Society

Also 6 societe(e, societye, 6–7 -tie, 7 socyetye, sosiety. [ad. OF. societe (mod.F. société, = It. società, Sp. sociedad, Pg. sociedade), ad. L. societas, f. socius companion, etc.]

  I.  1. Association with one’s fellow men, esp. in a friendly or intimate manner; companionship or fellowship. Also rarely of animals (quot. 1774).

1531.  Elyot, Gov. (1534), 163 b. Societie, without which mans lyfe is vnpleasant and full of anguysshe.

1581.  W. Stafford, Exam. Compl., ii. 24 a. To the intente men may knowe that they haue neede one of anothers helpe, & thereby loue and societie to growe amonge all men y^e more.

1621.  in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), 305. Till now wee have not had to doe with them in matter of moment, but in frendly sosiety.

1657.  T. Wall, Charact. Enemies Ch., 59. It is separation from the wicked that makes them void of Christian society, and common Morality.

1736.  Butler, Anal., I. v. 121. Want of everything of this kind … would render a man as uncapable or Society, as want of language would.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 153. As Nature has formed the rapacious class for war, so she seems equally to have fitted these for peace, rest, and society.

1861.  Mill, Utilit., iii. 47. Society between equals can only exist on the understanding that the interests of all are to be regarded equally.

  b.  With possessive pronoun or genitive.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., IV. ii. 166. I do dine to day at the fathers of a certaine Pupill of mine…. I beseech your Societie.

1663.  S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr. (1687), 35. It is a thousand to one but they will find the means … to insinuate themselves into their society again.

1779.  Mirror, No. 64. 256. I had fancied that … the want of their society had deprived us of the ease and gaiety of discourse.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xxxii. Forced on each other’s society, the two desolate women became companions, if not friends.

1868.  Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), II. 473. A holy anchorite, who had been for forty years cut off from the society of men.

  c.  Association or intercourse with or between persons, etc. Also fig.

1563.  Foxe, A. & M., 973/2. The societie betwixt Christ & vs, is promised to them that take bread and wyne.

c. 1610.  Women Saints, 11. There was such friendship, societie, and familiarity betweene the Religious of that contrie & England, that [etc.].

1669.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, III. ii. § 5. An Island, where he may have no society with mankind.

1690.  Locke, Govt., II. ii. Wks. 1727, II. 162. One of those wild savage Beasts, with whom Men can have no Society nor Security.

1803.  M. Cutler, in Life, etc. (1888), II. 119. The members who are there are not willing to acknowledge they have any society with him.

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., xvii. You will … best fulfil the intentions of those by whose orders you act, by holding no society with me whatever, otherwise than is necessary.

  d.  With a and pl. An instance of association or companionship with others. rare.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., III. iv. 9. Other barres he layes before me, My Riots past, my wilde Societies.

1780.  Mirror, No. 71. 281. Renouncing a society in which the secret admonitions of his heart frequently told him he could not continue in.

  e.  concr. Persons with whom one has, or may have, companionship or intercourse. Also transf. of plants. † In early use also with poss. pronouns or article.

  In some instances the abstract sense is also implied.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 4. Our selfe will mingle with Society, And play the humble Host.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 411. None are so readie to blame men therein as their Societie.

1696.  Caldwell Papers (Maitland Club), I. 171. I lodged … att the 2 pigeons, where I had a most desyreable societie.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. 292. Having now Society enough, and our Number being sufficient to put us out of Fear of the Savages.

1759.  J. Mills, trans. Duhamel’s Husb., II. ii. 264. Wheat and other plants love society.

1816.  Jane Austen, Emma, iii. Mr. Woodhouse was fond of society…. He liked very much to have his friends come and see him.

1853.  Reade, Chr. Johnstone, 328. They have plenty of society, real society.

1872.  Ruskin, Fors Clav., II. xiv. 13. For all society he had two friends, people of esteem in our town.

  2.  The state or condition of living in association, company or intercourse with others of the same species; the system or mode of life adopted by a body of individuals for the purpose of harmonious co-existence or for mutual benefit, defence, etc.: a. In reference to man.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), A vj b. Long it was ere that manne knewe hymself,… so that all thynges waxed sauage, the yearth vntilled, societie neglected.

1599.  Mirrour of Policie, 120. Societie is an assemblie and consent of many in one.

1642.  Charles I., Declaration, 12 Aug., 23. Against the Laws of Society and civill Conversation.

1650.  Bulwer, Anthropomet., 172. A due reverence in the first place towards God…, then towards Society wherein we live.

1744.  Harris, Three Treat. (1841), 62. We are fitted with powers and dispositions which have only relation to society, and which, out of society, can nowhere else be exercised.

1782.  V. Knox, Ess., xvi. (1819), I. 93. Is not this system [Christianity], whether well or ill founded, friendly to society?

1835.  I. Taylor, Spir. Despot., ii. 58. The inestimable advantages of living in society are unavoidably burdened with some partial evils.

a. 1862.  Buckle, Misc. Wks. (1872), I. 5. In the earliest stages of society there are many arts, but no sciences.

  b.  In reference to certain animals, insects, etc.

1794.  S. Williams, Hist. Vermont (1809), I. 114. The society of beavers seems to be regulated and governed, altogether by natural dispositions, and laws.

1826.  Samouelle, Direct. Collect. Insects & Crust., 39. Wasps, like bees, live in society.

1834.  McMurtrie, Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 390. Its larva lives on the same trees, and frequently in society.

  3.  The aggregate of persons living together in a more or less ordered community.

1639.  N. N., trans. Du Bosq’s Compl. Woman, I. 17. Where as then was no other sinne in society then lying, a genuine playnesse … were enough.

1678.  Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. 431. In doing one action after another, tending to a Common Good, or the good of Humane Society.

1749.  Lady Luxborough, Lett. to Shenstone, 24 June. You may be busied to the benefit of society without stirring from your seat.

1782.  Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 5. In few cases has the peace of society been so much disturbed.

1841.  Nonconformist, I. 28 July, 281/2. The principles by which the aristocracy have gained and maintained their Sindbad seat on the shoulders of society.

1873.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, VI. i. 195. Society has only one law, and that is custom.

  b.  With defining or limiting adj.; esp. good society (cf. next).

1779.  Mirror, No. 13. 50. The varied objects which present themselves in cultivated society.

1816.  J. Scott, Vis. Paris (ed. 5), 151. The wars of the period … repressed to a most deplorable degree, what is properly understood by good society.

1859.  Thackeray, Virgin., xliii. There were masquerades and ridottos frequented by all the fine Society.

1893.  Kate Sanborn, A Truthful Woman S. California, 40. In regard to society, I find that the ‘best society’ is much the same all over the civilized world.

  c.  The aggregate of leisured, cultured or fashionable persons regarded as forming a distinct class or body in a community; esp. those persons collectively who are recognized as taking part in fashionable life, social functions, entertainments, etc. Also with a and the.

  (a)  1823.  Byron, Juan, XIII. xcv. Society is now one polish’d horde, Form’d of two mighty tribes, the Bores and Bored.

1846.  Mrs. Gore, Engl. Char., 15. The press gossips for society, because society makes no secret of its love of gossiping.

1856.  Merivale, Rom. Emp., xli. (1871), V. 124. Ovid is eminently the poet of society.

1893.  G. Allen, Scallywag, I. 6. Who is Mr. Gascoyne, and who is Mr. Thistleton?… Are they in society?

  (b)  1840.  Thackeray, Barber Cox, Feb. The paragraphs in the papers about Mr. Coxe Coxe … had an effect in a wonderfully short space of time, and we began to get a very pretty society about us.

1842.  S. Lover, Handy Andy, xxi. Intelligence and courtesy in the one sex, and gentleness and natural grace in the other, making a society not to be ridiculed in the mass.

  (c)  1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxii. The performance over, the young fellows lounged about the lobbies, and we saw the society take its departure.

  d.  Personified.

1784.  Cowper, Task, IV. 498. Till at last Society … Shakes her encumber’d lap, and casts them out.

1831.  Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. vi. A huge … Apron, wherein Society works (uneasily enough).

1877.  ‘Rita,’ Vivienne, I. i. Society shrugged its shoulders.

1879.  Daily Telegr., 15 May, 5/2. He sinks, smiling, into the arms of Society, and Society, likewise smiling, eats him up, body and bones, and mind, and all.

  II.  † 4. The fact or condition of taking part with others or another in some thing or action; participation. Obs.

1534.  More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1333/1. The societie of al saintes in the mistical body of Christ.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 126. For the kynges societie and conjunction … they yelde him harty thankes. Ibid., 218. Who hath perswaded the bisshop of Rome and the French king to the Societie of this war.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage, IV. iii. I. 298. Pacorus being receiued into societie of the kingdome with his father.

1758.  Ann. Reg., 16. The Prussians… inspired by a society of danger with their King,… totally defeated the Austrians.

  † b.  A sharing or use in common. Obs.

1699.  Temple, Hist. Eng., 14. One Custom there was among the Britains which seems peculiar to themselves,… which was a Society of Wives among certain numbers, and by common consent.

  † 5.  The fact or condition of being connected or related; connection, relationship; union or alliance; affinity. Obs.

  a.  Const. with or between (some thing or person).

  (a)  1541.  R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 B iv. The sayd indication hath no maner of societe with the cause prymytyfe.

1561.  Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 193. He hath the number of the name of the beast, which hath a societie wyth the beast, which societie that number bewrayeth or sheweth.

1610.  Barrough, Meth. Physick, III. xxv. (1639), 143. The veine in the right arme…, having society with the veine which is called Vena cava.

1707.  Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 231. The universal Spirit is Water,… the Society of the Water with the Sun produces Animals, Vegetables and Minerals.

  (b)  1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 5. There is not … so great societie betweene heauen and vs, as [etc.].

1620.  Venner, Via Recta, vi. 110. There is so great societie betwixt it and the heart.

  † b.  Const. of or in (something).

1562.  Cooper, Answ. Priv. Masse (1850), 130. You allege a perpetual society of the body and blood, which ye call Concomitantiam.

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., 16. If no writer had recorded, that we Englishmen are descended from Germanes,… the society of their tongues would easily confirme the same.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. i. (1650), 43. This is a fallacy of Æquivocation, from a society in name inferring an Identity in nature.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. iii. 90. The Consent of Vicinity makes nothing to the purpose,… nor society in the same Office.

1771.  Ann. Reg., II. 25/2. By long society in party, the sentiments of these men in politics had come to be the same.

  † 6.  The state or condition of being politically confederated or allied; confederation. Obs.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 25 b. To exhorte and requyre the kynge of Englande, to entre hys company and societee in armes.

1579.  J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, B vij b. Absoluing our neyghbour kinges of any auncient leage or late oth of societie.

1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 87. You haue now an opportunitie presented vnto you, if you list to imbrace it, by entring into societie of war with vs, to be reuenged of them for all the wrong.

1665.  Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 974. Many Kings, Princes, and Nations, began to respect the Society and Alliance of Holland.

  † b.  A political alliance, league or compact.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXIII. 472. A league and societie was concluded betweene Philip the King of the Macedonians and Anniball. Ibid. (1606), Suetonius, 8. Hee entred likewise into a Societie with them both, vpon this contract, That [etc.].

  † 7.  Partnership or combination in or with respect to business or some commercial transaction.

1569.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 681. The said Johnne enterit in societie with the said abbot. Ibid. (1574), II. 513. Not keping societie in the furthering and furnissing of money … as the partinaris … sall appoint.

1592.  West, 1st Pt. Symbol., § 26. Societie is a contract by consent about a thing to be had and used in common on both sides.

1650.  Bounds Publ. Obed. (ed. 2), 10. Partner-ship or Society (as the Civill Law cals it).

  † b.  Co-operation; assistance. Obs.^–1

1586.  W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 34. As for him which … is addicted without society, by his continuall laboure, to profit this nation.

  III.  8. A number of persons associated together by some common interest or purpose, united by a common vow, holding the same belief or opinion, following the same trade or profession, etc.; an association.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 28 b. The societe of saynct George vulgarely called the order of the garter.

1581.  Allen, Apol., 29 b. The Seminarie of the Romane Clergie, and other Colleges of the most famous Societie of the name of Iesus.

1612.  Woodall, Surg. Mate, Pref., Wks. (1653), 12. It hath divers wayes brought advantage and good to the whole Societie of Surgeons.

1637.  Decree of Star Chamb. conc. Printing, ¶ 9. The Company or Society of Stationers.

a. 1720.  Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. p. xii. Others of the same Society have not looked upon this as a pattern to imitate.

1741.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), I. 301. I read over the names of the United Society.

1783.  in Beatson, Pol. Index (1788), II. 292. A Society or Brotherhood, to be called Knights of the illustrious Order of St. Patrick.

1832.  Scott, Redgauntlet, let. vii. note. An old lady of the Society of Friends.

1867.  Ruskin, Time & Tide, i. § 3. All bankers should be members of a great national body, answerable as a society for all deposits.

1876.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., iv. 88. The Church is undoubtedly in its design a spiritual society, but it is also a society of this world as well.

  b.  A corporate body of persons having a definite place of residence.

1588–9.  Act 31 Eliz., c. 6 § 1. Colledges, Churches Collegiat, Churches Cathedrall, Scoles, Hospitalls, Halles, and other like Societies.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 96. In the Society of the Inner Temple, his son made a notable progress.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 98. A society of Benedictine monks was lodged in Saint James’s Palace. Ibid., viii. 285. The society consisted of a president, of forty fellows, of thirty scholars [etc.].

  9.  A collection of individuals composing a community or living under the same organization or government.

a. 1577.  Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., I. x. (1584), 10. A common wealth is called a society or common doing of a multitude of free men.

1639.  Heywood, London’s Peaceable Est., Wks. 1874, V. 358. Greeneland, Muscovy, and Turkey, of which three noble societies you are at this present governour.

1690.  Locke, Govt., II. vii. Wks. 1727, II. 182. No Political Society can be, nor subsist without having in it self the Power to preserve the Property … of all those of that Society.

1770.  Langhorne, Plutarch (1851), I. 395/2. Every society has more to apprehend from its needy members than from the rich.

1805.  Wordsw., Prelude, XI. 394. There is One great society alone on earth: The noble Living and the noble Dead.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 3. The Calvinism which in so many important societies displaced it [Catholicism].

  b.  In more limited sense: A company; a small party. Now rare or Obs.

1590.  Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, 16 b. Harquebuziers … being … aduanced and retired with some societies, or Cameradas of loose shot, are of good effect.

1607.  Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 21. Therefore be abhorr’d, All Feasts, Societies, and Throngs of men.

1637.  Milton, Lycidas, 179. There entertain him all the Saints above, In solemn troops, and sweet Societies.

1662.  J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 203. We … entred into a little society among our selves, and … went all together in a Company.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World, 50. This was not a Business that admitted giving them [i.e., mutineers] Time to club and Cabal together, and form other Societies or Combinations.

1777.  W. Dalrymple, Trav. Spain & Portugal, xv. The company … making little societies of conversation till towards eleven o’clock.

  fig.  1594.  Selimus (Temple Cl.), 1984. We will have hog’s cheek, and a dish of tripes, and a society of puddings…: a society of puddings? did you mark that well-used metaphor?

  10.  a. A number of persons united together for the purpose of promoting some branch of study or research by means of meetings, publications, etc.

1665.  Phil. Trans., I. 16. Printed with Licence, By John Martyn, and James Allestry, Printers to the Royal Society.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 1.

1763.  Museum Rust., I. 71. A Letter … from a Member of the Society for encouraging Arts, &c.

1796.  H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 731. A society of intelligent Englishmen was formed at London about thirty years ago, the object of which was to prosecute scientific research.

1827.  Scott, Chron. Canongate, ii. An edition, limited according to the rules of that erudite Society [sc. the Bannatyne Club].

1844.  Maitland, Dark Ages, 386. At the time when this suggestion was made, the English Historical Society was just being formed.

1900.  L. Huxley, Life Huxley (1903), II. i. 4. He became President of the Geological Society in 1872.

  b.  A number of persons meeting together, esp. for the purpose of discussion or debate, conviviality or sociability.

1673.  Humours Town, 52. You take a wrong notion of our Societies from them; here we have always a numerous Club.

1759.  Johnson, Idler, No. 48, ¶ 9. He always runs to a disputing society.

1777.  Cowper, Lett., Wks. (1876), 36. He did not belong to our Thursday society.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xlvi. He never would sit down before Sedley at the club even, nor would he have that gentleman’s character abused by any member of the society.

1898.  W. E. Gladstone, in Daily Telegr., 5 Jan., 9/6. The association for debating all unforbidden subjects which … was known [at Eton] as ‘The Society.’

  c.  U.S. = CONGREGATION sb. 7.

1828–32.  Webster, s.v., In Connecticut, a number of families united and incorporated for the purpose of supporting public worship, is called an ecclesiastical society.

1889.  Mary E. Wilkins, A Far-away Melody, etc. (1891), 257. More people went into the Baptist Church, whose society was much the larger of the two.

1898.  Westm. Gaz., 4 Nov., 4/2. The unit of the sect [the Methodists] is ‘the Society’—composed practically of the communicants attending a particular church.

  d.  A commercial company or association.

1890.  Daily News, 13 Nov., 7/1. The Investors Protection Society…. The society was formed to protect investors and others by advising generally free of charge.

  † 11.  A meeting or gathering. Obs.

1712.  in W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch., I. 192. I can’t attend the Society as I would very gladly do.

1741–3.  Wesley, Extr. Jrnl. (1749), 18. At the society which follow’d, many cried after God.

  IV.  12. attrib. and Comb. a. With reference to religious bodies, as society-communion, meeting, men, people, -room, etc.

1685.  W. Smith, in Biogr. Presbyt. (1827), II. 83. [They would] rejoice with all such as are joined in this Society-Communion.

1721.  Wodrow, Hist. Suff. Ch. Scotl. (1831), IV. 462/2. This year [1688], I find … that the society people made a large collection of money for the relief of several of their number.

1725.  P. Walker, in Biogr. Presbyt. (1827), I. 160. The … keeping up of Society-meetings for Prayer and Conference.

1744.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), VIII. 38. The enlarging the society-room to near thrice its first bigness.

1828.  W. Irving, Last Days, 37. These texts of Scripture … will enable you to confute a whole platform of society orators.

1870.  Burton, Hist. Scot., VII. 529. The Sanquharians took also the name of ‘Society men,’ as being distributed in ‘select societies united in general correspondence.’

  b.  With reference to cultured or fashionable society, as society journal, lodging, man, paper, etc.

1693.  Wood, Life, 15 June. Peter Wood,… put aside, as ’twas then said, because he was too precise and religious and therefore not fit to make a societie man.

1722.  De Foe, Col. Jack, i. He began to have clothes on his back, to leave the ash-hole, having gotten a society lodging.

1825.  C. Westmacott, Engl. Spy, I. 106. Society Whigs and society Tories.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, li. ‘The best’ foreigners (as the phrase is in our noble and admirable society slang).

1868.  Sala, Lamb’s Wks., I. p. xlii. Hook, with whom society-seeking was a vocation and a passion.

1885.  Church Times, 12 June, 151. As one of the ‘Society’ papers suggested in its disgraceful cartoon.

1886.  R. Roose, in Fortn. Rev., April, 501. If society-haunting afforded the necessary relaxation to the over-worked brain.

  c.  With reference to societies instituted for special purposes, as society goods, man, membership, room, secretary, etc.; society hand, house (see quots. 1888).

1765–8.  Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., III. iii. § 27. He is … intitled, upon the division of the society-goods, to … a share.

1861.  Mayhew, Lond. Labour, III. 221. The Cabinet-makers … consist, like all other operatives, of two distinct classes, that is to say, of society and non-society men.

1888.  Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., 128. Society hands.—Those belonging to and working under the rules of a trade society. Ibid., Society houses.—Establishments conforming to the rules and paying the recognized scale price for work.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 809. Society rooms, available upon production of a society membership ticket, or an introduction from a society secretary.

  Hence Societyish, Societyless adjs.

1788.  Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 23 Oct. Societyless, and bookless, and viewless as I am.

1863.  Wilberforce, Sp. Missions (1874), 4. The tendency of all that is to cultivate party feeling within the Church … and so by degrees to become one-sided, or what I may call societyish.