), Macb., III. i. 125. Masking the Businesse from the common Eye.
1653. Marvell, Corr., i. Wks. 1872–5, II. 4. Demonstrating to the ey which way we ought to travell.
1672. Sir T. Browne, Lett. to Friend, x. (1881), 134. A weak physiognomist might say at first eye, This was a Face of Earth.
1715. J. Richardson, Th. Painting, 61–2. The Death of Ananias … immediately takes the Eye.
1717. Pope, Ep. Jervas, 33. Thy well-study’d marbles fix our eye.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 818. Every plague that can infest Society … meets the eye.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 207. The conflict in the royal mind did not escape the eye of Barillon.
1866. J. Conington, trans. Æneid, VI. 201. Banquets smile before their eyne.
† b. In (the) eye: in appearance. By the eye: ? in unlimited quantity. Obs.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 84. Grete-hedede quenes wiþ gold by þe eiȝen.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, III. iv. Thou shalt have broth by the eye.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Knt. Burning Pestle, II. ii. (1613), D 2. Here’s mony and gold bi’th eie my boy.
1684. R. H., School Recreat., 117. Mark out the Head of your Pond, and make it the highest part of the ground in the Eye, tho it be the lowest in the true Level.
† c. Range of vision, view, sight. Only in phrases: In eye; in, into, out of (a person’s) eye. Obs. in lit. sense.
1599. Warn. Faire Wom., II. 770. A very bloudy act … committed in eye of court.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. iv. 6. We shall expresse our dutie in his eye.
1644. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 125. He fights in the eye of his Prince.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., V. ii. 146. Ill manag’d Persecutions of Doctrine … bring them into every body’s Eye.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. II. 82. He was no sooner remov’d out of his Eye, than that Confidence began to stagger.
1673. Charles II., in Lauderdale Papers (1885), III. ii. 2. Your sone Yester (who comes but seldome in my eye).
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 38. A Harbour … in the very Eye of France.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 113, ¶ 4. She helped me to some Tansy in the Eye of all the Gentlemen in the Country.
d. fig. In one’s (mind’s) eye: in one’s mental view, in contemplation.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 185. I see my father … In my minds eye.
c. 1680. Beveridge, Serm. (1729), I. 411. He must always have it in his eye.
1713. Berkeley, Ess. in Guardian, vi. Wks. 1871, III. 163. The sages whom I have in my eye speak of virtue as the most amiable thing in the world.
1726. Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., II. 55 b. Some had nothing in their eye, but adorning that which was to contain the body.
1791. ‘G. Gambado,’ Ann. Horsem., Pref. (1809), 54. Having the safety of man’s neck in my eye.
1818. Cobbett, Pol. Reg., XXXIII. 414. I have … the little thatched cottages of Waltham Chase … in my mind’s eye.
5. With reference to the direction of the eye; hence often equivalent to: Look, glance, gaze. Often with verbs like cast, lift, turn, etc. † To change, mingle eyes (with): to exchange amorous glances (with). To make eyes at; to throw the eye at: to throw amorous or covetous glances at. † To throw out one’s eyes for: To look out for. To see eye to eye (Isa. lii. 8): often misused for to be of one mind, think alike.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Matt. xvii. 8. Ða hiʓ hyra eaʓan upphofon, ne ʓesawon hiʓ nænne.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 54. Eue, þi moder, leop efter hire eien; urom hire eien to þe eppel, vrom þe eppel i parais adun to þes eorðe.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 643. To hyr fadyr he kast hys yen.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), II. 572. The Iey ys euer the messenger of foly.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxvii. 1. He that seketh to be riche turneth his eyes asyde.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 143. On my face he turn’d an eye of death. Ibid. (1604), Oth., II. i. 39. As well to see the Vessell that’s come in As to throw-out our eyes for braue Othello. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., III. xiii. 156. Would you mingle eyes With one that tyes his points. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 441. At the first sight They haue chang’d eyes.
1781. Cowper, Conversation, 485. Modestly let fall your eyes.
1798. Coleridge, Anc. Mar., III. xv. Each … curs’d me with his ee.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, viii. Is it one of my colleens you’ve been throwing the eye at, Sir?
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, III. i. She used to make eyes at the Duke of Marlborough.
1879. Print. Trades Jrnl., XXVI. 4. Unable to see eye to eye with the subscribers.
b. In words of command. Mil. (see quots.); so in Boating, Eyes in the Boat.
1832. Prop. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, II. 35. Its Leader gives the word ‘Eyes Centre.’
1833. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, I. 13. On the word Eyes Right, glance the eyes to the right with the slightest turn possible of the head. At the word Eyes Left, cast the eyes in like manner to the left. On the word Eyes Front, the look and head are to be directly to the front, the habitual position of the soldier.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., iv. The command ‘eyes front’ had been given.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (1862), 152. Captains will give the word ‘Eyes right,’ or ‘left,’ as the inspecting officer comes to their batteries, ‘Eyes front’ when he has passed.
1887. Times, 14 Nov., 6/3. The words of command were … ‘Eyes front; by your right; quick march.’
c. with adjs. expressing the disposition or feeling of the person looking, as, angry, contemptuous, friendly, jealous, loving, wondering.
a. 1300. Cursor M. (4078), Cott. Ne wald þai apon him sei Fra þis dai forth wit blithful ei. Ibid., 17837 (Cott.). Til heuen þai lifted þair eien brade.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4264. If oon be fulle of vylanye, Another hath a likerous ighe.
1556. Aurelio & Isab. (1608), E iv. Chaste and shamefaste ees.
1611. Bible, Prov. xxii. 9. Hee that hath a bountifull eye, shall bee blessed: for hee giueth of his bread to the poore.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 199. View him with … jealous eyes.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 161. Ropedancing, puppetshows, bowls, horseracing, were regarded with no friendly eye.
6. An attentive or observing look, lit. and fig.; observation, supervision; attention, regard. Chiefly in phrases: (To be) all eyes: all attention. † To bear, give, good eyes upon: to pay close attention to, watch attentively. To give an eye to: to give a share of one’s attention to. To keep, have an (one’s) eye † after, upon: to keep watch upon. Under the eye of: under the observation or attention of.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3934. Segryne had euer on him his eye.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 527. Looke ye bere good yȝes vppon oþur connynge kervers.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 695. I mon … eirnestly efter him haue myne E ay.
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 26/2. Maurice Fitzgerald … gaue good eie and watched the matter verie narowlie.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 59. No tongue: all eyes: be silent.
1641. Milton, Animadv., Wks. (1851), 219. He … hath yet ever had this Island under the special indulgent eye of his Providence.
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 211. It was supposed the Earle of Essex had an eie upon Oxford.
1818. Cobbett, Pol. Reg., XXXIII. 64. I shall keep my eye upon them.
1824. Medwin, Convers. Byron (1832), I. 53. I had … fallen under the eye of the Government.
b. To have an eye to: to look to, pay attention to; to have as one’s object, have regard for; to have reference to. With an eye to: with a view to; with a design upon.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 523. The Kyng … Till thame, and nouthir ellis-quhar Had ey. Ibid., XII. 306. I pray ȝhow That nane of ȝow for gredynes Haf E till tak of thair Richess.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 73 b. Some feareth synne & payne bothe, hauynge an eye and respecte to bothe in maner indifferently.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. viii. 2. They called vpon the Lorde, yt he wolde haue an eye vnto his people.
1593. Nashe, Four Lett. Confut., 67. Haue an eie to the maine-chaunce.
1607. Bacon, Ess., Counsel (Arb.), 322. Men will Councell with an eye to themselves.
1641. Jrnl. Ho. Comm., II. 183. An especial eye may be had over all Counties, where Papists are most residing.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 210. Have still an Eye to the weeding and cleansing Part.
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 11. 74. A Man will have an Eye to his first Appearance in Publick.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 285. The gentlemen of the corporation … have … no small eye to gain.
1838. Lytton, Alice, 171. Maltravers has an eye to the county, one of these days.
1861. Thornbury, Turner, I. 358. He collects analytical diagrams of Dutch boats, with an eye to get nearer to Vandervelde.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 58. What I said about the Cretan laws … had an eye to war only.
1888. Froude, Eng. in W. Indies, 40. Gold and silver plate, he observed with an eye to business was … abundant.
7. (in sing. only). The faculty of perception or discrimination of visual objects, either in general or in some special connection. Often in phrases: To have, with, the eye of (a painter, etc.). To have an eye for (proportion, etc.). (To estimate, etc.) by (the) eye: as opposed to measurement, etc. Also, Sport: To have, get, one’s eye (well) in: to be or become able to judge accurately of distance and direction, as in Billiards, Shooting, etc.
1657. Austen, Fruit Trees, II. 93. Shew clearly (to a discerning eie).
1715. J. Richardson, Th. Painting, 150. He has a Good Eye in the Sense, as one is said to have a Good Ear for Musick. Ibid. (1719), Art Crit., 188. It does not appear to have been done by any other help than the Correctness of the Eye.
1774. M. Mackenzie, Maritime Surv., 88. Estimate by the Eye the Distance of C from A.
1796. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 67. The leader of the column will march by his eye.
1847. L. Hunt, Jar Honey, Pref. (1848), 9. Who saw their colours with the eye of a painter.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 433. He had not, it may be, the eye of a great captain for all the turns of a battle.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), II. 271. An eye for proportion is needed.
1884. Q. Rev., No. 316. 482. Their eyes were well in.
8. fig. Point of view, manner or way of looking at a thing; estimation, opinion, judgment. In phrases: In, with the eye(s of (a person). In the public eye. Also, In the eye of (the) law, logic, etc.: according to the terms or rules of. To look with another eye upon: to take a different view of.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, Prol. Faire & lufly in cristes eghen.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. vii. 112. Some offence, That seemes disgracious in the Cities eye.
a. 1617. P. Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 48. God doth give us love in the eies of some good man.
1628. Coke, On Litt., fol. 58. Court baron … in the eye of Law it hath relation to the Freeholders, who are Judges of the Court.
1635. A. Stafford, Fem. Glory (1869), 56. Sinnes more odious even in our own eies.
1643. Udall, Serm. (1645), 37. To his sad disconsolate wife, mourning too too much, in his eye [etc.].
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 206. The King … became more considerable in the eyes of the World, then any of his predecessors.
1683. Lond. Gaz., No. 1835/3. If the City should Look upon it with another Eye.
1742. Pope, Dunc., IV. 534. Self-conceit to some her glass applies, Which no one looks in with another’s eyes.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxxvi. 286. Persons not lying under … attainder were innocent in the eye of the law.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxviii. No other marriage of his shall ever be legal in my eye.
1818. Byron, Juan, I. lxviii. I can’t tell whether Julia saw the affair With other people’s eyes, or if her own Discoveries made.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), III. xiii. 281. In the eye of logic or of sound morals.
1882. Serjt. Ballantine, Experiences, xix. 185. He was a man of mark in the eyes of my family.
† II. 9. Slight shade, tinge. (Cf. F. œil). Obs.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 55. Ant. The ground indeed is tawny. Seb. With an eye of greene in’t.
a. 1642. Suckling, Goblins, III. (ed. 2), 25. None of these Beards will serve, There’s not an eye of white in them.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 499. This … name seemeth to have in it an eye or cast of Greek and Latin.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 204. A natural Earth, with an Eye of Loam in it.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 279. A true blue dye, having an eye of red.
1699. Evelyn, Acetaria, 97–8. Oyl … with an Eye … of a pallid Olive
b. (See quot.)
1736. Bailey (folio), Eye, the lustre and brilliant of pearls and precious stones, more usually call’d the water.
III. An object resembling the eye in appearance, shape, or relative position.
10. On plants: a. the axillary bud; the leaf-bud of a potato; b. the remains of the calyx on fruit; c. the center of a flower.
1615. W. Lawson, Orch. & Gard., III. x. (1668), 26. Let your graff have three or four eyes for readiness to put forth.
1672–3. Grew, Anat. Plants, II. I. i. § 7 (1682), 58. Potato’s [root], where the Eyes or Buds of the future Trunks lie inward.
1710. London & Wise, Compl. Gard. (1719), 167. Apples … may be plac’d either upon the Eye or Stalk.
1772. Foote, Nabob, II. Wks. 1799, II. 303. For pip, colour, and eye, I defy the whole parish … to match ’em [polyanthuses].
1787. Winter, Syst. Husb., 157. Six scotch potatoes, cut into thirty-three sets, with two eyes each.
1858. Carpenter, Veg. Phys., § 121. The points commonly known as the eyes of the Potato. Ibid., § 586. By the remains of the calyx … the eye of the gooseberry is formed. Ibid., § 605. The smaller the eye … of the dahlia, the better it is considered to be.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 268. Corolla minute, pale blue with a white eye.
1882. Garden, 18 March, 183/2. Vine eyes from Spain … make better and stronger Vines than those propagated from eyes produced in this country.
11. Eye of a crab, a crawfish = CRAB’S EYE.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 190. The eyes or stones [of the crab], coole, dry, cleanse, discusse, breake the stone.
1753. Hanway, Trav., I. I. xv. 98. These eyes [of crawfish] are sent into turkey … to be used in medicines.
12. A spot resembling an eye; esp. a. One of the spots near the end of the tail-feathers of a peacock. b. One of the three spots at one end of a coco-nut. c. A small dark spot in the eggs of fish and insects while hatching.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 7. A litel stone wiþ yene. Ibid. (1393), Barth. De P. R., XII. xxxii. (1495), 432. The pecok hath … a taylle full of eyen.
1556. Aurelio & Isab. (1608), G ij. Delectabler … then seamethe vnto the pecocke his tale chargede with ees.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 396. They make a shew of the eyes appearing in Peacockes tailes.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gentl. (1661), 163. A mantle wrought with gold and Peacocks eyes.
1736. Bailey (folio), Eye of a Bean, a black speck … in the cavity of the corner-teeth of a horse.
1788. Cowper, On Mrs. Montague’s Feather Hangings, 4. The Peacock sends his … starry eyes.
1840. Penny Cycl., XL. 334/1. In this last [variety] the eyes or circlets of the train [of the peacock] are shadowed out.
1863. F. Buckland, in G. C. Bompas, Life, vii. (1885), 125. No eyes yet in the [trouts’] eggs.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., vi. 131. The diviner … will spin a cocoa-nut, and decide a question according to where the eye of the nut looks towards when at rest again.
1885. H. O. Forbes, Nat. Wand. E. Archip., ii. 27. Having pierced the proper eye with one of its spindle ambulatory legs, it [the Birgus] rotates the nut round it.
† 13. Eye of the world: = Hydrophane. Obs. [transl. of mod.L. oculus mundi: cf. the Arab. name [Arabic] ‘eye of the sun.’]
[1672. Boyle, Origin Gems, 107. Though the Oculus Mundi be reckoned by Classic Authors among the rare Gems.]
1772. Cronstedt’s Min., App. 6. I have seen the Eye of the World … in Sir Hans Sloane’s Collection.
14. Naut. ‘Eyes of her’ (see quot. 1867).
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xxii. Being right in the eyes of her … we could [etc.].
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 284. Eyes of her. The foremost part of the bay, or in the bows of a ship. In olden times, and now in Spanish and Italian boats … an eye is painted on each bow.
1880. Times, 25 Dec., 7/4. A heavy forecastle in the eyes of her.
15. † a. A fountain or spring; = Heb. sa·yin, Arab. ssain. b. The opening through which the water wells up. Cf. WELL-EYE.
1609. Bible (Douay), Deut. xxxiii. 23. The eie of Jacob in the land of corne and wine.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 290/2. The place where the river re-appears is called Los Ojos de Guadiana (the eyes of the Guadiana).
1857. Livingstone, Trav., vi. 111. A hollow, which anciently must have been the eye of a fountain.
1883. J. Mackenzie, Day-dawn in Dark Places, 70. There are three separate wells or ‘eyes’ to this fountain.
16. A central mass; the brightest spot or center (of light).
1864. Intell. Observ., V. 371. The net being drawn through a ‘scull’ or shoal of the fish, breaks what is called the eye of the fish.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 284. Eyght, the thickest part of a scule of herrings; when this is scattered by the fishermen, it is termed ‘breaking the ey.’
1870. J. Roskell, in Eng. Mech., 18 March, 647/2. When the button of melted copper … assumes a bright colour, and the centre, which the essayer calls the eye, being dark, the front brick is … drawn aside.
17. Painting (See quot.)
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 201. ‘Eyes,’ as the abrupt terminations of the longitudinal division of folds are named.
18. Naut. In the wind’s eye: in the direction of the wind. Into the wind’s eye: to windward. To be a sheet in the wind’s eye: fig. to be slightly intoxicated.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 114. The weathercockis beke is … in the windis eie.
1628. Digby, Jrnl. (Camden), 50. The 4 galliottes … rowed into the windes eye.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 135. The Sound … is not above a League in the Wind’s Eye.
1823. Byron, Juan, X. iv. In the wind’s eye I have sail’d.
1834. Medwin, Angler in Wales, II. 145. A better sea-boat … but she could not walk in the wind’s eye.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxiv. (1856), 179. To see our pack-bound neighbors … steam ahead dead in the wind’s eye.
1883. Stevenson, Treasure Isl., IV. xx. Maybe you think we were all a sheet in the wind’s eye. But I’ll tell you I was sober.
19. The center of revolution. Also in phrase To open its eye.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), II. VIII. iii. 210. The cloud … begins, according to the sailor’s phrase, to open its eye, i. e. the cloud breaks, and the part of the horizon where it was formed becomes clear.
1867. F. Francis, Angling, v. 144. The eye of the stream … is always the most favourable spot for fish. By the eye I mean the first good eddy on the inside of any stream after it commences its shoot.
1884. W. M. Davis, in Science, Jan., 63/1. The peculiar and dreadful calm within the whirl, to which sailors have given the name of ‘the eye of the storm.’
20. A hole or aperture.
a. In a needle: The hole or aperture formed to receive the thread.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xxiii. 25. Ðerh ðyrl or eʓo nedles.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., ibid. Eaðelicor mæʓ se olfend ʓan þurh … nædle eaʓe.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xix. 24. It is liȝhter, or eysier a camel for to passe thorwȝ a nedelis eiȝe.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 36. A nedle þre cornerid whos iȝe schal be holid on boþe sidis.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. i. 87. So much wit…. As will stop the eye of Helens Needle.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, II. 128. Wedg’d whole ages in a bodkin’s eye.
1740. Cheyne, Regimen, 313. The Rays of Millions of different Flambeaux may pass … through the Eye of a Needle.
1831–4. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 358. The formation of the gutters and the piercing of the eye.
b. A hole pierced in a tool or implement, for the insertion of some other object.
1554. Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 57. For makynge the iee of the clapper [of a bell] … xiiijd.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 155. Put the Eyes of the Hindges over the Pins of the Hooks.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., E j b. When the Miner haums a Pick, there is always Some of the Haum comes through the Eye.
1796. Pearson, in Phil. Trans., LXXXVI. 445. Its [the axe’s] length from eye to edge was seven inches.
1827. J. F. Cooper, Prairie, I. ii. 26. He buried his axe to the eye, in the soft body of a cotton-wood tree.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 284. Eye of an anchor. The hole in the shank wherein the ring is fixed.
1881. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 33. The eye should be made close to the end of the spring which should be rounded.
c. An opening or passage for the introduction or withdrawal of material, as in the ‘runner’ or upper stone of a mill, in a kiln, etc.; also for exit or ingress, as in a fox’s earth, a mine, etc.
1686. Burnet, Trav., v. (1750), 277. He comes out at the Eye of the Mill all in Wafers.
1741. Compl. Fam. Piece, II. i. 295. Having found a Fox’s Earth, cause all his Holes you can find to be stopt, except the main Hole or Eye that is most beaten.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., G iv. Eye of the Shaft … is the very beginning of the Surface or Grass Clod, sometimes called the Mouth in old Works.
1776. Young, Tour in Irel. (1780), 301. He burns it in arched kilns, with several eyes.
1812. Chron., in Ann. Reg. 1811, 5. When the men employed at the lime-kiln … went to their work, they found a man and a woman lying dead on the edge of its eye.
1842[?]. E. J. Lance, Cottage Farmer, 19. 41/2 bushels of flour from the eye of the mill.
1843. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., IV. I. 27. The main drain opens into the ditch at a spot called the ‘eye.’
1843. Portlock, Geol., 682. In each quadrant of the kiln, there is an opening, called an eye, or fire-hole.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., IV. 605. A damsel on the spindle … agitates the shoe beneath the hopper and causes the grain to dribble into the eye of the runner.
d. A small hole or hollow in bread or cheese, etc. (Cf. BULL’S EYE 12). Obs. exc. dial. [Cf. Fr. œil in same sense.]
1528. Paynell, Salerne Regim., E ij. Chese … not to tough … nor to full of eies.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 483. Cheeses made of their [Sheep’s] milk is … full of eyes and holes.
1649. Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1653), 143. A Mud, or Sludg … which is very soft, full of Eyes and Wrinckles.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. v. 244/1. Bad Cheese … full of Eyes, not well prest.
1710. J. Clarke, Rohault’s Nat. Phil. (1729), I. 29. Those large Spaces which we call the Eyes of the Bread.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Wood-bk., s.v., ‘I like,’ said a young farmer, ‘bread full of eyes, cheese without any.’
21. A loop of metal or thread in a ‘hook and eye,’ esp. that used as a fastening in dresses. Also a metal ring for holding a rod or bolt, or for a rope, etc., to pass through.
1599. Minsheu, Sp. Dict. (1623), Hevilla … hooks and eies of siluer.
1611. Cotgr., Piton … an Eye for a curtaine rod [etc.].
a. 1658. Cleveland, Pet. Poem, 23. My Eyes are out, and all my Button-moulds Drop.
1697. Derham, in Phil. Trans., XX. 2. On the Top I left an Eye in the Wire.
1715. Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 130. Two Iron Eyes for the ends of the Axis to play in.
1763. Del Pino, Sp. Dict., Máchos y hémbras, hooks and eyes.
1831. Brewster, Nat. Magic, x. (1833), 247. Having … made it [the rope] pass through a fixed iron eye.
1865. J. C. Wilcocks, Sea-Fisherman (1875), (1875), 35. A piece of brass wire (having eyes turned at the ends).
1880. W. C. Russell, Sailor’s Sweetheart (1881), II. iv. 201. A couple of scuttlebutts lashed … to eyes in the bulwarks.
Mod. The stair-rods are too large for the eyes.
b. A loop of cord or rope; esp. ‘the circular loop of a shroud or stay, where it goes over the mast’ (Adm. Smyth); and in other nautical applications. Also the loop at one end of a bow-string.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XIII. xxix. 337. Put the eie of the one [cord] into the eie or bowt of the other.
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1704), 345/2. An Eye or two, and a Wall-knot.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Collet d’étai, the eye of a stay placed over a mast-head.
1797. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp., II. 324. Two pair of main-shrouds cut in the eyes.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 275. Elliot-eye … is an eye worked over an iron thimble in the end of a hempen bower-cable, to facilitate its being shackled to the chain for riding in very deep water. Ibid., 283. Flemish eye, particularly applied to the eye of a stay, which is either formed at the making of the rope; or by dividing the yarns into two equal parts, knotting each pair separately and pointing the whole over after parcelling.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 9. The eyes of the rigging.
22. Arch. (see quot. 1888).
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Eye of the Volute.
1888. Gwilt, Archit., Gloss. 1277. Eye, a general term signifying the centre of any part: thus the eye of a pediment is a circular window in its centre. The eye of a dome is the horizontal aperture on its summit. The eye of a volute is the circle at the centre, from whose circumference the spiral line commences.
b. transf. in Conchology.
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 32/1. Volute, is that twist of spirals which winds round the axis or columella, diminishing by degrees, and ending in a point called the eye. Ibid., 34. The eye [of the shell] is perfectly white, and shaped like a nipple.
† 23. Anat. Eye of the knee: the knee-cap.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 177. To kepe þis ioynture from harm, is ioyned þeron a round boon &… of summen it is clepid þe yȝe of þe knee.
24. Typog. † a. = the FACE of a type. [Fr. œil.] b. The enclosed space in the letters d, e, o, etc.
1676. Moxon, Reg. Trium Ord. Lit. Typo., 22. In the Parallel of 23 draw a line for the Eye, from the inside of e to the outside on the right hand.
1736. Bailey (folio), Eye (with Printers) is sometimes used for the thickness of the types or characters used in Printing; or more strictly the graving in relievo on the top or face of a letter.
Mod. The eyes of the type are filled up.
25. Artificial eye; also simply ‘eye’: A glass imitation of the natural eye.
1832. Babbage, Econ. Manuf., § 300. I … determined to think of the dolls’ eyes…. I satisfied myself that the eyes alone would produce a circulation of a great many thousand pounds.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., s.v. Eye, Artificial eye, a thin shell or concavo-convex piece of glass or enamel, coloured in imitation of a natural eye, which is introduced beneath the lid when the eye has been enucleated.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIII. 90/2. Artificial eyes are inserted,… and the specimen is then placed … to dry.
26. Glass eye. a. = prec. b. also simply ‘eyes’: A pair of spectacles. c. = BULL’S EYE.
15[?]. Kennedy, Agst. Mouth-Thankless, v. (in Evergreen). In thy Bag thou beirs thyne Een.
1710. Acc. Death Tom Whigg, II. 39. A Glass Eye, the Workmanship … of the Famous Gualtero.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, III. 18. A pair of Glass Eyes to clap on my Nose.
1785. Mrs. A. M. Bennett, Juvenile Indiscretions (1786), I. 62. I must put on my eyes; yes, yes, I see I was mistaken.
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Dec., 5/1. The pale rays of the sun show through the glass eyes on deck.
1890. Coues, Handbk. Ornithology, 66. Glass eyes, of all sizes and colours, may be purchased at a moderate cost.
IV. attrib. and Comb.
27. General relations: a. attributive, (portions or natural appendages of the eye) as eye-brim, -orbit, -place, -root, -socket; (actions, properties, qualities, sensations of or pertaining to the eye) as eye-craft, -encounter, -glance, -level, -love, -pleasure, -range, -reach, -search, -sparkle, -tear, -wrinkle; (surgical appliances for examining or operating on the eye) as eye-cup, -douche, -forceps, -instrument, -speculum, -syringe; eye-like, adj.; b. objective, as eye-clearer, -doctor, -guard, -irrigator, -protector; eye-bedewing, -beguiling, -bewildering, -bewitching, -brightening, -dazzling, -delighting, -distracting, -glutting, -offending, -over-flowing, -pleasing, -rejoicing, -retorting, -scaring, trying, etc., also with indirect obj. eye-sweet, adjs.; eye-ward adv.; eye-casting, -devouring, -watering vbl. sbs. c. locative as eye-blurred, -bold, -starting adjs.; eye-earnestly adv.; instrumental as eye-charmed, -checkt, -reasoning, -seen adjs.; parasynthetic and similative as eye-blue, -headed, -tipped.
1612. J. Taylor (Water P.), To Sir R. Douglas. This kingdom weeps … With … *eye-bedewing verse.
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., i. 4. Heart-corrupting, *eye-beguiling Gold.
1637. Gillespie, Eng.-Pop. Cerem., IV. ix. 46. The … *eye-bewitching farding, of fleshly shew.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. ix. *Eye-bewildering chiaroscuro.
1839. Bailey, Festus, xix. (1848), 225. Within, the dome Was *eyeblue sapphire.
1592. Warner, Alb. Eng., VII. xxxvii. 168. She *eie-blur’d, and adiudged Praies the dastard’st.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. IV. II. Magnificence, 424. Th’ *eye-bold Eagle never fears the flash … of Lightning.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., Wks. 1738, I. 58. Some *eye-brightning Electuary of Knowledge and Foresight.
1729. T. Cooke, Tales, Proposals, etc. 185. The Caitiff trembles, and his *Eyebrims flow.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 88. By suche … good *eye castyng: thei shall alwaies bee able … to speake what thai ought.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., ccclxii. Amazement but Enthralls *Eye-Charm’d Spectators.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, II. iv. 47. He forgot his Table, till *eye checkt to his duty.
1883. R. Turner, in Gd. Words, Dec., 790/2. The pretty little Eyebright … had at one time a great reputation as an *eye-clearer.
1639. Horn & Robotham, Gate Lang. Unl., lxxvi. heading, Of opticks (*eye-craft) and painting.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Eye-cup, a cup for washing the eyeball.
1601. Chester, Love’s Mart. Cantoes, xlv. (1878), 147. *Eye-dazling mistries.
1757. Dyer, Fleece, II. 574. The tribe of salts … *eyedelighting hues Produce.
1887. Hissey, Holiday on Road, 87. Windmills … always charming features in the prospect, life-giving and eye-delighting.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 1473. Monsieur Léonce Miranda ate her up With *eye-devouring.
1885. E. D. Hale, in Harper’s Mag., March, 558/2. They are as good as any *eye-doctor.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., *Eye douche, an instrument by means of which a stream of water or medicated fluid can be applied to the surface of the eye.
1818. Keats, Endymion, I. 360. Sweeping, *eye-earnestly, through almond vales.
1833. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. i. (1865), 241. A momentary *eye-encounter with those stern bright visages.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 37. His countenaunce … scornefull *ey-glaunce at him shot.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y. Visit. Sick. Your keen eye glances are too bright.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 9. To them that covet such *eye-glutting gaine Proffer thy giftes.
1884. Health Exhib. Catal. (ed. 2), 136/1. Gauze Wire *Eye Guards.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Eye-headed Bolt, a form of bolt having an eye at the head-end.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., *Eye-irrigator, a coil of narrow lead tubing … readily bent to fit the orbit and the surface of the lids … through which a constant current of warm or cold fluid is maintained.
1611. Cotgr., Miraillet, a Thornebacke which hath on either of her sides … a great *eye-like spot.
1879. Lubbock, Sci. Lect., ii. 51. Many of the hawkmoth caterpillars have eye-like spots.
1863. ‘Ouida,’ Held in Bondage (1870), 92. And *eye-love expires.
1806. J. Grahame, Birds of Scot., 77. A melancholy, *eye-o’erflowing look.
1595. Shaks., John, III. i. 47. Patch’d with foule Moles, and *eye-offending markes.
1858. H. Miller, Rambl. Geol., II. xii. 434. The snout of the Dipterus was less round; it bore no marks of the *eye-orbits.
1869. Blackmore, Lorna D., ii. (ed. 12), 10. A light came through my *eye-places.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 6. Medowes, enamelled with all sorts of *eie-pleasing flowers.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 446. His spirit hath garnished … the Heavens, i. e. decked them with those eye-pleasing gloriose lights.
1607. Markham, Caval., I. 53. If you preserue your Mare for beautie, and *eye-pleasure.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., *Eye-protectors.
1880. Miss Broughton, Sec. Th., I. xii. The very instant he is out of *eye-range.
1622–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1682), 12. They had so long together lain in *eye-reach.
1839. Bailey, Festus, xx. (1848), 234. *Eye-reasoning man.
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., v. 23. Full heaps of *eye-rejoicing gold.
1818. L. Hunt, Foliage, Orig. Poems, 28. As on the *eye-retorting dolphin’s back That let Arion ride him.
1791. Cowper, Odyss., IX. 458. All his *eye-roots crackled in the flames.
1657. Reeve, God’s Plea for Nineveh, 153. All our lip-reverence, *eye-search, feet-lackying, ear-bibbing … scarce bring forth a conspicuous Penitent.
1871. Palgrave, Lyr. Poems, 116. The keen torrents of *eye-searing light.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xlii. (1856), 382. *Eye-seen growth.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Hist., Wks. (Bohn), I. 10. Whose *eye-sockets are so formed that it would be impossible for such eyes to squint.
1854. Owen, Skel. & Teeth (1855), 13. The eye-sockets … are … large, and usually with a free and wide intercommunication in the skeleton.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Bks., Wks. (Bohn), III. 90. Laughter and blushes and *eye-sparkles of men and women.
1794. Coleridge, Relig. Musings, iv. Fear, the wild-visaged, pale, *eye-starting wretch.
1598. J. Dickenson, Greene in Conc. (1878), 124. Which spoyle their stommacks with vnsauory myxtures, thereby to seeme *eye-sweete.
1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 187. Not only God, but all his instruments that he worketh by, must be eye-sweet to us. Ibid., 376. A Providence as fair and eye-sweet as white paper.
1863. Manch. Exam., 22 May. The effect of this arrangement is peculiarly ‘eye-sweet.’
1616. W. Forde, Serm., 42. The hearts griefe and the *eie-teares must goe together.
1791. E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., II. 142. The Cherub train … with wonder touch the sliding snail, Admire his *eye-tip’d horns.
1887. Sat. Rev., 14 May, 703/1. Colours worked on highly glazed *eye-trying paper.
1891. Carlyle, in Daily News, 3 Nov., 5/3. Placidly sharp fat face, puckered *eyeward (as if all gravitating towards the eyes).
1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, 61. This gaping, and *eye-watering.
1851. H. Melville, Moby-Dick, xvi. 78. Such *eye-wrinkles are very effectual in a scowl.
28. Special comb.: † eye-apple, the apple of the eye; eye-baby, the image of the spectator seen in another’s eye; eye-bar, a steel or iron bar having an eye or hole at either end, used in bridges; eye-blight, something that blights or dims the eye; eye-blink, the twinkling of an eye (cf. BLINK sb.2 3); eye-blinking vbl. sb. (cf. BLINK v. 6), a half-closing of the eye (to what is indecorous); eye-bone, the bony circle round the eye, the orbit; † eye-brine, tears; † eye-cast, an act of casting the eye, a glance or look; eye-copy, a copy made by the hand, with the aid of the eye only; eye-dawn, the dawn or first appearance (of a feeling) in the eye; † eye-dolp = eye-socket; eye-dot = eye-speck; eye-dotter, a small brush used in graining wood in imitation of bird’s-eye maple; eye-drop, a tear; eye-end, that end of a telescope to which the eye is applied; † eye-flap = BLINKER 2 b; † eye-form (see quot.); eye-handle (of a spade, etc.), a handle having an eye or hole; † eye-hope, hope arising from the appearance of a thing; † eye-lamp, lamp or light of the eye; eye-lens, the lens nearest the eye in an optical instrument; eye-light, (a) the light of the eye, (b) a light (candle or lamp) for the eye; eye-limpet (see quot.); eye-line, (a) the field or range of vision, (b) in pl. the lines above and below the eye of a bird; eye-loop = EYE-HOLE, a loop-hole; eye-memory (see quot.); eye and ear-observation (see quot.); eye-observation, an observation taken by the eye alone; eye-opener, (a) U.S. a draught of strong liquor, esp. one taken in the morning, (b) something that throws sudden light on a subject or that makes clear what was dark and ambiguous, (c) something that causes keen surprise: eye-parley, communication by interchange of looks; † eye-pearl, a facet in a compound eye; eye-pedicel, eye-peduncle, Zool. a pedicel or peduncle supporting an eye; eye-peeper = EYE-LID; eye-point = EYE-SPOT; eye-probe (see quot.); eye-purple (see quot.); eye-rim (see quot.); eye-scope = EYE-SHOT; eye-seed, in pl. seeds that, when blown into the eye, are said to remove foreign substances; † eye (ȝen)-seke [see SEKE], eyesickness; yearning; † eye-set a., set down by eye-witnesses, trustworthy; eye-shade, a shade for the eyes, (a) one worn or used as a protection from the light; (b) a hood attached to a microscope to prevent the entrance of lateral rays to the eye; † eye-sick a., affected by things one sees; eye-siren (see quot.); eye-sketch = EYE-DRAUGHT; eye-sorrow, (a) suffering through the eye, (b) = EYE-SORE; eye-speck, an eye consisting of a single speck, a rudimentary eye; eye-stalk, the stalk or peduncle supporting the eye; = eye-peduncle; eye-star (see quot.); eye-stone, (a) a stone resembling an eye, (b) (see quot. 1828); † eye-streams, tears; eye-structure (see quot.); eye-sucker (see quot.); eye-sweep, a survey with the eye; eye-trap, something to catch or deceive the eye, a specious appearance; eye-trick, a trick of the eye, a covert glance; eye-tube, the tube of the eye-piece in a telescope; † eye-vein, a branch-vein; eye-verdict, the evidence of the eyes; eye-wages, such wages as eye-service deserves; eye-waiter, one who waits for a look from his master as indicative of his will; = EYE-SERVANT; eye-wash, a wash or lotion for the eye, also fig.; eye-wattle, a wattle or excrescence near the eye of a bird; eye-web, membrane covering the eye (e.g., of a mole); eye-wise a., wise in appearance; † eye-worm, a worm in the eye, in quot. fig.; eye-worship, adoration performed by the eye; eye-wright, one who cures eyes. Also, EYE-BALL, -BEAM, -BITE, etc.
1658. A. Fox, trans. Würtz’ Surg., II. ix. 81. If a party hath received a Wound in the *Eye Apple,… then … [etc.].
1890. Coues, Field & Gen. Ornith., II. iv. 271. Our own reflection, diminished to the size of the *‘eye-baby.’
1890. Daily News, 16 April, 6/6. Such important pieces as the *eye-bars of suspension bridges.
1800. Coleridge, Piccolom., V. iii. Therefore are they *eye-blights, Thorns in your foot-path.
1867. Dixon, New Amer., I. xii. 143. And in an *eye-blink, Carter fell to the ground dead.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Oct., 2/1. It is a pity that in these days of sham prudery and *eye-blinking such conversations cannot be reproduced.
1793. Holcroft, trans. Lavater’s Physiog., vii. 47. *Eyebones with defined … firm arches.
1606. Davies, Sir T. Overbury, Wks. (Grosart), 13. The Judge … Powders his words in *Eye-brine.
1672. J. Howard, Mad Couple, II. in Hazl., Dodsley, XV. 346. There’s two of them that make their love together, By languishing *eye-casts.
1883. I. Taylor, Alphabet, iv. § 2 I. 207. An early *eye-copy of a portion of the inscription.
1820. Keats, Ode to Psyche, 20. Tender *eye-dawn of aurorean love.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. x. 15. Off his *E dolp thæ flowand blude and attir He wische away.
1878. M‘Kendrick, in Encycl. Brit., VIII. 816/1. Eye-specks or *eye-dots met with in Medusæ, Annelidæ, &c.
1873. Spon, Workshop Rec., Ser. I. 422. Some grainers use small brushes called maple *eye-dotters … for forming the eyes.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. v. 88. That Tyranny … Would … haue wash’d his Knife With gentle *eye-drops.
1790. Roy, in Phil. Trans., LXXX. 154. This piece of mechanism in the *eye-end of the telescope.
1878. Lockyer, Stargazing, 311. The eye-end changes its position rapidly.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Oeilleres, A bridle with *eye-flaps for a fore-horse.
1775. Ash, Eye-flap.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. Def. B ij b. A figure moche like to a tunne fourme, saue that it is sharp couered [1574 cornered] at both the endes … and that figure is named an *yey [1574 eye] fourme.
1880. Catal. Tool Wks. Sheffield, 24. The spades above No. 4 have *Eye Handles.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 351. *Eye-hopes deceitfull proue.
1600. J. Lane, Tom Tel-troth, 110. Daigne with your *eye-lamps to behold this booke.
1871. Lockyer, Elem. Astron., § 468. We get an inverted image at … the focus of the *eye-lens.
1879. Newcomb & Holden, Astron., 63. The eye-lens E receives the pencil of rays, and deviates it to the observer’s eye.
1824. J. Bowring, Batavian Anthol., 59. The brightest of stars is but twilight Compared with that beautiful *eye-light.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 378. Eyelight comes out to mingle with the daylight that comes in.
1891. Farmer, Slang, *Eye-limpet an artificial eye.
1839. Bailey, Festus (1854), 532. One unlimited *eye-line of pure space.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 7 Nov., 4/1. A flycatcher sits lengthwise upon a branch. How beautiful … its white eye-lines, and barred forehead!
1866. [J. A. Symonds], in Cornh. Mag., Nov., 543. On its walls [may still be traced] the *eyeloops for arrows.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 March, 3/2. Closely akin to quickness of perception is *eye-memory, or ‘the impressing by will on memory things which we have seen.’
1879. Newcomb & Holden, Astron., 79. *Eye-and-ear observation … is … the part which both the eye and the ear play in the appreciation of intervals of time. The ear catches the beat of the clock, the eye fixes the star.
1889. Daily News, 3 Jan., 5/2. The camera … gives more reliable results than mere *eye observations.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., IV. xvi. (C. D. ed.), 513. That transatlantic dram which is poetically named an *eye-opener.
1869. ‘Mark Twain,’ Innoc. Abr., xv. 149. The uneducated foreigner could not even furnish … an Eye-Opener.
1879. N. & Q., 15 Feb., 140. His lecture must have been a lively … eye-opener for the somnolence of a cathedral town.
1884. E. T. Hooker, in Amer. Missionary (N.Y.), April. The ability manifested in the discussion … would have been an eye-opener to Dr. Tucker.
1651. Charleton, Ephes. & Cimm. Matrons, II. (1668), 33. The *Eye-parly between Leander and Hero.
1665. Hooke, Micrographia, 179. There may be by each of these *eye-pearls, a representation to the Animal of a whole Hemisphere in the same manner as in a man’s eye there is a picture or sensation in the Retina.
1854. Woodward, Mollusca (1856), 24. The *eye-pedicels of the snail.
1852. Dana, Crust., I. 440. The acicle of the outer antennœ is long subulate, seldom shorter than the *eye-peduncle.
1786. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 25 Dec. When my poor *eye-peepers are not quite closed, I look to the music-books.
1856–8. W. Clark, Van der Hoeven’s Zool., I. 51. Animals without *eye-point and tail.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., I. 633. The scrutinizing eye-point of some star.
1860. Mayne, Exp. Lex., *Eye-probe. Surg. Name for a probe having an eye, or small hole at one end.
1886. Daily News, 24 Sept., 5/1. A substance termed the visual purple of the eye. Now, this *eye-purple is eminently sensitive to the action of light.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Eye-rim, a circular single eye-glass, adapted to be held to its place by the contraction of the orbital muscles.
1891. R. Kipling, City Dreadf. Nt., iv. 24. They can declare truthfully the name of every ship within *eye-scope.
1878. Britten & Holland, Plant-n., 172. *Eye-seeds…. Probably Salvia Verbenaca.
c. 1485. Digby Myst., Mary Magd., 1577. I am so wexyd with *ȝen sueke, Þat [etc.].
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. 507. So may some Stoicall Reader misconster and misconceaue some parts of this *eye-set History.
1866. K. R. C., in N. & Q., 10 March, 196/2. An *eye-shade of cardboard … is more useful than ornamental.
1646. Bp. Hall, Balm Gilead, 299. I have long since left to be *eie-sick.
1594. J. Dickenson, Arisbas (1878), 62. That *eye-SYREN, alluring not with the sound, but at the sight.
1774. M. Mackenzie, Maritime Surv., 84. He may … sound the Depths of the Water, and mark them on an *Eye-sketch of the Coast.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 317. Of this column, I made an eye-sketch at the time.
1828. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 132. The law of Destiny which dooms them to such ‘unspeakable *eye-sorrow.’ Ibid. (1837), Fr. Rev., II. VI. vi. So many Courtiers … are an eyesorrow to the National Guards.
1839. Todd, Cycl. Anat., II. 130/2. The *eye-specks are situated a little way behind the head.
1880. Bastian, Brain, iii. 61. The simple ‘eye-specks’ of some of the lower Worms.
1854. Woodward, Mollusca (1856), 24–5. The snail affords a remarkable, though familiar instance, when it draws in its *eye-stalks.
1880. Huxley, Crayfish (ed. 6), i. 24. At the ends of the eyestalks, are the organs of vision.
1834. Southey, Doctor, Pref. I. 41. So many featherlets leading up to … the gem or *eye-star, for which the whole was formed.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 129. An Ophthalmites, or some sort of *Eye-stone.
1828. S. F. Gray, Suppl. to Pharmacopæia, 143. Guernsey eye-stone being put into the inner corner of the eye works its way out at the outward corner and brings out any strange substance with it.
1865. H. Emanuel, Diamonds, etc. 163. These stones [onyx] are also termed by jewellers ‘eye-stones.’
1594. Southwell, M. Magd. Fun. Teares (1602), 30. Would our eyes be so drie, if such *eye-streams were behoouefull?
1888. F. H. Hatch, Gloss. Terms for Rocks, 11. *Eye-structure. In this structure … the foliated and secondary minerals are arranged in layers round the larger original constituents, producing lenticular forms which often bear a striking resemblance to eyes.
1744. Baker, in Phil. Trans., XLIII. 35. I shall … distinguish it by the Name of *Eye-Sucker, as that Name conveys an idea of the Manner how it lives.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Eye-sucker, a small sea insect, which is sometimes found fixed by the snout to the Eyes of sprats.
1865. E. Burritt, Walk to Land’s End, 440. When you have taken your first *eye-sweep, you cannot say which goddess is the fairest.
1785. Mrs. A. M. Bennett, Juvenile Indiscretions (1786), I. 4. The *eye-trap of a good house.
1825. Blackw. Mag., XVIII. 152/2. A got-up thing—a mere eyetrap.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. v. (1632), 487. Galba … perceiving him and his wife beginne to bandy *eie-trickes and signes.
1779. Dollond, in Phil. Trans., LXIX. 332. The *eye-tube which contains the wires of the telescope.
1837. Goring & Pritchard, Microgr., 6. The elongation or contraction of the length of the body, by means of the eye-tube.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 43. They sende into each of the caules innumerable small *eye veynes.
1657. S. W., Schism Dispach’t, 198. Dr. H. would persuade us to beleeve against our *eye-verdict.
1620. Sanderson, Serm., I. 150. They do Him but eye-service, and He giveth them but *eye-wages.
a. 1734. North, Lives, II. 249. Most of them were but *eye-waiters.
1866. Cornh. Mag., Sept., 361. Not all the hair-pins, and *eye-washes, and affectations can equal it.
1884. C. T. Buckland, Sk. Soc. Life India, ii. 45. Most officers of any tact understand the meaning of eye-wash.
1889. ‘F. Anstey,’ Pariah, I. i. He came up to me with some eyewash or other about our being neighbours at Gorsecombe now.
1868. Darwin, Anim. & Pl., I. vi. 188. A long-beaked carrier, having large *eye-wattles.
1883. W. S. Dugdale, trans. Dante’s Purgatorio, XVII. 188. Through which thou couldst see no better than a mole does through his *eyeweb.
1876. Lowell, Poet. Wks. (1879), 472. When those *eye-wise … shall be lost In the great light.
1591. Lyly, Endym., III. iv. 45. Love is but an eye worme, which onely tickleth the head with hopes.
a. 1674. Milton, Prose Wks. (Jod.). *Eye-worship.
1656. Heylin, Surv. France, 28. My hostess … perswaded me to this holy *eye-wright.
