[f. as prec.]
1. That smiles; covered with or wearing a smile or smiles.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11509. Ful suetlik wit smiland chere, [He] biheild þaa giftes riche and dere.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), 12. Anone came our Lorde … And her saluted, with swete and smylynge chere.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xx. 24 b. A smiling and dissembling countenance.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. v. 106. Oh Villaine, Villaine, smiling, damned Villaine!
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxvii. (1665), 296. For he thought he saw a man coming to him with a very smiling aspect.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 222. That house … Where grey-beard mirth and smiling toil retired.
1812. Combe, Syntax, Picturesque, XX. 12. His hat a smiling face o’erspread.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxi. I can judge of the dark purpose, though it is hid under the smiling brow.
1840. Thackeray, Cox’s Diary, June. One of the meekest, smilingest little men I ever saw.
b. transf. or fig.
1576. Gascoigne, Philomene, Wks. 1910, II. 182. But smyling lucke, bewitcht This peerelesse Prince to thinke, That [etc.].
1692. Norris, Curs. Refl., 22. These indeed are pretty smiling sentences.
1713[?]. Parnell, On Q. Anne’s Peace, Posth. Wks. (1758), 260. Here smiling Safety … Securely walks, and chearful Plenty there.
1796. Burney, Mem. Metastasio, III. 154. Your own talents,… and smiling time of life, render your election certain.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, IV. i. 17. By … representing every thing in the most smiling colours.
2. Characterized by smiles or a smiling manner; accompanied by a smile or smiles. Also fig.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus. Her smiling tears spoke more than her lips.
1842. Browning, Incident French Camp, iii. Then off there flung in smiling joy, And held himself erect By just his horse’s mane, a boy.
1901. G. Douglas, House w. Green Shutters, 207. The cunning old pryer went on, with a smiling suavity in his voice.
3. transf. Of physical features, etc.: Looking bright or cheerful; pleasant, agreeable to the sight.
1725. Pope, Odyss., X. 108. Smiling calmness silver’d o’er the deep.
1742. Gray, West, 1. In vain to me the smileing Mornings shine. Ibid. (1750), Elegy, 63. To scatter plenty o’er a smiling land.
1805. Wordsw., Elegiac Stanzas, 38. Not for a moment could I now behold A smiling sea.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain (1843), I. xvi. 325. The grand despoblado or desert of Andalusia, once a smiling garden.
1879. Edinb. Rev., CL. 436. The hill above is populous with smiling villas.
4. Of beer, etc.: Sparkling. ? Obs.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Bottling of beer, Scum off the same again, and while it is in a smiling Condition, put three Spoonfuls to each Bottle.
5. Comb., as smiling-featured, -sweet.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. IV. Columnes, 710. Those eyes so smiling-sweet.
1827. Pollok, Course T. (1854), 207. Ye smiling-featured daughters of the sun!
