a. and sb. Also (4 fenal), 4–6 fynal(l, 4–7 finall(e. [a. F. final, ad. L. fīnāl-is of or pertaining to an end, f. fīnis end.]
A. adj.
1. Coming at the end (of a word, a series).
1530. Palsgr., Introd. 28. Every feminyn plurell endeth in S, added to the E fynall of his singular.
1821. Shelley, Hellas, note. The final Chorus is indistinct and obscure.
1838. De Morgan, Ess. Probab., 202. Let a colon placed after the final letter denote that a perpetuity is one of the status during which the annuity is to last.
1865. Geikie, Scen. & Geol. Scot., xiii. 340. In this final chapter let me present the reader with a brief summary.
1881. Football Annual, 91. In the final tie they were beaten by the Walsall Swifts.
† b. Her. in quadrate final, according to Ferne a field bearing a ‘token of arms’ other than a representation of a living creature. Obs.
[1486. see FINIAL. a.]
1586. J. Ferne, The Blazon of Gentrie, 206. The Armes called Quadrates, were nine in number: and they were (as I tolde you) either finall … or Royall.
c. Law. Final process (see quot). Final proof: (U.S.) the process observed in paying for pre-empted land after six months’ occupancy.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. xix. 279. Mesne process is … sometimes put in contradistinction to final process, or process of execution.
1884. Milnor (Dakota) Teller, 5 Sept. He … makes final proofs and attends to all business of that kind.
2. Marking the last stage of a process; leaving nothing to be looked for or expected; ultimate.
c. 1365. Chaucer, L. G. W., 2101, Ariadne. This is the fynal ende of al this thyng.
c. 1440. Govt. Lordschipes (E.E.T.S.), 48. He made many morales epistels to Aristotel of greet delyt to haue his secree fynal.
1504. Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. lxiv. 258. Dyrecte it by thy grace contynually in this lyfe vnto the fynall countrey of euerlastyng peace and claryte.
a. 1535. More, Wks. 578/1. By his word electes, he meneth the finall and eternall electes.
1649. Milton, Eikon, Preface. To descant on the misfortunes of a Person fall’n from so high a dignity, who hath also payd his finall debt both to Nature and his Faults, is neither of it selfe a thing commendable, nor the intention of this discourse.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. ii. 38. Delay of punishment is no sort nor degree of presumption of final impunity.
1805. Foster, Ess., I. iii. 37. The final basis of all character.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 9. When philosophic candour and intelligence are supposed to have hit their final climax in the doctrine that everything is both true and false at the same time.
3. Putting an end to something (rarely const. of, to); putting an end to strife or uncertainty; not to be undone, altered, or revoked; conclusive.
Formerly often in phr. final peace or concord = med. L. finalis pax, concordia.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 338.
| And whan þe parties wold mak a finalle pes, | |
| God grante it þam to hold þe conant þat þei ches. |
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 259. Taak this for fynal answere as of me.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn and Eglantine, x. 40. His resolucion fynall was.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk, xi.
| But syth we could no fynall peace induce, | |
| For neither would the others couenants heare, | |
| For eightene monthes we dyd conclude a truce. |
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. ix. 51.
| At last, resolu’d to worke his finall smart, | |
| He lifted vp his hand, that backe againe did start. |
1625. Bacon, Ess., Greatn. Kingd. (Arb.), 489. There be many Examples, where Sea-Fights have beene Finall to the warre.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 95. Treason does ever produce fatal and final destruction to the Offender, and never attaineth to the desired end.
1771. Junius Lett., xlix. 255. You would long since have received your final dismission and reward.
1707. G. Washington, in Sir J. Sinclair, Corr. (1831), II. 26. Nothing final in Congress has been decided respecting the institution of a National Board of Agriculture.
1827. Hood, Mids. Fairies, xxxiv.
| Like a last knell over the dead world’s soul, | |
| Saying, Time shall be final of all things. |
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xii. 89. We made a series of final measurements.
4. Having regard to end or purpose; chiefly in Final Cause (see CAUSE sb. 4 b); final clause (Gram.), a clause expressing purpose or intention.
c. 1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 281 b/a. Aristotle supposeth that the actes of every thing been in a manner his finall cause.
1583. Exec. for Treason (1675), 42. The very causes final of these Rebellions … have been to depose her Majesty from her Crown.
1606. Sir G. Goosecappe, III. ii., in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 53.
| Wer’t not for women, who of all mens pompes | |
| Are the true final causes. |
1878. Morley, Condorcet, Crit. Misc., 76. All predispositions are destined to develope themselves according to their final purpose.
[See also CAUSE sb. 4 b.]
B. sb.
1. The adj. used absol. † a. For final = finally, conclusively. In final = in conclusion (obs.). b. That which comes last; completion, end, finish. Now rare.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 145. Thembassadours ben answered for fynal.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 383.
| And now to speke as in finall | |
| Touchend that I undertoke | |
| In english for to make a boke. |
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., 20 b. Those two Pilots of the Moores of Monsambicke, which had imagined in their mindes, and trauailed to bring to finall and execution their diuellish intent.
1617. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, II. x. 427. Because as the heele is the finall, the bottome of Gods workemanship, so the worke ceaseth when the wages is paid.
1854. Syd. Dobell, Balder, xxv. 186.
| Finish each stern power | |
| To such an exquisite final that it ends | |
| A plumèd feeling. |
2. In various applications due to elliptical uses of the adj.: e.g., a. The final letter of a word. † b. Music. (see quot. 1885). c. Athletics. The deciding game, heat, or trial. d. The last of a series of examinations; also pl. (Oxford colloq.).
1609. Douland, Ornith. Microl., 15. Euery Song ending in the Finals, is regular and not transposed, saith Saint Bernard in his Dialogue. Ibid., 41. Euery crooked Finall whether it ascend or descend, is a Breefe.
1627. Abp. Ussher, Lett. (1686), 383. Without any difference of Initials and Finals, and without any distinction of Points and Accents.
1880. A. Gibson (title), Aids to the Final [Law examination].
1880. Amateur Athletic Assoc. Laws for Meetings, 21. The best three competitors of the first trial shall be allowed three more tries each for the final.
1885. W. S. Rockstro, in Encycl. Brit., XIX. 169/1. The intervals of each ‘mode’ [of plain chant] are derived from a fundamental sound, called its ‘final.’ (Note. Analogous to the tonic or key-note of the modern scale.)
1894. Grant Allen, in Westm. Gaz., 20 June, 2/1. Taking a pass degree in Finals.
Mod. The initials and finals of these words form a double acrostic.
Hence Finalism, the belief that the end or limit has been reached. Finalist, one who believes that the end or limit has been reached.
1883. J. Parker, Tyne Ch., 18. The infallibility of this finalism was most obnoxious to a mind so strong-minded. Ibid. (1883), Apost. Life, II. 265. They were not finalists; they felt that something more might be possible.
