Forms: 4–5 labore, 4–6 -ur, -oure, 5–6 Sc. laubour, 4– labour, 5– labor. [a. OF. labor, labour (mod.F. labeur), ad. L. labōrem labour, toil, distress, trouble. Cf. Pr. labor, laor, Sp. labor, Pg. lavor, It. labore.
As in favour, etc., the spelling with -our is preferred in the British Isles, while in the U.S. -or is more common.]
1. Exertion of the faculties of the body or mind, esp. when painful or compulsory; bodily or mental toil. Hard labour: see HARD a. 18 b. † To do one’s labour: to exert oneself, make efforts (to do something).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23699. Þan sal it [þe erth] blisced be and quit o labur, and o soru, and sit.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 633. Why schulde he not her [i.e., innocents’] labour alow?
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 11. To telle a storie I wol do my labour.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10770. Hit were labur to long hir lotis to tell.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Auian (1889), 2. He that wylle haue … worship and glorye may not haue hit withoute grete laboure.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay (1888), 93. O heuinlie fader giff vsz alsua necessar thingis to our corporal sustentatione be our aune richtus laubour.
1535. Coverdale, Eccl. ii. 18. I was weery of all my laboure, Which I had taken vnder the Sonne.
1611. Bible, Ps. civ. 23. Man goeth forth into his worke: and to his labour, vntill the euening.
1619. Drayton, Idea, lix. Labour is light where Loue … doth pay.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 1021. So he with difficulty and labour hard Mov’d on, with difficulty and labour hee.
1752. Hume, Pol. Disc., i. 12. Everything in the world is purchas’d by labour, and our passions are the only causes of labour.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 20. Pleasure is labour too, and tires as much.
1827. Lytton, Falkland, 15. Nothing seemed to me worth the labour of success.
1833. Tennyson, Lotos-Eaters, 87. Ah, why Should life all labour be?
personified. c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4994. With hir Labour and Travaile Logged been.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 82. Nature … Still grants her bliss at Labour’s earnest call.
1804. Grahame, Sabbath, 2. Mute is the voice of rural labour.
transf. 1842. Combe, Digest., 267. The stomach, having less labour imposed upon it, will require less blood.
b. Phr. Labour in vain, lost labour.
[1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 181. [They] helden hem vnhardy and here conseille feble, And leten here labowre lost & alle here longe studye.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 293. Whan he sigh … that his labour was in veine.]
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxvi. 13. The leill labour lost, and leill seruice.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxxvii. 2. It is but lost labour that ye ryse vp early.
1615. T. Adams, England’s Sickn., 10. Let Nature doe her best, we dwelt at the Signe of the Labour-in-vaine. Onely Christ hath washed vs.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. (1693), 67. That Commission ended at Labour in vain; not, as the old Emblem is, to go about to make a Black-moor white, but to make him that was White to appear like a Black-moor.
1679. Dryden, Tr. & Cr., II. ii. The sign-post for the labour in vain.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), p. xviii. Add to the rest (for it is not labour lost) that old unfashionable medicine, Prayer.
† c. Bodily exercise. (Cf. Gr. πόνος.)
1584. Cogan, Haven Health, i. (1612), 1. Labour then, or exercise is a vehement moouing, the end whereof is alteration of the breath or winde of man.
1666. Harvey, Morb. Angl., x. (1672), 28. Moderate labour of the body is universally experienced to conduce to the preservation of health.
† d. An alleged term for a ‘company’ of moles.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, f vj b. A Labor of Mollis.
2. spec. in modern use: Physical exertion directed to the supply of the material wants of the community; the specific service rendered to production by the labourer and artisan.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. Introd. 1. The annual labour of every nation is the fund which originally supplies it with all the necessaries and conveniencies of life, which it annually consumes. Ibid., I. I. v. 35. Labour, therefore, is the real measure of the exchangeable value of all commodities.
1798. Malthus, Popul., IV. iv. (1806), II. 348. If the population of this country were better proportioned to its food, the nominal price of labour might be lower than it is now.
1825. Edin. Rev., XLIII. 14. The … remedy is to diminish the supply of labour.
1842–59. Gwilt, Archit., Gloss., Labour, a term in masonry employed to denote the value of a piece of work in consideration of the time bestowed upon it.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. iii. § 1 (1876), 28. Labour is indispensable to production, but has not always production for its effect.
1863. Barry, Dockyard Econ., 45. The difficulty of organising labour, particularly in masses, is well known.
1885. Act 48 & 49 Vict., c. 56. Preamble, Doubts have arisen as to whether or not it be lawful for an employer of labour to permit electors in his regular employ to absent themselves.
b. The general body of laborers and operatives, viewed in its relation to the body of capitalists, or with regard to its political interests and claims. Chiefly attrib. (see 8).
1880. S. Walpole, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 228. Labour … was gradually discovering the truth of the old saying, that God helps those who help themselves.
Mod. The parliamentary representation of labour.
3. An instance of bodily or mental exertion; a work or task performed or to be performed. A labour of Hercules, a Herculean labour: a task requiring enormous strength. Labour of love (see LOVE sb.).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2229. I rede we bigin a laboure … and make a toure.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 11. If that a pigmei scholde make him redy to conflicte after the labores of Hercules … plenerly finischede.
1535. Coverdale, Rev. xiv. 13. Yee the sprete sayeth, that they rest from their laboures.
1539. Taverner, Prov., 34. Laboures ones done, be swete.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. ii. 257. Yea, leaue that labour to great Hercules. Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, II. i. 380. I will in the interim, vndertake one of Hercules labors.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. vii. 226. They are two insupportable labours in searching of the mettall; first to digge and breake the rockes, and then to drawe out the water all together.
1617, 1732. [see HERCULEAN a. 3].
1702. Rowe, Tamerl., Ded. When they shall reckon up his Labours from the Battle of Seneff.
1732. Law, Serious C., iii. (ed. 2), 32. Whose lives have been a careful labour to exercise these virtues.
1835. Lytton, Rienzi, I. i. 4. My labours of the body, at least, have been light enough.
1871. Davies, Metric Syst., II. 29. The rich treasures of their labors.
4. The outcome, product or result of toil. Also pl. Obs. exc. arch. [Cf. L. hominumque boumque labores, Virgil.]
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1986. Ȝeildes til your creatur þe tend part o your labour.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 7. Y … intende to compile a tretys … excerpte of diuerse labores of auctores.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. civ. 44. They toke the labours of the people in possession.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 307. To worke what they can, and lyue on theyr laboures.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 12. Others haue laboured, and you may enter into their labours.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 688. The waxen Labour of the Bees.
1709. Swift, Vind. Bickerstaff, Wks. 1755, II. I. 174. I saw my labours, which cost me so much thought and watching, bawled about by common hawkers.
1720. Pope, Iliad, XVIII. 556. Five ample plates the broad expanse [of the shield] compose, And godlike labours on the surface rose.
1736. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., IV. 176. The Thing they want is the peaceable Possession of their Labours.
† 5. Trouble or pains taken. (Occas. pl.) Obs.
14[?]. Sir Beues (MS. O.), 928. ‘Haue this,’ he sayde, ‘for thy labour!’
1520. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford, 27. The auditors … be diligent and take labors herapon.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. i. 139. Why if it please you, take it for your labour; And so good-morrow Seruant.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 2. The Emperour got for his labour the name Pupillus.
a. 1656. Ussher, Power of Princes, II. (1683), 141. He caused the Fellow to be soundly whipped for his labour.
† b. esp. The exertion of influence in furthering a matter or obtaining a favor. To make labour: = LABOUR v. 13. Obs.
1454. T. Denyes, in Paston Lett., No. 199 (1897), I. 274. Aftirward my wif was sum dele easid bi the labour of the Wardeyn of Flete, for the cursid Cardenale had sent hir to Newgate.
1461. J. Paston, ibid., No. 408, II. 35. I undirstand ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here.
1482. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxlviii. 315. By labour of lordes that wente bytwene ther was a poyntement taken that ther was no harme done.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 22. Preamble, I pray you make laboure unto my Lady Warwyk to write to the King of Fraunce.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 42 § 2. Without any further sute or labour to be made to kyngs highnes … for the same.
1542. Udall, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camd.), 2. Your labour for my restitution to the roume of Scholemaister in Eton.
1565. Stow, in Three 15th c. Chron. (Camd.), 136. Ye paryshe of S. Marie Magdalyn in Mylkestret, makynge labour to ye byshope, had by hym a mynister apoyntyd to serve them with communion that day.
6. The pains and efforts of childbirth; travail. Phr. in labour.
1595. Spenser, Epithal., 383. Sith of wemens labours thou hast charge, And generation goodly dost enlarge.
1611. Bible, Gen. xxxv. 16. Rachel traueiled, and she had hard labour [Coverdale: the byrth came harde vpon hir].
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. i. 18. The Queens in Labor They say in great Extremity, and fear’d Shee’l with the Labour, end.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 477. [She] had then been in labour about two hours…. Interrogating her afterwards respecting her former labours [etc.].
1819. Shelley, in Dowden, Life (1887), II. 308. She has … brought me a fine little boy, after a labour of the very, very mildest character.
1889. J. M. Duncan, Lect. Dis. Women, vi. (ed. 4), 34. In the first labour the woman’s power and especially the labour, including the uterine, power is the greatest.
b. fig.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. vii. 81. With Newes the times with Labour, And throwes forth each minute, some.
1612. Bacon, Ess., Beauty (Arb.), 208. As if nature were rather busie not to erre, then in labour to produce excellency.
1634. Heywood, Maydenhd. well lost, I. B 3 b. My brain’s in labour, and must be deliuered Of some new mischeife.
1665. Manley, trans. Grotius’ Low C. Warres, 121. And now that sentence is brought forth, wherewith … the Warre had now been in labour for the space of nine years.
1797. T. Holcroft, trans. Stolberg’s Trav. (ed. 2), II. lxvi. 29. We beheld … the mountain incessantly in labour.
† 7. Eclipse. [A Latinism.] Obs.–1
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 679. Teach me the various Labours of the Moon, And whence proceed th’ Eclipses of the Sun [L. defectus solis varios, lunæque labores].
8. attrib. and Comb.: simple attrib., as labour-sphere; (sense 2 b) labo(u)r bank, leader, member, party, question; objective and objective gen., as labo(u)r-easing, -saving, -worthy adjs.; instrumental, as labo(u)r-bent, coarsened, dimmed adjs.; also labo(u)r book, a book containing accounts of labor employed; † labo(u)r-fellow, fellow-laborer; † labo(u)r-house, a laboratory; labo(u)r-market, the supply of unemployed labor considered with reference to the demand for it; labo(u)r-pains, pains of childbirth; labo(u)r-show Obstetrics, the mucous discharge streaked with blood which immediately precedes the occurrence of labor; labo(u)r-starve v. trans., to impoverish (land) by expending too little labor upon it; labo(u)r-time (see quot.); labo(u)r-yard, a yard in a workhouse or prison, where enforced labor is done by the inmates.
1847. Illustr. Lond. News, 28 Aug., 135/3. The Chartists are raising subscriptions to establish a bank, to be called the *‘Labour Bank.’
1883. Fortn. Rev., 1 Nov., 609. The … *labour-bent back of the labourer.
1893. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., Dec., 665. Taking notes from farmers’ *labour books.
1866. Howells, Venet. Life, xx. 345. Her *labour-coarsened hands.
1867. M. Arnold, Heine’s Grave, 89. The weary Titan! with deaf Ears, and *labour-dimm’d eyes.
1837. Wheelwright, trans. Aristoph., I. 196. The fertile vine, whose tendrils bear The *labour-easing grape.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par., Phil. 9. My *labourfelowes in ye gospell.
1557. N. T. (Geneva), 1 Thess. iii. 2. Timotheus … our labour felowe in the Gospel of Christe.
1712. Blackmore, Creat., 169. Did chymic chance the furnaces prepare, Raise all the *labour-houses of the air?
1892. Zangwill, Bow Myst., viii. 113. A hand was laid upon the *labour leader’s shoulder.
c. 1618. Sylvester, Spectacles, ix. (Grosart), II. 298. Th’ idle Lubber, *labour-loathing.
1861. Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., III. 149. The expenditure consequent on this, is thrown into what people call the *labour-market.
1876. H. Fawcett, Pol. Econ., II. iv. 146. The home labour-market is relieved by emigration.
1895. Whitaker’s Almanack, 134. The House of Commons … Liberals, 267 (including 4 *Labour Members).
1754–64. Smellie, Midwifery, I. 197. If it is delivered without any other assistance than that of the *labour-pains the birth ought to be called natural.
1799. Adolphus, Mem. Fr. Rev., I. 2. The dauphiness left almost alone at Versailles, she was unexpectedly seized with labour-pains, and delivered.
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 18 May, 3/1. The position attained by the new *Labour party.
1888. E. Bellamy, Looking Backward, v. What solution, if any, have you found for the *labour question?
177[]. Adam Smith (Worcester), A *labor-saving machine.
1870. Lowell, Among My Books, Ser. I. (1873), 110. Only too thankful for any labor-saving contrivance whatsoever.
1822–34. Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), IV. 60. Leucorrhea Nabothi, *Labour-Show.
1868. J. H. Newman, Verses Var. Occasions, 140. Severed … From thy loved *labour-sphere.
1891. Daily News, 28 March, 2/6. The land of Lincolnshire … was *labour-starved.
1898. J. Arch, Story of Life, viii. 183. Hundreds and hundreds of labour-starved acres.
1887. Kirkup, in Encycl. Brit., XXII. 212/1. The *labour-time which we take as the measure of value is the time required to produce a commodity under the normal social conditions of production with the average degree of skill and intensity of labour.
1640. Fuller, Joseph’s Coat, ii. (1867), 116. It will be a *labour-worthy discourse.
1856. Reade, Never too late, x. He went into the *labor-yard, looked at the cranks [etc.].
